The air around the Temple of Lord Vishwa was thick with incense and the low hum of chanting voices. Pilgrims crowded the stone steps, holding garlands of marigolds, bowls of rice, and small clay lamps glowing with soft light. Bells rang in the tall towers, echoing through the courtyard like a heartbeat.
Vid, just sixteen, walked a step behind Vick. His shoulders ached under the short sword on his back, but he didn't complain. They had been traveling for weeks, and Gangi Valley — now only three days away — was all he could think about.
"Three days until the battle," Vick had said that morning. "Three days until everything changes."
Now, as they climbed the last steps toward the temple, Vick's jaw was tight. Vid heard him whisper under his breath, "If we fail in that valley… the whole empire will bleed."
When they stepped through the great doors, the noise outside faded away. The hall was vast and calm. A giant statue stood in the center — a huge bird with folded wings, its head bowed toward a chamber beyond. Its jade eyes glinted faintly in the torchlight. The stone floor under their feet was cool and worn smooth by generations of worshippers.
"Why a bird?" Vid asked quietly.
Vick didn't answer at first. His eyes stayed fixed ahead. "Some say it was Lord Vishwa's messenger," he said finally. "Others say it was His first creation. But we're not here for stories."
They pushed open the heavy doors and entered the inner chamber.
The air was still. The walls were covered in faded murals showing old wars, empires rising and falling, and at the center — a figure cloaked in light. At the far end sat an old sage, cross-legged on a saffron cloth, eyes closed in meditation.
Then, suddenly, the sage looked up.
His eyes locked on Vid.
The boy froze. That gaze felt sharp enough to see through him — through skin, memory, and time itself. For a brief second, Vid saw a vision: a battlefield under a blood-red sky, towers falling, armies clashing like thunder. In the middle stood an older version of himself — scarred, silver-haired, with bow in hand — facing a giant shadow that covered the sun.
The vision vanished as the sage spoke in a ringing, ancient voice:"Yatra devasya margah durlabhah, tatra purusho divyo jayati."The path to the Lord is harder than the path of kings, yet the divine man shall triumph.
Vid blinked, confused. "What… what did he just say?"
But the sage continued in Sanskrit, his tone rising.Vick caught fragments: the boy of sixteen… the bearer of the eternal spark… the coming war beyond this age…
Finally, the sage stood, leaning on his carved staff. His voice deepened."You are Vid. Not just a soldier's son. Not just a wanderer. You are the thread that will bind together a broken age."
Vid's mouth went dry. "I… I don't understand."
"You will," the sage said softly. "But not today. Today, you hunt a monster."
Vick stepped forward. "Sage, with respect — our emperor sent us to protect Gangi Valley. It will fall if we don't act."
The sage raised a hand. "The valley will stand or fall regardless of you, Commander. But this boy—" he nodded toward Vid, "—his path reaches beyond your war, beyond your emperor, beyond this age."
"I'm just a kid," Vid said, almost laughing. "I can fight, sure, but saving the world? That's not me."
The sage smiled faintly. "The oak does not know it is an oak when it is an acorn."
Vid looked away, uneasy. But deep down, part of him wanted to believe. That vision had felt too real to ignore.
"What war?" Vick asked quietly.
The sage's eyes went distant. "A war not yet named. It will begin when the sky burns and the rivers turn black. Nations will crumble. Gods will walk among mortals again. And this boy—" his gaze sharpened "—will hold the balance in his hands."
Silence filled the chamber. Outside, a temple bell tolled.
Vick straightened. "We can't delay any longer. Whatever this prophecy means, we have orders."
The sage nodded as if expecting that. "Go then. But remember, Vid — the monster you face now is only the shadow of the one you'll meet in the years ahead. Learn its hunger. Learn its shape. You'll face it again — alone."
Vid swallowed. "And if I fail?"
"Then the age fails with you."
The words stayed with him long after they left the temple.
They walked down the steps in silence. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the great bird statue. Vid kept his eyes on the ground, his mind replaying the vision and the sage's words.
"Do you believe him?" he asked finally. "About me?"
Vick paused. "I believe in what I've seen," he said. "And I've seen you survive things grown men wouldn't."
"That's not the same as saving the world."
"No," Vick said quietly. "But it's a start."
Ahead lay the dark forest where the monster had last been seen. Somewhere out there, three days from Gangi Valley, something waited. But for the first time, Vid wondered if that creature was just the beginning.
And something far worse was coming.
The Inner Chamber
The moment they stepped back inside the main hall, silence swallowed them. The air smelled of sandalwood and camphor. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, lighting the statue of Lord Vishwa in gold.
The god stood carved from white marble, four arms holding a bow, a conch, a lotus, and a raised hand in blessing. A massive bird knelt at His feet — Garuda, the divine mount — so finely carved it almost looked alive.
Vid stared in awe. The bow in the god's hand seemed to call to him. He walked closer, past the lamps and flowers, until he stood before the statue.
He knelt, pressing his hands together. His voice trembled."Lord Vishwa… I want to meet you."
The words came out on their own, but they felt right.
"You're the only one who can stop this war," he whispered. "Everyone's afraid. If we lose Gangi Valley, so many will die. I don't want to see that again. Not like before."
Images of his burning village flashed in his mind — the screams, the smoke, his mother's voice. His fists clenched.
"I'm not strong enough yet," he said, his voice shaking. "But I will be. I'll become strong enough to protect everyone. To end this war."
He lifted his head, meeting the god's calm eyes."I'll become the greatest archer in the world," he vowed. "And when darkness comes, I'll stand in the front lines — even if it kills me."
For a second, the statue's bow shimmered faintly in gold light. Vid didn't notice — his eyes were closed, his head bowed in silent prayer.
Behind him, Vick watched quietly. He heard something powerful in the boy's voice — a will that could shape fate itself.
When Vid stood again, he felt lighter. The fear was still there, but so was purpose."Let's go," he said simply.
Vick nodded. "We will. But remember — the god listens, yes… but He also tests. You've made a promise today, and it won't be an easy one."
Vid smiled faintly. "I'm ready."
As they left, the temple bell rang deep and clear. To Vid, it didn't sound like a prayer call. It sounded like an answer.
The Night of the Storm
The moon had risen, its light spilling across the cracked road. Vid and Vick had spent the day near the temple, following Vick's strict routine — meditation, movement, awareness.
"To prepare for war," Vick said, "you must sense the world around you — even what hides in the dark."
They walked for hours in silence, the cool air carrying the scent of wet earth and incense from far behind. Vid's legs ached, but his mind was calm. The sage's prophecy, the vision, and his vow before the god all swirled inside him.
They stopped in a clearing surrounded by tall sal trees."Sit," Vick said quietly. "This is where we meditate tonight."
Vid sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. The forest was still. Then… too still.
"Feel the air," Vick murmured. "Let it tell you what it hides."
For a moment, Vid heard only the wind, the rustle of leaves, and the soft chirp of insects. Then — a faint vibration. The air itself seemed to hum.
Vid's eyes opened.
A blue light flickered in the distance, moving between the trees.
Vick's voice dropped. "We're not alone."
Something moved — tall, gliding, neither man nor beast. Its body was dark, cracked with glowing blue veins. Its claws shimmered faintly, and lightning sparked under its skin.
"Predh…" Vick muttered.
Vid didn't know the word, but his instincts screamed to run.
The creature turned its head, and the blue lines on its body flared brighter. It let out a deep, humming growl that shook the ground.
"Don't move," Vick whispered.
The Predh stepped forward, the soil sizzling beneath its feet. Then, it raised one clawed arm to the sky.
A bolt of lightning crashed down.
The ground exploded, throwing Vid backward. His ears rang, and the air smelled of burnt earth.
Another flash came — faster, brighter. Vick shoved Vid aside, and thunder split the night. The shockwave hit them like a wall, sending them flying.
Vid tumbled through the air, glimpsing Vick's figure and the glowing monster before he hit the ground. Pain shot through his ribs. He tried to stand, but another bolt struck a tree nearby, splitting it in two.
Vick staggered up, blood at his mouth. "Vid — run!"
Vid couldn't. His legs wouldn't move. He watched the creature step closer, light crackling along its claws.
The air tightened. The hum deepened. The light burst.
Then — silence.
The world vanished in a blinding flash as the lightning swallowed them both.