The city of Svar Lok was still recovering from the attack. Ashes of the cultists had barely settled when the sun rose the next day, casting a pale golden hue over the scorched bridge. People had started lighting small oil lamps near the Heart Tower, a sign of gratitude and silent mourning.
Veer stood alone beneath a banyan tree just outside the city's eastern gate. A cool wind rustled the leaves above him, and every breath he took felt like a reset. He had won the battle on the bridge — but in truth, that was only the beginning.
> "To rebuild a kingdom, you must first rebuild yourself."
Those words had echoed in his mind since morning. Words not from his system, but from his own father… a faint memory, blurry but unshaken.
Inside the sanctuary, Agniya handed him a satchel packed with essentials — medicinal herbs, an enchanted compass, and a folded scroll bearing a seal shaped like a mountain and flame.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice low.
Veer tightened the straps across his shoulder. "The answers aren't in the ruins, Agniya. They're out there — with the monks who knew the old world. The Star-Forged Monks may be the only ones who understand what I've become."
She crossed her arms. "They're not easy to find. People say they live in floating temples. And they only reveal themselves to those with pure intent."
"I'll prove mine."
She gave him a slow nod, then pulled out a small vial. "This has essence from the Tree of Kalp. If you're ever wounded beyond healing, drink it. But only once."
He took it gently. "Thank you."
She smirked. "You better come back with a beard or some scars, at least. Make it dramatic."
Veer smiled faintly, then turned toward the rising sun.
The path east of Svar Lok was ancient and broken, riddled with half-sunken stones and thorn-choked trails. Centuries ago, this road led to mountain kingdoms and sacred groves, but now it was mostly forgotten. Only whispers and stories kept it alive.
Veer's boots crunched over gravel as he walked, guided by his system's pathfinding markers — faint blue arrows visible only to him.
> [New Quest: Journey to the Star-Forged Monks]
[Location: Mount Ayani – Estimated Distance: 112 km]
[Warning: Wild Territories Ahead – Beast Threat Level: Medium to High]
Around midday, the forest grew denser. Trees arched overhead, forming a cathedral of green. Birds chirped. Somewhere in the distance, a waterfall murmured.
But even beauty could not hide danger.
Veer stopped suddenly.
The wind changed.
He ducked — just as a spear made of bone whistled past his head and struck a tree with a sickening thud.
From the underbrush, three figures leapt out — feral-looking men with war paint and jagged blades.
Bandits.
Veer readied his sword. "You don't want to do this."
One of them growled. "We want everything in that satchel. And maybe your boots too."
The second one cracked his knuckles. "And if we take your system core, maybe we'll level up faster."
Veer's eyes narrowed.
> [Threat Level: Moderate]
[Recommended Tactic: Disable + Intimidate]
He stepped forward slowly, letting the flame tattoo on his forearm glow faintly.
They noticed. Their bravado faltered.
One tried to lunge anyway.
Bad move.
Veer sidestepped and slammed the hilt of his sword into the attacker's gut, then spun and knocked the second to the ground with a well-placed kick. The third raised his blade, but Veer used Flame Step, blinking behind him and tapping the flat of his blade to the man's neck.
"Run," he said quietly.
The man dropped his weapon and vanished into the woods, dragging one of his unconscious allies with him.
> [XP Gained: +300]
[Reputation: "Wanderer of Justice" - Gained in Outer Territories]
Veer took a breath and continued walking.
By twilight, the forest thinned into mist-covered foothills. Far in the distance, the outline of Mount Ayani stood tall — a three-peaked mountain with clouds draped around its shoulders like a shawl.
Veer set up camp near a cracked stone archway, lighting a small fire with flint and spirit oil. He roasted some wild roots and berries, adding crushed herbs for flavor.
As he ate, he opened the scroll Agniya gave him. It was a letter. Her handwriting — neat, sharp, almost military in precision — filled the page.
> *"Veer, if you're reading this, you're alone in a place where the stars are closer than the ground.
That means you're ready.
The Star-Forged Monks were once the protectors of truth. They don't speak in riddles — but they don't hand out answers either. You must prove you're not just strong, but worthy of wisdom.
Show them who you are, not just what your system can do.
May Lord Shiva watch your path,
– A."*
Veer folded the letter slowly and stared at the sky.
The stars blinked awake, quiet and ancient.
He placed his palms together and whispered, "Om Namah Shivaya…"
The words felt natural, like a thread weaving through his breath and bones.
He didn't ask for power. Or safety. Or even victory.
He simply asked for clarity.
The next morning, he began the final ascent.
The trail was steep, carved into stone long ago. Each step was covered in moss and lichen, and strange birds called from unseen branches.
At the midpoint, the system pulsed.
> [Proximity Alert: Veil Barrier Detected]
[Mystic Path Ahead – Visual Deception Active]
Veer blinked — and suddenly, the mountain changed.
The path split into three, each identical.
But only one was real.
> [Mini-Quest: "Trial of Perception" – Select the True Path]
[Reward: Entry into the Temple of Stars]
Veer sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and reached within. He slowed his breath, remembering the teachings of the village priest… and the feel of his mother's fingers against his temple as she sang him to sleep.
His heartbeat slowed.
> Om Namah Shivaya... Om Namah Shivaya…
Then, faintly, he heard it.
A single bell ringing, distant but steady.
He opened his eyes — the path on the right shimmered faintly.
"Truth isn't what you see," he whispered. "It's what stays when the noise fades."
He walked right.
At the top, a silver gate awaited. Carved into it were constellations that shifted as he approached.
Then… the gate opened.
A robed figure stood inside, bathed in golden light. His eyes were like molten bronze, his skin glowing with the sun's kiss.
"You carry the Heart Flame," the monk said.
Veer bowed his head. "I seek wisdom. And peace."
"You carry great burden… but also a spark," the monk said. "Come, Veer. The stars have waited long for your return."