After Ansh and Kiara met, everything began to change. They met every day after school, spending time in the city's old trees, stones, and nature-filled areas. Kiara not only taught him about plants but also helped him learn to meditate, listen to the sounds of nature, and feel the waves of energy.
"Nature speaks, Ansh," she said, "but its language is silent. To hear it, the mind must be still."
Ansh, who had never seen anything special in himself, began to feel something mysterious and peaceful in these experiences. Kiara's presence felt comforting, as if he were moving toward a deeper purpose.
Slowly, their friendship turned into a deep understanding—a bond that was not tied by words but by moments of silence and shared perspectives.
One day, while they were in a large forest garden at the edge of the town, suddenly, a deep darkness filled the sky. This was the town of Aranyapur—a perfect blend of nature and technology.
With a mighty roar, a monstrous figure appeared from the sky—a giant bat-like creature whose red eyes shot laser beams, burning buildings, vehicles, and trees in an instant. Its wingspan exceeded one hundred feet, and it moved so fast that even the military couldn't touch it.
The guardian forces of Aranyapur launched an attack, but the demon was incredibly powerful. One beam from it annihilated an entire patrol unit. Within moments, chaos, dust, and destruction filled the town.
Then, five pillars of light appeared from all corners of the sky. There stood the five current protectors of the noble clans—warriors who held the power of the five fundamental elements of nature, each with their unique weapon.
Vasishth of the Agnikul Clan:
Wrapped in red and golden attire, Vasishth wielded Dahajwala—a massive fire sword that left waves of flames as it moved. With each strike, the air heated up, and he threw fireballs at the demon, burning it with every blow.
Jaladhi of the Varikul Clan:
Calm and composed in blue garments, Jaladhi wielded Varisekanda—a trident from which waves of water and icy currents flowed. With one hand, the ocean-like flow rose, and from the other, freezing torrents slowed the demon's movements.
Tara of the Vayukul Clan:
In white and blue attire, Tara moved with light steps, her weapon Vayuvega—a bow that turned air into arrows. Her invisible arrows created storms, lifting the demon high into the air or smashing it down onto the ground with every shot.
Prithusar of the Bhumikul Clan:
Dressed in earth and stone, the massive Prithusar wielded Dharatalmushti—a massive mace that created earthquakes with every strike. He shook the ground beneath the demon's feet, causing it to stumble and fall.
Tejasvi of the Vidyutkul Clan:
A mysterious warrior clad in a radiant purple armor with lightning in her eyes, Tejasvi wielded Jyamini Vajrakataka—two medium-sized electric daggers she wielded with both hands. These daggers not only struck with immense speed but also burned the demon with electrical shocks. Her speed was so great that she circled the demon like a vortex, striking from all directions.
The demon had caused extensive damage to several parts of the town. Before the guardians arrived, many civilians were injured, and several military units fought back. In the end, the combined efforts of the guardians defeated the demon.
During the battle, Kiara formed a strong wind shield to protect Ansh from debris and flying rocks. When Ansh saw Kiara's power for the first time, his eyes were filled with both awe and inspiration.
"You saved me... and you have such power," he whispered.
Kiara just smiled and nodded.
After the battle, the five guardians silently returned to their elemental realms. Ansh and Kiara quietly walked back toward the town. On the way, Ansh kept replaying the battle in his mind.
Kiara told him that she was preparing to join the Vayukul Clan's army. For the first time, Ansh felt a longing for a goal—could he ever become a part of any clan?
Section 3: The Nature Festival and the Mystery of Nagamudra
The next evening, Kiara asked, "Tomorrow is the Nature Festival—our most sacred celebration. Will you come with me, Ansh?"
Ansh immediately agreed.
That night, Aranyapur sparkled with lights. The atmosphere became sacred with lamps, flowers, chants, and music.
Ansh and Kiara wandered through the festival. Then Kiara said, "I need to get something, stay here."
While Ansh stood alone, his eyes fell on a strange shop. It was made of wood and metal, and a mysterious figure sat inside, his face covered.
The figure showed Ansh a box. "Look at what's inside... it's yours."
Ansh opened the box. Inside was a black seal shaped like a snake, with blue flames flickering inside it.
As soon as Ansh touched it, a powerful vibration ran through him. A voice echoed in his mind:
"Dev... Dhan... Seven swords... Awaken..."
Ansh stepped back, but his gaze remained locked on the seal. Just then, Kiara returned and was startled upon seeing him.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah... maybe," Ansh said, but something inside him had changed.
They spent the rest of the festival, and then both headed toward the outer part of the town. Kiara led Ansh to a valley at the foot of a hill. Ansh followed her without question.
After walking for a while, they reached the top of the hill. As soon as they arrived, Ansh's eyes widened in surprise. He saw the boy who had been bullying him at school every day—Yashvardhan—standing right in front of him. Ansh was confused. It seemed like a coincidence that Yashvardhan, the boy who had stopped tormenting him since Kiara came into his life, was now standing there.
But Ansh knew something bad was about to happen when he saw Yashvardhan at the hilltop. He whispered to Kiara, "Kiara, let's leave here."
But Kiara remained silent and smiled faintly at Yashvardhan.
Seeing this, Ansh was completely baffled.
...
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