---
The dawn painted the sky in delicate hues of orange and violet, brushing the broken village with a soft glow that seemed too kind for a place so ruined. Asura sat alone on a shattered wooden bench, a cigarette—his last—resting between two calloused fingers. Smoke curled lazily into the crisp morning air, blending with the quiet grief that hung around him.
He took a slow drag, his eyes half-lidded, watching the sun rise over the skeleton of what was once a home. The world felt still, too still, as if the universe held its breath.
"So… this is the last one," he murmured to himself, barely audible.
The smoke danced from his lips as he exhaled, lost in the solitude. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"What now?" he asked the silence, flicking the cigarette onto the damp ground. It hissed softly as it died.
"Don't worry, Asura… everything will be fine," he said, leaning back against the splintered wall behind him. "Just like every time."
He shut his eyes. Weariness radiated from every line of his face.
"Maybe I should sleep," he whispered. "That's all I can do now…"
A pause followed, heavy and hollow. His thoughts echoed in the empty spaces of his mind:
Not every morning brings light into our lives… but does it even matter? Everything is beautiful in its own way. Even the darkness within us. We just need to embrace every moment… even the dark nights.
---
Later — Inside the Abandoned House
A heavy knock shattered the silence.
Then another.
Knuckles against wood echoed through the shell of the home.
"Knock, knock. Is anyone here?" came a gruff voice from outside.
Asura stirred, grunting as he rose from a crumpled blanket on the floor. His body groaned with fatigue. He stumbled toward the door, unlatched it, and squinted into the dim light.
"Yeah, it's me. Who the hell are you?"
A tall, cloaked figure stepped forward, face sharp with familiarity.
"It's me, Vishma. You know who I am."
Asura blinked, scoffing under his breath. "You? What do you want from me?"
Vishma's eyes didn't waver. "Let me in. We need to talk."
Asura hesitated, then stepped aside with a sarcastic shrug. "I don't want to, but sure. Come in. Don't expect much—I don't play host."
Vishma entered slowly, every step heavy with purpose.
"I had a prophecy," he said. "He's coming back."
Asura stiffened. His jaw clenched, but his eyes revealed little. He slumped into a rickety chair, rubbing his temples.
"It's beyond us to stop," he muttered. "So forget it."
He looked up, half-smirking. "You got a cigarette?"
Vishma blinked. "What?"
"A cigarette," Asura repeated. "It costs less than what you're asking of me."
"Asura…" Vishma's tone hardened. "Everything is spiraling out of control. You can't ignore this. You need to remember who you are. Warriors don't run."
"Warriors?" Asura chuckled bitterly. "I've lost every battle that ever mattered to me."
"You lost because your opponent was your own ally," Vishma said quietly. "No matter how strong you are, you can't fight your own with a kind heart."
Asura's expression shifted—darkened. He leaned forward, eyes glinting with something colder.
"I don't care what happens next," he growled. "I lost everything. I couldn't even save my own daughter… the only thing that mattered."
A long, painful beat.
"Now, I have nothing left to save."
Silence filled the room. Vishma stood still, letting the weight of Asura's words settle.
"You made a promise," Vishma finally said. "You swore to protect your people. And now? You hide behind grief while your village faces destruction."
"Promises…" Asura scoffed. "I've learned that breaking them is the easiest way to live without regret."
"You used to say your village was your family."
"Family is built on trust and unity. But in my case…" Asura looked away. "Trust shattered my unity. I don't want that family anymore."
"Then rebuild," Vishma said, stepping closer. "Start over. Take a second chance."
Asura's breath caught. He stared at the wall, silent.
"You got that cigarette or not?" he asked finally. "I came to this village after losing everything…"
---
Flashback — Village Market, Day
The market buzzed with life. Children played. Merchants shouted their wares. Asura stood leaning against a wooden post, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He looked like a man lost in the wrong story.
A small voice broke the rhythm of his solitude.
"Hey! Hey, are you listening?"
He looked down.
A little girl stood before him, eyes bright with curiosity, her head tilted like a bird watching something odd.
"Are you an outsider?"
"So what?" he replied coolly. "Outsiders aren't welcome here?"
"Nah. I just haven't seen you before."
"Guess I'm new," he muttered.
"You know smoking isn't allowed here, right?"
He froze.
His eyes widened just slightly.
"Durga…?" he whispered.
The girl frowned. "Huh? Are you drunk? Who's Durga?"
He blinked, shaking his head.
"My mistake."
She grinned. "I knew it! By the way, what's your name?"
"Asura."
"Sounds like a demon's name."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
"Well," she said with a teasing smile, "I don't share my name with outsiders."
A distant voice echoed from the crowd.
"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"Oops, that's my dad! Gotta go! Bye!"
She turned, running into the mass of people.
"Wait! At least tell me your name!" Asura called after her.
"Next time!" she shouted, waving as she disappeared.
---
Present — Abandoned House, Night
Asura stared at the floor, the memory weighing heavy on him. Parashu sat nearby, watching.
"So… that was the first time you met her?" the boy asked quietly.
Asura shook his head.
"That was the last time."
Parashu frowned. "Last time? What happened to her?"
---
Flashback — Village, Night
Screams tore through the air. Flames licked the sky. Shadows moved like ghosts between buildings.
"A few days after I arrived," Asura's voice echoed in memory, "they attacked."
The Kara Army came swift and merciless.
---
Present
"Kara?" Vishma said, eyes wide. "The monster army?"
He clenched his fists. "They are the Soul Archivers. They've been collecting souls for years. They can wipe out a village in an instant."
Parashu leaned forward, tense. "So what happened next?"
"I tried to save her," Asura said. "I fought with everything I had. But my attacks… they were useless."
Vishma stared at him. "You're telling me they dodged your speed? Your reflexes? Your agility? That's impossible. Unless…"
Asura's breath caught.
His eyes widened.
"They were using Durga's power…"
"Which means…" Vishma began.
"She's alive," Parashu finished, stunned.
Asura's voice trembled as he whispered, "They're using my daughter against me…"
"Then we have to rescue her," Vishma said.
Asura's face darkened.
"We can't fight them alone…"
A beat.
"But I know someone who can help."
---
TO BE CONTINUED…
Next Chapter: Celestial Odyssey: Beyond the Veil
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