Welcome to next part of Magic of Banaras, Arjun barely slept that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw shadow creatures and the mysterious Void Gate. When morning finally came, he was exhausted but also strangely energized.
School felt like a dream. Arjun moved through his classes mechanically, his mind in the underground chamber. He noticed more things now the way certain people had brighter auras than others, how some places in the school felt cold and dark while others felt warm and safe.
During lunch, something strange happened. Arjun was eating when he noticed a dark spot on Ravi’s shoulder, bigger than the ones he’d seen before, and it was growing.
“Ravi, have you been feeling okay?” Arjun asked carefully.
“Actually, no. I’ve been having these weird nightmares. And I feel tired all the time, even though I sleep a lot.” Ravi looked worried. “My mom thinks I’m getting sick.”
Arjun’s heart sank. The Darkness was affecting his best friend. He had to learn faster.
That night, Arjun arrived at the temple early. The secret door appeared the moment he touched the wall apparently, it recognized him now.
Vidyut was waiting in the chamber, but he wasn’t alone. A woman stood beside him, tall and elegant, with silver hair that seemed to move like water. Her aura was the most beautiful thing Arjun had ever seen like a rainbow made of starlight.
“Arjun, this is Tara. She is the Guardian of the Northern Realms and an expert in defensive magic.”
Tara studied Arjun with intense eyes. “So this is the prophesied child? He seems… small.”
“Hey!” Arjun protested.
Tara’s lips curved into a slight smile. “Spirit, at least. That’s good. You’ll need it.”
“Today, you learn to shield,” Vidyut announced. “Magic can be used to attack, but more importantly, it can protect. A Roopdarshi’s true power lies in protection.”
For the next hour, they taught Arjun to weave the golden threads into barriers. It was harder than it looked. The threads were slippery, constantly moving, and they required intense concentration to control.
“Feel the magic, don’t force it,” Tara instructed. “Magic is like water it flows where it’s welcomed, not where it’s pushed.”
Arjun tried again. This time, instead of grabbing the threads, he simply invited them. They responded immediately, forming a shimmering shield around him.
“Excellent!” Vidyut clapped. “Now, let’s test it.”
Before Arjun could ask what he meant, Vidyut threw a ball of blue fire at him. Arjun yelped, but his shield held, absorbing the impact.
“Good! Again!”
They practiced for hours. Fireballs, ice shards, even small shadow creatures that Vidyut summoned. Each time, Arjun’s shields grew stronger, faster to form.
Finally, exhausted, Arjun collapsed on the floor. “Can we take a break?”
“No breaks in real battle,” Tara said, but her tone was gentler. “But you’ve done well for your first real lesson.”
Vidyut handed Arjun a glowing blue crystal. “Keep this with you always. It’s a Raksha Stone, a protection crystal. If you’re in danger and can’t form a shield fast enough, it will protect you once. Only once, so use it wisely.”
Arjun pocketed the crystal gratefully. “Vidyut, my friend Ravi he has a dark spot on him. The Darkness is affecting him, isn’t it?”
Vidyut and Tara exchanged worried glances.
“Yes,” Vidyut admitted. “The Darkness spreads through despair, fear, and negative emotions. It’s subtle at first—bad dreams, fatigue, sadness. But if left unchecked, it can consume a person entirely.”
“Can I help him?”
“Not yet. You’re not ready. Attempting to cleanse Darkness before you’re trained could kill you both.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Tara said firmly. “You must be patient. In three more days, we’ll teach you cleansing magic. Until then, stay close to your friend. Your presence alone as a Roopdarshi will slow the Darkness’s spread.”
Arjun nodded reluctantly. Three days felt like forever.
As he was about to leave, Vidyut called out, “Arjun, wait. There’s something you need to know. The reason the Darkness is spreading so fast, the reason the Void Gate opened…” He hesitated. “We believe there’s a traitor. Someone with magical knowledge is helping the Darkness from inside our world.”
“Who?” Arjun asked, shocked.
“We don’t know. But whoever it is, they’re powerful. They know about the Guardians, about our defenses. And now that you’ve begun training…” Vidyut’s expression was grave. “They’ll soon know about you too.”
Arjun felt a chill. “What do I do?”
“Trust no one except us. And if anyone at all starts asking you strange questions or seems too interested in your activities, tell us immediately.”
As Arjun climbed back up to the streets of Banaras, his mind raced. A traitor. Shadow creatures. His best friend in danger. And he had less than a week to prepare for a battle he didn’t understand.
He touched the Raksha Stone in his pocket, drawing comfort from its warmth.
Whatever was coming, he would face it. He had to.
Because now he understood this wasn’t just about him anymore. It was about Ravi, his grandmother, everyone in Banaras, and the entire world.
Who is the mysterious traitor? And what other secrets is Vidyut keeping? The adventure continues in the next part of “The Magic of Banaras”!
