Chapter 9: After the Calm

Three weeks had passed since Shubhu and his friends cleared the dungeon. The village of Jedna had never been so lively, filled with celebration and joy. For the first time in its history, a party of adventurers had successfully cleared a dungeon. The once quiet village was now bustling with excitement, as the people honored the adventurers who risked their lives.

Shubhu's rank had been raised to C-rank, a promotion that surprised him more than anyone. He still remembered how, just weeks ago, he had been struggling at the bottom, barely able to defend himself. But now, he had made it through a dungeon and gained the recognition of his peers. It was a strange feeling—satisfying, but surreal.

The weeks of peace were a welcome change. Shubhu and his friends, Ansh, Kavi, and Tara, trained together and spent their days laughing and reminiscing about their shared adventures. But beneath the surface, Shubhu couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing. His friends had been unusually quiet lately, their conversations tinged with an unspoken tension.

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One evening, the four of them gathered at their favorite spot in the village inn. The warm glow of the fireplace cast a soft light over the room, and the familiar smell of roasted meat filled the air. They sat around the table, enjoying their meal in comfortable silence, until Ansh suddenly cleared his throat.

"Shiva," he began, his tone more serious than usual. "There's something I need to tell you."

Shubhu looked up, catching the solemn expressions on Ansh's face, and then on Kavi and Tara. "What is it?" Shubhu asked, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.

Ansh hesitated for a moment, glancing at the others before speaking. "We've been talking… and I've decided to leave the party."

Shubhu blinked in surprise, the words not quite registering at first. "Leave? Why?"

Ansh took a deep breath, his eyes filled with emotion. "You've grown so much in such a short time, Shiva. When you joined us, you were struggling, but now… you've surpassed me. I feel like I'm holding you back. That's why I've decided to take the God Trial."

Shubhu frowned, confused. "God Trial? What's that?"

Before Ansh could respond, Kavi leaned forward, his face serious. "It's a trial held by the gods, Shiva. Every god has a temple, and these temples are scattered across villages—each temple representing a group of villages. The God Trials are tests that the gods put their heirs through. If you pass, you can unlock more of your god-given powers and potentially even become a god yourself."

Tara nodded, chiming in. "Right now, we're only able to use a small fraction of the powers granted to us by our gods. Even the strongest of us can only wield about 10% of their abilities. But if you pass the God Trials, you can grow stronger. You can reach mid-tier powers or even beyond. It's the only way to truly become powerful."

Shubhu's mind spun as he tried to process what they were saying. "But… if this trial can make you stronger, why doesn't everyone take it?"

Kavi and Tara exchanged a look before Tara spoke again, her voice soft but serious. "Because the God Trials are incredibly dangerous. If you fail… you lose everything. You lose your powers, and in some cases, you could even die."

Ansh nodded, his expression grim. "It's not a decision we've taken lightly, Shiva. But I've reached my limit. If I stay here, I won't grow anymore. I need to take the trial to become stronger, even if it means risking my life."

Shubhu felt a knot tighten in his chest. "So, you're leaving to take this trial? What about us? We've always fought together."

Ansh smiled sadly. "I'll always consider you my friend, Shiva. But I can't hold you back. You've become too strong, and I don't want to be a burden to you."

Shubhu opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Kavi spoke up.

"It's not just Ansh, Shiva," Kavi said quietly. "Tara and I have also decided to take the God Trial. We've been talking about it for a while now. We've hit a bottleneck in our growth, and the only way for us to break through is to face the trials. We don't want to slow you down either."

Shubhu's heart sank. "You're all leaving?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Tara reached across the table, placing a gentle hand on Shubhu's. "It's not because of you, Shiva. We've all grown in different ways, and now it's time for us to walk our own paths. But we'll always be connected. We're not abandoning you, we're just… growing in different directions."

Shubhu sat back in his chair, feeling the weight of their words settle on him. He understood their reasons, but it didn't make it any easier to accept. They were more than just his teammates—they were his family, the only people who had believed in him when he was at his weakest. The thought of losing them, even temporarily, was almost unbearable.

The room grew quiet, the crackling of the fire the only sound filling the space. After a long pause, Shubhu finally spoke, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't want to lose you all… but I understand. If this is what you need to do, then I won't stop you. Just promise me… you'll come back."

Ansh smiled softly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "We'll come back, Shiva. I promise."

Kavi grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Just don't get too strong without us, okay?"

Tara's eyes were filled with emotion as she leaned over to hug Shubhu tightly. "We'll always be with you, Shiva. You've been our rock, and we'll never forget that."

As they embraced, Shubhu felt a lump rise in his throat. The room was thick with emotion—sadness, hope, and the unspoken bond they shared. Even though their paths were diverging, they would always carry a part of each other with them.

Before they could leave, the soft voice of Shubhu's spirits echoed in his mind.

"Let them go, Shubhu," the spirits whispered gently. "This is their journey, just as you have yours. But be careful, for not everyone is worthy of trust. Keep your powers hidden, for you possess something extraordinary."

Shubhu nodded silently, his heart heavy but resolute. He knew he couldn't hold them back, no matter how much he wanted to keep them close.

"When are you leaving?" Shubhu asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ansh glanced at the others before replying. "Tonight. We've already prepared everything."

Shubhu's heart clenched. "So soon?"

Tara nodded, her voice tinged with sadness. "We have to go now. If we don't leave tonight, we might lose our nerve."

Shubhu watched as they stood up, gathering their things. His emotions were a swirling mix of pride, sadness, and fear. He couldn't bear the thought of losing them, but he also knew they had to follow their own paths. They had to take the God Trials to become stronger, even if it meant risking everything.

Before they left, Shubhu quietly summoned his three spirits—Pragya, Rudra, and Dharā. Without anyone noticing, he sent them to hide in the shadows of his friends, a silent protection in case danger struck. It was the only thing he could do to ensure their safety.

As they said their final goodbyes, Shubhu felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes, but he blinked them away. His friends embraced him one last time, their bonds unspoken but undeniable.

"We'll see you again, Shiva," Ansh said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Take care of yourself," Tara added, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Kavi gave him one last grin. "Don't go conquering any more dungeons without us."

With that, they left the inn, their figures disappearing into the night. Shubhu stood in the doorway, watching them go until they were out of sight, his heart heavy with both sorrow and hope.

As the door closed behind them, the inn felt emptier than it ever had before. Shubhu whispered to himself, "Be safe… and come back."

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Meanwhile, Far Away...

In a dark forest, a shadowy figure watched the village from afar. They knew Shubhu well, perhaps better than anyone else. The figure's eyes gleamed with dark intent as they disappeared into the night.