The air around the Temple of Lord Vishwa was thick with the scent of incense and the low hum of chanting. Pilgrims filled the wide stone steps, carrying marigold garlands, bowls of rice, and small clay lamps flickering in their hands. Bells rang from the temple towers, their rhythm echoing like a heartbeat through the courtyard.
Vid, only sixteen, walked a step behind Vick. His shoulders ached under the weight of the short sword strapped to his back, but he didn't complain. They had been on the road for weeks, and the thought of reaching Gangi Valley — just three days away — kept pushing him forward.
"Three days until the battle," Vick had said that morning. "Three days until everything changes."
Now, climbing the last flight of stairs to the temple's gates, Vid noticed the hard look in Vick's eyes. The man whispered under his breath, "If we fail in that valley… the whole empire will bleed."
When they stepped into the temple's main hall, the noise outside faded into silence. A giant statue stood at the center — a massive bird with its wings folded and head bowed, as if kneeling before the chamber beyond. Its eyes, carved from dark jade, glimmered faintly in the torchlight. The cool stone under their boots was worn smooth by centuries of worshippers.
Vid tilted his head. "Why a bird?" he asked quietly.
Vick didn't answer right away. His eyes stayed fixed on the chamber doors ahead. "Some say it was Lord Vishwa's messenger," he finally said. "Others say it was His first creation. But we're not here for stories."
He pushed open the heavy doors, and they entered the inner chamber.
The air felt heavier inside — thick and still. Faded murals covered the walls: great battles, fallen empires, and at the center of it all, a figure wrapped in light. At the far end sat an old sage on a saffron-draped platform, eyes closed in deep meditation.
Then suddenly — the sage's head snapped up.
His gaze locked onto Vid.
The boy froze. The old man's eyes were sharp, almost burning, as if they could see straight through him. Vid felt a strange pressure behind his eyes, a warmth spreading through his chest. The world blurred — and in a blink, he wasn't in the temple anymore.
He saw a battlefield under a red sky, the air thick with ash. Towers crumbled. Armies clashed with thunderous roars. And there — older, scarred, with white streaks in his hair — was Vid himself, standing in the center, blade in hand, facing a monstrous shadow that blotted out the sun.
The vision shattered.
The sage's voice filled the room, deep and echoing:"Yatra devasya margah durlabhah, tatra purusho divyo jayati."(The path to the Lord is harder than the path of kings, but the divine man shall prevail.)
Vid blinked, confused. "What did he just say?"
But the sage continued, his voice rising as he spoke in Sanskrit. Vick could catch only pieces of it: 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 tone softened, and he spoke in their tongue.
"You are Vid," he said. "Not just a soldier's son. Not a wanderer in another man's war. You are the thread that will stitch together an age torn apart."
Vid swallowed hard. "I… I don't understand."
"You will," the sage said calmly. "But not today. Today, you hunt a monster."
Vick stepped forward. "With respect, Sage — we're on the emperor's orders. Gangi Valley will fall if we don't—"
The sage raised a hand. "The valley will stand or fall regardless of you, Commander. But this boy—" he looked at Vid, "—his steps echo far beyond your emperor or this age."
Vid almost laughed, nerves trembling in his chest. "I'm just a kid. I can fight, sure, but this war you're talking about? 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. Still, a tiny spark inside him — something stubborn — wanted to believe the sage. That vision had felt too real to ignore.
Vick's voice lowered. "Sage… what war?"
The old man's eyes turned distant again. "A war not yet named. It will begin when the sky burns and rivers turn black. Nations will fall. Gods will walk among mortals again. And this boy—" his gaze sharpened, "—will hold the balance in his hands."
Silence hung heavy in the room. Outside, temple bells tolled softly.
Vick straightened. "We can't delay. Prophecy or not, our orders are clear."
The sage nodded, unsurprised. "Go, then. But remember this, Vid — the monster you face now is only a shadow of the one that waits for you in years to come. Learn its shape. Learn its hunger. One day, you'll face it alone."
Vid hesitated. "And if I fail?"
The sage didn't blink. "Then the age fails with you."
The words echoed long after they left the temple.
As they descended the steps, the crowd had thinned and the sun dipped low, painting the bird statue in shadow. Vid kept his gaze down, his mind replaying the vision and the sage's warning.
He finally asked, "Do you believe him? About me?"
Vick's answer came slowly. "I believe in what I've seen. And I've seen you survive things grown men couldn't."
"That's not the same as saving the world."
"No," Vick said quietly. "But it's a start."
The road ahead led toward the dense forest where the temple priests had reported sightings of the creature. Three days from Gangi Valley, a monster waited. But for the first time, Vid wondered if that monster was just the beginning of something far greater.
And far worse.
The main chamber of the temple was breathtaking. The noise from outside vanished completely, replaced by deep stillness. The air smelled of sandalwood and camphor, while beams of sunlight filtered through narrow windows, striking the central statue with a golden glow.
Vick walked ahead, steady as ever, his hand resting on his sword hilt — as if even here, he couldn't forget the coming war. Vid slowed his pace. The air in the chamber felt alive, humming faintly through his bones.
Then he saw it.
Lord Vishwa's statue stood at the heart of the hall, carved from white marble that shimmered faintly. Four arms — one holding a bow, one a conch, one a lotus, and one raised in blessing. His face was calm yet powerful, and His eyes seemed to look right through the soul. At His feet knelt a great bird, Garuda, so detailed that even the feathers looked real.
Vid's breath caught. The bow in the god's hand seemed to glow faintly, drawing him closer. He stepped forward until he was right before the statue.
Vick stayed back, watching quietly.
Vid dropped to his knees, pressing his palms together. His voice shook as he whispered, "Lord Vishwa… I want to meet you."
The words slipped out naturally. He didn't know why, but it felt like the god was listening.
"You're the only one who can end this war," he said softly. "Everyone's scared. If we lose Gangi Valley, so many will die. I don't want that. Not again."
Flashes of his past — screams, blood, fire — rushed through his head. His fists clenched tight. "I'm not strong enough yet," he admitted. "But I will be. I'll become strong enough to protect everyone."
He looked up at the god's calm face. "I'll become the strongest archer in the world. When the time comes, I'll stand on the front lines, no matter what comes for us. Even if it kills me."
The chamber seemed to warm slightly, the statue's bow glinting faintly. Vid didn't notice. His eyes were closed in prayer.
Behind him, Vick's expression softened. In the boy's trembling voice, he heard something unshakable — the kind of resolve that changes the fate of kingdoms. He knew this vow would shape Vid's destiny.
When Vid finally rose, he felt lighter. His heart was still heavy with fear, but beneath it burned purpose. He turned to Vick, wiping his eyes. "Let's go."
Vick nodded. "We will. But remember — the gods listen, yes. But they also test. You've made a promise here, Vid. The road ahead won't be easy."
Vid gave a small, confident smile. "I'm ready for the test."
A temple bell rang in the courtyard — deep and long. To Vid, it didn't sound like a prayer call. It sounded like an answer.
And though Gangi Valley was still three days away, Vid no longer felt like a boy being dragged into battle. He was walking toward it — head high, heart steady, a vow carved into his soul.
That night, the moon hung high, casting silver light over the cracked path. Vid and Vick had spent the day leaving the temple grounds, following Vick's usual routine — meditation, observation, movement. "To prepare for war," Vick said, "you must learn to sense the world, even its shadows."
They walked for hours in silence. The cool night air carried the scent of wet earth and incense from the temple far behind. Vid was tired, but his mind was clear. The sage's words, the vision, the vow — all swirled in him like a storm.
They stopped in a small clearing surrounded by tall sal trees. The forest whispered with the wind.
"Sit," Vick said quietly. "We meditate here tonight."
Vid sat cross-legged, closing his eyes. The night was quiet… maybe too quiet.
"Feel the air," Vick said. "It hides things."
Vid focused on breathing. Inhale… exhale… leaves brushing… insects chirping… the creak of a branch—
Then — a faint vibration. Not wind.
His eyes snapped open.
The air prickled. His skin tingled as static crawled across it. A faint blue light flickered between the trees.
Vick tensed. "We're not alone."
Something moved — gliding, not walking. A tall, shadowed shape, with long limbs ending in faintly glowing claws. Its skin was dark and cracked, lined with thin veins of lightning.
"Predh…" Vick whispered.
Vid didn't know the word, but fear hit instantly. His muscles locked.
The creature turned toward them. Its blue veins flared. A strange hum filled the air — not a roar, not a growl — something worse, something unnatural.
"Don't move," Vick warned.
The Predh stepped closer. The ground hissed beneath its feet. Then, it raised one arm to the sky.
Lightning crashed down.
The forest exploded with light and sound. A bolt struck the ground near them, throwing Vid backward. His ears rang, his chest burned.
Before he could recover, another flash came — faster, louder — aimed straight at them.
"Vid, move!" Vick yelled, shoving him aside.
The world split open in thunder. The shockwave flung them through the air. Vid saw flashes — the moon, the trees, Vick's hand reaching — before the darkness swallowed him whole.