Chapter 18: The Shadow of the Past

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver veil over battered landscapes. The ruins of the sanctum sanctorum were now quiet, leaving for the occasional crack of fire from the remnants of the battle. Arjun was standing on the edge of the cliff, looking at the expanse of Delhi, his mind racing with the events of the past few days. Despite the momentary calm, there was a restless energy in the air. Something dark, some ancient, stirred beneath the surface.

“You’re deep into thinking,” Radhika said, coming quietly, her steps barely audible on the gravel. She joined him on the shore, her presence being a quiet anchor amid his turmoil.

Arjuna did not answer at first, his eyes were fixed on the city below. The streets of Delhi were still, but he could feel the tension in the air. There was an unshakable calm, as if the calm before the storm was about to be broken. And yet, the storm had already begun. He had heard whispers of dark forces gathering beyond known places. From the darkest corners of existence, animals, monsters and shadows were converging into mortal worlds.

Radhika waited patiently, her eyes scanning the horizon. “It’s not over, is it?” she asked softly, as if she already knew the answer.

“No,” muttered Arjuna, his voice thick with regret and determination. “And it’s worse than I thought.”

He turned to her, his eyes tired but firm. “Kunal is right. There’s a shadow running through the realms, and it’s bigger than anything we’ve encountered before. But I can’t shake the feeling that it’s not just some random force. Whoever is behind it... They know us. They know me.

Radhika looked at him, sensing the sparkle in his eyes. “You think this new enemy is the one you’ve faced before?”

Arjuna nodded slowly. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, but the image he created was blurry, shrouded in mystery and ancient history. There was a name, a face he couldn’t quite remember, a memory that had slipped through his fingers like sand.

“I don’t know for sure,” he said. “But I think I’ve crossed paths with this darkness before.” Maybe in a past life... Or maybe... Maybe it’s someone I’ve forgotten.

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths. Arjuna was never one to believe in the supernatural before the Codex came into his life. But now, after everything he had seen the powers he had unlocked, the creatures he had fought, the gods and demons who had crossed his path was hard to deny that there were forces beyond mortal comprehension. Forces that were ancient, forgiving, and tireless.

“We can’t wait,” Radhika said, her voice steady and definite. “We need to figure out who it is before they find us.” If they know you, Arjun, then it’s not just your life that is at risk. It’s everything we’ve fought for.

Arjuna looked at him, his words drowning in him like a quiet storm. He knew he was right. Time was no longer a luxury they could afford. The territory, the lives of millions of people - his own life - were in danger. And whatever this new threat was, it wasn’t just another adversary to lose. It was personal.

He clenched his fists, his fingers wrapped tightly around the codex, still in his fist. The relic had lost its luster, its power was reduced, but its weight was always present. She could feel its lingering presence, a reminder of the strength she had once held, a power that was now slipping through her fingers.

“Radhika,” she said after a pause, her voice firm with determination, “I need to go back. Back to the Asura region. There’s something out there... Something I need to understand.

Radhika turned to him, her brow fluttering. “You’re not going alone,” she replied promptly, a note of finality in her voice. “Whatever is coming, we face it together. The Asura area is dangerous, and we don’t know what you’re walking into.

Arjuna met his gaze, his eyes serious. “I know. But I have to do it. There’s a connection, I can feel it. The answers are there.

Radhika did not argue further. She knew Arjuna very well that once her mind was made, there would be no change in it. But that didn’t mean she would let him face the darkness alone.

“We’ll prepare,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “You won’t go unprepared. We will need Kunal, Meera and others. It won’t be a trip you take alone.

Arjuna nodded, turning his gaze back to the horizon. The winds had begun to pick up, swirling through the ruins of the sanctum sanctorum, carrying with it the fragrance of rain and earth. There was no turning back now. Darkness had come for him, and the only way to face it was to face it.

The next day, the group gathered at the ancient temple on the outskirts of Delhi, the same place where Arjun had first come in contact with the Codex. The atmosphere was charged with an uncomfortable energy, as if the very earth itself was holding its breath. The temple stood tall, its stone pillars eroded and cracked with the passage of time, but its appearance was still formidable, as if it had seen countless battles through the ages.

Kunal stood at the entrance, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger. Mira, the healer, was silently preparing his potion and ointment, her movements were deliberate and calm. Vikram, the guardian, stood on the ready, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He was always alert, always ready for anything that came next.

As Arjuna approached the temple, he felt the weight of his decision more than ever. He had no answers, only questions. And the Asura realm held the answers sought by him.

“We are ready,” Kunal said, his voice steady. “But I don’t think that’s what we expect there.

Arjuna gave him a serious smile. “That’s usually how things go.

The group entered the temple together, the doors opening to reveal the portal that would lead them to the Asura realm. It was an ancient and mysterious gateway, its surface covered in intricate carvings that pulsed with a faint, ethereal glow.

Arjuna stepped forward, the codex still clutching in his hands. He had no idea what awaited him on the other side, but he knew one thing for sure: whatever darkness was stirring in the Asura realm, he had to face it.

With a deep breath, he stepped through the portal.

Chapter end