The next morning, Arav was busy preparing for the intense training schedule he had set for himself. The announcement of his selection as one of the fifteen representatives still weighed on his mind, both as an honor and a responsibility. He was determined not to embarrass himself or his sect, especially knowing he was an outsider among scions of noble and ancient families.
When he looked up, he was surprised to see Kimi Yachang standing a few paces away, her posture regal yet relaxed. Her sapphire eyes held their usual calm, but there was a faint warmth to her expression that softened her otherwise knightly demeanor.
"Kimi?" Arav straightened, brushing the dust off his training robes. "What brings you here?"
She clasped her hands behind her back, standing tall. "Good morning, Arav. I thought it would be better to inform you in person than leave it to the rumors that spread like wildfire around here."
Arav raised an eyebrow, curious. "Inform me about what?"
Kimi stepped closer, her voice steady and direct. "My teacher, Elder Sonam Zangmo, has decided to personally oversee your training alongside mine. She believes you have potential, though... unpolished potential."
Arav blinked in surprise, momentarily speechless. "Wait, Elder Zangmo? The same Elder Zangmo who's known for training prodigies like you?"
"Yes," Kimi replied matter-of-factly. "She rarely takes an interest in new students, so consider this an opportunity. However," her gaze turned sharp, "she doesn't tolerate laziness or half-hearted effort. If you're not prepared to give everything, you might as well step back now."
Arav chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Sounds... intense. But I'm not one to back down from a challenge."
Kimi nodded approvingly, her expression softening slightly. "Good. I expected as much. Despite how you lost to me last year, I've seen glimpses of your determination. That quality alone might be enough to impress her."
Arav's face turned slightly red at the memory of their one-sided duel. "You don't have to remind me about that... I still feel the sting in my pride."
A small smile tugged at Kimi's lips, barely noticeable but genuine. "You've grown since then. I can see it. Just don't let your pride get in the way of your progress."
As the two stood in a momentary silence, Arav cleared his throat. "Why are you telling me this yourself? You could've let someone else relay the message."
Kimi's expression turned thoughtful. "I wanted to ensure you understood the gravity of the situation. Elder Zangmo doesn't take on students lightly. And..." She hesitated for a moment, her voice softening. "You're not entirely a stranger. I respect those who stand back up, no matter how many times they fall."
Arav was taken aback by her words but managed a small smile. "Thanks. That... means a lot."
With that, she turned and began to walk away, her steps as graceful as always.
Arav watched her go, a mix of nerves and determination swirling in his chest. "Training with Kimi and Elder Zangmo, huh? This is going to be... interesting."
The next day couldn't arrive fast enough.
Elder Zangmo stood in the serene chamber atop Sun Peak, her expression serious as she gazed at the mountains bathed in the gentle glow of the setting sun. Across from her was the Solstice Emperor, Surya Nyishi, his golden aura casting a warm light throughout the room. Despite his calm exterior, the weight of their conversation pressed heavily upon them.
"Elder Zangmo," Surya began, his voice steady, "I've heard your concerns. You believe Arav Srivastava should be… eliminated."
Zangmo turned to face him, her eyes reflecting years of wisdom. "It's not just a belief, Emperor. It's a necessity. The boy carries the Vishwaroop Kaal, a power that historically brings devastation. He's not ready to bear such a burden, and I fear he never will be."
Surya clasped his hands behind his back, his golden eyes narrowing. "You underestimate the boy's resilience. I've observed him closely, Elder. His spirit, though fractured, is unyielding. He deserves a chance."
"A chance to what?" Zangmo retorted sharply. "To lose control? To destroy everything around him? We've both seen what happens when powers like this awaken unchecked. History doesn't lie, Emperor. Those who bore Vishwaroop Kaal before him became harbingers of chaos. Why should Arav be different?"
Surya's gaze softened, though his voice carried authority. "Because I have faith in him. He has endured more than most, yet he still fights to protect others. Isn't that the mark of someone worth guiding?"
Zangmo stepped closer, her expression stern. "Faith alone won't save us if he falls to the darkness within. We are cultivators, not idealists. It's our duty to safeguard this world, even if it means making difficult decisions. Eliminating him now is the most logical course of action."
Surya shook his head, his tone firm. "And what would that make us? Executioners of a child who has yet to prove himself either savior or destroyer? The council accepted him into the sect knowing the risks. To kill him now would betray everything we stand for."
Zangmo's voice lowered, but her conviction remained strong. "I see no betrayal in protecting the greater good. You speak of honor, but honor means nothing if he loses control and the Vishwaroop Kaal consumes him. What will you say to the families who suffer? To the sects that crumble under his wrath? 'We had faith'? That won't bring them back."
Surya sighed, his aura dimming slightly as he paced. "And what of Buru? The Lunar Sect? You know as well as I do that Apatani covets Arav's power for her own purposes. If we kill him now, we hand them the moral high ground and risk turning him into a martyr."
Zangmo crossed her arms, her lips a thin line. "Apatani and Buru are concerns, yes. But they are manageable threats. Arav is a walking calamity. You're gambling with forces beyond our control, Emperor."
Surya stopped pacing, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "And you're letting fear dictate your decisions, Zangmo. Arav is not a calamity. He is a boy thrust into a role he never asked for. If we don't guide him, if we don't try, we are no better than the darkness we oppose."
Zangmo's voice softened, her resolve unwavering. "You are an optimist, Emperor. That is both your strength and your weakness. But I cannot share your optimism. I see only danger, the inevitability of destruction. And when that day comes, don't say I didn't warn you."
Surya approached her, his tone now one of quiet determination. "And if that day never comes? If Arav learns to control his power, to transcend his fears, what then? Will you admit you were wrong?"
Zangmo stared at him, her expression unreadable. Finally, she turned away, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hope I am wrong. But I doubt it."
The chamber fell silent, tension lingering as the sun dipped below the horizon. In the fading light, Surya's golden aura seemed to battle the encroaching shadows, a silent testament to the opposing forces at play.
As Zangmo walked away, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor, Surya remained where he stood, gazing out at the distant peaks. "Arav," he murmured to himself, "may you prove us both wrong."
The morning sun barely crested the peaks when Arav arrived at the training grounds, his muscles already aching in anticipation. Elder Zangmo stood in the clearing, her gaze sharp as a blade cutting through the morning mist. Beside her was Kimi Yachang, calm but with a hint of tension in her eyes.
"Late," Zangmo said coldly, her voice sharp as the mountain wind.
Arav quickly bowed, glancing at Kimi for support, but she just raised an eyebrow as if to say, You're on your own.
"Today's training won't be easy," Zangmo announced. "You're here to become better—faster, stronger, sharper. If you think it's going to be simple, leave now. I have no time for cowards."
Neither of them moved.
Zangmo nodded. "Good. Let's begin."
The training was relentless.
It started with basic sparring, but Zangmo made it anything but simple. She wielded a staff with masterful precision, striking with blinding speed. Every time Arav thought he could anticipate her movements, she shifted, her attacks unrelenting.
"Too slow, Srivastava!" she barked, slamming the staff into his ribs and sending him sprawling.
Arav coughed, clutching his side, but forced himself back up.
"Stand up quicker," Zangmo snapped. "In a real battle, hesitation means death."
Beside him, Kimi was faring no better. Though graceful and precise, Zangmo anticipated every attack, deflecting them effortlessly.
"You're overthinking, Yachang," Zangmo said. "Stop relying on technique alone. Adapt!"
Kimi's lips pressed into a thin line, frustration visible. She lunged forward, but Zangmo sidestepped, sweeping her legs out from under her.
As Kimi hit the ground, Arav muttered, "At least it's not just me."
Kimi shot him a glare. "Focus on your own fight, Srivastava."
Hours passed, and the training grew more intense.
Zangmo had them running laps with weights strapped to their arms and legs, each step agonizing. She made them practice channeling their prana under pressure, hurling stones while they meditated to test their concentration.
When they faltered, she was quick to reprimand.
"Control your breathing!" Zangmo shouted as Arav struggled to maintain his balance. "If your foundation is weak, everything else crumbles."
Kimi, despite her composed exterior, was clearly exhausted. Sweat dripped from her brow, her posture wavering.
"Elder Zangmo," she said, her voice steady but strained, "this level of training seems… excessive."
Zangmo didn't look at her. "Excessive? The enemies you'll face won't go easy on you, Yachang. If you can't handle this, leave."
Kimi gritted her teeth, saying nothing, returning to the exercise with renewed determination.
Arav, panting beside her, muttered, "You'd think she's trying to kill us."
Kimi glanced at him. "She's not trying. She's succeeding."
Despite himself, Arav laughed, though it quickly turned into a groan as Zangmo's staff cracked against his shin.
"No talking!" Zangmo barked. "You're here to train, not chat."
By the end of the day, both were bruised, battered, and exhausted. As they lay sprawled in the dirt, Zangmo stood over them, her expression unreadable.
"Good progress," she said, though there was little warmth. "But don't get complacent. This is only the beginning."
Arav glanced at Kimi, who was staring at the sky, her neat hair disheveled. "Do you ever wonder why we do this?" he asked, half-joking.
Kimi sighed, turning to him. "To get stronger. And to survive."
Arav nodded, the weight of her words sinking in.
As Zangmo turned to leave, she paused. "Tomorrow, we begin even earlier. Don't be late."
With that, she was gone, leaving them to drag themselves back to their quarters, another grueling day ahead.
As they walked away, the silence was heavy. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky orange and purple. The faint sound of rustling leaves accompanied their footsteps, exhaustion in their limbs nearly unbearable.
"Arav," Kimi suddenly said, breaking the quiet.
He glanced at her, surprised. "Yeah?"
She hesitated, her sapphire-blue eyes reflecting the dim light. "Your tamasa form… what is it?"
Arav blinked, caught off guard. He considered lying, but something about Kimi's gaze made him answer truthfully.
"Mrityu Tamasa," he said quietly.
The effect was immediate. Kimi's hand flew to her sword, body tense. Her breathing grew shallow, eyes wide with shock.
Arav froze, instincts screaming to move, but he stayed rooted. "Kimi…"
Her hand trembled on the hilt, her knuckles white. She seemed caught in a battle with herself, her expression conflicted.
"You're… tamasa form is Mrityu Tamasa?" she said, voice low, almost disbelieving.
"Yes," Arav admitted, meeting her gaze. "It's not something I chose, Kimi. It's part of who I am."
"That form…" Kimi's voice faltered, grip tightening. "Do you know what that means? What kind of destruction it brings?"
"I know," Arav said softly. "I've seen it. I've felt it. And I hate it."
"Then why haven't you—" She stopped, voice breaking slightly. "Why haven't you been stopped?"
"Because I don't want to be a monster," Arav said, voice steady despite his fear. "I'm trying to control it, to use it for good. That's why I'm here, why I'm training. To prove I'm more than just the chaos inside me."
Kimi's grip loosened slightly, though her hand stayed on the hilt. "You're asking for a lot of trust, Arav," she said, tone sharp but less threatening.
"I know," he replied. "I don't expect you to trust me right away. But I need you to know I'm doing everything I can to keep it in check. I don't want to hurt anyone, Kimi. Least of all you."
Her expression softened a fraction, though her hand didn't leave her sword. "You say that now, but what happens when you lose control? When Mrityu Tamasa consumes you?"
"I won't let it," Arav said firmly. "That's why I'm training with Elder Zangmo. That's why I'm pushing myself. I have to believe I can master it."
For a long moment, Kimi simply stared at him, searching for truth in his words. Slowly, her hand slid off her sword, though tension remained.
"If you lose control," she said quietly, voice laced with steel, "I won't hesitate."
"I wouldn't expect you to," Arav said, a small, sad smile on his face.
They continued walking in silence, the weight of their conversation hanging between them like an unspoken promise. Though Kimi's trust was far from earned, Arav felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could prove to her and to himself that he wasn't a monster. As they staggered on, a presence stopped them in their tracks. Leaning against a tree, golden-haired and impossibly self-assured, was Taba Tani.
Tani didn't just stand there; he commanded the space, his posture radiating quiet arrogance. His amber eyes gleamed like molten gold, a smug smile playing on his lips as if the world itself was beneath him. His very presence was suffocating, a reminder that he was regarded as the greatest genius of their generation.
"Well, well," Tani said, his voice smooth, dripping with condescension. "What have we here? The new protégés of Elder Zangmo, crawling out of their little torture session?"
Kimi's grip on her sword tightened instinctively, her sapphire eyes narrowing. "Taba Tani. What do you want?"
Tani pushed off the tree, stepping forward with the leisurely confidence of a predator that had already won. "What do I want? My dear Kimi, I merely wished to observe. It's not every day that Elder Zangmo wastes her precious time on... the unremarkable."
Arav felt a flicker of irritation but kept his expression neutral. "If you're here to insult us, you've had your fun. Move along."
Tani's smirk widened, and he chuckled, a rich sound that echoed in the clearing. "Fun? Oh, Arav Srivastava, you mistake me. I'm not here to entertain myself—though you do provide a certain... comedic value. I'm here to understand why someone like you has been given such privileges."
Kimi stepped in, her voice firm. "Tani, enough. Elder Zangmo's choices are none of your concern."
Tani turned his gaze to her, his expression softening into something almost indulgent. "Ah, Kimi Yachang. Always the righteous one, aren't you? So noble, so virtuous. It's almost... adorable."
Kimi's jaw tightened. "Say what you want about me, but leave Arav out of this."
Tani ignored her, turning his attention back to Arav. He took slow, deliberate steps closer, his gaze sharp and appraising. "Tell me, Arav, what is it about you that has the council whispering behind closed doors? Is it your... prana? Or perhaps something more dangerous? Something you're hiding?"
Arav met his gaze evenly, refusing to flinch. "I'm just a student trying to get stronger. That's all."
Tani laughed, the sound full of disdain. "Stronger? Oh, how quaint. Let me teach you a lesson, little one: strength is meaningless without worth. And worth is something you earn—something you clearly lack."
Arav's fists clenched, but he forced himself to stay calm. "You don't know anything about me."
"Don't I?" Tani's voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes gleaming. "I've heard the rumors. Mrityu tamasa. Do you know what that means? Or are you blissfully ignorant of the destruction you carry within you?"
Kimi's hand moved instinctively to her sword. "That's enough, Tani."
Tani glanced at her, his smirk returning. "Touching. Defending him like a loyal knight. But tell me, Kimi, do you truly believe in him? Or are you just waiting for the day he proves himself unworthy and collapses under his own weight?"
Kimi stepped forward, her voice cold. "Unlike you, Tani, I don't see people as tools to be discarded. Arav has earned his place here."
Tani's eyes flicked back to Arav, ignoring Kimi's words. "You intrigue me, Arav. Weak, insignificant, and yet... chosen. I'll be watching you in the competition. Let's see if you can survive in the same arena as me."
Arav's voice was steady, though his heart was pounding. "I'm not afraid of you."
"Fear?" Tani tilted his head, his smile almost pitying. "Oh, no, Arav. Fear isn't the issue. It's inevitability. You can train, bleed, and struggle all you like. But in the end, you're nothing more than a fleeting spark in the face of my brilliance."
Kimi stepped between them, her expression fierce. "You've said enough, Tani. Leave."
Tani raised his hands in mock surrender. "As you wish, my dear Kimi. I wouldn't want to upset you. After all, you're one of the few here who might actually be worth my time."
He turned to leave but paused, glancing back at Arav. "One last thing, Arav. When the competition begins, remember this: you're stepping into my world. And in my world, there is no place for the weak."
With that, Tani strode away, his golden hair catching the fading sunlight, leaving Arav and Kimi standing in tense silence.
Kimi turned to Arav, her expression softening slightly. "Don't let him get to you. Tani thrives on making others doubt themselves."
Arav nodded, his jaw clenched. "I won't. He's not the first to underestimate me, and he won't be the last."
Kimi's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. Because if we're going to face him in the competition, we'll need every ounce of strength and focus we can muster."
Arav looked at her, determination burning in his eyes. "Then we'd better get back to training."
Kimi nodded, and together, they walked back toward the sect, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.