Atura was moving rapidly toward the north.
Today, his steps carried exhaustion and despair.
Suddenly…
he noticed something like a massive mountain ahead.
He rushed toward it—
as if he had found a way forward.
Overcoming every obstacle,
he kept moving ahead.
Pushing aside the trees in his path in a strange manner,
he finally reached the place…
And what he saw—
left him stunned.
Before him stood a massive stone structure,
like an ancient piece of grand craftsmanship.
A deep light was glowing from within it.
Even the sun was shining…
yet it felt incomplete.
Atura ignored everything else—
his focus was entirely on the structure.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Around it,
eight massive wheels were placed.
Atura began touching them one by one.
After a moment…
it seemed he understood something.
He smiled slightly.
Those stone wheels
were half-buried in the ground…
Atura slowly muttered—
"Konark… the Sun Temple…"
He looked around carefully…
when suddenly, he heard a faint sound.
Frowning slightly, he said—
"Why does it feel so hot here…?"
He slowly looked up—
and saw the blazing sun above him.
The light coming from it was unusually intense.
Stepping back a little, he said—
"The Sun Temple is always filled with light…
but why does this feel so strange…?"
He observed his surroundings—
it seemed as if all the vegetation here
had dried up because of this overwhelming light…
and yet—
somehow, it was still alive.
Atura walked toward one of the wheels.
He carefully examined a carved line on its surface.
For a moment, he fell deep in thought…
Then, drawing his sword,
he gently placed it along that line.
As he did—
his eyes caught the intricate patterns
etched inside the wheel.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He whispered—
"Could this wheel… represent time…?"
But suddenly—
he stopped speaking…
Atura looked around and said—
"There are many things here…
that could be far more significant…"
He stepped away from the structure
and moved behind it.
There, he noticed an ancient entrance.
For a moment, he wondered—
should he go inside…?
But suddenly—
he felt a powerful gust of wind
rushing from behind him.
As if a strong force
was approaching him.
He quickly turned back…
Then he realized…
there was no path ahead.
He started running—
but suddenly, the wind grew extremely strong.
As he ran and looked forward…
he was shocked—
there was no ground ahead.
Below…
he could see a small stretch of water.
Atura stood silent for a moment…
then slowly said—
"Is this… what I was searching for?"
He observed the surroundings and thought—
"According to me, there must have been
a vast ocean… or a great canal here before…"
A faint spark appeared in his eyes—
"I've uncovered the secret of this place…
but it's still incomplete…"
Atura smiled—
"I will uncover the rest of it as well…"
Suddenly…
his smile turned into shock.
He felt as if…
an invisible force was pulling him backward.
His body tensed,
and chills ran down his spine.
Atura quickly turned and said—
"What is happening…?
It feels like I've lost control over my own body…"
Then—
he noticed the shadow of a young man standing on a tree.
Atura seemed to understand something…
but said nothing.
In the next instant—
he dashed forward at lightning speed
and struck at him.
But—
the young man caught his sword
with his bare hands.
Atura was shocked.
Within moments…
he was thrown down to the ground.
After a few seconds,
the young man calmly stepped down from the tree.
Atura had gone silent.
The young man wore a scarf over his face
and a black outfit.
Atura slowly stood up.
The young man extended his hand—
returning the sword to him.
After a brief pause,
Atura took it.
In his mind, he thought—
"His aura… is on a completely different level…
I've never seen someone this powerful and confident before…
He's truly extraordinary…"
Then the young man extended his hand and said—
"We should talk somewhere else…"
Atura thought to himself—
"This guy… carries a different kind of fear…"
Both of them walked away from the tree.
Atura asked him—
"Who are you…?
And how were you spying on me?"
But the young man…
for some reason, went silent.
He gave no answer.
Atura thought—
"Why isn't he answering…?"
The young man simply stared at him.
Then suddenly—
he looked straight into Atura's eyes.
After that gaze…
Atura's courage almost vanished.
He thought to himself—
"He doesn't feel dangerous…
but he definitely feels terrifying…
What if he kills me…"
Atura coughed lightly.
Then—
the man in black began to dissolve again,
like a presence that couldn't stay still.
Atura thought to himself—
"He must be incredibly powerful…
he could fight thousands alone…
people would run away just from his fear…"
Suddenly—
a young man stepped out from between the trees.
His name was Ajina.
He wore a distinct outfit,
and his aura was completely different—
calm… yet commanding.
Atura was surprised and thought—
"Who is this…?
He feels like a hero…
and the other one… carries a dark presence…"
He muttered—
"Hero versus villain…?
What am I even thinking… this isn't a play…"
Then Ajina said to the man in black—
"I want to talk to this boy…"
The man in black silently nodded…
and slowly stepped back.
Then Ajina stepped closer to the man in black
and whispered into his ear—
"I'm keeping him with me.
If anyone asks where he is,
tell them he has gone home…"
The man in black silently nodded.
He turned around
and walked away with a confident stride.
As he left, he thought—
"What if sir reveals our secret to him…"
Now only Ajina and Atura remained.
Ajina looked at Atura and asked—
"What is your name?"
Atura smiled faintly…
but gave no answer.
Ajina thought to himself—
"Should I erase his existence…
or reveal my secret to him…?"
After a brief pause—
"But in either case…
his end is inevitable…"
With that thought,
Ajina smiled to himself…