The sun hung low in the sky, painting the clouds in streaks of crimson and gold. Veer stood on the edge of the rocky cliff, the wind whipping through his long black hair. His bare feet gripped the earth as he gazed out at the forest below, the place where his next challenge waited.
His heart pounded—not from fear, but from anticipation.
Behind him, footsteps approached.
"Veer," came a familiar voice. It was Arya, the young archer who had become one of his most loyal friends. She tucked her bow over her shoulder and stepped beside him. "We scouted ahead. The warlord's men have fortified the river crossing."
Veer closed his eyes, feeling the whispers of Vakya, the divine system stirring inside him. Words shape reality. Choose wisely.
He inhaled slowly. "What's their strength?"
"About thirty men," Arya replied softly. "But they've got a Seer with them."
Veer opened his eyes. A Seer—one who could glimpse possible futures and twist the outcome in their favor. This wasn't going to be a simple fight.
"We can't rush them head-on," Arya continued. "They're expecting us."
Veer turned toward her, his face calm but determined. "That's exactly why we won't attack the crossing."
She frowned. "Then where?"
Veer pointed down toward a hidden trail in the forest. "We'll cross upstream. I've seen it in a vision—the stones beneath the surface are strong enough to hold us."
Arya stared at him, her brow furrowed. "You saw it?"
Veer nodded. "Vakya showed me the path."
For a moment, Arya looked at him like she always did in these moments—half in awe, half worried. She trusted him, but she also feared what relying on a divine system might one day cost him.
"Alright," she said, pulling her bow tighter across her chest. "Then lead the way, Veer."
As they moved down the slope, the others gathered—Jai, the fierce warrior with the scarred face; Mira, the healer who'd saved Veer more times than he could count; and even little Tanu, the boy who had once been nothing more than a pickpocket in a ruined village, now determined to stand with them.
Veer took a moment, looking over his small band. They weren't soldiers. They weren't an army. But they believed in him. And that belief was heavier on his shoulders than any armor.
By the time night fell, they reached the river. Veer knelt, running his fingers along the stones hidden beneath the water's surface. The current rushed fast, but the rocks were steady, just as Vakya had whispered.
"Stay close," he told the others, stepping carefully onto the first stone. His balance wavered for a moment, but then he steadied, planting his weight firmly. One by one, the others followed.
Halfway across, Veer's chest tightened. A sudden flicker of warning pulsed through his body. He turned sharply—and saw glowing eyes watching them from the opposite shore.
The Seer.
Veer's fists clenched. This wasn't going to be a quiet crossing after all.
The Seer raised a hand, murmuring words that twisted the air. Veer felt reality shift, felt the world bend—not breaking, but changing. His mind flooded with a dozen different possible futures: falling, drowning, betrayal, defeat.
But then Vakya ignited within him, a clear voice cutting through the storm of doubt: Root yourself in the now. Let their illusions fall away.
Veer slammed his foot down hard on the stone, feeling the cold water spray up around him. "Hold your ground!" he shouted. His voice carried like thunder.
Arya nocked an arrow, firing with precision at the Seer. Jai charged forward, roaring as he drew his blade. Mira raised her hands, weaving protective chants to shield them.
The battle ignited—not on land, but in the water, where balance and focus meant everything.
Veer surged forward, dodging a blast of warped energy from the Seer. His mind sharpened as Vakya whispered the right words into his soul: "Break."
He thrust his palm forward, unleashing a burst of raw force that cracked through the Seer's illusion. The glow in the Seer's eyes flickered, and for the first time, the enemy stumbled.
"Now!" Veer cried.
Arya's arrow struck true, pinning the Seer's robes to a tree. Jai slammed his sword down, forcing the warlord's men back. Veer leapt the final distance, landing on the far shore with a solid thud.
As the enemy scattered, Veer stood tall, chest heaving. He looked at his friends—so few, so brave.
And in the quiet aftermath, when the stars emerged overhead, Veer felt it: the subtle warmth of approval, like a hand on his shoulder. He didn't need to turn to know who it was.
Somewhere, Lord Shiva was watching.
Veer bowed his head slightly, offering silent thanks—not for victory, but for the strength to keep walking this path.
He turned to his companions. "Let's move. We have a kingdom to build."
And as they disappeared into the night, the river behind them glistened silver under the moonlight—witness to yet another step in Veer's rise to greatness.