Chapter 18: Guided by the Unknown

The news of Ansh's ascent to godhood had spread rapidly, and with it, the excitement and curiosity of the people. He was the third human to reach godhood, and the temples were buzzing with the tales of his success. But for Ansh, standing in the open temple courtyard with his friends, this victory felt far more complex than it appeared.

As Kavi and Tara celebrated their own achievements, having passed the God Trials, Ansh found himself lost in thought. Something had helped them during the trials, something he couldn't explain. The hints, the guidance—it had come from within, but not solely from their own minds or abilities.

"It wasn't just us, was it?" Ansh finally spoke, breaking the quiet.

Kavi, still reveling in his newfound mastery of metal bending, turned to him. "What do you mean?"

Ansh furrowed his brow, trying to put his thoughts into words. "During the trials... when we were stuck, it felt like we were being guided, almost like there was something or someone helping us. Did you feel that?"

Tara glanced at him, her fiery eyes thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, I did feel something. When I struggled with controlling my fire, it was as if I suddenly knew what to do. But I don't know where that knowledge came from. It felt like it was already inside me."

Kavi nodded slowly. "I thought it was just instinct kicking in, but it did feel like something more. It's like I knew exactly how to bend the metal, even though I'd never done anything like it before."

Ansh looked out into the distance, his thoughts racing. "It wasn't instinct, though. It was too precise. It was as if someone was guiding us from the shadows, giving us hints when we needed them most."

Kavi and Tara exchanged puzzled glances. They could sense the same strange force during the trials, but none of them could identify what it was.

---

Meanwhile, in the heart of the temple, Shubhu sat in meditation, deep in thought about his growing powers. The strange forces of time and space had been bending to his will ever since the explosion, but now he was starting to realize that there was more to his powers than he had initially understood.

He had felt the spirits with him for a while now, guiding him in subtle ways. Ever since the merger of Earth and Satal, they had remained by his side, though they never directly revealed themselves unless he allowed them to. And now, with Ansh's ascension to godhood, Shubhu began to suspect that the spirits had played a role in guiding his friends through the God Trials.

But he couldn't let them know the truth—not yet. The spirits were his secret allies, and revealing them too soon could disrupt the delicate balance of the powers at play.

"Spirits," Shubhu called softly, his voice a whisper in the stillness. "I need to know more about my connection to the God of Time and Space. I've felt the pull of time and space bending to my will, but I don't understand why. Tell me—why do I have these powers? Why can I control forces that no one else can?"

The air in the room seemed to shimmer as the spirits responded, their presence subtle yet undeniable. A faint voice echoed in his mind, carrying with it ancient knowledge.

"Your connection runs deep," one spirit whispered. "You are bound to the God of Time and Space, though the full extent of that bond is not yet known, even to us. What we do know is that the gods fear him, for his power is greater than any they can comprehend."

Shubhu's eyes narrowed. "Why would they fear him? What did he do to make them his enemy?"

The spirits paused, their presence flickering like the wind. "It is not what he did, but what he could do. Time and space are forces that govern even the gods. If someone could master them, they could disrupt the balance of all things, including the gods themselves."

Shubhu fell silent, absorbing the weight of the words. His connection to the God of Time and Space made him a potential threat to the very beings who ruled over the realms. If the gods discovered his powers, they would surely see him as an enemy.

But he needed to know more. "And what about Ansh and the others? Did you help them during the trials?"

The spirits' presence shifted, almost as if they were hesitant to answer. "We guided them as best we could, but they do not know of us. They felt our presence, but they cannot see or understand what we are, not unless you grant them the ability to perceive us."

Shubhu exhaled softly. He had suspected as much. The spirits had been watching over his friends, helping them in ways they couldn't comprehend. But for now, it was better that they remained unaware of the spirits' true role.

"Thank you," Shubhu said, his voice firm. "Continue to watch over them, but don't reveal yourselves unless I say so."

"As you wish," the spirits replied, their presence fading into the background.

---

Back in the temple courtyard, Ansh still felt uneasy. The strange sense of being guided during the trials lingered in his mind, but he couldn't place what—or who—had been helping them.

"It felt like someone was there with us," Ansh said quietly. "But I can't explain it. Maybe... maybe it was just the will of the gods?"

Kavi shrugged. "Who knows? But whatever it was, it got us through the trials, and now here we are."

Tara smiled, though a trace of doubt lingered in her eyes. "Maybe we'll never know what helped us. But whatever it was, it got us here. That's what matters."

Ansh nodded, though the unease in his chest remained. He knew something had been with them during the trials, but without any concrete evidence, he couldn't say for sure what it was.

As they continued to talk, the priests arrived, rushing toward them with excitement. "God Ansh!" one of the priests exclaimed, bowing deeply. "You are the third human to ascend to godhood. We are honored to be in your presence."

The other priests joined in, chanting Ansh's name with reverence. "God Ansh has passed the trials and earned his place among the gods. For this, we celebrate your achievement!"

The priests went on to explain that, as a god, Ansh would now have his expenses and needs taken care of by the temple. Everything he required would be provided for him, as befitting his new status

Tara laughed, her eyes bright with joy. "We knew you had it in you, but now it's official. You're really a god!

Ansh couldn't help but smile as his friends pulled him into a tight embrace. Despite the strange feeling of unease that had followed him through the trials, this moment felt real. They had passed the God Trials together, and now they stood as friends, bound by the trials and their victories.

But deep down, Ansh knew that this was only the beginning. The strange guidance they had received during the trials, the sense of something greater at play—it was far from over. And though he couldn't see or understand it yet, he felt that there were still secrets waiting to be uncovered.