Three days passed like a blur.

To Aarav, time had lost its meaning.

The world that once felt warm and alive now seemed dull, silent, and empty.

He barely spoke.

Barely ate.

Barely slept.

Most of the time, he sat by the window of his small room, staring at the distant mountains beyond Iron Bastion, where the clouds drifted endlessly across the sky.

His parents were gone.

No matter how many times he repeated it in his head, the truth refused to settle in his heart.

Sometimes, he expected to hear his mother's gentle voice calling him for breakfast.

Sometimes, he imagined his father entering his room, smiling proudly and asking about his training.

But every time, he was met with silence.

And silence hurt more than any wound.

The grand funeral had been held the day after the battle.

Heroes of the Bastion.

Protectors of humanity.

That was how everyone described Isha and Rohan Varma.

Hundreds of soldiers, officials, and citizens had gathered to pay their respects.

They praised their bravery.

They honored their sacrifice.

They saluted their names.

But none of it filled the emptiness inside Aarav.

Standing before their memorial stones, he had felt small.

Powerless.

Useless.

If only he had been stronger.

If only he had trained earlier.

If only...

Regret haunted him like a shadow.

On the fourth morning, someone knocked on his door.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

"Aarav," a deep voice called softly.
"It's time."

He recognized that voice instantly.

His grandfather—Arjun Varma.

Slowly, Aarav stood up and opened the door.

Arjun stood outside, wearing his usual dark training robes. His silver hair was tied neatly behind his head, and his sharp eyes studied his grandson carefully.

He looked tired.

Older than before.

Loss had affected him too.

"Are you ready?" Arjun asked.

Aarav hesitated. Then he nodded.

"Yes."

That single word carried more determination than he had shown in days.

They left the Bastion at dawn.

No guards.

No ceremony.

Just the two of them.

They traveled toward the northern highlands, where ancient forests and rocky cliffs stretched endlessly.

After several hours of walking, they reached a hidden valley surrounded by towering stone pillars.

At its center lay a wide, flat field.

The ground was covered in strange silver patterns, forming circles and symbols that glowed faintly.

"What is this place?" Aarav asked quietly.

"A training ground," Arjun replied.
"One that has existed since the first demon war."

He stepped forward.

"This valley is infused with natural world essence. It amplifies energy and reveals weakness."

Aarav swallowed.

It felt... intimidating.

Arjun turned to face him.

"From today onward, I will train you personally," he said.
"Not as my grandson."

"But as my disciple."

Aarav straightened.

"I understand."

Arjun's eyes softened slightly.

"Good."

They stood at opposite ends of the field.

"Before we begin," Arjun said, "I need to understand your Astral Core."

He pointed toward Aarav's chest.

"Close your eyes."

Aarav obeyed.

"Focus inward," Arjun continued.
"Feel your energy. Don't try to control it. Just observe."

At first, Aarav felt nothing.

Then...

A faint warmth spread through his body.

It flowed like liquid light through his veins.

At his chest, he sensed something different.

Something vast.

Endless.

Like staring into a night sky filled with stars.

"That's it..." Arjun murmured.
"Your core..."

Aarav opened his eyes.

"What is it like?"

Arjun looked amazed.

"Your energy doesn't behave like normal essence," he admitted.
"It's fluid. Unstable. Yet... boundless."

He paused.

"Like a newborn universe."

Aarav didn't know whether to feel proud or scared.

"Is that bad?" he asked.

"It's dangerous," Arjun replied honestly.
"But it's also extraordinary."

Training began immediately.

"First lesson," Arjun said.
"Control."

He picked up a small stone from the ground and placed it on a pillar.

"Hit it."

"With energy," Aarav asked.

"No," Arjun said.
"With intention."

Aarav frowned.

"I don't understand."

"Exactly," Arjun replied.
"Try anyway."

Aarav stood still.

He raised his hand.

Remembering his awakening, he tried to gather energy into his palm.

A surge of power rushed forward

BOOM!

A small explosion blasted the pillar apart.

Dust filled the air.

The stone was gone.

Aarav stared.

"I... I didn't mean"

Arjun held up his hand.

"Stop."

He walked toward the destroyed pillar.

"This is the problem," he said.
"You release too much."

He turned back.

"Power without control is self-destruction."

Aarav clenched his fists.

"So what do I do?"

"Again," Arjun replied.

For hours, Aarav tried.

And failed.

Again.

And again.

Sometimes his energy burst out violently.

Sometimes nothing happened.

Sometimes he lost balance and fell.

His arms trembled.

Sweat drenched his clothes.

His legs felt like they were made of stone.

By sunset, he collapsed onto the ground, gasping.

"I... can't..." he muttered.

Arjun sat beside him.

"Yes, you can."

Aarav looked up.

"But it hurts," he whispered.

Arjun's gaze hardened.

"So did losing your parents."

Silence fell between them.

Then Arjun spoke again.

"Pain is unavoidable," he said quietly.
"What matters is what you do with it."

He placed a hand on Aarav's shoulder.

"Turn it into strength."

That night, they camped beside a small stream.

As flames flickered in the darkness, Aarav finally asked the question that had been haunting him.

"Grandpa..."

"Yes?"

"Why do demons exist?" Aarav asked.
"Why do they keep attacking us?"

Arjun stared into the fire.

"No one knows for sure," he said.
"Some believe they come from another realm."

"Others think they are corrupted beings."

He sighed.

"But what I know is this..."

"They thrive on fear, chaos, and despair."

Aarav clenched his jaw.

"Then I'll make sure they never feel safe again."

Arjun smiled faintly.

"That's the spirit."

The following days were worse.

And better.

They trained from sunrise to midnight.

Balance.

Breathing.

Energy circulation.

Combat stances.

Meditation.

Endurance.

Aarav learned how to run while maintaining energy flow.

How to punch without releasing power.

How to focus without losing emotion.

Every mistake was corrected.

Every weakness exposed.

Every limit tested.

Sometimes he cried in secret.

Sometimes he screamed in frustration.

But he never quit.

Not once.

On the seventh day, Arjun brought him to the center of the field.

"Today," he said, "you will learn your first true technique."

Aarav's heart raced.

"A technique?"

"Yes," Arjun replied.
"An Astral Core ability."

He raised his hand.

"Watch carefully."

A faint silver-blue glow appeared around him.

Then—

He vanished.

And reappeared ten meters away.

Aarav's eyes widened.

"You... teleported?!"

"Short-range spatial shift," Arjun corrected.
"Now..."

He pointed at Aarav.

"Your turn."

Aarav hesitated.

"I can't do that!"

"You can," Arjun said calmly.
"You just don't know how yet."

He explained the method slowly.

Visualization.

Energy compression.

Mental focus.

Aarav listened carefully.

Then he closed his eyes.

He imagined himself standing behind Arjun.

He gathered his energy.

Compressed it.

Focused.

For a moment

Nothing happened.

Then

WHOOSH!

He stumbled forward and fell on his face.

Arjun laughed.

A rare, genuine laugh.

"That was progress."

Aarav groaned.

"Doesn't feel like it..."

"Again."

By evening, Aarav finally succeeded.

For a split second, he disappeared.

And reappeared two meters away.

He collapsed to his knees, exhausted.

But smiling.

"I did it..."

Arjun nodded proudly.

"Yes. You did."

He looked at his grandson, standing under the golden sunset, breathing heavily yet shining with determination.

"In just one week," Arjun said,
"you've surpassed what most soldiers achieve in a year."

Aarav looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Yes," Arjun replied.
"And this is only the beginning."

He placed a hand over Aarav's heart.

"Your Astral Core is still asleep."

"When it truly awakens..."

His voice grew serious.

"The world will change."

Aarav stared at the sky.

At the endless stars.

At the future waiting for him.

"I'll become strong," he said firmly.
"Strong enough to protect everyone."

Strong enough...

To never lose anyone again.

And somewhere deep within his chest—

His Astral Core pulsed.

As if responding to his vow.