In the shadows of time, a whisper beckons-a tale woven with threads of destiny and secrets untold. Follow Parthivi, a modern soul bound by ancient yearnings, as she steps through veils of ages past.
Amidst whispers of prophecies and the echoes of fo...
The moment Parthivi focused on the shadowy figure, something clicked in her mind—something was off. The harder she tried to concentrate, the more brutal the figure’s attacks became, as if it were feeding off her confusion and drawing energy directly from her very soul. This wasn’t merely a physical confrontation; it was a cerebral duel, an intricate dance that twisted deeper into her, fogging her senses and overwhelming her thoughts.
Then, a thought struck her like a thunderbolt—this was an illusion. But every attempt to unravel it only ensnared her further, each effort tangling the web tighter, twisting her perception until reality seemed to slip away completely.
Desperate, Parthivi dropped to one knee, summoning her strength. She clasped an arrow, whispering a powerful mantra while charging it with divine energy. With a fierce shout, she released it skyward, praying it would shatter the nightmare. A ripple tore through the air, her surroundings flickering and glitching as if caught in a spell.
And then, with a climactic crash, everything shattered. The dark forest, the ominous shadows, the terrible figure—all of it vanished in an instant, leaving her standing in a tranquil glade, sunlight filtering softly through the leaves. Parthivi blinked, heart racing as she looked around, utterly bewildered. Where am I?
Just then, she heard it—a slow, deliberate clap echoing from behind her. She turned, eyes wide, and saw Guru Vasishtha stepping out from behind a tree, his expression glowing with pride.
He approached, arms crossed, wearing an approving smile. “You are fully ready, putri. This was a test to assess your abilities, and you have truly outdone yourself. Your education is officially complete, and now, you are ready to return to your kingdom.”
Parthivi stared at him, the weight of his words taking a moment to settle in. But instead of feeling a swell of joy or relief, her response was far from dignified.
With a gasp that echoed through the clearing like a melodramatic aria, she staggered forward and collapsed at Guru Vasishtha’s feet, clutching his ankles as if she had narrowly escaped a near-fatal encounter.
“GURUDEV!” she cried, her voice a mix of genuine shock and over-the-top drama. “THANK ALL THE GODS IT WAS YOU! I—I thought I was DONE FOR! Gurudev, I swear, I saw YAMARAJ HIMSELF today! I was ready to trade my soul for a cup of water!”
Guru Vasishtha raised an eyebrow, trying his hardest not to chuckle. “Parthivi, child, calm yourself. It was merely an illusion—”
Merely an illusion?” she shrieked, eyes wide with disbelief. “You call that an illusion? My heart was about to leap from my chest! I swear I was moments away from making my final prayers! And as if that wasn’t enough, Ashwa—that treacherous beast—was no help at all! You would think a loyal horse would assist in times of peril, but no! Not my Ashwa! He decided to trip me at every opportunity while I was battling for my life!”
At the mention of his name, a flash of movement caught Parthivi’s eye. She turned just in time to see Ashwa peeking out from behind a nearby tree, his ears drooping and eyes wide, as if he were caught in the act. With a sheepish glance, he revealed just the top of his head, as if he were counting the leaves on the tree—very important work indeed.
“Oh look! It’s Mr. Brave himself!” Parthivi shouted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Counting leaves while his rider fights for her life! What a noble steed!”
Ashwa blinked at her, clearly unfazed by the accusation. He turned his head back to the tree, nodding sagely, as if it was indeed a matter of utmost importance.
“Couldn’t you have been a little more useful, Ashwa?” she continued, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Perhaps, I don’t know, stomped on that shadowy figure? Or at least made a fuss when it was time to bail me out?”
Guru Vasishtha, suppressing laughter, stepped in. “Well, I did need to see how you’d react under pressure…”
React under pressure?” Parthivi gasped, clutching her chest in mock horror. “Gurudev, if you wanted to see my reaction, you could have asked me to solve a complex riddle or maybe—maybe—a rigorous math problem! Something logical, something without—demons from the void! Something sane, perhaps!”
He chuckled, patting her shoulder. “You’ve passed, Parthivi, and magnificently so. I thought you’d be pleased.”
“Pleased?” She looked up at him, her expression scandalized. “The next time you want to test me, just give me a simple task—count the stars, fetch a bucket of water, or maybe help an elderly lady cross the street! Don’t make me face my last breath in a dark forest while you watch and snicker! You could have at least provided popcorn for the show!”
He crossed his arms, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. “And miss the joy of witnessing such a performance? I’d never deprive myself of such delightful entertainment.”
“Oh! So this was all for entertainment now?” she exclaimed, staggering back with exaggerated shock. “All those years of relentless training, all those battles, and in the end, I face my doom in a dark forest while you sit back and enjoy the show?”
Guru Vasishtha laughed, his amusement bubbling over. “Parthivi, you are too much. But you handled yourself well; truly, you should take pride in your growth.”
Well, I’m glad one of us is entertained,” she huffed, brushing the dust off her knees, still glaring at him with mock annoyance. “But let me assure you, next time I face my end, I will not do it without the proper arrangements! Maybe some snacks, a nice seating arrangement—”
Suddenly, Ashwa, still peeking out from behind the tree, let out a soft whinny, as if to chime in on the conversation. He turned away from his serious leaf-counting to nuzzle Parthivi, offering her a moment of comfort amidst her dramatic tirade.
“Oh, fine!” she relented, ruffling his mane affectionately. “You can stay, Ashwa. You can watch my tragedy unfold from a safer distance. Just… don’t trip me next time, alright?”
With a shake of his head, Ashwa returned to counting, clearly satisfied that he’d played his part in this ridiculous episode.
Parthivi turned back to Guru Vasishtha, a grin breaking through her earlier theatrics. “But truly, thank you. If I could survive this test, then I can handle anything my kingdom throws at me. Just… maybe no more dramatic forest illusions, alright?”
Vasishtha smiled, the pride in his eyes unmistakable. “You’re ready, Parthivi. Embrace your path. The stories you’ll have to tell will be worth the journey.”
With newfound determination and the echoes of laughter still ringing in her ears, Parthivi stood tall, ready to return to her kingdom, her heart lightened by the absurdity of the moment and the bond she shared with her dear horse. Together, they would face whatever came next—just as long as it didn’t involve any more surprise tests from Gurudev. _________________________________________
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