Night drapes over campus as Amrit arrives at the old clock tower, a place chosen for solitude. Above, the sky is a canvas of black velvet. A single lantern glows under the banyan's roots.
Mira is there, along with Arjun and the two he introduced earlier: Kavya and Karan. The five form a circle. Arjun flicks his lantern flame to violet.
He speaks quietly, "By now, you know how to use your power. Let's introduce ourselves properly."
Mira nods, stepping forward. "I'm Mira Patel. I channel inner flame through mantras." She flexes; a small violet spark dances on her palm.
Karan steps up, clad in sports-wear. "I'm Karan Mehra, third year. I got an aura of wind speed. I sense attacks before they land." He winks as he swirls air currents in a playful gust.
Kavya adds softly, "Kavya Sharma, second year. I can move and shape water. I was filling my biology project last night when I saw… that eclipse vision." Drops of dew gather at her fingertips and float there.
Amrit feels a quiet thrill. Each person bears a mark on their chest — each different.
Arjun introduces himself last. He removes his jacket: the chest seal under it pulses. "I'm Arjun Nair. Shadow mana is mine. I've been walking this path since the eclipse. Glad we're all together now."
The air around them settles. Five elements—fire, water, air, earth's unexpected calm (Karan's aura) and shadow—have congregated.
Arjun listens intently, then announces: "The inscription we saw said six chambers. We found the first two. The verse said 'When the sky turns black, six doors shall open.' The new moon triggered another. We have one of the seals. There are five to go."
Karan whistles. "Five more? We doing temple diving a lot?"
Mira shivers but stands firm. "It doesn't matter how many. We learned by today: together, we can handle whatever."
Arjun nods. "Agreed. We help each other. That's how we survive." He steps through the secrets they've found and possible leads from ancient texts. Together, they meditate under the moon, chanting the Gayatri Mantra in harmony. Warmth floods Amrit's chest.
For a moment he wonders if it's echo from the temple or his own chakra. Softly, in his mind, the system acknowledges their unity: SYSTEM MESSAGE: Group Meditation Complete. Harmony Bonus +10. He catches it out of the corner of his mind, but keeps the group's focus on the mantra.
Time passes. The newcomers yawn; it's late. Arjun stands. "We have our next quest. Temple opens to us at the new moon. Rest now and be ready."
They bid each other goodnight. Amrit watches the campus clock strike 1 AM. On his walk home, the moonless night sky is heavy with stars. The world around him feels alive with possibility, guided by unseen laws.
As he approaches his dorm, Amrit's eyes drift up to a waxing moon overhead. He feels it there: determination. The seeds of power and friendship have bloomed. Resting now, he knows he will face the temple's next test—and any who stand in his way—together with his new allies.
The night of the new moon is suffused with an eerie quiet. Amrit, Mira, Karan, Kavya, and Arjun gather again at the temple's steps, breathing in the cool air. They carry only a few lanterns and their courage.
Together they step into the sanctuary. In the spot where Shiva once stood, the altar now reveals a surprise: a stone panel etched with a fresh carving. "The Sixth Seal," Arjun whispers. Next to the panel are stone eyes, arranged in a pentagon. Arjun lifts the trident key; it clicks into place. The wall trembles, then slides open. Candles ignite along the stone corridor inside.
Candles. The system alerts: SYSTEM MESSAGE: Seal Chamber Discovered.
The five move in. The narrow passage spirals down to an underground hall. Column shadows reach up like arms. In the center stands an altar with the verse "The glow of five shall be tested by the dark." Granite statues of hooded warriors line the walls, each kneeling with sword raised. Their hollow eyes flicker red.
Before they can react, the statues shudder and stir to life. Rocks grinding, each statue rises to battle-ready stance, drawn to the light of its respective foe.
Arjun steps back, whispering, "Stay calm, coordinate."
The woman statue to the left attacks instantly. Amrit ignites a rolling wave of flame under its feet; it staggers. Mira fires violet orbs that hit another, chipping stone armor. Karan dashes in gusts around the statues, setting up whirlwind traps. Kavya sends a pillar of swirling water to crash at one's legs.
Amrit faces one directly. Taking a breath, he murmurs the mantra from the verse. Flames coalesce around him. He launches a blazing punch. The fire breaches the statue's rune-etched chest with a roar. The warrior shrieks as cracks race through its body and it collapses to dust.
Two statues down.
Arjun and Karan latch onto the other two. Arjun's shadow bolts and clatters against stone, while Karan spins in and out with air strikes. Mira and Kavya combine their powers; a vortex of steam and fire engulfs the remaining figures.
At last one final enemy remains, towering at the altar. It swings a heavy sword. Amrit darts around it to the back. Drawing on every mantra and spark of self-belief, he channels a jet of flame into the statue's spine. It shatters, kneels, then crumbles. Silence follows.
In the stillness, the altar's centerpiece glows: a radiant crystal orb. Arjun gently lifts it. SYSTEM MESSAGE: Sixth Seal Retrieved. Karma +300. They cheer quietly. All six seals are now collected. The orb pulses warmly in Amrit's hand.
Outside, the night is calm. The gathered friends exit the temple, bruised but victorious. Amrit stares at the stars, fatigue replaced by exhilaration. The enemies fell before them because they fought as one. A new system message pops into his mind: SYSTEM MESSAGE: Trial of Eclipse Complete. Skill Unlocked: Elemental Unity. He feels each of his elements stronger, bound to his friends' strength.
As dawn comes on the horizon, Amrit slips the orb under his bed. He hasn't slept yet, but he smiles.
He has done something incredible. He and his friends have come far beyond their normal lives. Each sunrise will now greet a boy who truly wields cosmic power.