The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through the curtains of Sita's room, brushing her face with a golden warmth. But unlike most mornings, she did not rise with calmness in her heart. Instead, the memory of her nightmare clung to her chest like a heavy stone. The cries—the desperate pleas of children and adults begging for the door to open—still echoed in her ears. She could almost feel the cold, damp air of that dreadful portal wrapping around her even after she had awakened.
Her first thought was clear: I must ask Uncle Vallayi.
With determination, she rose from her bed. Lili, who had been sleeping curled up beside her, blinked awake, rubbing her eyes.
"Sita, where are you going this early?" she mumbled, still half-dreaming.
"To Uncle Vallayi," Sita replied quickly. "I need to ask him something… something important."
Lili yawned, then noticed the tension etched across Sita's face. She didn't question further; instead, she jumped to her feet and followed. Together, they made their way across the monastery's courtyard, the air carrying the faint scent of incense and morning dew.
They found Monk Vallayi near the prayer hall, his saffron robes catching the light as he arranged offerings before a statue of the Buddha. His movements were calm, practiced, yet there was a heaviness in his posture, as if his mind carried a weight far greater than the bowls of fruit and flowers he set down.
"Uncle Vallayi!" Lili called, her voice cutting through the quiet.
The monk turned, his gentle eyes softening when they landed on the two girls. "Ah, my little ones," he said warmly. "You are up early. Did you sleep well?"
Sita hesitated. "Not… not really." But she did not plunge into her nightmare right away. Instead, she and Lili began a small conversation, one that would eventually lead her there.
"Uncle," Lili asked, tilting her head curiously, "why did you rush out yesterday evening? You didn't even say much before leaving. It felt urgent."
Monk Vallayi folded his hands together, breathing slowly. His eyes flickered away for a moment. "I had an important concern to discuss with the head monk," he replied.
"Oh?" Sita stepped closer, searching his face. "So… you went to my home? How is everyone there? Is everyone doing fine?"
A gentle smile touched Vallayi's lips, though his eyes carried something heavier. "Yes, child. They are fine. They miss you a lot."
Sita's heart warmed, but Lili was sharper. She squinted at Vallayi and said, "There's something off in your face. Don't lie to us. I can see it—you're worried about something."
The monk looked down, the beads of his mala shifting slowly between his fingers. "It's nothing I can tell you now," he said softly. "It would only add to your worries."
Sita frowned, her hands curling into fists. "Then I must tell you something important."
That caught his attention. His brows lifted as he asked gently, "What is it, child?"
Sita swallowed, her voice trembling slightly as she began. "Last night, I had a nightmare. It felt so real, Uncle. There was a portal, a dark one, and from it I heard people crying. They kept begging, 'Please open the door, please open the door.' The voices… they were so pitiful, like they were suffering beyond anything I've ever known." Her hands shook as she spoke, and Lili slipped her small fingers into hers, squeezing tightly.
Monk Vallayi grew very still. For a long moment, the sound of rustling leaves and the chanting of monks in the distance filled the silence. Then he exhaled deeply, as though he had been hoping this moment would never come.
"I was trying not to tell you," he began, his voice low and grave. "But now, I think I must. Your nightmare is not just a dream, Sita. It is a warning."
Sita and Lili exchanged nervous glances.
Vallayi's eyes seemed to look through time itself as he continued, "You know of the Samsara Portal, do you not?"
Both girls shook their heads silently.
"Then listen carefully." He sat down on the stone steps and motioned for them to join him. They obeyed, their hearts pounding in their chests.
"Long ago—five hundred years ago—there were evils, creatures born of hatred and darkness, that sought to escape the portal. This portal was not of the human world; it was a crack between realms, a doorway to chaos itself. To protect the city, the wise sages of the Samsara clan—your ancestors, Sita—built a great shield of light around Velaria. It kept the darkness contained. For centuries, we were safe."
His voice grew heavier. "But now, the evils are stirring again. They have been gathering more malicious power, gnawing at the edges of that shield. Recently, in hidden corners of our land, people have discovered traces of their invasion. Burnt soil, twisted trees, whispers in the wind at night. Evidence that the shield is weakening."
Sita's breath caught in her throat. "So… my dream…"
"Yes," Vallayi nodded slowly. "What you saw was not just a dream. It was the voices of those trapped beyond the portal. They are desperate to escape—and if the shield collapses, they will. The world you know will be swallowed in their suffering."
Lili's eyes widened, fear glittering in her pupils. "So what do we do? Can't someone repair the shield? Can't we fight them back?"
The monk placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That is why I called for Wuhan," he explained. "In case their invasion grows stronger, we will need every warrior, every monk, every brave soul to stop them."
Silence hung in the air for a moment. The weight of his words pressed down on the two girls, but instead of collapsing under it, something unexpected happened.
Sita straightened her back, her fists tightening. "Then we will fight. We will do our best to protect everyone, Uncle. No matter how strong those monsters are."
Lili, though trembling, nodded firmly. "That's right. We're not afraid. If this is happening, then we'll face it together."
Vallayi's eyes softened with both sadness and pride. He had expected fear, perhaps tears, but not this resolve. He closed his eyes for a moment, whispering a prayer under his breath. When he opened them again, his voice was gentler.
"Brave children," he said, "do not forget—Buddha will always protect those with pure hearts. The darkness is strong, yes, but the light inside you is stronger. Hold onto that."
The temple bells rang in the distance, their deep tones echoing across the courtyard. For a moment, the world felt suspended between hope and dread.
Sita looked up at the sky, the clouds drifting slowly across the blue expanse. In her chest, fear still lingered, but beside it burned something new—a spark of determination. Whatever the Samsara Portal was, whatever darkness lay beyond, she would not run from it.
And though she could not know it yet, this was only the beginning of a destiny far greater than her nightmares.
TO BE CONTINUED...