Sharv and Vijay were walking together, as Sharv asked him
“So…were you the author of this book?”
‘No… I didn’t write this book. It was written by my ancestors, many many centuries ago.’
“Ah! I see… But then, how did you end up becoming a spirit?”
‘…’
Vijay didn’t give any answer.
Sharv didn’t try to press further, because he more or less knew the reason why…
***
Some time earlier, inside Sharv’s consciousness…
“…Annoying.”
That black figure was still running away from Sharv. It was desperately trying to escape from his consciousness somehow.
[I–I must escape from here no matter what!!!]
But the icy ground it was running on showed no sign of ending.
It felt like this place had no boundary, no exit.
Still, it kept running.
It didn’t matter whether there was an end to this place or not. All that mattered was escaping from that boy. It looked back over its shoulder but saw nothing.
It thought that maybe it had gotten far away from that boy. With that, it let out a breath of relief.
But then…
Its throat was suddenly gripped tightly by someone. When it looked up, it saw that it was none other than Sharv.
It had thought it had left him behind, but it was wrong. It was its mistake to think it could run away from his consciousness.
“You made the biggest mistake… showing me my mother’s death and that woman’s face again. If you hadn’t done that, maybe I would’ve spared you.”
Sharv spoke without a trace of emotion. Hearing his voice, the last bit of hope within that black figure completely disappeared.
And then, at that very moment…
That black figure transformed.
The mysterious, shadow-like form suddenly turned into a human being.
A tall man with long, thick hair. A well looking face, with a small mole just below his lips.
‘So this… is the spirit’s true form?’
Then suddenly, from Vijay’s chest, a black, spherical orb like object emerged.
‘…What is that?’
He was still wondering when that black sphere shot forward and struck Sharv in the chest.
Chikkkkkk!
With a strange sound, the black sphere sank into Sharv’s body.
Sharv didn’t know what had just happened, only that after the object entered his chest, he felt somewhat strange.
Sharv was still thinking this when suddenly, a strange vision appeared before his eyes:
“Tell us where that book is?”
“The sooner you do, the better it will be for you…Vijay.”
A group of people had surrounded that man called Vijay.
Vijay’s condition was miserable. Looking at him, one could tell that he had been beaten brutally by those men.
But still, he did not answer their questions.
His eyes were moving here and there as if looking for someone in between those people.
Then, another man arrived.
He was a bit older, blad, wearing luxurious golden robes, with golden ornaments on his arms and wrists.
That man spoke to Vijay,
“Tell us where the book is.”
“…”
“It seems you don’t want to open your mouth. But then…”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“…”
“What if… something happens to your children?”
At those words, Vijay’s eyes turned red with rage.
Clench!
He clenched his teeth tightly.
“You love your disciples as they are your own children, don’t you?”
“They have nothing to do with this… let them go!”
“They do have something to do with it…”
‘?!’
Vijay startled, looking with rage and fury, as the blad man continued,
“The moment they became your disciples, their fates got tied to yours. It’s not their fault that they were taught by a worthless teacher… tch… tch.”
“…”
“A worthless teacher tried to guide them, and that is the mistake. If you had never taught them, perhaps their lives wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“…Nothing much. Just that if you don’t answer our questions about the book, your disciples will have to bear the consequences as well.”
‘!!!’
Vijay then shouted in rage.
“Don’t you dare lay a finger on them!”
Seeing this, the man smirked and replied.
“…Then tell us about the book, and I promise nothing will happen to your children.”
Hearing this, Vijay’s fury grew even distorted. But he was helpless. Weakened, chained by circumstance.
His disciples, children to him—were now in danger. Yet Vijay’s hands were tied.
Even if he wanted to, he could not reveal the truth about that book. No matter what. And so, he didn’t speak.
“What kind of teacher are you? Offering your own disciples as sacrifice? Even God won’t forgive you.”
That man mocked him. Vijay, however, gave a faint chuckle and said,
“For words like that to come out of the mouth of a vile, hypocritical man like you… doesn’t suit you in the slightest.”
“…”
“…You couldn’t even be a proper teacher yourself, and now you dare preach to me? Do you think, by taking my disciples’ names, you can scare me into revealing the book’s secret? Humph! Just the thought of it makes me laugh.”
“…”
“I’ll tell you this once more—neither you, nor your so-called ‘God’ none of you will ever be able to find that b...“
The moment the word ‘God’ left Vijay’s lips, the older man’s expression distorted heavily.
As though Vijay had said something forbidden.
Before Vijay could say another word, the other man had slashed through, severing his head from his body.
And just like that, Vijay was dead. Sharv had been watching all of this unfold.
Then the vision ended, and Sharv returned to his own consciousness, where he still held the spirit, gripping it by the throat.
‘That vision… was that the spirit’s final memory before death?’
The spirit, named Vijay in his grasp spoke.
‘Ho-how did this happen?’
“What? What do you mean?”
‘I… how did I become your Spirit Servant?’
“Spirit servant?”
Sharv didn’t quite understand, but just from the word ‘servant,’ he realized one thing:
That somehow, he had gained control over this spirit.
***
Now during the present moment...
‘But… if Vijay had already died, that too by throat-slitting, then…’
Whose skeleton was it, that was sitting before that Shivling?
“Sigh…”
But what did this have to do with Sharv? Whoever that man was… there was no need to think too deeply about him.
Right now, he had far bigger questions on his mind.
He looked at Vijay and asked,
“You said earlier that you saw something… and when I asked about it, you ran away in fear. Tell me, what exactly did you see?”
‘I saw… inside you…’
He was just about to say something, but then fell silent, lost in thought.
“What happened? You were about to say something, weren’t you?”
‘No… wait hold on!’
“...”
‘what the...I-I can’t remember?’
“What? Are you trying to lie to me?”
Sharv looked at him with suspicious eyes, Vijay waved his hand and said quickly.
‘N-no… I am not lying. It's the truth. really don’t remember!’
His tone felt natural to sharv. As if he was saying the truth.
Sharv stared at him with that emotionless eyes and said,
“I don’t know whether you’re telling the truth or lying… but understand one thing, if you even try to deceive me in the slightest, then that'll be your last day as a spirit...”
‘…’
Seeing those eyes, Vijay lowered his gaze.
He still couldn’t understand, how could someone’s eyes be utterly devoid of emotion?
After a while, he finally spoke.
‘W-why would I even lie to you… when my very soul is in your hands? After all, I’ve already become your servant now…’
Hearing this, Sharv raised his brow. He had heard this word from Vijay’s mouth before—servant.
He muttered softly to himself,
“Spirit servant… what exactly does that mean? From the name alone I understand that you’ve become my servant, but I want to know more about it…”
Vijay overheard him and asked,
‘…If you want, I can tell you…’
“Nah! Leave it...Who knows what you’ll tell, maybe even try to kill me. Better that I read about it in this book myself…”
‘Don’t you trust me?’
“…No. How can I trust someone, who I just met?”
Hearing that, Vijay’s face sank into sadness, and he thought,
‘What kind of mess have I gotten myself into…’
Sharv spoke no further. He pulled out the book again and began reading its second chapter.
In the second chapter, it was written:
If one wishes to subjugate a spirit, one must take a fragment of its ‘will’ into oneself.
Its will, resolve, desire, intent, aspiration… A human must accept it into their being.
“So that black orb was your will…’’
‘Yes, you could say that…’
Spirits can either give their will willingly… or be forced into helpless submission by someone of higher power, so helpless that giving away their will is their only option.
But ordinary humans should never attempt this. Especially men.
Because if the spirit's Shakti energy enters their body in excess, it can overwhelm them, killing them instantly.
Sharv asked in confusion,
“But… I don’t understand. How did I manage to do it then? I’m a man, after all.”
‘Because… your body contains no prana at all.’
“Uh?”
‘The reason the book warns men against this is because when they channel internal energy;prana, their Shiva energy tends to activate as well. Since males are naturally born with stronger Solar energy, the danger is greater. The opposite is true for women, who are born with more Shakti energy, and thus naturally girls have more Lunar energy than boys.’
Sharv understood to some extent and muttered,
“And spirits carry not only death prana but also Shakti energy, which is why this book considers women more suitable.”
‘Exactly. But you, your body contains neither life prana, nor Shiva Energy, nor Shakti Energy. It is totally empty. That’s why you survived. Otherwise, if even a trace of Shiva or Shakti had existed in you, you would have died right there. Because of the imbalance.’
As Sharv listened, something clicked in his mind. He asked Vijay,
“Wait a second… when a spirit’s will enters another human, some amount of Shakti energy comes along with it, right? That means… in my body too…”
‘Yes, you understood correctly… Shakti energy, or say Lunar Energy has now entered your body.’
‘!!!’
Lunar (Shakti) Energy, it literally has the energy of coldness.
Mostly found in females, and some powerful female Martial artists even cultivate this prana to such an extent that they would be able to form ice from their bare hands.
And if there is more progress, then it can be used in many more creative ways...
And now that energy is inside Sharv's body!
Just the thought of it made sharv overjoyed for a moment, but then
‘Sorry to say, but using or cultivating that energy require prana.’
“Uh?”
