Agniṣhṭhala Chronicles

Ch 1

A splash of water yanked me from my sleep, going up my nose making me feel uneasy making my ribs hurt. I hadn't woken up late , I usually rose by 5 in the morning but today I should have been up at 4 as expected at the ashram. An hour was the difference between praise or punishment.

The Agniṣhṭhala ashram in Sarasvata region is heaven.The ashram lay cradled in a quiet valley, hidden between two ridges of dark green mountains.A clear river wound its way through the valley. At dawn, mist rose from the surface, curling around the stone steps where sages performed their morning rituals.The air always carried a sharp freshness, mixed with the smell of wet soil, burning incense, and cooking herbs from the ashram kitchens.

My aim was set, I wanted to research meteorites and their hidden energy. The subject's limited knowledge had awoken my curiosit. After some asking around, I was told to report to the head sage on the first day at dawn with all the recruits. After realising I was late I ran hard and fast to the biggest hut in the senior sage's housing cluster.The head sage's hut was bigger than the other huts. It radiated a calm energy. But the strange symbols and smell of herbs and ash were curiosity invoking. The fire blazed high in the pit, spitting sparks. The heat should have made me squint, but instead, I felt a strange calm. My skin didn't prickle, my eyes didn't water. If anything, I wanted to step closer, as always.

The sage's gaze sharpened. His dreadlocks shifted as he leaned forward.

He looked in my eyes and said;

“You know your true strength Ayaan, but you remain ignorant”

I froze. Did he mean… that? No. No one knew. No one could know. Only my mother had seen me and she had sworn me to silence. The boon was only in my family. It was my secret, Yet in the stories I'd heard outside,our gift was known to demons.Could the head sage be a demon?

Then he said “ remember my words when you see your great trouble”

A shiver ran down my spine

I asked surprised “What do you mean”

He said with refreshed energy and a mischievous expression “First let's see what you have come for, an interesting topic !”

I blinked “What, how do you know”

He said “I know many things young recruit,that's why I am forbidden by the fates to leave this ashram,

I was even more nervous than I had gone in.

“You will not be researching alone until your second term,so you will work with Anirudh, who has recently completed his third term. He shall also explain to you the way of life at this ashram. You shall decide and report to Rishi Ghora by tomorrow, He is incharge of 1st termers” He said, his voice suddenly misty as he had drifted back in his meditation.

I left his hut to find Anirudh.

I roamed around the ashram looking for Anirudh, for the first time I grasped the real beauty of this place.

A hut further than the other labs. I was told that he was researching the sun system and other space bodies.I went in but I didn't see anyone.

“ Hello and this is the Khagol-Shastra lab, the other labs are in the cluster in the forest clearing “said the voice

“No,no I was told that I am to help Anirudh in his research" I shifted awkwardly

a boy older than me but with tan skin and blue eyes, wearing simple white robes came out from behind the book shelf and said “oh new recruit?”studying me like and unexpected result of an experiment

“Yeah” I said “I just came in yesterday the head sage told me to report here”

“Oh Rishi Yatindra, sent you as an assistant.. or as a distraction ?”said Anirudh with a laugh,