Morning bells echoed through Himalaya Academy, low and resonant, vibrating through stone and bone alike.
Dev woke to the sound with a dull ache behind his eyes.
For a moment, he forgot where he was.
Then he saw the wooden ceiling, the thin beam of sunlight cutting through the window—and the two other beds.
Vansh was already awake, sitting cross-legged and stretching like a restless tiger.
Aditya, on the other hand, was calmly folding his blanket with almost ceremonial precision.
"You both wake up like monks," Vansh muttered. "Unnatural."
Aditya didn't look up. "Discipline is the foundation of creation."
Vansh groaned. "See? He's doing it again."
Dev smiled faintly.
Before he could say anything, the dorm bell rang again—sharper this time.
Class Allocation Bell.
The Assembly of Paths
All first-year students gathered in the open courtyard. Unlike the test day, there was no tension—only curiosity.
Master Raghav stood before them, scroll in hand.
"Your breath has been identified," he said. "Now, your path begins."
He raised his voice.
"There are three compulsory classes for every student of Himalaya Academy."
A few students straightened.
"Basic Combat.
Breath Control Foundations.
And—"
He paused.
"The Grand Library."
A murmur passed through the crowd.
Even Vansh leaned forward. "I heard that place breathes back."
Aditya nodded slightly. "It does."
Dev blinked. "You've been there?"
"Only the first floor," Aditya replied. "Like everyone else."
Master Raghav continued, "Beyond these compulsory classes, specialized training will be assigned later. Observer-Class students—"
His eyes flicked briefly to Dev.
"—will follow the same foundational curriculum."
No one argued.
But many watched.
The Grand Library of Breath
The library stood apart from the academy buildings, carved directly into the mountain face.
Seven massive stone terraces rose upward, each level partially visible through carved balconies and sealed gates.
It didn't feel like a building.
It felt like a being.
The entrance door was a single slab of ancient stone, etched with symbols Dev didn't recognize—but his chest tightened just looking at them.
Master Raghav addressed them quietly here, as if raising his voice would offend the place.
"The Grand Library has seven floors," he said.
"Each floor corresponds to a chakra point awakened through spiritual evolution."
He pointed upward.
"The higher the floor, the deeper the understanding—and the greater the burden."
A student raised his hand. "Sir… who decides who can enter?"
"The library does," Raghav replied.
A chill ran through the group.
"The doors cannot be forced. No weapon, no breath technique, no ritual has ever opened a sealed floor."
His gaze hardened.
"Those who tried… paid the price."
Vansh swallowed. "Good to know."
The Floors Explained
They stepped inside.
The First Floor opened freely—wide, welcoming, warm with lantern light.
"This floor is open to all," Raghav said. "It represents the Root Chakra—foundation, survival, physical discipline."
Shelves stretched endlessly, filled with texts on:
Basic combat forms
Physical conditioning
Breath stabilization
History of the academy
Students exhaled in relief.
But Dev's eyes were drawn upward.
Stone staircases spiraled higher—but each higher floor was sealed by massive doors, each glowing faintly with a different resonance.
Raghav continued, his voice lower now.
"Each floor is divided into three sections."
He gestured to markings on the walls.
Brahma Section — Creation
Vishnu Section — Preservation
Mahesh Section — Destruction
Each section pulsed faintly with its own color.
Gold.
Blue.
Red.
"And only those aligned may fully comprehend what lies within their section," he said.
Dev frowned. "What about… others?"
Raghav did not answer immediately.
Instead, the Headmaster—who had appeared silently at the entrance—spoke.
"Some floors," he said calmly,
"do not yet have names for what they contain."
The students turned.
"The Seventh Floor," the Headmaster continued, "represents the Crown Chakra—complete unity of breath, body, and spirit."
His eyes darkened.
"No one in this age has opened it."
A hush fell.
"Not even you?" someone whispered.
The Headmaster's lips curved—not in pride, not in shame.
"I have unlocked six," he said.
"The seventh… remains silent."
Dev felt it then.
Not fear.
Recognition.
The library wasn't locked.
It was waiting.
A Quiet Realization
As the students were dismissed to explore the first floor, Vansh leaned toward Dev.
"So," he whispered, "think the mystery guy gets his own secret section?"
Dev shook his head. "I don't feel like this place wants to give me answers."
Aditya adjusted his glasses slightly, eyes fixed on the staircase.
"Libraries don't give answers," he said.
"They reflect the questions you're ready to ask."
Dev looked up at the sealed floors again.
For a fleeting moment—
He thought the stone doors pulsed.
Not with color.
But with white.
And somewhere deep within the mountain, something ancient stirred again—
Not awakening.
Not yet.
Just… paying attention.