Life at Donyi Peak settled into a comfortable rhythm for Arav. Days turned into weeks, and while the specter of his experiences in the Nyigong Thicket still lingered, he found solace in the structured life of the sect. He spent most of his time honing his skills, training, meditating, and occasionally going on missions with Dhiran and Buddhi.

Training and Growth

Arav often rose before dawn to practice his techniques, standing at the edge of the peak as the sun bathed the world below in golden light. With the rare Aakasha Prana coursing through him, his training demanded exceptional focus and precision. His Void Step (Shunya Pada) grew sharper and more fluid, and he began experimenting with new techniques that harnessed the vast and untamed energy of Aakasha.

One morning, while practicing near the Meditation Hall, he was interrupted by a booming voice.

"You're that commoner kid, aren’t you?"

Arav turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered boy with striking features and a confident smirk. He wore the embroidered robes of a noble family, their intricate patterns gleaming in the morning light.

"Name's Tenzing Wangchuk," the boy said, extending a hand. "Heard about you from Naresh. Says you've got potential."

Arav hesitated before shaking his hand. "Arav Srivastava. Just... doing my best."

"Good. You’ll need it here." Tenzing grinned. "You should join me and the others sometime. We spar every evening at the Central Grounds. Could use a fresh face."

Arav nodded, unsure but intrigued.

True to his word, Tenzing introduced Arav to a small circle of older students on Donyi Peak. Most of them came from illustrious backgrounds—ancient families with long histories tied to the sect.

Choden Sonam: A fiery personality with a penchant for wielding twin swords. She loved challenges and often pushed Arav to spar with her, determined to see him improve.

Dorje Namgyal: A thoughtful strategist who preferred the art of defensive techniques. He often mediated disputes within the group.

Pema Rinchen: A healer with an unmatched talent for harnessing Aakasha to mend wounds and clear minds. Her calm presence was a source of comfort to everyone.

They welcomed Arav with open arms, though he noticed their curiosity about his background. Being one of the few without a noble lineage made him a novelty.

"So, what's it like being... not one of us?" Choden asked bluntly one evening during a shared meal.

"Choden!" Nyima scolded, shooting her a glare.

"It's fine," Arav said with a shrug. "It’s different, I guess. I don’t have a name to live up to, just my own progress to focus on."

"Spoken like a true cultivator," Dorje said with a nod of approval.

Missions with Dhiran and Buddhi

Despite his growing circle of friends, Arav remained close to Dhiran and Buddhi. The trio continued taking on missions together, their camaraderie deepening with each adventure.

"Why do we always end up in the weirdest places?" Buddhi complained during one mission, trudging through a swamp filled with luminescent fungi.

"Because the sect keeps sending us to weird places," Arav replied dryly, stepping over a particularly large root.

Dhiran chuckled. "Maybe it’s because they know we can handle it. Or maybe they just don’t like us."

"Probably the latter," Buddhi grumbled, swatting at a glowing insect.

Their missions weren’t always dangerous, but each one pushed them to grow. Arav couldn’t help but feel grateful for their presence.

Life on Donyi Peak was vibrant and rich with culture. The few students there, less than 10,000 in total, came from the most prestigious families. They carried themselves with an air of pride, and their lives were steeped in traditions and expectations.

Festivals on the peak were grand affairs, with lanterns illuminating the night sky and music echoing through the mountains. Students showcased their skills in friendly competitions, and the elders told stories of the peak's founding and the legends of Aakasha Prana.

Arav often watched from the sidelines, absorbing the traditions and the grandeur.

One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Arav sat alone at the edge of the peak, staring at the endless expanse of the sky.

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"Still thinking about the jungle, aren’t you?"

He turned to see Tenzing sitting beside him, his usual cocky grin replaced with a softer expression.

"Yeah," Arav admitted.

"Look," Tenzing said, "whatever happened there, it didn’t kill you. It made you stronger. You’ve got something rare, Arav. Don’t let it go to waste."

Arav nodded, appreciating the words.

As he gazed at the horizon, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the jungle and its secrets weren’t done with him yet. But for now, he had found a place to belong. A place to grow.

Life on Donyi Peak wasn’t without its struggles. Despite the natural beauty and the incredible opportunity to cultivate Aakasha, the social hierarchy among the students was hard to ignore. The peak housed fewer than 10,000 students, many of whom came from noble, ancient, or royal families. These students carried themselves with a sense of superiority, their lineage often dictating their place in the unspoken order of the sect.

For someone like Arav, who lacked the backing of a powerful family, life wasn’t easy. He often found himself at the bottom of this pecking order, and though many students treated him fairly, there were those who saw his presence as an insult to their status.

It wasn’t outright violence—most older students, some decades or even centuries old, considered physical bullying beneath them. Instead, it was subtle: dismissive remarks, deliberately ignoring him in group activities, or taking credit for his contributions during missions.

"Srivastava," an older student, Tashi Jorden, once said during a lecture, "you don’t belong here. Aakasha isn’t meant for someone like you—it’s a rare and noble path, not one to be wasted on commoners."

Arav clenched his fists but stayed silent. He knew arguing wouldn’t help, and any retaliation would only worsen his situation.

Not everyone shared Tashi’s views. Arav found allies among the other younger students and even a few of the older ones. Pema Rinchen, an older student known for her fairness and wisdom, often stepped in when she saw injustice.

"Tashi needs to stop," Pema said one evening after catching him berating Arav for a minor mistake.

"He won’t," Arav replied with a small smile. "But I’m used to it. I’ll prove myself in my own way."

Pema shook her head. "You shouldn’t have to prove yourself to anyone, Arav. You’re here because you earned it, just like the rest of us."

Despite the challenges, Arav remained focused on his cultivation. He spent hours training, meditating, and improving his mastery of Aakasha and also Mrityu tamasa. He also took on missions with Dhiran and Buddhi regularly, using these opportunities to grow stronger and gain experience.

He avoided confrontations with the older students as much as possible, but the tension was always there.

"Why don’t you ever speak up?" Dhiran asked one day after a particularly dismissive remark from a senior.

"Because it’s pointless," Arav said. "They’ve lived decades—some even centuries. They don’t see me as their equal, and words won’t change that. Only my progress will."

Over time, Arav’s quiet determination began to make waves. Younger students admired his persistence, and even some older ones started to take notice.

"Srivastava’s progress is remarkable," remarked Tenzing Dawa, an older student known for his sharp observational skills.

"It’s rare to see someone from his background reach this level in such a short time," added Sonam Choden, another senior.

These comments didn’t change Arav’s position in the hierarchy, but they gave him a sense of validation.

As the weeks turned into months, Arav found himself forming deeper connections with other students on Donyi Peak. Though the social barriers remained, he learned to navigate them with grace, focusing on his growth and the friendships that truly mattered.

Every day brought new challenges, but Arav faced them all with unwavering resolve, knowing that his worth wasn’t defined by his lineage but by his actions and determination.

A Year on Donyi Peak

Time moved swiftly on Donyi Peak, marked by the rhythm of training, missions, and quiet moments of reflection. For Arav, the year was transformative.

Arav's days were consumed by rigorous training and meditation, his mastery over Aakasha steadily advancing. The once-distant concepts now felt like an extension of himself, and he’d begun experimenting with its nuances to make it even more effective.

He continued to take missions with Dhiran and Buddhi, the three of them forming a close-knit team. They tackled challenges across the kingdom, their bond strengthening with each success and failure.

"Another mission in the bag," Buddhi said with a grin after they returned from retrieving a rare herb from a dangerous swamp.

"Don't get cocky," Arav replied, though a smile tugged at his lips.

"You two should both focus on cleaning up," Dhiran chimed in, eyeing the muck covering Buddhi and Arav.

These moments of camaraderie became the highlights of their shared journey

Life on the peak remained a delicate balance. The hierarchy among students persisted, but Arav found ways to thrive despite the challenges. His perseverance earned him quiet respect from some seniors, though the sneering glances and dismissive remarks from others hadn’t entirely disappeared.

"Still here, Srivastava?" Tashi Jorden sneered one day.

"Still worried about me, Jorden?" Arav replied with a calm that disarmed the older student.

The encounters were rare now, as Arav focused on his growth and ignored the noise.

Over the year, Arav deepened his friendships with others on the peak. Pema Rinchen remained a supportive figure, often offering advice and encouragement.

"One year down, many more to go," she said one evening as they shared tea at the common courtyard.

"Feels like I’ve lived a decade here already," Arav replied with a chuckle.

"You’ve done well, Arav. Better than most expected."

Other students, like Tenzing Dawa and Sonam Choden, began to acknowledge his determination. Even those who initially dismissed him started to nod in recognition when they crossed paths.

Arav's cultivation progressed significantly. By the end of the year, he’d broken through to the Adept Realm, Stage 6, a feat that surprised even him.

"You're making waves," Dhiran noted during one of their training sessions.

"Just trying to keep up with the rest of you," Arav replied.

"Stop being so modest," Buddhi interjected. "You're practically carrying us on missions now."

Arav laughed but remained humble. His focus was always on improving, never on competing.

As Arav stood on one of Donyi Peak's terraces, watching the sun dip below the horizon, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The year had been filled with challenges, growth, and quiet victories.

"One year down," he murmured to himself. "Countless more to go."

And with that, he turned back to his quarters, ready to face whatever the next year would bring.