Chapter 13
Exam start
The chamber was steeped in silence.
Ten adepts — now present in the room — were weighing each other with deep, quiet, and serious eyes.
No one spoke, no one moved — as if even the air had halted its own flow.
Then…
From the main doorway came slow, yet distinct footsteps.
All eyes turned toward the sound.
An elderly man was entering —
A bent back, steady gait, old but clean garments,
and in his hand, a plain-looking wooden staff.
His body was frail — but his eyes…
Deep, steady, and grave — as though they could strip away every veil of an adept's consciousness.
He walked slowly to the central circle.
There, he stopped, planted his staff on the ground, and spoke:
> "Salutations, adepts."
His voice was soft, yet it resonated within — as though not words, but vibrations were speaking.
> "I am Triloksen.
The oldest, and the lowest servant of Takshashila Gurukul.
I am the gatekeeper of Takshashila —
And the guardian of the trial
that every Rankala adept must pass through
if they wish to set foot on the sacred grounds of Takshashila."
He let his gaze fall upon each adept in turn.
Then he said:
> "Now begins the trial —
The 'Tri-Energy Trial'."
> "This trial will test your body, your energy, and your resolve.
There are three stages:
1. Strike Power
2. Energy Perception
3. Endurance of Will."
---
First Trial — Strike Power
> "This stage will test the force within you.
Not merely the strength of your body,
but also the energy that bursts forth from your Atmabeej."
Triloksen gestured to one side —
there lay a special stone — black in hue, glowing faintly hot —
its surface trembling with a thin aura.
> "This is the Agnipashaan.
It is no ordinary stone —
it will measure the force of your strike.
> "If it records more than three tons of force —
you have passed this trial."
---
Second Trial — Energy Perception
Triloksen stepped forward and spoke:
> "Now comes the test of energy.
Strength is a great thing —
but if the path of energy is unclear,
the adept remains lost."
On an altar lay an ancient sword —
dim yet radiant, its name was Tapasvini.
> "This sword is not meant to cut anyone —
It reveals the color and flow of the energy running within you."
> "You need only place your palm upon it.
If a white aura appears — it means your energy is still undeveloped.
Green — a sign of awakening.
And if the sword glows saffron or blue —
it means your spiritual direction is clear."
> "This stage is no competition —
It is merely to make you aware of your own level.
Wherever you stand, you can move forward from there."
---
Third Trial — Endurance of Will
Now Triloksen grew solemn.
His eyes were steady — yet his energy seemed to stir.
> "Now, the last and most silent trial.
No running, no striking —
only patience, resolve, and self-stability."
> "I will spread my energy around you —
This will not be an attack —
It will be a Pressure Wave.
An inner force that will shake the depths of your consciousness."
> "You must remain still for two minutes.
Stand, sit — however you deem fit.
But do not run.
If you fall, it is acceptable —
but if you lose consciousness —
this stage ends there."
> "One who endures the pressure is worthy of being called an adept.
One who wavers can rise again through practice.
But one who runs — is not yet ready from within."
---
Now Triloksen fell silent.
Once again, the chamber was wrapped in deep stillness —
but now it was not the silence of fear —
it was the silence of inner preparation.
Every adept's breath grew deep, steady, and centered.
The chamber no longer held mere quiet —
it carried an unseen weight.
Every heartbeat had quickened, and the air itself seemed taut with tension.
Triloksen stood at the center of the circle, his piercing gaze measuring them all.
At his signal, two hulking attendants placed the Agnipashaan in the middle of the room.
It was a heavy black stone, its surface veined with red-orange streaks that shimmered like molten embers.
Triloksen's voice rang out, low but stern:
"Remember — not only your muscles, but your inner energy will be recorded by this stone.
Only above three tons of force will you pass this stage."
---
First came Veeraj.
Tall, broad-shouldered, eyes sharp, his gait full of unshaken confidence —
He was the heir to the second most powerful community of Suryanagar.
He drew in a deep breath, filled his palm with energy, golden aura blazing, and struck.
Dhumm!
The Agnipashaan displayed: 4.0 tons.
Triloksen gave a small nod. "Accepted."
Behind him came his childhood friend, Karan —
Heir to Suryanagar's third most powerful community.
He too gathered his energy in his palm and struck.
Thapp!
The number appeared: 3.9 tons.
Triloksen's eyes remained steady.
"A hair's breadth from failing… yet you pass."
Then stepped Riya, member of Suryanagar's most powerful community.
Her steps were quiet and graceful.
She gently placed her palm on the stone, and a faint wave of energy rose.
3.0 tons.
She stepped back without a word, but her eyes held a resolve deeper than her softness.
Next came Piya, Riya's younger sister.
Her steps were light yet confident.
She struck with a perfect blend of force and energy.
5.0 tons.
A ripple of murmurs spread in the chamber.
Triloksen murmured,
"Beyond her sister… interesting."
One after another, adepts came forward.
A brawny youth used all the strength in his arms, but the result was 2.8 tons.
Triloksen tapped his staff. "Rejected."
The young man's face went pale, his dreams already shattered.
It was Arnav's turn.
Fast and agile, his strike carried a rare mix of speed and energy.
3.4 tons — he passed.
Then Megha, her face resolute, eyes brimming with determination —
3.3 tons. She exhaled in relief.
---
Now Aarav stepped forward.
Almost playfully, he approached the stone and delivered a sharp strike.
5.0 tons.
But there was a glint in his eyes, as if saying,
"This isn't my true strength."
Triloksen's brow rose slightly, but he said nothing.
Then came Adarsh, a quiet and serious youth.
A sharp yet precise blow —
5.0 tons.
And finally — Bajrang.
All eyes were now on him.
He moved forward — neither fast nor slow.
No war cry, no display.
He simply drew back his palm and struck the stone.
The vibration sank deep within the stone, yet the sound was minimal.
The number flashed: 5.8 tons.
Triloksen's eyes gleamed for a moment.
"Stage One — complete. Now… begins the Energy Perception test."
---
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier.
The first stage was over, and the second was about to begin.
With a slow, sweeping gesture of his hand, Triloksen made the Agnipashaan sink into the ground.
In its place appeared an altar, upon which rested an ancient sword.
Dim yet strangely radiant, as though it carried the energy of countless ages.
Its name was Tapasvini.
"Now comes the test of energy," Triloksen's voice echoed.
"Strength is a great thing —
but if the path of energy is unclear,
the adept will remain lost."
He gestured toward Tapasvini.
"This sword is not meant to cut.
It reveals the color and flow of the energy within you."
A sense of anticipation filled the chamber.
Every adept knew — this stage would measure the true progress of their spirit.