After a Week...
Rudra stood with Shiva, Sandeep, Ravi, Tejas, Meena, and Junoo before a massive iron gate, its bars twisted with age, covered in rust and vines.
The gate looked ancient, its metal surface worn by time, but still sturdy.
Beyond it stood an old farmhouse, its wooden structure seemingly simple, yet radiating a presence that was hard to ignore.
Amirtha, who had led them here, pointed at the farmhouse.
"This is Gurukul."
Shiva blinked in confusion.
"Wait… this? This is Gurukul?"
Tejas frowned.
"I thought it would be some grand temple or a huge ashram, not…"
He gestured at the farmhouse, searching for the right words.
"…not an abandoned house?"
Meena finished his sentence.
The gate creaked open on its own.
"Welcome to Gurukul,"
Amirtha said, stepping forward.
As they stepped inside, the farmhouse appeared just as it seemed from the outside—
a simple, homely place.
The walls were made of old wood, giving off a warm and welcoming feel.
There were no grand halls, no golden pillars, or statues of past warriors—
just a modest dwelling with a few rooms and a spacious courtyard.
But what caught their attention were the children and teenagers scattered around chatting and playing.
and a few sat in meditation, their astras glowing faintly in their hands.
"So… this is Gurukul?"
Shiva muttered, looking around in disbelief.
"This place looks so... normal,"
Meena commented, still expecting something more grand.
"And yet,"
Junoo added, his eyes scanning the trainees,
"these kids are wielding those strange weapons you called astra's as if it's second nature."
Sandeep sighed dramatically, still holding Himāstra in his hands which Rudra had given to him after taking it from the enemy before they departed.
Sigh~
"So, I guess I'm an Astra wielder now. Does that make me special?"
he joked, twirling the hilt of the weapon.
"Special? You?"
Ravi smirked, nudging him with his elbow.
"More like the first guy to get an Astra and still be useless in a fight."
The group chuckled, while Sandeep groaned.
"Give me a break! I just got this thing. At least I have an Astra, unlike someone here—"
"Alright, alright, stop picking on him,"
Meena interrupted, shaking her head in amusement.
As the teasing continued, Ravi's attention drifted toward a nearby wooden table where a basket of shiny, ripe apples sat.
Without thinking much of it, he reached out, grabbed one, and lifted it to his mouth—
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
The calm yet commanding voice froze Ravi mid-bite.
The entire group turned to see an elderly man with a dignified presence walking toward them.
His aura alone demanded respect.
Without another word, the man gently took the apple from Ravi's hand and placed it back on the table where it had been before.
"That apple is not real,"
he said simply.
Ravi blinked.
"Wait, what? But I just—"
He looked down at the table, confusion clear on his face.
The rest of the group stared as well, watching as the apple shimmered for a brief second before blending perfectly back into the others.
The man, now standing before them, gave them a small knowing smile.
"Welcome to Gurukul,"
he said.
"I am Guru Arvind."
Gurudev Arvind observed the group before him, his eyes scanning each of them with a deep understanding beyond what words could convey.
Then, in his calm yet authoritative voice, he spoke.
"From today onward, you will begin your journey in mastering your Astras and understanding the deeper truths of the divine weapons you seek to master."
"Gurukul is not just a place of learning—it is a sanctuary where discipline, knowledge, and power align."
The group listened intently, absorbing the weight of his words.
He then turned his gaze toward Ravi, a knowing glint in his eyes.
Without breaking eye contact, he reached for the very apple Ravi had previously taken.
Holding it in his palm, he split it into two halves effortlessly and placed them back on the table.
To the group's astonishment, the split halves shimmered and, instead of lying as two pieces, became two whole apples, identical to the original.
"What—?"
Shiva started, his brows furrowing in confusion.
Without answering immediately, Gurudev picked up the two apples and pressed them together.
As soon as the apples merged, the fruit shifted and transformed, the red skin stretching and reshaping until what remained in his palm was no longer an apple—
but a small pocket knife with an intricate golden handle.
The group gasped.
"A simple demonstration,"
Gurudev Arvind said, twirling the knife between his fingers before placing it on the table.
"Everything in this world is made of energy. What you see, what you touch—it is all malleable. The key to true mastery is understanding the essence of things, not just their form."
Ravi stared at the knife, then back at Gurudev.
"You mean... we're going to learn how to do that?"
Gurudev let out a soft chuckle.
"In time. First, you must understand yourself. Only then will you understand the world."
Ravi, still staring at the transformed knife, slowly leaned toward Shiva and whispered,
"Did I just witness magic or am I still dreaming from my afternoon nap?"
Shiva, equally baffled but unwilling to show it, crossed his arms.
"If this is a dream, don't wake me up."
Ravi, however, had his priorities straight.
"Wait, so if I had taken a bite of that apple earlier, would I have been chewing on a knife?"
Gurudev Arvind let out a low chuckle.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps the apple would have taken a bite out of you instead."
Ravi immediately stepped away from the table, eyes wide.
"Right. Not touching anything here without permission."
The young boy, around 11 or 12, stepped forward with an eager grin.
Grin~
He had wild, unkempt hair and eyes full of curiosity.
His clothes were simple, yet he carried himself with an air of confidence, as if he had been here for years.
Gurudev Arvind placed a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder.
"This is Aryan. He has been at Gurukul for quite some time and will guide you all around the place. Listen to him carefully; he may be young, but he knows this place better than most."
Aryan puffed out his chest.
"Don't worry, Gurudev! I'll make sure they don't get lost. Probably."
Ravi raised an eyebrow.
"Not very reassuring, kid."
Aryan smirked.
"Oh, don't worry. If you do get lost, you'll find out pretty quickly whether you belong in Gurukul or not. Some people never make it out of the training field."
Sandeep gulped.
"Wait, what?!"
Meena rolled her eyes.
"He's messing with you, obviously."
Aryan winked.
Wink~
"Or am I?"
Gurudev let the group chatter for a moment before turning to Rudra, who had been standing silently, deep in thought.
"Rudra, stay behind. There is something important we need to discuss."
Shiva, noticing this, gave Rudra a questioning look, but Rudra simply nodded at him in reassurance.
"____"
Aryan clapped his hands.
Clap~
"Alright, come on then! Let me show you where you'll be staying before we get into the fun stuff—like making sure you don't accidentally set yourself on fire during training."
As the group followed Aryan, occasionally throwing glances back at Rudra, Gurudev gestured for him to walk with him.
The air around them grew heavier, signalling that whatever was about to be discussed was not something lighthearted.
After some time following the Gurudev they arrived at the backyard of the house since the house was on the cliff, the backyard had a breathtaking view.
But also quite dangerous if one didn't pay attention and there was a single boat there where the guru took a seat.
Gurudev leaned back slightly on the boat, the gentle breeze ruffling his robes as he observed Rudra with keen eyes.
The boy was strong—
stronger than he should be at this stage—
but there was also a burden resting heavily on his shoulders.
"So,"
Gurudev began, his voice calm yet firm.
"How does it feel, carrying a piece of Brahmāstra within you?"
Rudra didn't hesitate.
"Unstable,"
he admitted.
"It's like... it doesn't belong here, or rather, it's waiting for something. I can suppress its energy for now, but it won't be truly calm until I find the rest of it."
Gurudev hummed in understanding, his fingers lightly tapping against the side of the boat.
"That makes sense. Brahmāstra was never meant to be divided. It was forged as one, and now it seeks to be whole again."
"But retrieving the remaining pieces won't be as simple as picking them up from a lost-and-found, Rudra."
Rudra exhaled.
"I figured as much."
Gurudev gave a small smile before his expression turned serious.
"To obtain the other pieces, you must prove yourself."
"Each part of the Brahmāstra is safeguarded, not just by its location, but by those who were entrusted with its protection. The guardians will not hand them over easily."
Rudra frowned slightly.
"Guardians?"
"Yes,"
Gurudev nodded.
"Those who were once tasked with safeguarding the broken fragments. Some are still loyal to their duty."
"You will have to face trials, Rudra. Only by becoming a full-fledged Brahmānsh and gaining recognition from these guardians will you be able to reclaim the rest of the Brahmāstra."
Rudra clenched his fists slightly, feeling the weight of the task before him.
"And if I fail?"
Gurudev chuckled softly.
Chuckle~
"Then you will try again. And again. That is the path of those who seek the divine."
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
The breathtaking view of the cliffside, the vast expanse of the sky meeting the horizon, and the dangerous drop below—
everything reflected the journey ahead. Beauty and danger, side by side.
Gurudev finally rose from his seat and looked down at Rudra with a glint of wisdom in his eyes.
"Tell me, Rudra—are you ready to walk this path?"
Rudra took a deep breath, his blue eyes reflecting the determination burning within him.
He met Gurudev's gaze and nodded.
"I'm ready."
Gurudev studied him for a moment before a small smile graced his lips.
"Good."
He turned, gazing at the vast expanse beyond the cliffside.
"Then from this day forth, I will personally guide you on this path."
Rudra blinked.
"You will?"
Gurudev chuckled.
Chuckle~
"What, you don't want me as your teacher?"
Rudra quickly shook his head.
"No, no, it's just… I thought Amritha would be training me along with Shiva."
"Amritha has her own responsibility,"
Gurudev explained.
"She will oversee Shiva's training, along with Sandeep, Ravi, Junno, Tejas, and Meena. They all need to master their basic skills before diving into their Astra's true potential."
He turned back to Rudra, his expression thoughtful.
"You, however, are different."
Rudra exhaled.
"Because of the Brahmāstra."
"Exactly,"
Gurudev confirmed.
"Your training will not follow the same path as the others. It will be… unique."
Rudra had a feeling 'unique' meant 'even more difficult,' but he wasn't about to back down now.
He straightened his posture.
"Alright. When do we start?"
Meanwhile, Aryan who was escorting others showing around the area around the Gurukul so they could familiarize with took them to a pond.
"This is my favourite place..."
As Aryan proudly declared the pond his favourite bathing spot, Sandeep smirked and nudged Ravi.
"Oh, great. Now we know where not to drink water from,"
he muttered under his breath.
Ravi chuckled.
Chuckle~
"Yeah, thanks for the warning, Aryan. Remind me to stay very hydrated before coming near this pond."
Meena rolled her eyes.
"You guys are impossible."
Meanwhile, Aryan puffed his chest out.
"Hey! It's clean!!"
Shiva, ever the peacemaker, patted Aryan's shoulder.
"Don't mind them. They just like to joke around."
Aryan huffed.
"Hmph. I'll let you all figure it out when you need a bath."
Junoo stifled a laugh as Tejas whispered,
"Guess we're all skipping pond day."
As Aryan continued his explanation, his voice carried a mix of pride and admiration.
"Getting into this Gurukul is no joke,"
he said, glancing at the group.
"This place has trained legends—Amirtha, Dev, Rajendra, and Anvi all came from here. Even the council holds this Gurukul in high regard."
Sandeep raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, so you're saying we got in easily?"
Aryan shook his head.
"No way. The fact that Guruji allowed both of you in means he made a huge exception. Usually, only those who show extreme talent or have an Astra can enter."
Ravi crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips.
"So, basically, we should be honored."
Aryan nodded firmly.
Nod~
"Exactly! You two better work hard, or you'll embarrass the Guru's decision."
Sandeep rolled his eyes.
"Great, no pressure at all."
Meena chuckled.
Chuckle~
"Come on, I think this just means you have to prove yourself."
Junoo, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.
"So… does that mean we're all starting from the same level?"
As the group returned to the Gurukul after the tour, they spotted Rudra and Guru Arvind sitting comfortably, enjoying a plate of sweets.
The peaceful atmosphere felt almost out of place after the long day of exploration.
Sandeep sniffed the air.
"____"
Sniff~ Sniff~
"Wait, sweets? And you guys didn't think to invite us?"
Guru Arvind chuckled and gestured for them to join.
Chuckle~
"Patience, young ones. There's plenty to go around."
As everyone settled in, the Guru's gaze landed on Junoo.
His expression turned thoughtful as he observed her.
"Junoo,"
he said, his voice calm yet firm.
"I can sense an Astra's energy within you. It is faint, but undoubtedly there."
Junoo blinked, surprised.
"____"
"You… you can tell?"
Guru Arvind nodded.
"Yes, but its nature is unclear to me. However, one thing is certain—it is a bloodline Astra."
A murmur of curiosity passed through the group. Meena leaned closer, intrigued.
"Bloodline Astra? That means it's inherited, right?"
Guru Arvind confirmed with a nod.
Nod~
"Indeed. Bloodline Astras are rare, as they are passed down through generations. Unlike other Astras, they do not choose a wielder—they are awakened within the rightful heir."
Junoo frowned slightly, absorbing this information.
Frown~
"But… I've never felt anything before. How do I awaken it?"
The Guru smiled knowingly.
"That, my child, is something only time and training will reveal."
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone!!!
Which will motivate me more.