Chapter 5: When a Child Chooses Destiny

The Oath of Fire Begins :

The lion's fiery eyes narrowed, his massive body slowly retreating, then turning. He walked back to the stone platform in the heart of the divine cavern and lay down with regal grace, his gaze never leaving Ayan.

A silence fell.

Then, the lion spoke again, but this time, his tone held curiosity rather than fury.

"Your eyes… Do you even know what they are?"

Aryan blinked, confused.

"What do you mean? My eyes are normal like anyone else's, and what are you even saying. You can see that for yourself, can't you?"

The lion stared.

A long paused followed.

A heavy silence, like the mountain itself was holding its breath.

Then the lion slowly rose to his feet again, not out of anger, but realization.

His voice softened, layered with divine wisdom.

"So… you truly do not know. The red eye… it awakened to shield you. It carries a will of its own. My attack was not stopped by you, child… but by it."

He looked down, solemn.

"That eye has long slumbered, waiting for its vessel. And now… it has chosen."

Aryan is not able to understand anything.

"What is he talking about… Eye? Red eye?." He murmured.

The divine lion's glowing eyes shimmered with otherworldly energy.

He narrowed them at Aryan-and that moment, time itself seemed to pause.

A radiant light burst from the lion's pupils, stretching out like thread of fate.

"Let me see…" he whispered, as golden glyphs circled his irises.

Through his divine vision, he peered into Aryan's past, seeing fragment of forgotten bloodlines, cursed battles, and a sealed memory buried within him.

Then glazed into the future-and what he saw made even supreme beast freeze.

His eyes widened, tears are coming out without knowing him.

A thunderous silence followed.

And then-

The mighty divine lion-this divine creature feared even gods-bowed his head low before Aryan.

The cave trembled.

Aryan took a step back, stunned.

"Wh-What are you doing?! Why are you bowing to me?!"

The lion didn't speak for several seconds. He slowly rose, his expression unreadable, filled with a mix of reverence and shock.

"So… you truly have no idea who you are…"

Aryan's heart pounded.

The lion stood tall once more, folding his wings with elegance. His golden mane flowed like divine fire.

He studied the boy-then closed his eyes, thinking deeply.

After a moment, he opened them and spoke in a firm yet calm voice.

"Tell me child… do you wish to become my disciple?"

The words struck like a bolt of thunder.

His mind raced with questions.

"What?"

"What eyes?"

"Disciple?"

"Who am I really?"

He asked divine lion what is he mean, and what power he used few seconds before.

The divine lion told him; I am watching your past and future.

"I am asking you to become my disciple, because you inherit the ancient red eye. And also because you are the chosen one also."

Aryan –

"What did you see in my future?"

"Why did my eyes change?"

"What do you mean by 'chosen'?"

His voice was shaking, not from fear-but from the weight of the unknown.

The divine lion gave a small smile, one filled with ancient sorrow and pride.

The lion let Aryan's questions hang in the air.

A long pause.

His glowing eyes dimmed slightly as he looked away, as if the weight of the truth was too much for even words to carry.

Then, in a deep voice echoing with divine wisdom. He said:

"I will not answer your questions, Aryan."

Aryan's eyes widened open in disbelief.

"What? Why?."

The lion turned his gaze back to him-calm, unshaken.

"And you shall have them… in time."

He stepped forward slowly, his divine presence like a burning star in mortal form.

"The truths you seek are not meant to be told. They must lived… earned. If revealed too early, they will break you-corrupt you… or worse, consume you."

Aryan clenched his fists, his frustration boiling-but something in the lion's voice made him pause.

Then, the divine lion's eyes glowed more.

"I will answer only one question."

He stepped closer, his towering figure casting a divine shadow over Aryan.

"Why should you become my disciple?"

The air thickened.

His voice dropped to a sacred whisper:

"Because you carry a power older that gods."

"Because even fate hesitates to touch your path."

"Because the world will burn or reborn through your choices."

The lion bowed his head slightly, his tone now solemn.

"And because… I was once the guardian of the last who bore your eyes. I failed him."

"This time… I will not."

Aryan stood still-heart pounding, thoughts spiraling.

His lips parted, trembling.

"Why me…?"

'Why do you care?"

"Who was the one before me?"

"Why did you fail him?"

"What do you mean the world will burn or be reborn through me?"

"Am I cursed?"

The questions tumbled out, emotion cracking his voice.

He wasn't just seeking answers-he was pleading for them.

The divine lion lowered his eyes, his great body unmoving.

"The one before you… was a warrior of light, chosen by the heavens. But light without wisdom is dangerous. He fell."

"You are not cursed. You are burdened. The weight you carry is not punishment-it is legacy."

Aryan-

"Why do I care?"

The lion looked into Aryan's soul.

"Because I see the same fire in you…. And I will not let it be extinguished again."

Aryan fists tightened.

"Then tell me what I am! Tell me what this power is! Tell me about eyes-why they turned red-why they reacted-what's inside me!"

The cave echoed with his cries.

The lion stayed silent.

Aryan stepped forward.

"You said you'd answer my questions!"

The lion finally spoke-but his voice had changed.

It was gentler, but firm-final.

"I said I would answer only one."

"And I did."

Aryan's voice broke.

"So you won't tell me anything about my eyes… or who I really am?"

The lion looked away.

"No"

A heavy silence fell between them.

The flames in Aryan's heart flickered – anger, ancient – held him together.

He looked at the divine beast through clouded eyes.

"Then what happens now…"

The lion looked back at him with pride.

"Now, you walked the path."

"Now, you train."

"And when the time is right – when you are strong enough to bear it – the truth will come to you."

He extended his paw forward, glowing with divine light.

"So I ask again, Aryan… not as a beast, but as a guide – will you become my disciple?"

The glowing paw of the Divine lion hovered before him, surrounded by swirls of golden aua.

He stood frozen – staring at it, heart pounding.

Minutes passed.

He looked down at his small hands…

Calloused from climbing, scraped from falling. Just a kid.

He thought of his village, the little house nestled near the trees.

The scent of warm food.

His mother's laughter.

The quiet nights when he'd stare at the stars and wonder why he felt… different.

He clenched his fists.

"I'm only twelve…" he whispered to himself.

He looked up at the lion again – this divine being, so powerful the very air trembled around him.

"Why me…?" he whispered not expecting an answer.

His gaze fell to the ground again.

A storm of thoughts spun inside him – fear, uncertainty, a longing to return home. But deeper than all of then… a burning question:

Who am I really?

And then it hit him – maybe the lion was right.

"If he tells me everything now… I might become arrogant.?

"I might chase power I'm not ready for."

"I might try to be a hero when I don't even know what that means yet."

He remembered the beast's word.

" Truths must be earned… or they will break you."

Aryan took a deep breath.

Slowly, he raised his small hand… and placed it over the lion's glowing paw.

The connections ignited a soft surge of light between them – ancient and sacred.

"I'll do it."

"I'll become your disciple."

He looked into the lion's golden eyes, determination rising behind his confusion.

"Not because I want power…"

"But because I want to understand who I am. Even if it takes years."

The lion smiled – a rare expression for a being so mighty.

"Then your path begins now, Aryan. The flame has been lit."

The mountain itself rumbled gently, as if acknowledging the bond that had just formed – a new destiny awakened.