Chapter 12: Tracing the Forgotten

Satya sat in the town's oldest library, surrounded by towering shelves filled with yellowed manuscripts and dust-covered books. The dim lighting flickered as he carefully flipped through fragile pages, each one carrying echoes of a past that refused to be forgotten.

His fingers trembled slightly as he scanned the records of royal artists. If he had truly lived in the 19th century, there had to be some record of him—his name, his work, something.

But so far, there was nothing.

The Name That Vanished

Hours passed, and the frustration built inside him like an unrelenting storm. He was sure he had been a royal artist, but why was there no mention of his name in any of the records?

He rubbed his temples, exhausted. Did history erase me?

Then, just as he was about to close another book in disappointment, his eyes landed on a passage.

"A nameless artist of great talent was appointed to the royal court. His sketches captured more than just faces—they held souls within them. However, his fate remains unknown, as his name was erased from all records following an event that led to his disappearance."

Satya's heart pounded. Nameless artist? Could this be him?

His hands tightened around the book. The passage didn't say what had happened, only that he had disappeared. But why? Who had erased his name?

He needed to dig deeper.

The Forbidden Archives

Satya approached the librarian, an elderly man who seemed more interested in his tea than the books around him.

"Are there any private or restricted archives about the Rathore royal family?" he asked.

The librarian gave him a skeptical look. "Those records aren't available to the public. Why do you ask?"

Satya hesitated. He couldn't exactly say, Because I think I was a royal artist in my past life and I need to know what happened to me.

Instead, he chose his words carefully. "I'm researching forgotten artists of the past. I found a mention of one whose name was erased from history. I want to know why."

The librarian sighed, placing his tea down. "Even if I wanted to help, those archives are locked away in the old records chamber. You'd need special permission to access them."

Satya clenched his jaw. Locked away? That only made him more certain that something important was being hidden.

"How do I get permission?"

The librarian chuckled. "Unless you're a historian or have connections to the Rathore bloodline, you don't."

Satya's mind raced. He wasn't going to let a locked door stop him.

"Where is this records chamber?" he asked.

The librarian sighed again, clearly tired of the conversation. "It's in the old royal administration building. But don't waste your time. The doors have been shut for decades."

Satya thanked him and left, his mind already set.

I don't need permission. I just need to find a way inside.

The Next Step

As he stepped outside, the wind carried the distant sound of temple bells. He looked up at the sky, the evening light casting golden hues over the town. Somewhere out there, Meera existed—living her own life, completely unaware that they were bound by something far greater than coincidence.

His path was clear.

If the past wouldn't reveal itself willingly, he would uncover it himself.

No matter what it took.