Vishwa trudged back to his room after a long, draining session at the council office where he had reported the assault and robbery of him. The walk back felt even longer as an uncomfortable growl erupted from his stomach, vividly reminding him that hunger was creeping in. He thought about Gagan, who was currently busy assisting the council members with their investigation, and felt a twinge of relief that Neel wasn’t in his room at that moment. The last thing he wanted was to feel embarrassed about his stomach growl.
His belongings lay scattered around the room as he rifled through them, hoping to find something to quell his hunger. To his relief, he stumbled upon a packet of biscuits, which would have to suffice for now, even if they hardly qualified as a proper meal. 'But what about dinner? And what about the days to come?' he pondered, the reality of his situation weighing heavily on his mind.
Once he had finished his meagre meal, he decided to head down to the reception area, hoping to find some way to earn a meal from the cafeteria. Approaching the male receptionist, he inquired, “Is there any work I can do to earn money from the Gurukul?”
The receptionist glanced up and replied, “Yes, tomorrow the teachers will post different tasks on the notice board. You can complete those to earn coins.”
Relieved by this news, Vishwa thanked him and made his way back to his room, feeling a bit better about the situation. 'Just one night.'
As evening rolled in, Gagan returned, looking slightly troubled. “Brother, we’ve got a lead—the thief is from Building Two,” he announced, frowning as he spoke.
Vishwa's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Is that a problem?” he asked, sensing Gagan’s unease.
Gagan elaborated, “Don’t you know? Building Two is reserved for the Black Soul users. It complicates our investigation since all the council members are ordinary folks without any special powers.”
Neel, who had been listening in, chimed in with a smirk, “In short, they’re just a bunch of bullies. They can’t even tap into their Soul power properly, yet they love to treat ordinary people like they’re nothing, just to feel superior.”
Gagan chuckled at Neel’s words, “Exactly! They turn into mice when they’re in the presence of real soul users. But don’t worry, tomorrow we’ll get to the bottom of this. Today, all the teachers will arrive, and that’ll help a lot.”
Vishwa nodded, feeling a bit more at ease now. “That sounds good,” he replied.
After a while, Gagan left the room to make new friends, and Neel decided to head to the cafeteria for a meal. Left alone, Vishwa thought to himself, ‘I just have to get through tonight. Hey Bhagwaan, make tomorrow better,’ and he settled down, hoping sleep would come easily.
A few hours later, Vishwa was jolted awake by an enticing aroma wafting through the air, a delicious blend of spices that made his stomach rumble even louder. His eyes flicked over to the small table next to his bed, where he spotted five pieces of bread and beans waiting for him. He noticed the room was still empty; Gagan hadn’t returned yet, which meant this feast was Neel’s.
His instinct was to roll over and ignore the food, thinking he’d rather sleep than eat, but his resolve was no match for the smell. Just then, Neel returned and saw the untouched food. “Eat it and return the money later,” he instructed, a hint of authority in his tone.
Caught off guard, Vishwa hesitated. “Isn’t that yo—”
Neel cuts him off, “I’ve already eaten,” he stated firmly before stepping out of the room, leaving Vishwa with the delicious food that could save him from the night of hunger.
The following morning, the students gathered with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation as they attended their very first class at the Beginner Gurukul.
“Alright, you can all call me Guru Gopal,” he announced with an air of authority. “This will be the only lecture you get from me, so listen carefully and make sure to take notes.” With that, he surveyed the eager faces before him and continued, “Now, tell me, how many of you are aiming to be eligible for Astra Gurukul?”
“Twenty!” a student shouted from the crowd of hundred.
“Correct. And what do you think will happen to the remaining eighty?” Guru Gopal's gaze turned serious, prompting a hush to fall over the hall.
Gagan, sitting towards the front, answered confidently, “They can either continue their graduation in literature or reapply next session.”
“Good job,” Guru Gopal acknowledged. “Now, I want each of you to understand that you need the determination to rise above the eighty and secure your spot in the top twenty. In addition to this class, there are four more sections of students just like you, plus five separate sections for Black Soul users, who possess a unique ability to draw upon a fragment of their souls for power.”
One student piped up with a question, “Sir, are we talking about twenty from this batch of one hundred, or twenty out of five hundred across all sections?”
“Twenty out of the one hundred you see here,” Guru Gopal clarified, then turned to the board and began to write “LEVELS” in bold letters. “Now, let’s discuss how you will progress within Astra Gurukul.”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
As Guru Gopal began writing, Vishwa leaned over and whispered to Gagan, “Why don’t I see any girls around here? Ahh!”
Without skipping a beat, Guru Gopal tossed a piece of chalk that hit Vishwa squarely on the forehead and remarked, “Because they are in separate branches, my dear. You’ll have the opportunity to meet them if you manage to pass the final exam, so you’d best practice hard, especially with that frail body of yours.”
Laughter erupted in the hall, the students finding amusement not only in the moment but also in their shared camaraderie.
Rubbing his head in mock annoyance, Vishwa thought to himself, ‘Wow, this guy has good hearing.’
“Alright, quiet down, everyone,” Guru Gopal commanded, bringing the class back to attention.
He began to explain the first level of training: “Level 1: Shishya. The weapons you will be working with are basically all wooden, example—Wooden sword, spear or club. Here, you will learn the fundamental principles of weapon handling, focusing on basic swings and thrusts. The goal is to learn how to aim accurately and deliver power with minimal effort.”
Guru Gopal's voice rose to emphasise his next point. “Your training will be rigorous at this level, as it involves basic drills, and you’ll often train alongside your fellow novices. The emphasis will be on building your physical fitness, improving your coordination, and developing your discipline.”
“And here at the Beginner Gurukul,” he continued, “you will all remain at Level 1 for six months. This foundation is crucial for any warrior. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir!” the response came back in unison from the students, their enthusiasm palpable.
“Excellent. Now, let me give you a brief overview of the next four levels that will be taught in Astra Gurukul,” Guru Gopal continued without missing a beat.
“Level 2: Chari. In this stage, you will be introduced to the Short Sword. Here, you will begin to develop your skills in basic swordplay, mastering thrusts, parries, and footwork. You’ll start practicing combinations and simple defensive techniques.”
“Level 3: Yoddha. The weapon of focus here will be the Spear. You will learn how to master the spear’s reach and combine thrusting techniques with defensive movements. This level will teach you how to effectively control distance when faced with multiple opponents.”
“Moving on to Level 4: Veer, where the weapon changes to the Long Sword. At this level, you will delve into advanced techniques, including counterattacks and fluid movements. You’ll engage in longer and more complex duels that will test your skills to the fullest.”
“Finally, we arrive at Level 5: Mahashakti, where your weapon will be the Battle Axe. At this stage, you will learn to deliver exceptionally powerful strikes. You will gain insight into weapon dynamics and how to exploit weaknesses in your opponent’s armour, equipping you to engage effectively in close combat situations.”
“At the end of your training, you will have the option to select a main weapon and continue progressing through the next five levels in the Military. Those levels are Senapati, Samrat, Dharma Yoddha, Vijay, and Aditi.”
The class buzzed with newfound energy, each student reflecting on the path they were about to embark on, filled with aspirations of mastering their chosen weapons and rising through the ranks of the Astra Gurukul.
Class proceeded for another hour, focusing on the topic of 'Level 1—Shishya'. The discussion revolved around the various activities and tasks that would take place over the next six months, outlining the intricacies of rewards and penalties associated with both achievements and failures. Each student was expected to fully grasp the expectations set upon them, as these rules would play a significant role in their growth and development during this initial stage.
As Gagan exited the classroom, he couldn't help but express his thoughts on the overwhelming amount of information they had just absorbed. "That was a lot to take in one go. Pass your notes to me later,"
“Sure, Do you have any plans?” Vishwa inquired, curious about what Gagan intended to do next.
Gagan's eyes lit up with excitement as he responded, “Oh yes, tracking your robbery. Let's go.” His enthusiasm was infectious, and it was clear that he was eager to embark on this adventure.
“Ah! Sorry to say this, but I have some work to take care of, so…” Vishwa began to explain, perhaps hesitating to break the news to Gagan.
But before he could finish, Gagan interrupted with a reassuring tone, “No worries, brother. I will not disappoint you,” and dashed down the hallway with a burst of energy that left Vishwa shaking his head in amusement.
‘He is certainly an energetic one,’ Vishwa thought, smiling to himself as he made his way to check the notice board. Descending from the first floor, he stepped outside and was greeted by an unusual sight; the notice board was nearly empty, and it struck him as odd. ‘Huh! Why is no one taking the task? Oh, right, they must have enough money to get them through the initial days. Whereas I…’ He quickly skimmed through the available tasks, spotting a boar hunting job posted by the cafeteria. Without a second thought, he decided to take it.
Vishwa approached the Task counter, ready to register himself for the boar hunting assignment. “Wow! This is the first time I have seen someone do tasks on day one. Good,” offered the counter manager, handing him a foothold trap as part of the equipment for the task.
Vishwa couldn’t contain his disappointment. “Give me a weapon or something to hunt!” he exclaimed, feeling a bit underprepared for the task ahead.
The task manager, with a matter-of-fact tone, pointed to the bottom of the task page and urged him to read the instructions. The words clearly stated: Do not use weapons. It should be a boar. It's for testing your patience. Good luck.
“What will I do if no boar is trapped in my trap? I haven't eaten since the robbery yesterday,” Vishwa vented, frustration evident in his voice.
“Oh! So it was you who got robbed. The whole Beginner Gurukul is on alert because of it,” the manager replied, pausing for a moment as if considering the situation. “I can’t break the rules, hmm. Yes, here, take this but don’t use it on the boars.” While handing him the slingshot, the manager added, “I’ll check the boar's body when you return.”
Vishwa accepted the slingshot cautiously, his brow furrowed as he asked, “Are there any wild boars around here?”
The task manager chuckled. “You might actually find a tigress in the area you’re headed to, so be careful,” he said with a teasing tone before closing the window.
‘Tigress! Then why give a Fourteen -year-old tasks at that location?’ Vishwa thought, a mix of concern and incredulity washing over him. He figured the task manager must have been joking, but nonetheless, he resolved to stay vigilant during his journey.
As he made his way past the dorms, Vishwa spotted Neel. “Oh! Neel, want to go hunting with me?” he called out, hoping for some company.
Neel turned at the sound of his voice and began ascending the stairs. ‘He really doesn't want to talk, huh?’ Vishwa felt a twinge of disappointment but brushed it off. Showing his leave pass to the guards, he exited the campus boundary and mentally prepared himself for the task ahead.