Just one year left.
Arjun was twenty-one years old. For the past ten years, he had been waiting for that day.
He lived in a small gurukul high in the mountains, far from any town. The air was always cold, and the place was surrounded by silence, except for the chirping of birds or laughter of students.
It wasn't a famous gurukul. It wasn't even big. Because of the freezing weather and its remote location, few chose to train here. Yet, despite that, the gurukul had its fair share of students—those who came searching for knowledge, not comfort.
This gurukul existed to teach the Vaidya, the art of healing.
But at this hour, Arjun wasn't studying herbs or chanting mantras.
He was training with a Dhanush—his bow.
Why would a healer need to train in combat? Even Arjun himself couldn't answer that question.
As he drew the bowstring, the tension of the string hummed in the cold air. Just as he was about to release the arrow, someone suddenly jumped in front of his view.
It was a girl.
Subha.
She looked to be around his age, her long hair dancing in the mountain wind. Arjun lowered his bow and sighed, though there was a faint smile on his face.
Subha crossed her arms and frowned.
"Again? Training here at midnight? Aren't you afraid of falling off the cliff one day?"
The place they stood on was a narrow platform a little below the mountain's peak, about a twenty-minute walk from the main gurukul. Arjun often came here at night to sharpen his senses by shooting at small animals in the darkness.
He replied calmly, "You know, it's not easy to manage both healing and combat training together."
Subha raised an eyebrow.
"But aren't you considered a genius with the Dhanush?"
Arjun chuckled softly.
"Genius is too big a word. I'm just a little good at it. Says the girl who's been called a genius in Vaidya since childhood."
Subha blushed slightly at his words and quickly tried to change the topic.
"You never told me why you train for combat. Isn't your father—"
Before she could finish, Arjun suddenly collapsed.
Her heart skipped a beat. She rushed toward him and held him, panic rising in her chest. He had fainted completely. Without wasting a moment, she began carrying him uphill, struggling under his weight.
When her legs started to tremble, she pressed her palms together and chanted softly. Her hands formed mudras, and faint blue light surrounded her. The mantra boosted her strength, and she ran across the rocky path toward the gurukul's main hall.
When she reached, she placed Arjun down and bowed before her Guru, touching his feet.
"Guruji, it happened again," she said, panting.
The Guru looked at Arjun's unconscious body, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"This is the fourth time this week, isn't it?"
Subha nodded.
"Yes, Guruji. Is this because of the side effects of training with multiple Astras?"
The old man's expression turned distant. He spoke after a pause, his voice calm yet heavy.
"Training two Astras of different natures is nearly impossible. The consequences can be severe, even fatal. However, because he has been given a protective mantra. It's not the cause of his fainting.
The true reason for fainting is something you must ask him yourself."
Subha nodded quietly and sat beside Arjun's bed. His face looked calm even in sleep, with small cuts and bruises on his cheeks from constant training.
She thought back to the past—when Arjun was clumsy, always needing her help. They had grown up together. She was his only friend. He had no one else his age.
But everything changed when she went for a short journey.
When she returned from the journey, the boy she once knew had turned into someone else. His eyes had grown colder, his voice quieter. The same boy who once hated training now spent sleepless nights practicing with his bow. The conversation she had when they reunited still pained her heart.
Her thoughts were broken when Arjun suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.
"You should rest, Subha," he said softly. "It's already past midnight."
A few days later, Subha saw Arjun leaving the gurukul early in the morning.
The younger students were heading to the forest to collect herbs, their laughter echoing faintly through the valley.
Arjun and Subha didn't have to join them anymore—they were senior disciples now. Most of their old batchmates had already been transferred to other places.
Subha, however, had chosen to stay. Because of him.
And as for why Arjun stayed—no one knew. Not even Arjun himself. But maybe his Guru knew — though that's a story for another time.
He left every day to meet his Guru and train in combat. Usually, Subha stayed back to focus on her healing arts. But today, something in her heart told her to follow him.
She moved quietly behind the trees, keeping her presence hidden. But before she could take another step, Arjun suddenly stopped and turned toward her.
"You can come out," he said calmly. "There's no need to sneak around."
Subha froze, her heart jumping. She stepped out awkwardly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"How did you know I was there?"
Arjun smirked. "If I can't even sense that, then my nine years of training would be meaningless."
They continued walking side by side down a narrow path covered in tall grass. The wind grew colder, brushing their faces. Subha's eyes, filled with worry, turned toward him.
"Tell me the truth, Arjun," she said softly. "Why do you keep fainting?"
They both stopped. The wind grew louder, and Subha's heartbeat matched its rhythm.
Arjun looked at her seriously. "To be honest, I don't know. My Guru told me I'll understand everything next year. Will you stay with me until then?"
Without hesitation, Subha smiled. "Of course. I'll stay with you until you choose someone else to marry."
Both of them blushed slightly, turning their faces away. The silence grew awkward, and they started walking again.
To break it, Arjun said, "You know, I'm almost done mastering my Dhatu Astra."
Subha's eyes widened. "You really mastered two Astras of different properties? You never fail to amaze me! Can you show me?"
He smiled faintly. "You don't need to ask. It's the least I can do for everything you've done for me."
He took his Dhanush from his shoulder, pulled back the string, and a glowing arrow of wind formed.
When he released it, the arrow split into several others midair and struck multiple fruits at once.
The scene was breathtaking.
Subha clapped her hands together in amazement. "How did your arrow multiply? Isn't the Dhatu Astra meant only for controlling elements?"
Arjun nodded. "It's because it's fused with Banastra. A combination of two Astras."
Subha looked at him in awe. "It's rare to even have one Astra, and your Guru gave you a fused one? You're truly lucky."
Arjun smiled faintly. "Lucky…" he whispered.
After some light chatter, they reached their destination—a rocky plateau where an elderly man stood waiting.
Arjun immediately bowed and touched his feet. Subha quickly followed.
The Guru looked at his disciple with calm eyes.
"Your training ends today," he said. "I have given you all the knowledge you desired."
Arjun straightened and spoke respectfully. "Thank you, Guruji."
The old man nodded. "Do not forget our promise."
"I won't."
"Remember," the Guru's voice deepened, "you must never kill anyone, no matter what happens. That is your Dharma as a Vaidya{healer}."
Arjun opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, the Guru vanished into thin air.
Only his voice lingered in the cold air.
"Remember, Arjun. If you ever kill… there will be no future for you."