Chapter 4- The Reveal of Powers
The 2 task
The next day, all the teams gathered at the same place.
The day was bright and sunny, with calm breeze.
The birds were chirping,and a fresh energy filled the air .
Guide 1 ( smiling and motivating):" Nice to see you all again. So, we are going to begin today's task.You have to climb this mountain, which is around 28 km long. When the sun sets , you must reach the first checkpoint where we will be waiting.
All the 14 will begin the task together. Checkpoints are already set, the team who reach first to the first checkpoint will win today's task."
Guide 2 :" Remember, teamwork and trust are the most important things here .
After reaching the check, you cannot go further alone. You can be disqualified if you break the rules. So , anyone have any doubts?"
Everyone looking at each other.
Guide 2(smiling):" No? Then .... Get ready."
All the teams started the task. They didn't need any ropes today, they just had to do like tracking today but had to pass many huddles
The task had begun
The atmosphere was filled with excitement and pressure as all the teams prepared themselves.
Everyone could feel it -
Today was going to be tougher than before.
Ansh ( stretching a little, looking ahead seriously):" Today's task is going to be very hard."
Agni(smiling with confidence):" That's what adventure is like."
Veer(calm and focused):" Yes, we have to work hard. After all , this an adventurous trip."
Yug(with a confident grin ):" Today also, we'll give our best to win."
Ansh(nodding):" Yes, for sure."
Tina (observing other teams ):" look - everyone seems more competitive than yesterday."
Vani (pointing ahead):" All the teams are going very fast."
Yug ( confidently, folding his arms):" No problem, we will manage."
Veer (slightly smile, eyes determined):" Yes, we will."
Agni( light tone):" Let's take a photo first . It will be an unforgettable memory."
They all gathered close, adjusting their positions.
Ansh(excited, holding the camera up):" Everyone say cheese!"
They all smiled brightly.
Click!
For a second, time felt still- capturing their excitement, friendship, and confidence in one frame.
A memory they didn't know would become important later.
Rohan ( serious, leader tone):" Today we are moving very slowly. We have to reach the checkpoint before sunset."
Veer (nodding):" Yes, let's go faster."
After a few hours, they reach halfway.
Rohan ( checking the map):" According to the map, we've completed half the way."
Vani(with a tired face ):" Can we take a short break?"
Ansh( convincing):" Yes, we are really tired."
Veer( hands placed on knees ):" Yes, Rohan they're right. We should take a short break."
Rohan( nodding):" Okay, After a short break, we'll continue."
They sit there, have some water , snacks and had rest.
While Agni was resting, Yug quietly drew on his face .
Yug ( in a low voice ):" Veer... Veer! Look at Agni's face ."
Veer ( trying not to laugh):" What is this...?"
He burst into laughter. Soon , everyone started laughing.
Agni (waking up):" What .. What happen , Why are you all laughing ?"
Ansh ( controlling his laugh ):" Just look at your face ."
Agni open his phone camera and sees his face.
Agni ( angry but playful):" Who did this?!"
Yug( making innocent face and pointing at Veer ):" Veer did it !"
Veer ( shocking ):" Hey! What ? Why me ? No, Agni- it was Yug."
Yug started laughing loudly.
Agni( facing towards Yug): " Yugggg! Wait!"
Agni started playfully hitting Yug , and everyone laughs.
Soon, both of them started laughing too.
Rohan( pointing ahead):"Let's go now guys. Other teams have already started climbing."
Agni( showing his face ): " Yes, But first let me wash my face."
Rohan(smiling):" Yes yes".
Then they continue climbing.
But after some time, suddenly, a storm hits. The sky covered with the layer of dark clouds .The wind started blowing wildly. The weather become so bad that they can't even see anything in front of them.
They are pushed in the direction of the wind
Rohan(shouting):" Can anybody hear me ?!"
Veer ( with shaking voice):" Yes! But what is happening suddenly? I can't see anything in this storm !"
Yug(shouting):" Yes ...me too !"
Ansh:" Everyone hold each other's hands ! Don't let go until the weather become stable!"
They struggle against the wind, holding onto each other.
After some time, the storm slowly calms down.
Vani ( looking around):" Where are the other teams ..? And what is this place?"
Tina ( worried): Are we.. lost?"
Ansh( fake crying) :" Oh! Please remember me guys if something happens to me."
Rohan( serious):" Shut up! Let me check.. Yes we are not in the direction of the map."
Veer ( trying to control the situation):" Let me call the guide... They will help us ..
Oh no, yaar.."
Agni(worried):" what happened?"
Veer ( showing his phone screen):" There's no network here. You all try."
Everyone ( checking their phone):" No.. no network."
Rohan(clamly):" I think we should keep walking and try to find a way out. Maybe we'll find the other teams."
Ansh( nodding):" Yes, he is right. Standing here won't help. Without contact, no one can find us."
Everyone looks at each other, slightly worried...but determined.
They all agree and started walking.
After sometime while walking, they saw a light glowing from far away.
Agni(pointing):" Look ... Something is glowing over there."
Veer ( Looking in that direction):" Yes . The we should go there- maybe we can find some help."
Vani ( hesitant):" It's almost sunset ... something dangerous could be there."
Tina ( agreeing):" Yes, she is right. We should not go there without knowing anything."
Rohan(encouraging) :" Think positive. Maybe we'll find help."
Ansh and Yug :" Yes , let's go."
They slowly start moving towards the light.
As it gets darker , the glowing light becomes clearer.
Rohan ( surprised):" A cave."
Vani( hesitant):" A cave in such a cold place ...and a glowing light inside.. it's strange."
Veer (without hesitation):" Let's go inside. Come on."
Tina ( uneasy):" Don't you feel something strange?"
Yug(gathering courage):" If we don't go inside, how will we find out?"
They exchange looks and then slowly step inside the cave .
Veer ( whispering):" Look.. someone is sitting there..an old man."
They moved closer.
Veer ( calmly hidding the fear):" Excuse me...Baba , we have lost our way . Can you please help us?"
The old man slowly opens his eyes.
Rishi Ektanu ( in clam and deep voice):" Finally.. you all have come. I have been waiting for you."
Veer( confused):" What are you saying, Baba?"
Rohan( confused):" We don't know you . We have never met you before..then why were you waiting for us?"
Ansh( with hand signal ): " Guys , come here ..aside ."
They move a little away.
Ansh ( ina low voice):"I think something is wrong. We should leave."
Vani :" Yes , I have told you before let's go."
Rishi(calmly):" I am Rishi Ektanu. I know you are all confused about what I am saying..."
Everyone slowly turns and looks at the Rishi , their expression filled with confusion and curiosity.
Rishi (in calm and deep voice):" You all seven ...are the chosen ones.
You all have powers ...magical powers."
Veer(shocked, almost laughing):" Magical powers? What are you saying? There is nothing like magic in real life. It only exists in stories."
Rohan( irritated) :" Yes , why are you making fun of us ? Please...if you can help, then help us . We have lost our way."
Ansh(looking here and there , joking):" Is any movie shooting going on over here, where are the cameras.
Rishi(firm and serious):" I am not joking. You all are chosen ... to receive these powers ."
Pauses
I know you don't trust me."
Rishi ( looking at Veer):" Veer...tell me .You met Rohan once during an event.. and then again during this journey, right?"
Veer(hesitant):" Yes.. but that can be a coincidence."
Rishi ( slight smile):" Then how did all seven of you end up together...in the same team?"
A deep silence filled the cave ..for the first time,no one had an answer."
Rishi (continuing):" Yug and were with you in the same team.
Do you still think all this is just a coincidence?"
Agni(suspicious):" But wait a minute...how do you know all this? Were you spying on us?"
Rishi (calm , powerful tone):" No...I know everything, This is not a coincidence. It is your destiny.
Your coming here ...was already planned."
You all are chosen one because someone is planning something very dangerous and only you all ... together..can stop him."
A cold wind suddenly rushed through the cave..and the glowing light flickered
Everyone looks shocked for a moment.
Yug(thinking):" Wait a minute..why does this sound familiar?
It's the same hidden cave..whose stories are famous."
Ansh( serious):" What are you saying? Those are just fantasy stories. It cannot be real."
Rohan ( thinking deeply):" Yes..I had also heard about these stories."
Veer( nodding):"Yes, In those stories... something is said about magical powers being created here."
Agni(serious, trying to understand):" How can it be real ? Because the magical powers shown in those stories are... beyond reality."
Tina ( thinking):" But what if ...he is right?
Why only us?"
Rishi (calm but firm):" Yes ...you are thinking right. The same cave . ..and years ago, it had chosen seven others."
Yug(shocked):" I still can't believe it.."
Rishi ( slowly, with meaning):" Wait...I will make you believe."
The glowing light suddenly grew brighter...and the walls of the cave began to shimmer."
Rishi (continuing):" Take these chain stone...and wear them."
Everyone wears the chains
Rishi:" Remember...the real power is not just in th stones. It lies inside you , you have to understand it.
It lies in the bond between you all.
These chain stones will help you to know your powers.
Rohan ( thinking):" Everything is okay...but why only us?
There are so many people...why were we chosen?"
Rishi (deep,calm voice):" You have pure hearts...and souls.
That's why you were chosen.
Pauses,then continues
But the other main reason is... Aakash Sutra."
The moment Rishi took that name ...the air inside the cave grew heavy.
Veer (confused):" What is this now? We have never heard about it before."
Rishi ( calmly explains):" It's the thread that binds the world... Aakash Sutra.
A binding force that maintains balance between the realms.
If it is broken or corrupted ...chaos begins to enter the human world.
Pauses , looking at all of them.
It chooses seven guardians ... whenever the world is in danger.
It awakens them by connecting to their elemental souls.
Veer(serious):" What is our connection with Aakash Sutra?"
Rishi(serious):" The reason you all were chosen...is because all seven of you were born at the moment when it was broken."
Ansh (curious):" How does it look?"
Rishi:" It is not visible to normal humans ...but with time, you all will be able to see it.
It looks like a glowing thread spread across the universe...with a powerful stone at the centre - holding elemental energy.
When it broke ...that stone fell to earth ...and shattered into seven pieces.
Looking at them meaningfully.
I protected those pieces...and I was waiting for all of you ."
Rohan (shocked):" Oh mu god ...I can't believe this. It sounds unreal. What is going in this world."
Rishi ( slight smile):" There are many things in this universe...that are beyond belief."
Ansh ( suddenly thinking):" Wait ...what are all your birth dates?"
Agni(Looking at him):" Mine ... Veer's and Yug's ... it's 21st September. We always thought it was just a coincidence."
Others(shocked):" Ours too..21st September!"
Ansh(stunned):" Mine...is also 21st September!"
A deep silence fills the cave . None of them can believe what they just heard.
Rishi (slowly):" This time..all of you are the chosen ones."
Vani( confused, slightly scared):" What do you mean by, this time? Has this happened before?"
Rishi ( serious):" Yes... years ago, another group of seven was chosen...just like you."
Tina( curious):" Then what happened to them?"
Rishi (heavy voice):" They all died."
Everyone goes silent.
Rishi (slowly):" The one I told you about... the one you must stop..is one of those seven.
His name is Kaikal.
He was the most powerful among them."
Pauses
"But in his greed for power...to become the strongest...he killed all six of his teammates."
Agni( shocked):" But you said only pure souls are chosen...then how is that possible?"
Ansh( thinking):" At that time ... Aakash Sutra was broken."
Rishi (nodding):" Yes ...and after that... something changed in him .
What exactly happened...no one knows. But with time..the truth will reveal itself.
But at that time the Aakash Sutra was joined and he was punished.
But now due to the breaking of Aakash Sutra ones again, he is back even more dangerous, more powerful than before."
Ansh( slight afraid):" What?"
Rishi(firm):" Now ... close your eyes...and try to feel your powers."
They all close their eyes.
The stones begin to glow .
Agni( amazed):" Look...there is fire in my hands ...and it's not burning me."
Rishi:"Because you carry the power of the fire element."
Tina ( looking around):" Where is Vani?"
Vani(soft voice):" I'm right here."
Rishi:" Vani has the power of invisibility...and illusion."
Yug(excited):" The wind ... it's following my command!"
Ansh ( focused):" I can move rocks.. without even touching them ."
Tina ( excited):" Look at this... lightning!"
Ansh( surprised):" In this weather... lightning?"
Tina ( smiling):" Because I'm controlling it."
Rohan( calm ,amazed):" I can slow time ...and see glimpses of the future."
Veer( realizing):" So that's why...you could predict things before they happened...even in your dreams."
Rishi:" Now you will be able to do it ... whenever you focus."
Veer( raising his hand):" Look ...water ...rain ...I can control water element!"
Rishi ( handing him something):" Take this bracelet, Veer."
" It will reveal it's true power...when you need it the most , it will guide you .
And you will be the leader of the group."
Veer( confused):" Me, Why?"
Rishi ( deep voice):" You have some unique within you . You will understand it .. at the right time, be patient. And also because of your strong willpower...and the special phase you were born in."
Veer( hesitant):" But how can I -"
Rishi( putting his hand on his shoulder):" Just believe in yourself...and your team."
Everyone (together):" Yes, Veer! We are always with you!"
Rishi ( final instructions):" I have half the map ...te other half you must find yourselves.
It will lead you to the ultimate power weapon..the only thing that can defeat Kaikal. But take care Kaikal is also after this he may be planning something big ."
Serious tone
His powers is beyond your imagination and your powers also you don't know your true potential now.
You can defeat him only if you stay together.
Go ...Something is waiting for you.
Find the weapon.. before Kaikal does.
And remember...use powers for good...and keep them secret."
Rohan :" But...from where do we start?"
[Suddenly, a strong wind begins to blow . They can no longer see anything. Everything goes dark . They find themselves lying on the ground. Their guide and other teams were standing around them.
They slowly opens their eyes .]
For a moment...they wondered - was it all real ...or just the beginning of something far bigger?"
Is this the start of something more dangerous and adventurous. What will be coming next which will give a new direction to their life.
