The forest was quiet, unnaturally so, as if the air itself held its breath.
The towering sal and neem trees cast long shadows across the moss-covered floor, their branches whispering secrets to the wind. Veer moved through the undergrowth slowly, his senses sharpened, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. Ahead, half-buried beneath the roots of a banyan tree, stood the ancient shrine—the Temple of Echoes.
He had followed the Vakya's guidance for three days across treacherous terrain, ignoring hunger and pain. And now, the journey had brought him here —
where silence hung heavier than the humid air, and the scent of damp stone and incense lingered like ghosts of forgotten prayers.
The temple was in ruins. Its once-grand pillars had crumbled under centuries of neglect. Vines coiled around its skeletal remains like constricting serpents. But at its center, untouched by decay, stood a massive bell made of black stone, etched with markings that shimmered faintly under the slanting light of dusk.
As Veer stepped closer, the system awakened.
> Vakya Notification:
Location: Temple of Echoes — Final Trial Initiated.
Objective: Ring the Bell of Truth and face what you fear most.
Reward: One Hidden Verse. One Step Closer to Destiny.
Veer stood before the bell and placed his palm against its cool surface. The stone felt alive, humming faintly beneath his skin, as though it remembered every soul who had ever touched it.
He took a deep breath, whispered a silent prayer to Lord Shiva, and pulled back the hammer.
GONG.
The sound shattered the stillness.
It wasn't just a sound—it was a force, vibrating through his bones, rippling out into the forest like a shockwave. The world around him began to dissolve, the trees fading into mist, the earth melting into light. His vision blurred, and when he opened his eyes again, he wasn't in the forest anymore.
He was home.
Not the charred ruins he remembered, but the village as it once was—alive and warm. Smoke rose from thatched rooftops, children laughed as they chased each other through the fields, and in the distance, he heard the soft melody of his mother's voice calling his name.
"Veer! Come, it's time for supper!"
His throat tightened.
He turned to see her standing at the door, her eyes bright with affection, her smile exactly as he had remembered it. His father stood beside her, strong and proud, a gentle hand on her shoulder.
It was a dream. It had to be.
But it felt real.
He stepped forward, drawn by the warmth of that memory, by the ache in his heart to feel it again. To be held once more in that embrace. To forget the pain. To undo the loss.
Then, the sky darkened.
A low rumble echoed across the land. The wind twisted violently. He knew what came next. The disaster. The fire. The screams.
He tried to run, to stop it—but his legs wouldn't move.
The village burned.
The sky turned red.
He saw his mother again—but this time, she was shielding him from the falling embers, her face contorted in fear. His father stood before them, defiant, roaring as flames consumed him.
Then everything turned to ash.
Veer awoke with a scream.
He was back in the ruins, on his knees, drenched in sweat, his fingers digging into the earth. His heart pounded like a war drum, and his breaths came ragged.
> Vakya Update:
Trial Complete. Fear Faced. Memory Purified.
Mental Fortitude +10.
New Path Unlocked.
The black stone bell pulsed with light.
And then, without sound or tremor, a door opened in the earth before him—ancient stone steps descending into darkness. Veer rose, wiped the tears from his eyes, and walked down without hesitation.
He descended for what felt like hours, the weight of silence growing heavier with each step. At the bottom was a circular chamber bathed in pale blue light. Floating at its center was a scroll—sealed in silver, wrapped in golden thread, and surrounded by a faint, whispering aura.
He stepped toward it.
But a voice stopped him.
"Only those who speak truth may wield truth."
From the far side of the chamber, a figure emerged. Cloaked in shadows, face covered by an iron mask, the figure moved like smoke, silent and cold.
"I am the Echo Warden," the voice declared. "To claim the Hidden Verse, you must first prove your words carry weight."
Veer drew his blade. "Then I'll prove it."
The Warden lunged.
Their duel was like thunder and lightning. Blades flashed, sparks flew, and the chamber echoed with the sound of steel on steel. The Warden struck with impossible precision, forcing Veer to draw from every ounce of skill, every lesson he'd earned through blood and trial.
And then, in the heat of the battle, the Warden asked—
"What do you fight for?"
Veer dodged a strike. "For those who can't."
"What do you protect?"
He parried. "The weak."
"What do you fear?"
He hesitated—then growled, "Losing myself to vengeance."
The Warden paused. The blade lowered.
Silence fell.
"You have faced truth," the Warden said, vanishing into mist.
The scroll floated down into Veer's hands.
As he touched it, the system surged.
> Vakya Verse Unlocked: Voice of the Bell
"Those who speak with courage awaken echoes. Their words shall shake kings."
Skill Unlocked: Echo Command — A shout that disrupts illusions and lies.
The chamber trembled. A new door opened—one that led not just out, but forward.
Veer stood tall.
He had come to ring the bell. Instead, he had become it.
The journey to kingship was not paved in gold or conquest—but with truth, with clarity, with the strength to face what others turned from.
And the world would soon hear the sound of his voice.