Part 1: The Sacrifice at the Red Fort
Rudra woke up at 3:30 AM. The air in his rooftop room was still thick with the residual Kala-Chhaya energy from his terrifying vision the day before. He felt hollow and weak, the same feeling he had when he gave up food for a few days to save money—a feeling he now knew was his Prana being siphoned away by his Karmic Rinn.
He wore the only decent clothes he owned—a faded blue kurta and worn jeans—and clutched the Dhaatu Locket (Metal Locket) tightly. It was the only thing connecting him to his past and his Nani. He knew the "Aakhri Nirdesh" (Final Command) on the scroll demanded he use this Locket to create the Asura-Key. He had to sacrifice its sentimental value, or perhaps something worse.
He reached the Pashchimi (West) Gate of the Red Fort at 4:00 AM. The vast sandstone walls were dark and silent, save for the distant call of a night watchman. There was no secret entrance, no mystical light—just a vast, cold, iron cauldron placed against the ancient wall. It looked like an oversized cooking vessel, abandoned centuries ago.
From within the Cauldron, a smooth, deep voice echoed, vibrating in Rudra's skull. It was the voice of the Rinn-Vyapaari (Debt-Trader).
"The heir of Kala-Samvedana arrives at the Hour of Shadows. I am Vrishabh."
The Cauldron shimmered, and a small, Patla Vyapari (Thin Trader) materialized on its edge. He wore garments made of dried clay and thin leather, and his eyes were the colour of scorched earth.
Vrishabh spoke with a dry, businesslike tone: "The Locket is not the Key, Rudra. The sacrifice is. You must infuse your Locket with what you fear losing the most. That fear is the fuel for the Asura-Key."
Rudra considered his few possessions: his life, his debt, his education. But what he feared losing most wasn't tangible. It was the hope that one day, he might lead a normal life. The ability to dream without consequence.
Rudra closed his eyes, focusing on the Locket. He didn't use force; he used Sankalp.
"I sacrifice the Luck of my Future Freedom," he whispered. "Let the Rinn take the hope of a simple life."
The metal Locket, which had always been cold, instantly turned burning hot, forcing a muffled cry from Rudra. The Three Hollow Circles on its surface began to flow like liquid metal, fusing into a single, sharp Neeli Dhaatu (Dark Blue Metal) Vajra-Aakar (Thunderbolt Shape). It now featured Three Sharp, Etched Horns.
"Excellent," Vrishabh chuckled, retrieving the freshly forged Asura-Key. "A clean bargain. You are now officially a debtor to the Viprit-Kula. Hold tight."
Vrishabh touched the Vajra-Aakar Key to the side of the rusted Cauldron. The iron vessel didn't move; instead, the entire structure dissolved into thick, deep black smoke that spun into a powerful vortex. This was the Maya-Dwaar—the gateway to the Adrishya Lok.
Part 2: The Chill of the Chhaya Bazaar
Rudra stepped through the smoky portal. The change was instant and visceral. The heavy, polluted air of Delhi vanished, replaced by an atmosphere that was Sookha (dry), cold, and smelling distinctly of ozone and burnt incense.
This was the Chhaya Bazaar. It was not a bustling Diagon Alley; it was a sprawling, dimly lit, and dusty marketplace built in an impossible cavern. Instead of shop windows, there were rocky outcrops and makeshift stalls lit by strange, flickering lanterns that ran on Asur-Bhuti energy.
The occupants were a mix of beings:
Aakash-Gandharv: Thin, winged merchants negotiating for Karmic Seals.
Vanar-Roop: Ape-form beings selling dark Herbs and Roots believed to slow the aging process.
Asura-Kula: Figures draped in deep crimson and black robes, their eyes glowing with latent energy.
"The Chhaya Bazaar is the nexus of the Viprit-Kula," Vrishabh explained, adjusting his dry clay coat. "Here, goods are bought with Asur-Bhuti (Asura Energy), which is merely a physical manifestation of your Karmic Rinn. You pay by devaluing your future luck."
Rudra felt an unnerving sensation—a constant, subtle thrum of energy. He realized the darkness wasn't just visual; his Kala-Chhaya power was feeding off the negative atmosphere, and for the first time, the draining sensation felt less immediate.
"We must hurry to Kuber's Khajana," Vrishabh said, ushering Rudra through a narrow path lined with vendors selling Kala-Sphatik shards.
Part 3: Kuber's Khajana: The Ledger and The Loan
Kuber's Khajana was tucked deep into the market, looking less like a grand bank and more like a crumbling, fortified tomb made of black stone and red clay. There were no pillars of gold, only signs of ancient, hard debt.
Inside, the atmosphere was oppressive. Rudra approached the counter, behind which sat a Bhookha Yaksh (Hungry Yaksh). He was thin, with skin the color of Mitti (dust), and he wore an Inverted Trident etched on his forehead—the mark of the Viprit-Kula's ledger keeper.
"Rudra Sharma. Heir of the Kala-Samvedana Lineage," the Yaksh rasped, his voice sounding like sandpaper. "Your Karmic Account is ready for viewing."
Rudra handed over the Asura-Key. The Yaksh inserted it into a massive, Kaali Kitaab (Black Book) bound in dark leather. The book glowed faintly.
Yaksh-Prahari: "Initial Rinn: 10,000 Bindu. Your ancestral Virasat (Inheritance) is locked. To stabilize your life until VVK, you are eligible for one Emergency Karz (Loan)."
The First Debt:
Karz Amount: 200 Manav-Prana (Silver Coins).
Repayment Cost: This loan immediately adds 1,000 Bindu to your Rinn, making your total debt 11,000 Karmic Rinn.
The Collateral (Kala-Sphatik): The Yaksh slid a Gol, Kaala Ratn (Round, Black Gem) across the counter. "This Kala-Sphatik is your collateral. It will track and store your Karmic Rinn. Use it to control your Kala-Chhaya when it threatens to drain the energy of those around you."
Rudra took the black, cold Sphatik. He felt the weight of 11,000 Bindu—a debt he now knew was far more real than any college fee. He had traded a sliver of his future for a mere 200 Manav-Prana. He was the poorest student in the history of the Adrishya Lok.
Vrishabh's Final Bargain: "Now, Rudra, you must buy your supplies. Remember, every purchase is a risk. You must choose wisely."
Rudra had 200 Manav-Prana to buy a uniform, a book, and transportation to the VVK deep in the Himalayas. His journey had just begun, and he was already drowning in debt.