The training grounds of House Devain were silent save for the faint rustling of the wind through the trees. The first rays of dawn bathed the polished stone floor in hues of gold and crimson, a fitting backdrop for the grueling test that awaited Arin.
Standing in the center of the vast courtyard was Lady Helena Devain, her presence commanding and sharp as the blade strapped to her waist. Her piercing gaze studied Arin with an intensity that left no room for doubt—this was no mere lesson. It was a rite of passage.
"Before you attempt to wield your power, you must first understand its foundation," Helena began, her voice steady and unwavering. "Samsāra Shakti is not just an ability—it is the very essence of one's soul reborn, shaped by past lives and honed by present comprehension. Without understanding, even the greatest potential remains stagnant."
Arin stood before her, his posture straight, mind brimming with questions. He knew Samsāra Shakti awakened at fifteen, its form dictated by comprehension and belief. But what truly determined one's growth? And why were some beings able to surpass mortal constraints?
Helena gestured to the ground, where she had drawn a series of concentric circles. "There are five recognized stages of Samsāra Shakti growth," she explained, motioning for Arin to observe closely.
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The Growth Stages of Samsāra Shakti:
1. Sapling Stage – The initial awakening. A person regains fragments of their past life's wisdom, and their Samsāra manifests as a young branch. Power at this stage is unstable, its potential vast but unrealized.
2. Branching Stage – The first true grasp of one's concept. The user begins shaping their unique power, integrating their beliefs into it. Those who do not nurture this phase remain weak, trapped by the limits of inheritance.
3. Canopy Stage – Mastery of one's primary concept. At this stage, the tree fully forms, and abilities solidify. However, true growth demands refinement and deeper understanding.
4. Eternal Bloom Stage – The moment of enlightenment, where a user surpasses mortal perception. Their power no longer functions within basic laws but instead embodies a fundamental truth they have comprehended. Only legends reach this state.
5. Rooted Samsāra – A myth. It is said that those who achieve this stage become more than mortal, their existence permanently woven into Eldoria's essence. Their tree ceases to be just an extension of their soul—it becomes a law of the world itself.
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Arin inhaled deeply, his mind reeling. "How does one surpass the Canopy Stage?"
Helena's eyes darkened slightly. "Few ever do. Most noble houses cultivate their heirs up to the Canopy Stage, and only those who dare challenge the world's knowledge ascend further."
She unsheathed her sword, a beautifully crafted talwar, its edge gleaming with a silvery light. "For you, Arin, your journey will be even more perilous. Śapathajīvi binds you to your words—your growth will depend on the weight of your oaths. Choose them carefully."
She raised her blade. "Now, we begin."
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The Forgotten Bloodlines
Between the clashes of steel and the burning strain in his muscles, Helena spoke of an even greater mystery. "Eldoria's noble houses and warriors trace their Samsāra Shakti through human ancestry. But the world is far older than our kind."
Arin barely dodged a precise slash before her next words froze him.
"There were once other bloodlines—races lost to history. Beings whose Samsāra did not stem from mortal lives, but from the very forces of the world itself."
She stepped back, allowing him a moment to breathe. "The world remembers them only in whispers."
1. The Ashenborn – Creatures of ember and stone, said to have been born from the heart of volcanoes. Their power was that of endless combustion, a Samsāra that burned brighter with each passing life.
2. The Veilkin – Entities of shadow and mist. It is said they could walk between dreams, their power lying in the unraveling of illusions and reality alike.
3. The Stormforged – A race intertwined with the sky itself. Their very blood carried lightning, and their Samsāra allowed them to channel storms at will.
4. The Hollow Ones – The most feared of all, for their existence defied Samsāra's cycle. They were neither dead nor alive, their souls trapped in a state of eternal rebirth without memory.
Arin's breathing steadied as his mind absorbed this revelation. "If they once existed, then what happened to them?"
Helena's grip on her sword tightened. "They vanished. Some say they were hunted, others that they faded into legend. But I suspect the truth is far more unsettling."
She stepped forward, meeting his gaze with unwavering certainty. "Power does not simply disappear, Arin. It waits."
The training resumed, but Arin could not shake the feeling that the world was far more complex than he had ever imagined. The more he sought strength, the more he realized that knowledge was the true weapon of this world.
And he was only beginning to understand how much had been lost to time.