DHARMA TRIALS: THE SUTRA'S CHOSEN

The forest stretched endlessly ahead, shrouded in a misty silence that felt both serene and foreboding. Aryan trudged behind Vaanya, his body aching with every step. The golden runes that had once flickered around him had faded completely, leaving him drained.

Vaanya glanced over her shoulder. "You're slowing down. If that thing comes back, I'm not carrying you."

Aryan glared at her, struggling to keep up. "Excuse me for not being a superpowered warrior like you. I just found out I have some ancient power, and I'm still trying to figure out how not to die."

Vaanya stopped abruptly, turning to face him. "And if you don't figure it out soon, you will die. That hunter was just the first. The moment you activated the Sutra, you painted a target on your back. More will come."

Aryan slumped against a tree, his breath ragged. "You keep saying that, but you haven't explained anything. What is the Sutra? Why do I have it? And who was that guy in the armor?"

Vaanya hesitated, her expression softening for the first time. She crouched down, drawing patterns in the dirt with the tip of her dagger.

"The Sutra is ancient," she began. "Older than any empire, older than the gods themselves, if the legends are true. It's a manifestation of Dharma—the cosmic law that governs balance and order. The one who controls it can reshape the world, for better or worse."

Aryan frowned. "And I'm supposed to believe I was chosen for this? I'm just a farmer!"

Vaanya chuckled dryly. "The Sutra doesn't care about bloodlines or status. It chooses based on potential. For some reason, it saw something in you."

Aryan stared at the patterns she had drawn—a series of intricate runes that looked eerily similar to the ones that had surrounded him earlier. "And the hunter?"

Vaanya's expression darkened. "There are those who seek to control the Sutra for their own gain. Cults, dark sects, even kingdoms. That hunter was probably sent by one of them. If they get their hands on you… let's just say death would be the kindest thing they'd offer."

Aryan swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling over him. "So, what do I do?"

Vaanya stood, brushing dirt off her hands. "You learn. You train. And you fight back."

A Test of Will

Vaanya led Aryan to a small clearing where a stream cut through the forest. The water sparkled in the moonlight, and the air was cool and crisp. She motioned for him to sit by the stream.

"Before you can control the Sutra, you need to understand its nature," she said, sitting cross-legged across from him. "The Sutra is tied to the essence of Dharma—balance, order, and truth. To wield it, you have to align yourself with these principles."

Aryan raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do I do that? Meditate under a tree until I grow a long beard?"

Vaanya rolled her eyes. "Not exactly. But you will meditate. The Sutra's power comes from within you. The more you understand yourself, the stronger you'll become."

Aryan sighed, closing his eyes as he tried to relax. "This feels ridiculous."

"Focus," Vaanya snapped. "Clear your mind. Feel the energy around you—the earth beneath you, the air on your skin, the flow of the stream. Dharma is everywhere, connecting all things. Let it guide you."

For a moment, Aryan sat still, his breathing slowing. He could feel the coolness of the stream, the rough bark of the tree behind him, the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.

And then, he felt something more.

A warmth began to grow in his chest, spreading outward. It was faint at first, like the flicker of a candle, but it grew stronger with each passing moment. The golden runes reappeared around him, glowing softly.

Vaanya watched him intently. "Good. Now focus on that energy. Shape it. Command it."

Aryan furrowed his brow, his hands trembling as he tried to control the energy. The runes flickered erratically, and the warmth in his chest began to burn.

"Stop!" Vaanya shouted.

Aryan's eyes snapped open as the runes flared brightly before vanishing. He gasped for air, his body drenched in sweat.

"What… what happened?" he panted.

"You were forcing it," Vaanya said, crossing her arms. "The Sutra isn't a tool you can bend to your will. It's a part of you. If you don't respect it, it'll destroy you."

Aryan groaned, lying back on the ground. "This is impossible. I can barely keep it from exploding, let alone control it."

Vaanya knelt beside him, her expression stern but not unkind. "No one said this would be easy. But if you give up now, you'll never survive the trials ahead."

Aryan stared up at the stars, the weight of his newfound power pressing down on him. "What kind of trials?"

Vaanya stood, her gaze fixed on the forest beyond the clearing. "The kind that will test every part of you—your strength, your will, your very soul."

She turned back to him, her eyes sharp. "And if you're not ready… you'll die."

A Shadowed Figure

Unbeknownst to them, a figure watched from the shadows, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. It leaned against a tree, a sly grin spreading across its face.

"So, the Sutra has chosen its vessel," the figure murmured, its voice smooth and mocking. "How… interesting."

It turned and disappeared into the forest, its presence leaving an unnatural chill in the air.

To be continued…