The next morning on Donyi Peak, the air was crisp, carrying a faint scent of mountain herbs. Arav sat cross-legged on the stone platform, his eyes closed in meditation. The serene silence of the peak seemed to press down on him, demanding focus. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept drifting.

He replayed yesterday’s events in his mind—the strange new dormitory, the older students, and the brief glimpse of Kimi Yachang and Elder Zangmo. He had known of them before coming here, but seeing them in person had solidified the weight of their reputations.

“They’re leagues ahead of me,” he thought, his fists clenching slightly. “How can I even hope to match them?”

The sound of deliberate footsteps on the stone path broke his train of thought. He opened his eyes and turned his head to see Kimi Yachang approaching.

She moved with a regal grace, her white and gold robes flowing elegantly behind her. Her expression was composed, her posture upright, every step radiating confidence and purpose. She carried herself as though every action she took was deliberate and imbued with meaning.

“Arav,” she said, her voice calm but firm, as if she were stating an undeniable truth.

Arav stood, brushing the dust off his robes. “Kimi Yachang,” he replied, keeping his tone neutral.

“You know my name,” she said, stopping a few paces away. “Good. That saves introductions.”

Arav raised an eyebrow. “You’re not exactly an unknown figure. Everyone knows about the Eight Ancient Families of the Land of the Rising Sun.”

Kimi inclined her head slightly, acknowledging his words without letting pride seep into her demeanor. “And yet, you are the mystery here.”

“How so?”

Her gaze sharpened, like a blade poised to strike. “Aakasha Prana is not something one simply stumbles upon. It is rare even among the Ancient Families. So I must ask—are you a member of an ancient lineage from another land?”

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Arav hesitated, caught off guard by the directness of her question. “No,” he said after a moment, his voice steady. “I’m from Frost Edge. A small village in the Northern Province.”

Kimi’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying him as though trying to uncover a hidden truth. “Frost Edge? A place of no consequence. Farmers and craftsmen, yes? How does someone from such a humble origin awaken Aakasha Prana?”

Arav shrugged, though her words stung more than he let on. “Your guess is as good as mine. It wasn’t exactly planned.”

Kimi crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. “Unplanned, perhaps. But nothing in the universe happens without purpose. Aakasha is the essence of space, the thread that binds all existence. If it chose you, then there must be a reason.”

Her tone was matter-of-fact, devoid of arrogance or condescension, as if she were merely stating a fundamental truth.

Arav smirked faintly, though it lacked humor. “That’s reassuring. Maybe next time, Aakasha can leave me a note explaining itself.”

Kimi’s lips quirked slightly, the closest she came to a smile. “You speak lightly, but the weight of what you carry is no joke. Do you even understand the significance of what you’ve awakened?”

“I’m starting to,” Arav admitted. “But it’s hard to focus on the ‘big picture’ when everything feels so... overwhelming.”

Kimi’s expression softened, though her tone remained firm. “Overwhelm is the first trial of the awakened. It tests whether you will stand firm or crumble under the weight of your potential.”

Arav frowned, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “Easy for you to say. You were probably born into this. Groomed for it. I’ve had to fight for every scrap of knowledge I have.”

Kimi’s gaze became piercing. “Do you think that makes you unique? That you are the only one who has struggled, who has endured hardship?”

Her words cut through his frustration like a blade, leaving him momentarily stunned.

“I was not handed this power, Arav,” she continued, her voice unwavering. “I have trained for it, sacrificed for it, and bled for it. Power demands more than desire—it demands discipline, resolve, and an unshakable will.”

Arav met her gaze, something in her words resonating with him despite his irritation. “And what makes you so certain I don’t have those things?”

“I do not presume to know what you possess,” she replied evenly. “But your actions will reveal the truth, one way or another.”

For a moment, there was silence between them, the weight of her words settling like a heavy stone.

“Why are you here, Kimi?” Arav asked finally, his voice quieter.

She hesitated, just for a fraction of a second. “Curiosity,” she said, though her tone didn’t quite match the word. “I wanted to see the anomaly for myself. To understand what makes you different.”She decided not to tell him that Elder Zangmo had asked her to meet him.

“And have you figured it out yet?”

“Not yet,” she admitted. “But I will.”

With that, she turned and began walking away, her movements as graceful as ever.

Arav watched her go, his mind churning with questions he didn’t know how to ask.

---

From the shadows of the forested path, Elder Sonam Zangmo watched the exchange with an unreadable expression.

“So, she has already taken an interest in him,” she murmured to herself. “Good. Perhaps her presence will keep him grounded.”

She leaned against a tree, her eyes narrowing as they followed Arav’s movements.

“Or perhaps the Solstice Emperor’s warning will come to pass,” she continued, her tone darkening. “That boy is the bearer of Vishwaroop Kaal. A force beyond comprehension. Beyond control. If he dares to become a threat to the sect...”

Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her blade, a cold resolve in her gaze.

“I will not hesitate.”

The wind carried her words away, leaving only the faint rustle of leaves in its wake.