Two weeks vanished in the blink of an eye, a blur of relentless routine.
Each day was a carbon copy of the last. We rose before the sun, muscles screaming through ten laps around the hall. My legs ached, then hardened. Slackers earned a stinging slap from that lanky menace, Mr. Orrak.
Fifteen minutes to choke down food. That was our mercy.
Then, language and history with Instructor Faala. By the end, I was fluent in Sakhrein and had a grip on the others. Under my guidance, Team 7 aced most tests. Those who failed ran laps or scrubbed floors.
History lessons absorbed me completely. 'This continent is a web of factions... and this is just one landmass. How vast is this world?'
I learned of the seven pillars of orthodox belief, each devoted to a Deva: the Suryazar Kingdom (Surya Veda) in the north, Sitayana (Chandra Veda) in the south, Vanasthala (Bhumi Veda) below Suryazar, and Jnanadhani (Dharma Veda) in the southeast, with the Mantrik Union (Bodhi Veda) based there. Varuna Veda and Akash Veda held the western and eastern edges.
And then, the shadows—like us. The Blood Brotherhood, another secret cult, but one that worshipped the Deva of War.
Combat training was next. Instructor Dranvi drilled hand-to-hand basics into our bones. "Stance firm! Strength from the ground!" I learned to focus, to breathe, and to move.
Then, the mind-numbing theory. Old Uljek droned on about mathematics and science without pause. "Why doesn't he just choke on his own words and die?" Dris once muttered.
"Shut up and listen," Roderic hissed back. My shortcuts got the team through the tests, but Uljek always found others to punish with manual labor.
But nothing compared to the chill that fell when Head Instructor Inria entered. Her voice, like glacial wind, lectured on Sadhana.
"The five pillars of existence support the three paths.
Sharir Marga by Prana and Ojas. Atma Marga by Atma and Manas. Samyama by all." Then, a cryptic warning: "Sadhana is a sophisticated war against Prakriti—nature's law. It comes with many dangers. You are constantly fighting among yourselves."
'Fighting among ourselves?' The words stuck with me. 'A warning? A hint of internal strife on this path?'
After lunch, weapons. I took it seriously. My Siddhi painted opponents weak points in clear, targetable light. Five days of sword basics, then spear and archery under Instructor Dharen.
"The spear's essence is thrust, slash, pierce. Master it, and you can do more," Rees demonstrated. The wooden shaft was long but light in my hands.
"To draw a bow requires strength. Start with fifty sets of draw motions!" Dharen ordered. 'Fuck. This is hard.' My arms trembled, but I persisted.
After three days of basics, it was duels, duels, and more duels. We chose our weapons: I, Dris, and Roderic took the sword. Imla and Damara, the spear. Helma and Ballio, the bow.
Somehow, we survived the two weeks. But everything was about to change. Tomorrow, we would become something else.
***
In the hut, Team 7 slept soundly. All but two.
'Tomorrow. The path of Sadhana begins. No more running laps. We go straight to the classroom. My first real step toward immortality.'
"Trouble sleeping?" Imla's voice was a low whisper in the dark.
'Shit, she's awake.' I kept my face calm. "No trouble. Just thinking about tomorrow. We're going to change."
"Yeah," she paused. I could feel her green eyes on me in the darkness. "Why do you want to pursue immortality?"
The question hung in the air. My mind raced. 'Power? Fame? Money? Fleeting. Freedom? An illusion. Fear of death? I've already died once. The fear is still there, a little. But to die pursuing this... I could be content.'
Images flashed behind my eyes: my past family, Korus, the boy I killed, and the girl with long hair. A faint grayish-white hue glimmered in my hazel eyes. My lips curled into a chuckle.
"The reason is simple," I said, my tone calm and final. "I just want to live. I want to outlive everyone."
"To outlive everyone..." she echoed softly. "Thanks for telling me. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." I closed my eyes, and sleep finally took me.
We stood in the combat hall, grouped not by team but by the sin we represented. All the instructors were present. And then, he appeared—the man in the purple owl mask.
"Wonderful!" His voice was old and cold. "You have all been chosen by the Great Asuras to lead lives of power and fame."
'Chosen? My ass. At least come up with a new line,' I sneered internally.
"Today, you begin your Sadhana. Initiates in the Order of Arishadvarga walk the Samyama Marga. From there, you may focus on body or soul. Your final test to officially join us is to complete the foundational Sadhana of both Sharir and Atma Margas and reach the 'Bodnir' rank."
'According to Inria, it's possible to switch paths early. Reaching the Bodnir rank in Samyama—practicing both body and soul—is the initial goal. It's not about mastery, just reaching it. The path gets far harder later. Most specialize in either Sharir or Atma from there.'
Swish! Brown-colored scrolls flew into our hands.
"Sit. Cross-legged. Read," the masked man commanded.
I sat and unrolled the scroll. The first thing I saw was a drawn serpent. I began to read:
House of Greed: Serpent Fraction Sharir Vidya: Binding Coil Path...Atma Vidya: Hidden State Path...
A flood of information invaded my mind. I grimaced, my head throbbing.
"Begin with the Sharir Sadhana as described!" the masked man's voice rang out.
'Vidya is the knowledge, the guide. Sharir Vidya teaches how to refine the body. To reach Bodnir, a mortal must unlock their Nadis. 72,000 exist in the body, but three are primary.'
I took a deep breath, recalling Inria's lessons. 'Pingala Nadi, Ida Nadi, and Sushumna Nadi. Each Sharir Vidya has a foundational breathing exercise. By performing these movements, one circulates Ojas—vitality—and refines it into Prana—life force. This Prana is the key that unlocks the Nadis.'
I began the foundational breathing of the Binding Coil Path. The world fell away. My focus turned inward, envisioning myself as a serpent hoarding its treasure, energy coiling and slithering along my spine.
A wisp of energy, warm and alive, kindled within me. It coursed through my veins, soaked into my organs, and seeped into my bones and sinews. My body was being refined by my own essence, Ojas transforming into Prana.
A distinct heat grew on my right side, and a coolness on my left. The signs. Pingala and Ida were stirring, awakening.
Calmly, steadily, I continued the breathing sets.
The first step was mine