chapter 5: A new life but old memories

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The New Journey - Two Years Later

The sun had barely risen, its dim light struggling to break through the thick clouds that veiled the morning sky. The birds chirped lazily, as though even the creatures of Shaktidhara had grown accustomed to the peace of the place. But within the walls of the floating city, things weren't as calm as they appeared on the surface.

It had been two years since Jay arrived at Shaktidhara, and though his appearance had changed—more mature, more confident—he was still an enigma. The disciples who walked the grounds, trained under the ever-watchful eyes of the leaders, whispered about him. Jay had earned a reputation, not for his skill or knowledge, but for his silence and the strange aura around him. He was often seen deep in thought, lost in the rush of his internal world, while everyone around him continued their work with more evident purpose.

Malya, on the other hand, was one of the few people who seemed to have gained some insight into Jay's true self. She had been working at Shaktidhara as a server and had gotten to know him over the past two years. Their friendship was an unlikely one—she, the practical, down-to-earth worker, and he, the brooding and mysterious disciple. They barely spoke much, but when they did, their conversations were always strange. A mix of deep thoughts and light teasing.

One particular morning, Malya dashed toward Jay's room. She had heard that the lecture was about to start, and she was certain Jay had forgotten. "Wake up, brat!" she shouted as she swung open the door. Jay, still sprawled on his bed, groaned. The sharp smell of strong wine still clung to his senses, a reminder of the prank played by the chief disciple the night before.

He jumped out of bed and rushed through his morning routine, his heart pounding, cursing his lack of preparation. As he entered the lecture hall, he was met with the irritated glares of his peers. His late arrival was unprecedented. It was the first time Jay had been scolded, and yet, he barely acknowledged the reprimand.

The tension in the air was palpable, but Jay moved like he was in a world of his own. His hair, short and tousled by the wind, swayed as he walked into the lecture, the faintest hint of fire in his eyes. Despite his apparent youth, there was something so much bolder, so much stronger about him than everyone else in the room. He was different.

Later, Malya and Jay walked together outside the hall, discussing something that had been weighing on his mind. "The kings... they're growing more violent. Their soldiers are everywhere, hurting people," Jay murmured, his voice low. He recalled their visit to the market a few weeks ago, where soldiers had ambushed the crowds. The chaos had been overwhelming, and it was a reminder that the peace Shaktidhara promised was a fragile thing.

But the deeper Jay's thoughts grew, the more distracted he became. He felt the stirrings of something—something dangerous inside him.

That evening, as the sun began to set, Jay sat beside the river, trying to focus on his training. Malya sat a little distance away, keeping watch. Jay had been struggling to control his power lately. It had grown erratic, unpredictable, and no matter how much he tried to concentrate, there was always something off. A flicker of fear, a flicker of doubt. Malya had always been the voice of reason, but even her presence seemed to have little effect.

It happened suddenly. Jay felt the surge of energy, hot and dangerous, rising from his core. Before he knew it, his body lifted into the air, his hands ablaze with fiery power. The force was so strong that even Malya could feel the heat from where she stood. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him, frozen in place.

Then, just as quickly, he collapsed, his fire snuffing out as his body crashed to the ground. Blood trickled from his nose, a sign that he had pushed himself too far. Malya rushed to his side, panic rising in her chest. She splashed water over his face, trying to bring him back to consciousness.

When Jay finally stirred, his eyes fluttering open, he looked confused and disoriented. "What happened?" he asked weakly. He stared at his hands, disappointment shadowing his features. He had failed. Again.

"I don't know," Jay continued, his voice barely a whisper. "I tried to concentrate, but it was like... like something took over."

Malya's concern deepened. "You need to rest. You're not well." But Jay, ever the determined one, shook his head.

"No time for that. We're late," he insisted, pushing himself up, though his body was shaky from the strain.

As they started walking back, Malya couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Jay was no longer the confident young disciple she had come to know—he seemed weaker, more fragile. She had never seen him like this before.

Trying to lighten the mood, Malya joked, "Can you even fly right now? You look like you're about to collapse!"

But Jay didn't respond with his usual snark. Instead, he grabbed her hand and with a quick leap, they were suddenly perched on a tree branch, far above the ground. Malya gasped, her eyes wide. Before she could even process what had just happened, they leapt again, covering miles in seconds, and landed in front of Shaktidhara's gates.

"Why didn't you just do that earlier?" Malya grumbled, still trying to catch her breath. Jay merely smiled, a slight smirk forming at the corners of his lips.

Later that night, as Jay settled into his room, the hunger in his stomach gnawed at him. He hadn't eaten properly, and his energy was drained. Just as he was about to retire for the night, a soft knock on his window startled him. It was Malya, holding a plate of food with her friend.

"Don't think you can skip dinner," she teased, handing him the plate. "You're going to the chief's chamber tomorrow, remember?"

Jay started to protest, but Malya was already turning to leave. "You didn't have to..."

"You're lucky I'm your friend," Malya said with a wink, "and I take my job as a server seriously."

With that, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving Jay alone with his thoughts.

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