Arav made his way back to the sect, his steps heavy and his body aching from the aftermath of the tournament. Despite the cheers of the crowd and the spectacle of the tournament, he had no interest in staying to watch the final fight. Kimi’s match—whoever her opponent was—didn’t matter to him now. His thoughts were clouded with the lessons he’d learned and the bitter taste of defeat that still lingered.

After days of travel he approached the sect's entrance,he reported the completion of the mission and directly went to Donyi peak, he saw Naresh waiting near the training hall. The instructor was leaning casually against a pillar, his sharp eyes catching sight of Arav immediately. Naresh straightened, his face breaking into a half-smile.

“You look like you’ve been through hell, boy,” Naresh said, his voice carrying its usual dry humor. “Care to tell me what happened, or should I guess?”

Arav gave a tired nod and walked closer. “I’ll tell you.” He took a deep breath, recounting everything—from his breakthrough to the Adept Realm under the sacred tree, to his decision to take part in the tournament, and finally to his fight with Kimi. His words came in a steady flow, his tone a mix of frustration and determination as he described the utter defeat he faced at Kimi’s hands.

Naresh listened intently, not interrupting even once. His face remained neutral, but his eyes revealed his understanding. When Arav finished, there was a moment of silence between them before Naresh let out a chuckle.

“So, you went toe-to-toe with someone two stages above you and still managed to stay standing until the end?” he said, crossing his arms. “That’s impressive, even if you lost.”

Arav frowned, his frustration evident. “I barely even scratched her. She was faster, stronger, more skilled… everything. I pushed myself to the limit, and it wasn’t enough.”

Naresh placed a hand on Arav’s shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. “Listen, Arav. Growth isn’t about winning every fight. It’s about learning. Kimi’s ahead of you now, sure. But what does that mean? It means you’ve got something to aim for, someone to surpass. That’s a gift, not a defeat.”

Arav looked at him, the doubt still lingering in his expression. “But what if I can’t catch up? She’s not just better—she’s on another level entirely.”

Naresh smirked. “Then you train harder. You’ve got something she doesn’t, Arav—your resolve. I wasn’t there to see it, but from what you’re saying, you stood up when most would’ve stayed down. That’s not something you can teach. And as for Kimi? She’s your rival, not your enemy. Let her be the fire that forges you.”

Arav nodded slowly, the words beginning to sink in. “You really think I can reach her level?”

Naresh gave a firm nod. “Absolutely. But not if you sit around sulking. The real training starts tomorrow. We’re going to push your limits, sharpen your skills, and make sure that next time, you’re the one standing tall at the end of the fight.”

A flicker of determination reignited in Arav’s eyes. “Alright. I’ll be ready.”

Naresh clapped him on the back, his grin widening. “Good. And one more thing—don’t compare yourself to anyone else too much. Your path is your own. Embrace it.”

As they parted ways for the night, Arav’s mind was already on the training ahead. His defeat had humbled him, but it had also lit a fire within him. Tomorrow was a new day, and he was ready to embrace it.

The morning air was crisp, but Arav didn’t feel it. His body ached from the tournament, from the strain of his battle against Kimi, but there was something else, something driving him forward. Today, Naresh said, was the start of something different—something harder.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

When Arav arrived at the training grounds, Naresh was already there, standing in the middle of the stone circle. His back was straight, eyes hard. There was a quiet intensity to him today, like he was preparing for something… dangerous.

Arav walked up, still feeling a little groggy. “What now? A warm-up?”

Naresh turned to him, not even cracking a smile. “Warm-up? No, kid. The real training starts today.”

Arav raised an eyebrow. “Real training? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Naresh’s eyes gleamed with something between a challenge and a warning. “You’re about to learn how to wake up the darkness inside you.”

Arav froze. “Darkness?”

Naresh didn’t answer, just gestured for him to step into the circle. “We’re starting with Tamasa. It’s not pretty. It’s not kind. And it’s nothing like Prana.”

Arav stepped forward, his mind racing. He had no idea what Tamasa even was, but the way Naresh said it… it sounded like something dangerous.

Naresh handed him a small vial filled with dark liquid. “Drink it. Don’t question it.”

“What is it?” Arav asked, eyeing the liquid suspiciously.

“It’s Tamasa in a form you can handle,” Naresh replied. “A taste. Just drink it. We don’t have time for questions.”

Arav hesitated, then tipped the vial back. The taste was bitter, burning as it went down his throat, and immediately his body felt cold.

“You feel that?” Naresh asked, his voice serious.

“Yeah,” Arav muttered, rubbing his chest as the cold spread through him. “Like my insides are freezing.”

Naresh nodded. “That’s Tamasa. You’ll feel like you’re being eaten away by darkness. You need to face it, not run from it.”

Suddenly, Arav’s vision blurred. The world around him darkened. He could still hear Naresh’s voice, but it sounded distant, muffled. The air was thick with whispers—voices he couldn’t place, but felt like they were reaching out from deep within him.

“You’re nothing without me,” a voice growled, low and mocking. “I am the anger you try to hide. The rage you bury deep.”

Arav clenched his fists. “Shut up,” he muttered. “I don’t need you.”

But the voice only laughed, louder now, mocking his every word. “You think you can escape me? You think you’re strong enough to control me? I am the part of you you can’t hide. You can’t defeat me.”

Arav's heart pounded, his vision swimming with dark energy. He gritted his teeth. “I can control you. You’re just a part of me.”

The dark figure that appeared in front of him was a twisted version of himself—taller, darker, eyes burning red. It grinned, sharp teeth glinting.

“I will consume you,” the shadow said. “You can’t escape me.”

But Arav didn’t back down. “You’re just an illusion,” he said, each word feeling heavier as he struggled to stay grounded. “You don’t own me.”

The shadow flickered, then laughed again. “We’ll see, little boy. We’ll see.”

The darkness around Arav swirled, pushing against him. His legs wobbled, but he forced himself to stay upright, not letting the chaos swallow him.

“Focus,” Naresh’s voice cut through the dark. “It’s not about fighting it. You can’t fight it. You have to control it. Accept it. It’s a part of you.”

Arav breathed hard, trying to push the rising panic down. “I won’t lose myself,” he whispered to himself. “I won’t.”

Slowly, the shadow began to shrink, dissolving into the darkness until it was nothing but a faint, pulsing energy surrounding him. Arav’s breathing was shallow, but he remained standing.

Naresh’s voice was quiet but approving. “Good. You didn’t break. But you’re not done yet.”

Arav dropped to one knee, feeling the weight of the energy pressing down on him. “That was… intense.”

“Yeah,” Naresh said, stepping forward. “You’ve just unlocked a tiny fraction of what Tamasa is. That wasn’t even the worst of it. But the important thing is, you’ve made it through.”

Arav glanced up at Naresh, his voice barely a whisper. “So, what now?”

“Now we train,” Naresh said with a smirk. “You need to learn how to harness it. To control it. And if you fail…” He let the words hang in the air. “You’ll be the one consumed.”

Arav swallowed hard but nodded. “I’m ready.”

Naresh raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see. Rest up. Tomorrow, we begin again.”

Arav stood, feeling the lingering weight of the Tamasa energy within him. There was no going back now.

As they walked back, Arav couldn’t help but feel the weight of it all. The darkness, the power, the potential for destruction… it was almost too much to grasp.

Naresh, walking beside him, broke the silence. “You’re going to feel like you’re losing yourself. Tamasa will make you question everything—your morals, your limits, your very nature. But if you can control it, if you can find balance…” He paused, looking at Arav. “Then you’ll be stronger than any of them.”

Arav was quiet for a moment, absorbing the words. “I just have to control it, huh?”

Naresh nodded. “Yes. It’s all about control. Not letting it control you. You’re not meant to destroy everything, but you’ll have to use it in ways you never imagined. It’s a test, Arav.”

A test. Arav repeated the word in his mind, feeling the weight of it. Tomorrow, he would begin the real work. And there was no turning back now.