From Survivor to Vanisher

The scroll's presence weighed heavily on Aditya's mind. Though Dhruva's expression gave little away, the uncharacteristic seriousness in his tone was enough to make Aditya uneasy. He had seen Dhruva shrug off deadly encounters like they were minor inconveniences, so whatever this was, it had to be significant.

"Alright, Dhruva," Aditya began, pacing the room, "you've got the mysterious scroll in the mysterious box from the mysterious auction. What's the next move? Do we stare at it until it magically reveals all its secrets?"

Dhruva, who was calmly sipping tea, gave him a glance that could have cut steel. "The scroll is written in a cipher. Deciphering it will take time."

Aditya plopped down on a chair, crossing his arms. "How much time? A few hours? A day? A week? Because I should warn you, patience isn't exactly my strong suit."

"I'm well aware," Dhruva replied dryly. He set his cup down and unrolled the scroll slightly, careful not to damage the fragile parchment. Strange symbols covered the surface, their shapes twisting in ways that made Aditya's eyes hurt if he looked too long.

"Looks like someone spilled ink while drunk," Aditya muttered.

"That 'ink' is an ancient script, and this scroll was likely created by a master of arrays and seals," Dhruva said. "Every symbol serves a purpose, and each layer of meaning is designed to mislead untrained eyes."

"Right," Aditya said, leaning closer to inspect the symbols. "So, what does it say? 'Beware of errand boys'? 'Property of Dhruva, keep out'?"

Dhruva ignored him, his fingers tracing one of the runes. "This scroll isn't just a map. It's a key—likely to a hidden treasure or an ancient artifact of immense power."

Aditya's ears perked up. "Treasure? Now you're speaking my language."

"Don't get too excited," Dhruva warned. "If this map leads to what I think it does, it's not the kind of treasure you can just toss in a bag and sell at the nearest market. It's something that will attract attention from sects, kingdoms, and people far more dangerous than the Crimson Shroud."

Aditya raised an eyebrow. "More dangerous? That's a little hard to believe after what we just went through."

"You underestimate the world," Dhruva said. "The Crimson Shroud are pawns—ambitious, yes, but still small players. This scroll has likely passed through the hands of far greater powers."

The next day, Dhruva set up a workspace cluttered with alchemical tools, ancient tomes, and peculiar artifacts. Aditya sat nearby, trying to decipher the scroll on his own with little success.

"Why don't we just ask someone else to help?" Aditya asked, holding the scroll up to the light. "I mean, you can't be the only person in the world who knows how to decode these things."

Dhruva gave him a pointed look. "And risk word spreading about what we possess? Do you want every greedy mercenary and sect assassin knocking on our door?"

Aditya shrugged. "Fair point. But still, you're making this way harder than it needs to be."

"Deciphering ancient scripts isn't supposed to be easy," Dhruva replied. "It requires focus, knowledge, and a certain level of brilliance—qualities you clearly lack."

Aditya grinned. "Ouch, Dhruva. That almost hurt my feelings."

By the evening, Dhruva had made some progress. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "It's as I suspected. The map outlines a path to a location marked as 'The Vault of Eternals.'"

"That sounds ominous," Aditya said. "What's in this Vault?"

"No one knows for certain," Dhruva replied. "Legends speak of it as a repository for artifacts too dangerous to be left in the world. Weapons of unparalleled destruction, ancient techniques lost to time, and treasures imbued with unimaginable power."

Aditya's eyes widened. "So, basically, it's a 'do not touch' kind of place?"

Dhruva's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Precisely. Which is why it's all the more curious that someone would go to such lengths to obtain this map."

Aditya rubbed his chin. "So, are we going to follow it?"

Dhruva's smile disappeared. "Not yet. The scroll is incomplete. This fragment points to a starting point, but the rest of the map is missing. Without it, venturing into the Vault would be suicide."

Aditya's shoulders slumped. "Great. So we're back to square one."

"Not quite," Dhruva said. "The map gives us a lead—a location where the next fragment might be hidden."

Aditya perked up. "Where?"

Dhruva handed him a piece of parchment with a crudely drawn map. "A place called the Forgotten Wastes. It's a desolate region, but rumors suggest it's a haven for outcasts and treasure hunters. If anyone has the second fragment, it'll be there."

"Forgotten Wastes, huh?" Aditya said, studying the map with mock enthusiasm. "Sounds like a charming vacation spot."

"Yes, for me," Dhruva replied dryly. "Not for you, Aditya."

"What do you mean, Dhruva?" Aditya asked, raising an eyebrow. "Am I not allowed? Or are you just ignoring me?"

"If you have a death wish, feel free to tag along," Dhruva said with a shrug. "But let me be clear—I'm not guaranteeing your safety."

Aditya blinked. "So... a 'no,' then?"

"Take these 200 celestial gold coins and go shopping instead," Dhruva continued, ignoring him. "If that's not enough, use your skills. There's an arena where you can fight to earn more. But for your sake, don't wander off. If you disappear, everyone hidden figure in the city will be after you—not because you're talented, but because of me."

Aditya smirked. "Same ol' mysterious Dhruva. Anyway, nice 'vacation.' While you're risking your neck, I'll show these rich people how to scam the money without knowing it is scam, feast on delicious food, and chill all day. You know, the real vacation lifestyle."

"Goodbye, Aditya," Dhruva said with a sigh. "Enjoy your vacation. It takes time to come back untill then stay here"

Aditya grinned, waving him off. "Bye-bye, Dhruva! Don't die—I'd hate to have to take over your stuff. Or would I?"

Aditya saw something he had never witnessed before—a person disappearing right in front of his eyes. In the span of a second, Dhruva was gone.

Aditya sighed, staring at the empty space where Dhruva had stood. "Dhruva... I still want to ask you—who exactly are you? Why are you teaching me all these things? Why did you save me?"

His voice softened as he continued to speak to the air. "Even though I was stabbed in the heart, how did I come back to life? When I checked my body, there were no wounds. But I still remember the blood flowing from my heart... How did you save me? How did you find me? Why did you take me in as an errand boy for three years?"

Aditya shook his head, a faint smirk on his lips. "No errand boy has ever lived the kind of life I have. I just hope you're not my enemy, Dhruva. But if you were, you wouldn't have needed to save me in the first place. Oh, Dhruva, Dhruva... who are you, really?"

He stood, glancing up at the sky. "Six months have passed, and I've reached the peak of the Path Initiator realm. I just hope that by the time you return, I'll have broken through to the Balance Seeker realm. To balance the spiritual energy within me."

Aditya let out a small laugh. "There's a saying: 'If you become famous, death will follow.' So maybe I should make myself less noticeable, change my name even. Hmm... I'll think about that tomorrow. But without fights, there's no progress."

He clenched his fists, determination glinting in his eyes. "So let's start with the arena matches tomorrow. Hehe... People are the most dangerous when they have nothing to lose. And now, I have nothing. Why not make some fun out of this life?"

Aditya's grin widened, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and recklessness. "An adventure... a more brutal adventure. Starting tomorrow."