The Forbidden Element

Surya, Saria, and Rohan ascended the stone staircase as the sun dipped below the mountains, casting long shadows over the ancient Ashram.

At the summit, they were met with a breathtaking sight—a sprawling temple complex, its architecture ancient yet preserved. Towering pagodas stood against the sky, surrounded by vast courtyards, meditation halls, and training grounds where disciples honed their combat skills.

The guardian from earlier, now identified as Master Rudra, led them through the grand stone archway.

"You have earned your place here," Rudra stated. "But do not mistake this for an easy journey. This Ashram follows the path of the Five Disciplines, and to master them, you must first break yourselves down and rebuild from nothing."

Rohan scratched his head. "Sounds... painful."

Saria nudged him. "That means we'll get stronger."

Surya nodded. "Then let's begin."

Master Rudra brought them into a circular chamber, where five towering statues stood, each representing a different path of combat.

"These are the Five Disciplines," Rudra explained, gesturing to each statue.

Discipline of the Body (Tanu Shakti) – Mastery of strength, endurance, and martial arts

.Discipline of the Mind (Mana Shakti) – Mastery of elemental control and spiritual energy.

Discipline of the Blade (Astra Shakti) – Mastery of swordsmanship and weaponry.

Discipline of the Shadow (Chhaya Shakti) – Mastery of stealth, deception, and counterattacks.

Discipline of the Spirit (Atma Shakti) – Mastery of the inner self, unlocking hidden potential.

Rudra turned to them.

"Each of you must choose a discipline to begin with. You will train under the masters of this Ashram until your body and soul break—or until you emerge as warriors."

Surya clenched his fists. "I'll take Astra Shakti—the blade."

Saria stepped forward. "I'll take Mana Shakti. My water element is my strength."

Rohan smirked. "Chhaya Shakti. Stealth sounds fun."

Rudra nodded. "Very well. Training begins at dawn."

He gestured toward the courtyard, where warriors practiced under the moonlit sky.

"You should rest tonight," he said. "Tomorrow, your real battles begin."

Surya glanced at his sword, determination burning in his eyes.

This was the path to power.

Later that night, Surya sat on the edge of a wooden balcony overlooking the moonlit valley.

His mind wandered back to his fallen kingdom, his father's last words, and the power he now possessed.

"Ascend."

His ability to summon the defeated...

But he still lacked the control to use it properly.

"I have the power to change fate. But am I strong enough?"

As he stared at the sky, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"You doubt yourself."

Surya turned to see Veer, the fire swordsman he fought earlier, leaning against a pillar.

Veer smirked. "You're stronger than you think. But strength means nothing if your mind is weak."

Surya looked at him. "Then how do I fix that?"

Veer's grin widened. "Simple. You survive."

The fire warrior turned and walked away. "Get some rest, prince. You'll need it."

Surya clenched his fists.

Tomorrow, he would train harder than ever.

Tomorrow, his true journey would begin.

End of Chapter 8