The figure in white moved with a deliberate calmness, as though the mountain path were a mere extension of their being. Arjun and Meera exchanged a glance before quickly following. The stranger's pace was measured, not hurried, but there was an unmistakable sense of purpose in every step they took.
Arjun's heart raced. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being led, but by whom—or what—he didn't know. The figure didn't speak, nor did they look back as the two friends closed the distance between them.
"Should we speak to them?" Meera asked in a low voice, the question laced with uncertainty.
Arjun shook his head. "Not yet. There's something about them… I don't know. But I feel like they're connected to the journey somehow."
They pressed forward in silence, the only sound the crunch of gravel beneath their feet and the wind whispering through the trees. The path grew steeper, the air colder, and the mountains seemed to close in around them, as though the very earth was urging them to turn back. But Arjun couldn't. Not now.
After what felt like hours, the figure came to a stop at the edge of a cliff, where the view opened up to reveal a vast valley below, shrouded in mist. The wind here was sharp, biting at their skin, yet the figure remained undisturbed. Arjun and Meera slowed to a stop a few paces behind.
Finally, the figure turned, their face still obscured by the hood. But the voice that spoke next was unmistakable—deep, resonant, and strangely familiar.
"You seek the Eternal Flame, but it is not so easily found," the figure said. "The path you walk is fraught with trials, both within and without."
Arjun stepped forward. "Who are you? And how do you know what we seek?"
The figure did not respond immediately. Instead, they reached out and raised a hand toward the misty valley below. The air seemed to shimmer, and for a brief moment, a vision flickered in the swirling fog. Arjun blinked, trying to focus.
In the vision, he saw a great temple—its walls adorned with intricate carvings of gods and goddesses, their faces filled with solemn wisdom. The temple was surrounded by towering flames, flickering wildly despite the lack of wind. But the flames were not ordinary—they burned with a strange, otherworldly fire, one that seemed to reflect not just light but the very essence of time itself.
"This is the Temple of Agni," the figure said softly, breaking the spell. "It lies at the heart of the mountain, hidden from mortal eyes. But it is not a place for those who are not ready."
Arjun felt his pulse quicken. "Ready? What do you mean? We've come this far. We need to know the truth."
The figure tilted their head, as if considering something deeply. "The truth you seek is not a gift to be given lightly," they replied. "It is a burden, a weight that will change you forever. The gods are not kind to those who seek their knowledge with an unprepared heart."
Arjun opened his mouth to protest, but the figure raised a hand, silencing him. "Your heart is pure, Arjun. But purity alone will not guide you. You must understand the trials ahead. You must prepare."
The figure turned toward the valley once more, their voice growing softer. "The first trial is the trial of fire. It will test not only your strength but your soul. You will face your deepest fears, the darkness within. Only by conquering that darkness will you be allowed to enter the temple and seek the Flame."
Meera stepped forward, her face etched with concern. "And what if we fail?"
The figure's gaze flickered toward her, but they did not answer directly. "There is no failure, only change."
With that, the figure turned and began to walk away, their footsteps silent on the gravel path.
"Wait!" Arjun called out, but the figure did not stop. "How do we begin?"
The figure's voice drifted back to them, carried on the wind. "When you are ready, the fire will come to you."
And with that, the mysterious figure disappeared into the mist, leaving Arjun and Meera standing on the edge of the world, the path ahead now fraught with even greater uncertainty.
Arjun stared into the valley, his heart heavy with the weight of the words that had been spoken. The trial of fire… Was he truly ready for what lay ahead?
Beside him, Meera placed a hand on his shoulder. "We don't have a choice. We've come this far, Arjun. And we won't stop now."
Arjun nodded, though a chill ran down his spine. The trial had begun.