The day began with the warm glow of the rising sun, casting a golden hue over the streets. Ashok was in a hurry. "Bye, Mom!" he called out, dashing out the door—he didn't want to be late for his first day of school. He ran fast, his feet barely touching the ground. As he turned a corner, a car suddenly swerved into view—too close. His eyes widened in fear. His heart pounded, adrenaline surging through him .In a split second, he slammed his foot down, skidding to a halt. The car screeched as it swerved sharply before slowing down. The driver, startled, was about to shout— "Sorry!" Ashok blurted out and bolted away before the man could react. The driver sat in shock, then muttered, "What a reckless kid." He sighed and eased the car forward. Inside, an old man held a wine glass, swirling the liquid slowly. The driver glanced back, his voice tense. "Sorry, sir. The traffic is heavy—we had to take this route." The old man remained expressionless, his gaze fixed on the calm surface of the wine. Deep in thought, his emotions barely surfaced—lost in the slow swirl of the wine.
Classes had already started. The teacher was delivering a serious lecture on the life of a cell and its structure.
Suddenly, Ashok came to an abrupt stop at the door. "May I come in, sir?" he asked.
The teacher shot him a sharp look. "It's your first day, Ashok! Why can't you come on time?"
Trying to escape the situation, Ashok quickly said, 'Sorry, sir,' choosing his words carefully."
The teacher let out a sigh. "Okay, come in," he said, turning back to the board.
And just like that, Ashok stepped into his first day of class. All eyes were on him. It felt a little awkward, but he was used to it.
He walked to the back of the classroom and took a seat by the window. As he looked at the board, a boy behind him chuckled.
"Hey, Ashok, late again, huh?" the boy said with a sarcastic smile.
Ashok thought it was better not to respond.
"You should've just stayed home. You remember how badly I beat you last year?" A stocky boy smirked, his build strong despite his appearance.
His name was Charles—the class bully who loved showing off and picking on the weaker students. My bad luck—we've been in the same class since childhood.
A few moments later, the school bell rang. The teacher closed his book.
"Alright, students, make sure you do your homework well," he said before leaving the class.
Ashok closed his notebook and slipped it into his bag.
"Hey, dude, late again?"
Ashok turned to see Lucus, his dear friend, grinning at him. After the long holidays, today was the first time they were meeting again.
With a soft smile, Ashok said, "Yeah… I forgot to set my alarm last night."
Lucus chuckled. "Classic Ashok."
Ashok leaned in. "Forget about me—tell me, how was your holiday?"
Lucus sighed. "Ahh, my dad took me to my grandparents' house. It was boring."
"But," he added with a grin, "there was a gaming station near their house, so at least I survived!"
Ashok chuckled softly. "Now it's your turn," Lucus continued, a playful spark in his eyes. "How about you? How did you spend your holiday?"
Ashok shrugged and gave a small chuckle. 'Nothing much. Just stayed at home, watching movies and passing the time.'
And soon, the new teacher entered the class. Everyone stood up, and Lucus returned to his seat.
"Hello, students. I am your math teacher. My name is Ms. Ally. Please take your seats," she said with a soft smile. She opened the textbook on her table, walked to the board, and wrote "Algebra."
"Today, we will be learning about Algebra," she continued, beginning the lesson.
Everyone was listening attentively, but Ashok quickly became distracted and started to feel bored. Slowly, his eyes wandered to the pleasant, blue sky outside the window. The clouds drifted by, calm and serene.
But something dark, like an asteroid, plummeted toward the mountain forest behind the school. Ashok's eyes widened in shock and curiosity. He immediately shot up from his seat and peered out the window. His sudden movement drew everyone's attention.
The teacher cleared her throat with a small "Ahem" and asked, "Is something wrong?"
Ashok turned to her.
"But, ma'am, there's… uhhh—" he started, but the words stuck in his throat. He hesitated, then slowly sat back down in silence.
The teacher resumed her lesson, but Ashok was still curious and eager to see what it was.
Time moves slowly. Ashok can barely wait, shaking his legs under the desk in impatience.
Finally, as all the classes end and the school bell rings, he grabs his bag and runs out of the classroom before the teacher can even finish speaking.
Charles smirks and, in a mocking tone, tells his friends, "I think he forgot to wear a diaper today."
The group bursts into laughter, some covering their mouths while others nudge each other, enjoying the joke. One of them adds, "Someone call the janitor before the floor gets messy!"
Lucus, however, looks confused, glancing between Charles and the doorway where Ashok has disappeared. "What's going on?" he mumbles.
Meanwhile, Ashok is running quickly, his eyes sparkling with curiosity, a wide smile spreading across his face. "What could it be?" he whispers to himself, excitement surging through him. He dashes out of the school, crosses the gate, and finally reaches the entrance of the mountain.
He was near the top of the mountain, scanning his surroundings, but he found nothing.
He exhaled deeply, trying to shake off his exhaustion. Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes behind him. He turned sharply—something was hidden inside. Moving cautiously, he stepped forward. Suddenly, a street cat leaped out toward him! Instinctively, Ashok dodged aside, his heart pounding for a few seconds before he stumbled and fell.
Sitting up slowly, he caught his breath, his mind drifting back to what he had seen through the window. Just then, a soft chuckle echoed nearby. Ashok turned toward the sound.
An old man stood there, watching him with a gentle smile. He had a long white beard and tied-back hair, giving him the appearance of a saint.
With a hint of frustration, Ashok asked, "What was that for?"
The old man's smile remained. "Are you searching for something… or someone?"
Ashok hesitated before asking, "Did you see anything strange around here?".
The old man replied, "Strange? Hmm… No, I didn't see anything…"
Instantly, the old man leaped into the sky and gracefully landed on a big rock beside him.
Ashok was shocked and surprised. Then, the cat, which had feared him, slowly ran and settled softly in the old man's lap, as he caressed its fur with kindness.
Ashok ran toward him. 'Hey, how did you do that?!' he asked.
With a soft smile and a playful shrug, the old man scratched his head. 'Well, through training and practice,' he said."
With excitement in his voice, Ashok said, "You're really fit!" as he looked at the old man in awe.
The old man met Ashok's gaze, sensing something beyond mere curiosity. "What's your name?" he asked.
Ashok straightened up, rubbing his nose with a finger, and replied proudly, "I am Ashok."
The old man gave a soft smile. "That's a good name."
Ashok, his curiosity piqued, asked, "Okay, now tell me—what's your name?"
With a soft chuckle, the old man replied, "That's a tough one." He paused for a moment, then said, "You can call me Moharji." Ashok, surprised, raised an eyebrow. "Moharji? What kind of name is that? Does it have any meaning?"
Gazing into Ashok's eyes, with a kind smile, the old man replied, "See, my dear Ashok, words aren't born with meaning. Meaning makes words be born. Similarly, the person who helps one be born with meaning and find their purpose is called Moharji".
Ashok, somewhat confused, slowly began to understand and said, 'So... you mean a teacher?'.
"Yes, like a teacher," the old man responded.
Ashok and the old man were deeply engaged in their conversation, with time itself seeming to stand aside. Gradually, a pure bond began to grow between them. Time passed swiftly, and as the sun dipped toward the horizon, Ashok and the old man sat on the large rock, watching the breathtaking sunset. Its rays filled their hearts with a pleasant warmth.
Now, Ashok needed to go home. He said, "Okay, Moharji, we'll meet tomorrow. By the way, where do you live?"
Moharji hesitated before replying, "I... live in the nearest town".
"Oh, you mean Alfas Bazaar?" Ashok asked.
"Yes... Alfas Bazaar," Moharji replied, his hesitation evident.
Immediately, Ashok started running home. As he ran, he glanced back and waved goodbye to Moharji. Once Ashok was out of sight, the old man's smile slowly faded.
He turned back and walked slowly into the forest, a gnarled staff forming in his hand. Leaning on it for support, he moved with measured steps. Then, he stopped, struck the ground with the staff's tip, and a shimmering blue aura expanded around him, forming a sphere. Within moments, he vanished.
Far away, deep within a pool of molten lava, a dark demon stirred. Its sharp eyes flickered open, burning with malice. Thick, scarred skin pulsed as it absorbed the heat, slowly regenerating from heavy wounds.
Kneeling before it was a warrior with the face of a tiger—his wild eyes gleamed, claws sharp, and a sword resting at his side. A serpent-like soldier approached, handing him a scroll. The warrior unrolled it—blank.
Without hesitation, he drew his sword, slashed his palm, and pressed his bloodied hand onto the scroll. Symbols flared to life, pulsing with dark energy. In an instant, armor formed around him, radiating power.
He let out a vicious roar, dripping with menace. Then, in a blink, he shot into the sky like a streak of darkness and disappeared.
The demon in the molten pool curled its lips into a cruel smile, sending a chilling fear through my very core.