The narrow streets of Gaya grew quieter as Rahul followed the old man.
They moved away from the crowded ghats, away from the noise of rituals and prayers, into a more silent part of the city. The air here felt heavier… calmer… but also more dangerous.
Rahul walked a few steps behind him.
Observing.
Measuring.
This man was different.
Not once had he shown fear.
Not once had he come under Rahul's control.
That alone made him… interesting.
---
After a few minutes, they stopped in front of an old, abandoned-looking house.
The walls were cracked.
The paint had faded.
It didn't look like a place where someone powerful would live.
The old man stepped inside without saying a word.
Rahul followed.
---
Inside—
The atmosphere changed instantly.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
No outside sound entered the place.
As if the world itself had been cut off.
Rahul's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A barrier…" he muttered.
The old man smiled faintly.
"So you can sense it."
---
Rahul didn't reply.
But he was alert now.
---
The old man walked to the center of the room and turned.
"Before I teach you anything…"
He looked directly into Rahul's eyes.
"I need to see how much control you really have."
---
Rahul crossed his arms.
"You already saw enough."
---
The old man shook his head.
"No."
"I saw your power."
"But not your control."
---
A pause.
Then—
"Attack me."
---
Silence.
Rahul's expression turned cold.
"Are you serious?"
---
The old man nodded.
"Use your power."
"Don't hold back."
---
For a brief moment—
Rahul stood still.
Then…
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Fine."
---
Without warning—
Rahul raised his hand.
The air around them vibrated.
A strong invisible force shot toward the old man.
Enough to crush bones.
Enough to kill instantly.
---
But—
The old man didn't move.
He simply lifted his hand slightly.
And the force disappeared.
Just like that.
---
Rahul's eyes sharpened.
"Interesting."
---
He attacked again.
This time stronger.
The ground beneath them cracked slightly.
The air pressure increased.
The invisible force slammed forward—
---
Again—
Nothing.
The old man neutralized it effortlessly.
---
Rahul disappeared.
In the next instant—
He appeared right in front of the old man and threw a punch.
Fast.
Deadly.
---
The old man moved his hand.
Blocked it.
Easily.
---
For the first time—
Rahul felt resistance.
Real resistance.
---
"Too slow," the old man said calmly.
---
Rahul's eyes glowed.
His speed increased.
He attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike faster than the last.
Each one powerful enough to destroy walls.
---
But none of them landed.
The old man dodged.
Blocked.
Redirected.
Like he was playing with him.
---
Rahul suddenly stopped.
Stepping back.
His breathing was steady.
But his eyes… were serious now.
---
"You're not normal," Rahul said.
---
The old man smiled.
"Neither are you."
---
Silence filled the room.
---
Then—
The old man's expression changed slightly.
"Now… my turn."
---
Before Rahul could react—
The old man moved.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
But precise.
---
He touched Rahul's chest lightly.
Just a simple touch.
---
BOOM.
---
A powerful shockwave exploded inside Rahul's body.
His eyes widened.
He was thrown backward, crashing into the wall.
The entire house shook.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
---
Rahul stood up instantly.
But his expression had changed.
That one touch…
Had shaken something inside him.
Something deeper than his body.
---
"What was that…?" he asked.
---
The old man looked at him calmly.
"That…"
"…was control."
---
Rahul stayed silent.
Listening.
---
"You have power," the old man continued.
"A lot of it."
"But you use it like a weapon."
"Wild. Uncontrolled."
---
He stepped closer.
"Power is not just about destroying."
"It's about directing."
"Containing."
"Understanding."
---
Rahul clenched his fists slightly.
---
"That thing inside you," the old man said,
"It is alive in a way."
"It reacts."
"It grows."
"And if you don't control it…"
"It will control you."
---
Rahul looked at him.
"…And you can teach me that?"
---
The old man nodded.
"Yes."
---
A pause.
Then—
He pointed to the ground.
"Sit."
---
Rahul frowned.
"Sit?"
---
"Yes."
"Your first lesson is not fighting."
"It is stillness."
---
Rahul didn't move.
---
The old man's voice became firm.
"If you cannot sit still…"
"You cannot control anything."
---
Silence.
---
After a few seconds—
Rahul slowly sat down.
Cross-legged.
Facing the old man.
---
"This is pointless," Rahul said.
---
The old man ignored that.
"Close your eyes."
---
Rahul hesitated.
Then did it.
---
"Now listen," the old man said softly.
"Not with your ears."
"With your mind."
---
At first—
Nothing happened.
Just silence.
---
Then slowly—
Rahul began to feel it.
---
Inside his body—
Something moved.
A dark energy.
Flowing.
Circulating.
Burning.
---
It wasn't calm.
It wasn't stable.
It was chaotic.
Violent.
---
Rahul's breathing changed slightly.
His fists tightened.
---
"Don't fight it," the old man said.
"Observe it."
---
Rahul tried.
But the energy grew stronger.
More aggressive.
---
His eyes suddenly opened.
Glowing red.
"I can't control it," he said.
---
The old man shook his head.
"You're trying to control it."
"That's your mistake."
---
Rahul frowned.
"Then what should I do?"
---
The old man's voice became quiet.
"Let it flow."
---
Silence.
---
Rahul slowly closed his eyes again.
This time—
He didn't resist.
---
The energy moved.
Wild.
Unstable.
---
But Rahul didn't stop it.
Didn't fight it.
---
He simply… watched.
---
Minutes passed.
---
For the first time—
The energy didn't explode.
Didn't lash out.
---
It slowed down.
Slightly.
Just a little.
---
The old man opened his eyes.
Looking at Rahul.
---
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
---
Rahul sat still.
Eyes closed.
Breathing steady.
---
For the first time since gaining his powers—
He wasn't using them.
---
He was understanding them.
---
And deep inside—
That ancient power…
Was finally being seen.