Chapter 10 – The Village That Forgot Its Name
🌫️ Early Noon – A Forgotten Village, Western Murim Border
The fog parted to reveal old wood and ash.
A village, quiet for years.
Ved stepped past the moss-covered gate. The planks creaked but didn't break.
No birds. No dogs. Just wind and dust.
And symbols.
> The same half-wing, carved subtly above doorways.
He muttered, "They lived here…"
A people.
A style.
A memory.
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🛕 The Central Shrine
The shrine was no bigger than a house.
Inside: broken lanterns, burnt offerings… and one name still visible on a prayer slab:
> "Garud Vidya."
His fingers hovered over it.
> "It survived. It was real."
But only one martial art scroll remained—half-burnt, sealed shut with string too brittle to untie.
He tucked it away.
The moment he turned—he felt it.
> He wasn't alone.
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🌒 In the Shadows – A Test Begins
A girl crouched on a rooftop.
Face covered. Eyes sharp. Sword still in its sheath.
She whispered to herself:
> "He didn't hesitate. He felt it."
> "But… that stance. Not Murim. Not our records. Then what is he?"
She moved.
Swift, silent.
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🥋 The Clash That Wasn't
Ved turned just as the blade came down—he blocked without seeing.
Steel met steel—briefly.
Her strike was fast.
His block was… ancient.
> His hand moved without thought.
A forgotten form—one his body remembered, but his mind didn't.
They circled once.
She didn't speak.
He didn't attack.
Then she stepped back and said:
> "What are you?"
> "I don't know."
She stared. "That sword stance… it hasn't been seen in 500 years."
> "I saw it… in a dream."
Her eyes narrowed.
> "You don't belong here."
He nodded. "That's why I'm walking."
> "Walking where?"
He looked up.
To the northwest.
> "To find what's left of Aryavart."
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🕊️ A Pause in the Wind
She didn't attack again.
Instead, she said:
> "This village belonged to one of Aryavart's old families."
> "They guarded the wing until the last war."
> "The ones who left… buried it."
> "The ones who stayed… died with it."
He looked at her.
> "And you?"
> "I'm not from here. I was sent to test you."
> "Who sent you?"
She turned.
> "Someone who doesn't believe you're ready. But someone who wants to believe you might be."
Before he could speak, she vanished into the trees.
Only her whisper remained.
> "You're not the only one dreaming, Ved."
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🏯 That Night – Deep Murim Mountains
In a hidden valley of the demonic sect—one master watched the moon.
He wasn't evil. Not good either.
He whispered to the flame:
> "The boy has found the village."
A disciple asked, "Should we intervene?"
> "No."
> "The fire once buried is beginning to breathe."
> "Let it rise."
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