Ayaan looked out at the mountains. The sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the lush green forests that swallowed the slopes in every direction. Even though his time here had been relatively short in years, this place carried a heavy, sacred meaning for him.
"I haven't spent much time here," Ayaan muttered, mostly to himself, "but somehow... my chest hurts to leave."
"This is where you learned everything," the Sage said, walking up beside him. For the first time, he reached out and patted Ayaan's back, a gesture of genuine pride. "Even if your mind is confused, your body knows the meaning of this mountain, Ayaan."
The Sage's voice turned serious. "Don't let what you know get to your head, son. What you have learned is merely a foundation. Now, it depends on you what you build upon it. You can be a king with a sword who terrorizes everyone, or a leader who grows with everyone."
As they stood at the mountain's edge, Ayaan focused. He could hear it again—a faint sound emitting from the Sage. It wasn't a heartbeat; it was the sound of soft, steady rain hitting a roof.
Ayaan folded his hands respectfully. "Master, can I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
"I have been hearing sounds from everything—the city, the ocean, the gate. Even from you. Is this related to Prana?"
The Sage smiled. "I was wondering when you would ask me that. This world is a complicated place, Ayaan. The sounds you hear are the vibrations of existence itself. Most people can only feel energy, but very few can hear the 'voice' of the body. You asking this confirms what I suspected about your potential."
Ayaan looked down at his calloused hands. "Master, what do I do now? I've lived my whole life in worry. I could never give anything to my sister, and she gave me everything without me even asking. After what I've seen... I can never go back to that old life."
"Live how you want to, son," the Sage replied. "Consider your old life a mere memory. Remember: we are people who know how to chant mantras, but we also know how to wield weapons."
The Sage stepped closer, his presence expanding. "Before you leave, understand the path ahead. You are not the only one in this realm who knows of Prana. There are others aware of this power, and you will find them soon. You must stay strong."
"In this path, there are different levels of cultivation. The one just beginning is called a Sadhaka. They are those who have begun to discipline the body and mind. Though they are stronger than any mortal, they are the lowest on this path."
The Sage looked Ayaan in the eye. "You are a Sadhaka now. You are at the bottom of the pit. Never look down on a mortal, and treat those who respect you with the same respect. But those who dare to touch you... see that their hands are burned."
Ayaan bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master, for everything. But... I don't know how I got here. I don't think I can call an Uber to this mountain."
The Sage chuckled. "I will take you. No need to worry."
With a simple flick of the Sage's wrist, the world began to blur. The lush forests, the bright sun, and the mountain peaks erased themselves like ink in water.
A moment later, the smell of sandalwood and pine was replaced by the scent of exhaust fumes, damp concrete, and street food. Ayaan's boots clicked against the pavement. He opened his eyes and found himself standing exactly where it had all begun: the gates of his city.