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A week had passed since the village welcomed Chirag and Siya. The days were quiet, filled with peace, laughter, and slow healing. Chirag spent most of his time helping villagers repair houses and farms. Siya taught the children how to write, read, and use small bits of magic.
It was calm—but deep inside Chirag, there was still a strange feeling.
Late one evening, Chirag sat alone near the well at the edge of the village. The moon was high, casting silver light across the ground. He looked up at the stars, trying to make sense of the uneasiness growing inside him.
That's when he heard it—a voice.
Faint. Whispering. Not from outside, but from within.
> "You are not finished."
Chirag stood quickly, looking around. No one was there. Just the wind brushing through the trees.
He closed his eyes and focused. And there it was again.
> "You have power, but no purpose yet. The truth lies deeper… in the land of gods and demons."
He opened his eyes, heart pounding.
Was it a dream? A memory? Or something… more?
The next morning, Chirag told Siya about it as they sat on a hill overlooking the valley.
Siya listened carefully, her expression serious. "Sometimes, voices like that mean something. Not all magic speaks with words—but yours… yours was given by my soul. Maybe my power inside you is reacting to something."
Chirag nodded slowly. "Then maybe… it's time I understand it."
Siya turned to face him. "Are you sure? The path you take now might lead far away from peace."
Chirag looked into her eyes. "I'm not walking away from you. I just need to know who I really am. What I'm meant to do with this gift."
She was silent for a moment. Then she stood up and offered him her hand.
"Then we'll go together."
---
They packed light—only what they needed. The village gave them blessings and food, and the children hugged Siya tightly, asking her to return soon. Chirag promised to protect her no matter what.
They left just before sunset, walking into the forest path that led to the mountains beyond. It was said that beyond those peaks was the realm of the demons—and deep within that realm, the old temple of memories, where magic spoke directly to the soul.
As they walked through the forest, strange energies flowed through the air. Trees stood taller, the wind whispered louder, and glowing creatures floated gently between leaves.
"This place… feels alive," Chirag whispered.
"It is," Siya replied. "This forest belongs to the ancient demons—guardians of forgotten magic. We're close."
After hours of walking, they finally reached a cliff that looked over a wide valley. At the center stood a large, ruined temple made of black stone and wrapped in vines.
"That's it," Siya said. "The Temple of Echoes."
They climbed down carefully and stood before the broken doors. Chirag placed his hand on the stone—and suddenly the whole temple lit up with a soft red glow.
The doors opened by themselves.
Inside, it was silent. No wind. No sounds. Just the feeling of something watching.
They stepped carefully through a hallway filled with murals—paintings of demons, humans, and gods. Each wall showed scenes of war, love, betrayal, and power.
One painting caught Chirag's eye.
It showed a girl with silver hair standing in front of a dark figure—her hands glowing, her face calm. Behind her, the dark figure rose like a shadow, its eyes burning.
Chirag turned to Siya. "That's you."
Siya nodded. "It's the story of my past life… before I gave you my power. Before I became who I am now."
Chirag stared at the painting. "You've done this before?"
She looked down. "In another lifetime, I tried to protect the balance between demons and rulers. I failed. I lost everything. This time… I chose love."
They walked deeper until they reached the main chamber.
There, in the center, stood a black crystal floating above the ground. It pulsed gently.
"This is the Heartstone," Siya said softly. "It speaks to the soul. Place your hand on it, Chirag. Let it show you the truth."
Chirag stepped forward and touched the crystal.
At once, his mind was pulled into another world.
He saw flashes—memories not his own.
A small child crying in a dark room.
A demon king holding a baby with care.
Siya, younger, laughing in a field.
And then… pain. A burning city. A god in golden armor, raising a blade. A scream.
Then silence.
The vision faded.
Chirag stepped back, gasping.
"What… what was that?"
Siya looked at him. "Your past. And your future."
"I saw… a god. He destroyed everything."
"That god is still alive," Siya said. "He was the one who once feared me. Now, he fears what you can become."
Chirag clenched his fists. "Then I'll face him. I'll face whatever I have to. I just want to protect you."
Siya smiled. "And I'll protect you, too."
As they turned to leave the temple, the crystal whispered one last thing to Chirag.
> "You carry more than love. You carry fate."
The journey had only just begun.
But now, they weren't walking blindly anymore.
They had a path.
They had each other.
And they had a reason to rise.
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