Aryavart : The Eternal Quest

A winding path through ancient ruins and dense forests, leading toward Pantharpur, the Crossroads of Fate.

The sky is painted with hues of deep orange as the sun begins its descent. Arya, Vaishnavi, Sachin, and Ravi make their way through the rugged landscape, the distant silhouette of Pantharpur barely visible on the horizon. Despite the beauty of the scene, an unsettling energy lingers in the air—a quiet promise of danger ahead.

Sachin (grumbling as he adjusts his sword belt): "I don't like this. A city called the Crossroads of Fate? Sounds like a place where people end up dead."

Vaishnavi (smirking, adjusting her bow): "Then stay close, Sachin. Maybe fate will spare you if you don't run off this time."

Sachin scoffs, but his grip on his sword tightens. Arya walks ahead, silent, lost in thought. Ravi, the mysterious girl they found, walks beside him, her tiny feet barely making a sound on the dirt path. Unlike the others, she seems unbothered by the tension in the air.

Ravi (softly, gazing ahead): "Something is waiting for us."

Her words cause Arya to stop in his tracks. Vaishnavi and Sachin tense immediately.

Arya (turning to her, careful): "What do you mean?"

Ravi tilts her head as if listening to something only she can hear. Her bright eyes, too knowing for a child, flicker with an unreadable expression.

Ravi (whispering): "Shadows. They know we are coming."

Before anyone can react, a sudden gust of wind rushes past them, carrying with it the faint, eerie whisper of voices. The trees rustle unnaturally, and the temperature drops. Arya's hand instinctively goes to his sword.

Sachin (drawing his weapon, nervous but trying to act tough): "That's it. I knew this place was cursed."

Vaishnavi nocks an arrow, her eyes scanning the darkening landscape. Arya doesn't move, instead looking down at Ravi, who stands unnervingly still.

Arya (lowering his voice): "Ravi… how do you know this?"

The little girl slowly turns to face him, her small hand reaching for his. The moment her fingers touch his palm, a pulse of warmth shoots through Arya's entire body—like a spark igniting something long buried. For a brief second, the world around him shifts—ghostly images flicker before his eyes: battles long past, a throne lost to time, a woman's voice whispering his name. Then, as quickly as it comes, the vision vanishes.

Arya pulls his hand away, his breath unsteady. Vaishnavi and Sachin look at him with concern, but Ravi simply smiles.

Ravi (softly, almost teasing): "You felt it, didn't you?"

Arya (still shaken, exhaling slowly): "What… was that?"

Ravi (looking up at the darkening sky, voice distant): "A memory. Not yours… but one that belongs to you."

A heavy silence follows. The weight of her words lingers, unspoken questions hanging in the air.

Vaishnavi (cautiously): "Arya… what did you see?"

Arya clenches his jaw. He doesn't answer—not yet. Instead, he grips his sword tighter, refocusing on the present.

Arya (firmly, looking ahead toward Pantharpur): "We keep moving."

No one argues. As they continue their journey, the shadows in the distance stir, watching, waiting… and the path ahead grows darker.

 A ruined temple deep in the wilderness, bathed in silver moonlight. The group has set up camp within its crumbling stone walls, surrounded by towering pillars covered in ancient inscriptions. A small fire crackles between them, casting flickering shadows on the cold ground.

Arya sits near the edge of the temple ruins, his gaze fixed on the endless stars above. The night is quiet, save for the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Ravi sits beside him, her tiny hands wrapped around her knees, her bright eyes reflecting the celestial glow.

Ravi (softly, breaking the silence): "Arya… do you ever feel like you've lost something important? Something… you don't even know you're missing?"

A sharp breath catches in Arya's throat. He wasn't expecting that question. He turns his head, looking at the small girl beside him. Her face is unreadable, but there's something… knowing in her gaze. Something far too deep for a child.

Arya (carefully): "Why do you ask?"

Ravi tilts her head slightly as if searching for the right words. Finally, she looks up at the sky, her voice quiet and distant.

Ravi (whispering): "Because… I feel it too. Like a piece of me is missing. Like I once belonged somewhere else… but I don't remember where."

A shiver runs down Arya's spine. He doesn't know why, but her words strike something deep inside him—an ache he's never been able to name. Memories of his trials flash through his mind. The pain of judgment in Dwaraka, the flames of Wrath in Lanka, the weight of power he's gathered along the way… but underneath it all, there's always been a void. An emptiness he has never been able to explain.

Before he can respond, Ravi turns to him and—without hesitation—places her small hand on his chest, right over his heart.

Ravi (softly, almost like a revelation): "You are… familiar. Like a dream, I almost remember."

A strange warmth radiates from her touch, pulsing through Arya's body. It's not power, not magic—but something deeper. A recognition. Like a name on the tip of his tongue that he can't quite grasp.

Nearby, Vaishnavi and Sachin—who had been resting—exchange wary glances. They heard everything.

Vaishnavi (standing, her eyes narrowing): "Arya… we need to talk."

Sachin crosses his arms, glancing between Ravi and Arya with suspicion.

Sachin: "Yeah, because this is getting strange."

Arya removes Ravi's hand gently, but his expression is tense and conflicted. He looks at Vaishnavi and Sachin, then back at the small girl beside him—this mysterious child who appeared from nowhere, who knows things she shouldn't, and who is undeniably connected to him in some way neither of them understands.

A heavy silence lingers. The fire crackles. The stars continue to shine. And somewhere in the distance, an unseen force stirs, watching, waiting…