"Firstly, you need to understand something fundamental," Kisna began, his tone calm yet firm. "In our world, we call humans with little or no magic Normals."
He paused for a moment, allowing Arjun to absorb the term before continuing.
"Long ago, things were very different. Initially, every human possessed magical abilities. Some had only a spark, while others wielded immense, overwhelming power. Naturally, as time passed, society began to organize itself around these differences. Those with greater magical strength rose to positions of authority—they became kings, queens, and rulers. Beneath them were those with moderate abilities, who served as ministers, generals, scholars, and warriors. And then… there were those with barely any power."
Kisna's expression darkened slightly.
"They were pushed into the margins of society. Forced into menial roles—soldier pawns, servants, cleaners, laborers. Their worth was measured solely by their magic, or rather, their lack of it."
Arjun frowned, already sensing where this was going.
"Over generations," Kisna continued, "this division and discrimination only deepened. The weaker mages, who barely used their magic, slowly lost it altogether due to lack of practice and natural evolution. To make matters worse, rigid social structures—what you might call caste systems—ensured that these people married among themselves, further diluting whatever little magical ability remained."
He let out a quiet breath.
"And eventually… they became what we now call Normals."
Arjun stayed silent, listening intently.
"They grew in number," Kisna said, "far outnumbering the mages. But despite their population, they had no power—no magic, no influence, no control over their fate. They were… vulnerable."
Kisna's gaze shifted slightly, as if looking into a distant past.
"Then came an age of legends. Stories you know as myths—Arthurian tales, the Mahabharata, and countless others. But for us… those weren't just stories. They were real events. Wars were fought. Kingdoms rose and fell. And in those conflicts, Normals suffered the most."
His voice grew heavier.
"Entire communities were wiped out. Innocent lives lost—not because they didn't fight, but rather because they couldn't."
Arjun swallowed.
"So the Normals decided something had to change."
Kisna continued, his tone steady.
"There had always been whispers… a legend passed down through generations. It spoke of an ancient relic hidden deep within ruins scattered across the world—a relic known as the Crystal of Balance."
Arjun leaned forward slightly, curiosity overtaking confusion.
"According to legend," Kisna said, "the crystal possessed unimaginable power. It could absorb and emit magical energy—control it, regulate it… even suppress it. It had the potential to balance the power between mages and Normals."
"But…" Arjun muttered.
Kisna nodded. "Yes. to use such a great power, there was a price."
His voice lowered.
"To awaken its true potential, the crystal required sacrifice. Not just one life… but many. Countless lives."
A brief silence filled the room.
"As news of the crystal spread among the Normals across continents," Kisna continued, "fear turned into determination. They were willing to sacrifice themselves—entire generations if needed—for the hope of a safer future. A future where their children wouldn't live in fear of magic."
Arjun's eyes widened slightly.
"So they began searching for it?"
"Exactly," Kisna replied. "Groups of Normals formed expeditions. They traveled across dangerous lands, through ancient ruins, facing calamities, traps, and creatures long forgotten. Many died. Most failed."
He paused, then added quietly,
"But one group succeeded."
Arjun leaned in.
"They discovered the Cave of Crystals—hidden deep within what you guys call Europe. And there… buried beneath time itself… they found it."
"The Crystal of Balance."
The weight of those words lingered in the air.
"Once they had it," Kisna continued, "the Normals faced a choice. Use it… and potentially destroy the magical order of the world… or negotiate."
"And they chose negotiation?" Arjun asked.
Kisna nodded.
"Their leaders—wise, cautious, and driven by both fear and responsibility—called for a meeting with the Council of Mages. They understood something important… If they used the crystal recklessly, it could lead to complete annihilation. Not just of mages… but of the entire world, leading to huge losses and deaths on both the sides."
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"So instead, they gave an ultimatum."
Kisna's voice sharpened slightly.
"They demanded guarantees. Protection. A solution that would ensure that Normals would never again suffer under magical dominance. And in return…"
"The crystal would be fragmented," Kisna finished.
He continued,
"The Council of Mages was forced into an impossible position. They knew the fears of the Normals were justified. Centuries of imbalance, of hidden control, of silent oppression—it had all built up to this moment."
"And they were afraid too," Kisna added. "Afraid of what the crystal could do if used against them."
He looked directly at Arjun.
"And most importantly… they had no other choice."
A quiet intensity filled his voice.
"So… they agreed."
Arjun remained silent, completely absorbed.
"What followed," Kisna said, "was something unprecedented. A fragile alliance. Mages and Normals—working together for the first time in history."
He gestured slightly with his hand.
"They combined their knowledge, their strengths, and even their lives… to create something extraordinary."
"The Veil."
Arjun's eyes flickered.
"The Veil," Kisna repeated, "is exactly what it sounds like—a barrier. A layer of reality woven from powerful magic and ancient rituals. It separates our world… from yours."
He continued, his tone almost reverent now.
"It doesn't just hide magic—it creates an entirely separate dimension within the same world - Your world and then our world where magic thrives, unseen and untouched by Normals."
Arjun slowly shook his head in disbelief.
"That's… insane."
"It is," Kisna admitted. "The creation of the Veil required immense sacrifice. Both sides gave their everything to make it. Lives were lost. The Crystal of Balance was fragmented to stabilize the process."
He paused.
"But it worked."
"The Veil ensured that future generations of Normals would live without knowledge of magic… and without fear of it."
Arjun frowned slightly. "So no one can cross it?"
"Almost no one," Kisna corrected.
"Only high-level mages can pass through the Veil. And even then, it's heavily restricted. There are specific portals scattered across the world—ancient gateways that allow controlled travel between realms."
Then Kisna's expression shifted.
More serious now.
"Which brings me to you."
Arjun stiffened.
Kisna stepped closer, his gaze piercing.
"You're a Normal. we can sense normals, yet I couldn't sense you at all."
He paused, letting the weight of that sink in.
"And also… you crossed the Veil."
Arjun's heartbeat quickened.
"That shouldn't be possible."Kisna's voice lowered.
"Even if you fell into a portal… nothing should have happened. At best, you would've passed through it without effect. At worst…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Arjun understood.
"You might have died."
Silence filled the room.
Kisna folded his arms, his eyes never leaving Arjun.
"So I'll ask you again," he said firmly.
"Who are you really?"
A pause.
"Tell me the truth."
"Do you have magic?"
Another step forward.
"And if you do… how?"
Arjun opened his mouth to respond—but no words came out.
His mind was spinning.
Everything felt unreal.
The Veil.
Magic.
Another world.
He clenched his fists and, almost desperately, pinched himself.
Once.
Twice.
Harder.
Nothing changed.
No waking up.
No escape.
No illusion breaking.
His breath grew shallow.
"This… isn't a dream," he whispered.
And for the first time—
Arjun truly understood.
This was real!!!