Chapter 2: The Shadow at the Threshold
The traveler's horse snorted, a puff of sulfurous embers escaping its nostrils. The man, clad in fine silk that seemed to absorb rather than reflect the light of the two suns, stared at Vikram. Because of Charm (L10-MAX), the traveler's hand—which had been inching toward his cursed ring—instead went to his beard, smoothing it nervously.
"What is it, child?" the man asked, his voice losing its sharp edge.
Vikram didn't answer immediately. He looked at his father, Kashyap, whose Punya glowed like a warm hearth. Kashyap was already reaching for a block of raw iron.
"Father," Vikram said, stepping into the heat of the forge. "That iron is too pure for this man's request. The 'Dark Vajra-Loha' he seeks isn't for a tool. It's for a key."
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]
Attribute Synergy: Eye of Truth (L0) + Dhi (Intellect L3).
Insight Unlocked: The traveler is seeking to forge a Yantra-Key to unlock the 'Seals of the Lower Rivers.'
The traveler's eyes widened. "A key? I asked for a dagger, boy. Your father's fame reaches the capital; I merely wish for a protector's blade."
Vikram looked at the traveler's hand. The Veda-Drishti highlighted the ring. A stream of black Sanskrit characters was leaking from the gem, coiling around the man's finger like a parasite.
[ KARMIC EVENT: THE STRANGER'S TRUTH ]
Current Punya: 995.
Objective: Reveal the man's lie to your father.
Reward: +20 Punya (Unlocks the Akasha Shop).
"If it is a protector's blade," Vikram said, his voice as calm as the Kalindi River, "then why does your ring whisper the Atma-Shoshana (Soul-Drying) mantra? You aren't a traveler. You are a Duta (Messenger) from the Asura-aligned court of the South."
The temperature in the forge dropped ten degrees. The air grew heavy. Kashyap dropped the iron block. The clang echoed through the village.
"Vikram, go inside," Kashyap commanded, his eyes narrowing at the stranger. A blacksmith in the Treta Yuga was no ordinary man; he possessed Strength (L6) from years of working celestial metals.
The traveler laughed, but it was a hollow, frantic sound. The Charm stat was still holding him back, preventing him from lashing out, but his Paap was beginning to boil over.
"Smart brat," the man hissed. "Too smart for a village of soot-covered hammers."
He turned his horse to flee, but as the beast reared back, it kicked over a stack of ceremonial wood meant for the evening temple fire.
[ OPPORTUNITY DETECTED ]
Task: Fix the temple wood before it touches the mud.
Reward: +10 Punya.
Vikram didn't hesitate. He used his Speed (L4). To the villagers watching, Vikram was a mere blur of white cotton. He caught the heavy logs before they hit the ground, stacking them back with a precision that defied his small frame.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
Punya Earned: +10.
Current Total: 1,005.
THRESHOLD REACHED: AKASHA SHOP UNLOCKED.
Finally, Vikram thought. He sat cross-legged on the ground, seemingly catching his breath, but his mind dove into the Akasha Interface.
[ AKASHA SHOP: LEVEL 1 ]
Welcome, Seeker. Your merit has opened the gates of the Divine Marketplace.
Available for 1,000 Punya:
[Vajra-Netra Scroll]: Temporarily upgrades Eye of Truth to L5 for 10 minutes.[Mantra of Paralysis]: A low-tier Vayu-code that freezes a target's joints.[Identification Scroll (Ancient)]: Permanently reveals the true name and rank of any being below Tier 5.
Vikram looked at the traveler, who was now desperately trying to spur his horse away, but the animal seemed mesmerized by Vikram's presence.
"System," Vikram whispered. "I buy the Identification Scroll."
[ PURCHASE COMPLETE ]
Item Consumed.
Scanning Target...
Identity Revealed: Kala-Nemi, a shapeshifting spy of the Asura Warlord Puloman.
Rank: Rathi (Level 25).
Threat Level: EXTREME for current village level.
Vikram's heart hammered against his ribs. A Rathi? His father was strong, but he wasn't a Rathi. If this spy escaped and brought back his army, the beautiful village on the Kalindi would be ash by sunrise.
Vikram felt his Manipura Chakra (Navel) heat up. He had the knowledge, but he lacked the weapon.
"Father!" Vikram shouted. "He is an Asura spy! Don't let him leave the village borders!"
Kala-Nemi stopped pretending. He snarled, and his skin rippled, turning a sickly grey. He touched his ring, and a blast of Black Tejas erupted, knocking Kashyap back.
"Since you've seen through the mask, boy, I'll start the sacrifice with you!" Kala-Nemi roared. He raised his hand, and the air around Vikram began to thicken into poisonous needles.
What is Vikram's next move?
The Divine Shield: Use the last 5 Punya to ask the System for a "Karmic Loan" to buy a [Protection Shield of Durga].The Counter-Chant: Use Mantra-Hacker (L1) to identify the "Delete" syllable in the spy's needle-spell and shout it out to nullify the attack.The Father-Son Combo: Throw a piece of Vajra-Iron to his father and use his Charm (L10) to inspire the villagers to surround the spy, creating a "Circle of Punya" that weakens Asura magic.
Choose the path of the legend!