Rudra walked through the wide archway of the Adraksha Academy Library with a quiet sense of purpose. The soft clink of his footsteps echoed off the towering shelves filled with scrolls, books, and ancient tomes, each one a repository of knowledge that could take a lifetime to fully explore. The air smelled of parchment, ink, and age—knowledge long preserved.
He wandered between the towering shelves, his fingers grazing the spines of books. Most of them were foreign to him—texts on theory, history, and techniques beyond his understanding. His mind was focused, though, on one thing: learning.
Finally, after a few moments of walking, Rudra noticed an old woman sitting behind a desk in the far corner of the library, her silver hair neatly tied in a bun. Her glasses rested on the edge of her nose, and she was scribbling something down in a notebook with a swift hand. She didn't seem to notice him at first.
Clearing his throat, Rudra approached the desk. "Excuse me, ma'am?"
The woman glanced up, adjusting her glasses. She studied him for a moment, her gaze sharp but kind.
"Ah, a student from Adraksha, I presume? You're looking for something specific?" she asked, her voice raspy but warm.
"Yes. I want to read about Prāṇa—specifically about Prāṇa mapping and any techniques related to it. I'm looking for books that can help me understand it better."
The librarian raised an eyebrow and then nodded thoughtfully.
"Prāṇa, you say?" She leaned back in her chair, thinking for a moment. "There's a section in the back. Let me show you where we keep the more advanced texts." She stood up and walked slowly toward a narrow passage between two towering bookshelves. Rudra followed.
The librarian stopped in front of a large shelf, its wood aged and worn by time. She ran her fingers over the spines of the books, stopping at a thick tome that looked ancient but well-maintained.
"This book, The Nature of Prāṇa, should be exactly what you're looking for. It will help you understand the basics of Prāṇa—its essence, how it can be affected by willpower, and how it behaves within the body. The other one, Prāṇa Mapping, is a bit more detailed, focused on how to control and direct Prāṇa once you begin mastering it."
She pulled both books from the shelf and handed them to Rudra. "Take them. Read them carefully. You'll find the answers to most of your questions inside. But remember, knowledge without practice is like a sword without a blade—it has no edge." She smiled, her eyes twinkling with a hidden wisdom.
"Thank you, ma'am," Rudra said, bowing his head slightly in gratitude.
"You're welcome, young man. Let me know if you need anything else."
With the books in hand, Rudra walked back to a nearby table. He set them down carefully and opened the first one, The Nature of Prāṇa. As he began reading, he was immediately struck by how straightforward the information was.
Prāṇa – The Breath of Life
The book explained Prāṇa as the vital force that flows through all living things. It wasn't just a physical force; it was spiritual too. It was the combination of vital force ,spritiual energy of a person and world essence. Every breath a person took, every heartbeat, was a small pulse of Prāṇa flowing through them, connecting their mind, body, and soul.
Prāṇa wasn't just something that was just present in a thing living thing ; it was something that could be controlled. Will was the key. The book explained that when one had control over Prāṇa, they could manipulate it, influence it. But that control was a gradual process—one could not command Prāṇa until they had first learned to understand it.
The next section detailed the challenges a beginner faces. It was clear now why Level One was so vital—it was about mastering the core foundation. Without this stage, a cultivator wouldn't even be able to perceive their own Prāṇa, let alone control it.
The book went on to explain that at Level One, Prāṇa could only be sensed as a faint spark—a subtle energy. It was weak and unpredictable. But as the cultivator's training progressed, that spark would grow, gaining strength and stability.
"It's like building a small stream," Rudra murmured aloud to himself, reading one of the final lines. "From a single spark, you build a river."
That image stuck with him. He imagined his Prāṇa as a stream—weak at first, then slowly gathering strength. The more he learned to control it, the wider the river would become, eventually filling his entire being with energy.
He closed the first book and opened the second one—Prāṇa Mapping.
The second book was far more technical. It showed detailed illustrations of how Prāṇa moved through the body, following specific paths—almost like an invisible map. This was what would allow him to direct Prāṇa—once he understood its flow, he could harness it to strengthen his body, speed his reflexes, and even project small bursts of energy.
The book explained that once a cultivator reached Level One, their primary focus was not to try and unleash massive amounts of power. Instead, it was about fine control—the kind of control that would allow one to turn a weak trickle of Prāṇa into a rushing, powerful current.
Rudra read on, absorbing the information. It was clear to him now—he had already surpassed what was typical for someone at Level One. Most people were still struggling to harness their Prāṇa, while he had already learned how to control it with ease. It was just natural to him .
He could feel it—inside him, there was a steady current. His body wasn't just filled with energy; it was aligned with it. His mind was clearer, his reactions sharper. His Prāṇa wasn't just a spark; it had already grown into a small stream, rushing through his veins, ready to flood his body with power whenever he needed it.
He closed the books after reading through the sections on control, not feeling overwhelmed but intrigued. He had learned so much in such a short time, and the implications were thrilling. But there was still something missing—he had only scratched the surface.
As he packed up the books and left the library, he realized something important: he wasn't just ready for training; he was ready for something bigger.
He had no immediate plans for the academy today. As he walked home, he couldn't help but think about his next steps. He needed to figure out where to go next—not just in terms of his physical training, but his spiritual path as well.
At home, he found the place empty. His uncle wasn't around, which gave him time to think.
Rudra sat down and began to make a list.
First, he needed to understand his own powers better. He was already stronger than the average Prāṇa Initiate at Level One, and his abilities far surpassed most of his peers. He could control Prāṇa with ease—something that was supposed to take years of training. But why? How was he different?perhaps it's what you call talent or it because of that dream.
He didn't have answers yet, but he knew one thing: the dance—the divine, trance-like rhythm he had felt in his breakthrough—was the key. He needed to focus on that. It wasn't just some random experience. It was something that could make him stronger. He need to actively find out and control that trance like feeling. Last time he experienced it he has gone through a complete transformation from injured to instantly healed it even made his body a lot stronger it was proven during spar with Garek , even without breaking through he was able to draw a battle with him. And even breakthrough easily after that without any problem.
Next, Second thing he need is he real-life combat experience. He couldn't rely solely on theory and practice. He'd learned that the hard way during the ambush. He couldn't afford to freeze when the time came. He needed to face danger head-on and learn how to handle it.
After writing down his thoughts, he sat back and let them settle. There were many unknowns, but one thing was clear: he needed to stay active, keep training, and find his way forward—one step at a time.
For now, the books had given him what he needed. And the path was beginning to unfold.
But something told him this was just the beginning.
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