Thou Son stood alone in the middle of the city center, surrounded by noise, traffic, and far too many people who looked like they had their lives figured out. He didn’t. But at least his hair looked great — long, dark, and silky, flowing like a shampoo commercial in slow motion. His violet eyes scanned the crowd like he was expecting a miracle. Or at least his friend, who was late. Again.

  With a face shaped like a ‘V’ and the expression of someone who had seen too many “Topper of the Year” certificates and not enough sunlight, he sighed.

  "My family," he thought, "earns just enough to keep the lights on... and yet, they funded all my education. Every exam, every textbook, every gold medal — sponsored proudly by a household that considers popcorn a luxury item."

  He looked around, hoping his thoughts weren’t loud enough to attract pity.

  "Apart from studies, I’m not allowed to spend a single damn rupee. My father thinks fun is a crime, and I’m Public Enemy Number One if I so much as glance at a movie ticket."

  He smirked bitterly.

  "So what did I do? I became a study machine. Graduated in everything short of rocket science. Gold medals? Got a drawer full. Friends? Still on backorder."

  He shifted on his feet. A kid bumped into him, looked up, and ran off like he’d just seen a ghost. Understandable. He did look like a mix of a tired philosopher and a cursed anime prince.

  That’s who he was — Thou Son. Twenty-three. Academic overachiever. Social underachiever. Loved by examiners. Feared by fun.

  And right now, he was waiting for someone who still hadn’t shown up. Figures.

  “Even my friends treat me like a missed call,” he muttered, adjusting his bag, eyes narrowing with existential annoyance. “Maybe I’m not unlucky. Maybe I’m just a background character in someone else’s happy story.”

  "I studied everything under the sun — physics, history, philosophy, you name it. But the one thing that stuck? Dharma. A fancy word for 'doing what's right.' The only real takeaway from all that education... and my father’s relentless pressure.

  Is it a blessing? A curse? Hell if I know. All I know is, living by dharma is like trying to play chess when everyone else is using cheat codes.

  The laws around here are built on 'great values,' supposedly. But in practice? It’s just a glorified handbook for crime. The system is a circus, and the clowns wear suits .Only the innocent follows.

  As for me? I’m standing in the audience, watching it all burn. And that’s why I’m still jobless — I refuse to join the freak show."

  Thou Son and his friend sat on a low concrete ledge near the metro station. The morning air buzzed with traffic horns, barking dogs, and the rhythmic hiss of a chai vendor pouring into steel cups.

  “You’re still soft when it comes to crimes against kids,” Thou Son said, breaking the silence. He took a noisy slurp of tea, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Read something nasty today — a family in some remote village offered their daughter’s head to a god. A ritual, they called it.”

  Thou Son’s face tightened, jaw ticking ever so slightly. His violet eyes darkened. “Of course they did,” he muttered. “Modern calendar, medieval brain.”

  His friend shrugged. “Still digging around the internet for witches and ritual killings? Most of it’s just fake stories, man. They are just Fairy tales with blood.”

  Thou raised an eyebrow, half amused, half disgusted. “Then explain why women labeled as witches keep ending up dead in every forgotten village and named as witch killings.”

  “Old grudges between families, gossip ,... small town drama with a body count,” his friend replied, his lips pursed with discomfort.

  “You never agree with me,” Thou said flatly, a faint smirk tugging at his mouth.

  “That’s because you sound like a cursed documentary narrator.”

  They shared a dry laugh, the kind that ends too quickly.

  His friend’s tone shifted. “Listen. Back in college, I got involved in this side investigation. Small place, Remote, Illegal immigrants. Rumors about school kids being forced into... prostitution.”

  Thou son stiffened, tea cup halfway to his lips. “Prostitution?” he repeated, blinking hard. “With kids?”

  His friend nodded slowly. “The children cried. But not one of them spoke. Not a word. Like silence was stitched into their throats.”

  A dog barked nearby. The sound felt too loud.

  “What the hell...” thou son whispered, the color draining from his face.

  “We tried everything,” his friend continued, his voice low. “Reports. NGOs. Outreach. Nothing stuck. And when the police went in, the parents attacked them. Chased them off like outsiders.”

  His friend exhaled sharply and rubbed his forehead.

  “I work in that same system... barely. Everything’s either a dead end or a dead file. You try to make a change, and the system makes sure you disappear instead.”

  Thou looked up at the smog-pale sky, expression unreadable. A breeze tousled his long, silky hair, but he didn’t blink.

  “For someone who’s spent his life studying this country,” he said, voice hollow, “I’m starting to think I understand nothing about how deep this rot goes.”

  Meanwhile, in a world beside ours…

  A realm hidden beside Earth, like a shadow behind a mirror—the Ancient World.

  Here, magic breathes. Creatures walk the skies. Witches whisper to stars. The world glows in colors forgotten by time.

  But it is sealed.

  Bound by a powerful barrier, ancient and absolute, meant to keep magic from spilling into the human world—or perhaps, to keep humans out.

  No one crosses it. Not anymore.

  But something has begun to shift.

  Two cloaked figures slipped into the heart of Xinjiang City, their steps silent, their presence unnoticed—just as planned. One walked with composed elegance, the other with a restless edge. Behind them, their private force waited in the shadows, hidden outside the city gates.

  Rebecca, cloaked in black with eyes sharp as daggers, whispered without looking sideways, “This is the Stealth Crystal—our boss gave up half of his life for it. This isn't just another snatch job, Lisa. It's the ancient book. Guarded. Sealed. Sacred. Failure means death.”

  Lisa, scar-lined and smirking beneath her hood, twirled a silver charm between her fingers. “Yeah, yeah. You’ll see my brilliance in action. I didn’t sweat through years of training just to trip over a few old traps.”

  Rebecca’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t get cocky. You remember the deal. One slip, and the punishment isn’t exile—it’s execution.”

  Lisa chuckled under her breath. “Tch. Death doesn’t scare me. Boredom does.”

  Lisa’s grin widened, eyes gleaming with wild excitement beneath her hood. Lisa: “Right, right… Who the hell cares about life when a once-in-a-lifetime score lands in your lap? This—this is what I live for. Stealing from him—the mighty, untouchable Great Scholar? Hah! That’s not a job. That’s glory!”

  Rebecca smirked, shaking her head. Rebecca: “You’re insane.” She chuckled darkly. “I love it. Let’s do this.”

  They passed a vendor stall, the scent of roasted herbs filling the air. Neither flinched. Their mission had begun.

  The two witches ducked into a side alley and emerged moments later cloaked in traditional witch robes, complete with old brooms slung over their shoulders. Their dark silhouettes moved among the crowd, eyes scanning, hearts steady.

  The sky shimmered above, glowing with faint magical surveillance runes. Flying wasn’t an option. The only way in—through the main gates.

  Rebecca’s voice was low and curt. “Bribe’s done. Guards are blind for ten minutes. Our men wait outside—exactly as planned.”

  They slipped past the gate unnoticed, weaved through the busy streets, then darted into a thicket of shadowy bushes by the Scholar’s compound wall. The glow of the Stealth Crystal pulsed faintly in Rebecca’s palm.

  Rebecca muttered sharply, eyes locked on the looming palace . Rebecca: “Hey, idiot. Focus. One mistake and we’re both corpses. No traces. No spells. No noise. Got it?”

  Lisa rolled her eyes and crouched beside her. Lisa: “Yeah, yeah… Just give the word. Our guards are watching. We strike at the right moment.”

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  The wind shifted. The ancient stone walls ahead seemed to hum. The real job was about to begin.

  Lightning cracked—loud and sudden—splitting the sky above the palace. Wind tore through the streets. The air shifted.

  Lisa’s grin widened under her hood . Lisa: "looks like climate today is on our side"

  Scholar: "Who is preoccupied with studying the scriptures? What's happening in the castle? "Standing on the high veranda, his aged but sharp eyes scanned the turmoil outside. His towering figure, draped in ancient robes, looked every bit the wise, timeless scholar. The wind howled, black clouds swirled, and lightning struck in strange, erratic patterns. Thunder clapped like a curse, all happening at once. Something was very wrong.

  Meanwhile, below, Lisa's voice cut through the storm's roar.

  Lisa: "Our cult's gods are helping us today. Let’s not waste this opportunity."

  The two moved swiftly, their bodies fading into invisibility as they rushed toward the underground cave.

  They slipped through the old city inner gates under cloaks and silence, their bodies flickering out of sight as the stealth crystals activated — a shimmer, and then nothing.

  Beneath the surface, deep under the Scholar’s castle, a hidden tunnel yawned open. Moss, mold, and death hung in the air.

  As there is huge turmoil outside , they used the stealth crystal and entered the tunnel .

  The guards over there run to stop fires at the palace building about right movement.

  Rebecca : “Shh… silence. Watch your steps .”Her voice was a breath in the dark. “There are traps everywhere. One wrong move and you’ll end up decorating this tunnel with your bones.”

  Lisa: “You always say the sweetest things.”She smirked — visible only to herself — and crept forward, her boots scraping stone just a little too loud.

  Rebecca : “Idiot—stop! ”A soft click echoed.

  Thwip ! A poisoned dart shot past Lisa’s ear, burying itself in the wall behind her. Another followed. Then silence.

  Lisa: “T-That….. was close .”She swallowed. “Still lucky you’ve got your creepy senses.”

  Rebecca : “Even my senses have limits. Some traps hide beyond magic.”

  The tunnel grew narrower. The walls throbbed with old power, like something ancient had once breathed here — or maybe still did.

  Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the corridor.

  Red eyes opened in the dark.

  Wolves . Not ordinary ones — these had scales in patches, and glowing runes stitched across their snouts. Magic-bound guardians.

  Rebecca : “Don’t cast yet. Move slow… they’re blind to us if we stay cloaked.”

  Lisa: “But not if they smell us, right ? ”Too late.

  The beasts lunged.

  Rebecca's hand snapped up — three sigils flared mid-air. An invisible force slammed the wolves against the tunnel walls. Not dead. Just dazed.

  Lisa: “You had that spell ready?”

  Rebecca : “Always prepare for chaos when you’re around.”

  Further in, the stone floor radiated heat. Glowing cracks widened into a chamber flooded with bubbling lava. The only way across was a narrow ledge—crumbling, slippery.

  Lisa grinned, unfazed, pulling a faintly glowing gem from her coat.

  Lisa: “Heat-resistant charm. One of my smarter impulse steals.”

  Rebecca raised a brow, then smirked.

  But beneath the danger, something else hummed — ancient energy, thickening with every step. There was more in this place than treasure. Something hidden. Something watching.

  Meanwhile…

  The old scholar stood still, hunched slightly under the weight of age and wisdom, his long silver beard swaying in the erratic wind. From the high veranda of his tower, he gazed into the storm—colored lightning forked across the sky, buildings groaned and collapsed in the distance, fires raged below, and the heavens churned with unnatural black clouds.

  Scholar (muttering, eyes narrowing):"Strange… this phenomenon—colored lightning, collapsing structures, fire, clouds—no ordinary storm. What does it signify?"(He tapped his forehead, eyes searching the air as though flipping pages of forgotten knowledge.)"Hmm… I’ve read of this before. Somewhere… yes… I know I have… but where?"

  A guard stormed into the chamber, panting.

  Random Guard : "Master Highness! Someone has infiltrated the forbidden tunnel!"

  The scholar’s eyes widened, just for a moment—then they narrowed again like blades.

  Scholar (coldly, commanding):"Send the elite guard. Seal the lower gates. Protect the treasure at all costs. Kill the intruders if you must."(He paused, voice lowering to himself.)"Though stealing it... is beyond the realm of possibility." ‘even if they do what use if it wouldn’t work’

  In another realm: in a small house surrounded by huge complexes and apartment buildings.

  Thou Son sat on the edge of his bed, his mind racing, yet somehow, he couldn't shake the nervous excitement swirling in his chest. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll tell her. For sure this time.

  He ran a hand through his hair, frowning as he replayed the many failed attempts in his mind. Last time, I froze. Just stared at her like a fool. The time before that, I babbled about my stupid dream to make a robot that could make breakfast. She looked at me like I was insane... He let out a frustrated sigh. Ugh, how many times have I lost my pride over this?

  But this time, this time would be different. He was sure of it. I know she loves me. She’s just waiting for me to finally get my act together. He looked at his phone, then immediately put it down again. But... she’s rich. Classy. She has everything. What could I possibly offer her?

  His gaze drifted toward his wallet, thin as a leaf. My pocket money barely gets me lunch, let alone any way to impress her. She only notices me because of my ridiculous genius in studies... But I’m lazy. And I can’t even fix the wrongs in the world... His shoulders slumped. My fate is turning more hopeless every day.

  The weight of the memories of the village still clung to him, but now he pushed it aside. I can’t do anything about it. I’ve tried. I’m not strong enough for that... He closed his eyes, letting his mind wander for a moment. God... just a little bit of luck. I don’t need much. Just one drop.

  His fingers hovered over his phone again. Alright. I’ll text her. Tomorrow. I can’t keep putting it off. No more excuses. He quickly typed a message to her, pressing Send before his nerves could stop him. ”can we meet tomorrow evening.” she Replied ‘ok’.

  Thou Son leaned back on the bed, breathing a sigh of relief. Tomorrow, I’ll do it. And when I do, maybe... just maybe, my luck will change. He closed his eyes, the faintest of smiles tugging at his lips.

  (Meanwhile, in the Magic Realm — Mid air )

  Lightning tore across the sky like furious blades. On broomsticks, high above the ground, chaos exploded between magic spells and falling bodies. The guards had found them.

  Lisa (yelling over the roaring wind): “They’re not leaving us! The Stealth Crystal’s power is vanishing—look at me! Half my body’s showing!”

  Several witches in their squad were already struck mid-flight. The stealth enchantment flickered and died on their limbs, making them vulnerable.

  Explosions rained from below—each one tearing holes through the sky. Their private army clashed mid air with the royal guards, spells streaking in every direction. Some turned to ash. Some screamed as they fell.

  Rebecca (still invisible, eyes cold): “You coward! Defend them for a few minutes! I’ll cast the dimension spell—buy me time!”

  Lisa (dodging a fiery curse, panting): “Just make it fast! If the Scholar finds out where we are—we’re dead, Rebecca! Dead!”

  A beam of crackling gold shot past Lisa’s head. She screamed and blasted back with raw fury, barely keeping her balance. The sky was lit like a battlefield of stars—color, heat, destruction.

  The Stealth Crystal Rebecca held glowed its final light… then shattered in her palm.

  “Damn it—no time left!” she hissed, carving runes into the air with her wand, weaving the forbidden dimension spell.

  Lisa (wiping blood from her cheek, breathing hard): “Open it! OPEN IT!”

  Below, the palace burned. Its walls crumbled under the magical onslaught. Above, the king’s commander—on a broom of obsidian—zeroed in, wand extended.

  With a blinding snap, Rebecca’s spell connected.

  A swirling portal burst open in the sky behind them—unstable, crackling, drawing the winds toward it like a hungry beast.

  Rebecca: “NOW! Go!”

  Their surviving witches dove through. Lisa dragged a wounded soldier behind her. As she turned to enter, the commander flung a deadly curse. Lisa deflected it mid air with a hissed spell—then vanished into the vortex.

  At the very last second, the commander lunged forward too—following them.

  But in the chaos, the ancient book slipped from Rebecca’s arm, into the human world.

  Spinning, glowing with runes, the treasure fell—tumbling helplessly through the portal.

  [Scene: Earth – Midnight – A messy rooftop in a cramped city]

  A loud crash shakes the ceiling. Something just slammed on the roof.

  Mom (yelling from the kitchen): “EEEEDIIIOOOTTTT! What are you doing up there this late?! Trying to fly or fall?!”

  Thou Son (aka Thou Son, shouting back): “I didn’t do anything! Maybe our cat’s practicing gymnastics!”

  Mom: “One more sound and I’m cutting this month’s pocket money in half!”

  Thou Son (muttering as he walks upstairs): “My life’s already half a budget, now she wants to halve the half…”

  He steps onto the terrace, grumbling, scratching his head in a loose t-shirt and slippers. Everything here is normal ….. where this sound came from…. Then he notices something.

  Thou Son: “Huh? What’s this old book? Looks like it came out of a library’s grave…” wait! this magnificent carvings on it, looks like an antique piece.

  Looks keenly the surrounding tall buildings . with cunning smile , somebody misplaced here . ha ha ! “its mine now” thinking that he can sell it for good price .

  The wind howls. Thunder rumbles. A strange glow pulses from the book’s cover. He cautiously reaches out.

  Thou Son: “Just my luck. The moment I touch it, it’ll probably bite—”

  He touches it. A shock runs through his spine. He jumps back with a shout.

  Thou Son: “YAAAAAH! WHAT THE—!? Is it electrocuted or just an illusion ?!”

  He grabs a plastic pipe like a sword and pokes the book. Then slowly touches it with doubt and cautious face.

  Thou Son: “This feels like the beginning of one of those fantasy movies. Except I don’t even have popcorn…”

  [Scene: Ancient World – Scholar’s Observatory – Storms raging outside]

  Scholar (gazing out at the chaotic sky): “Colored lightning… collapsing towers… black clouds twisting with fire…”

  His eyes narrow. He turns to his ancient scrolls, flipping rapidly through brittle pages.

  Scholar: a sudden image flickered in his mind ,“This... this is it.

  A prophecy ……

  carved in time… spoken by gods a thousand years ago…”

  A guard stumbles in, breathless and pale.

  Guard: “Master Highness! The treasure—The book—It’s gone! The culprits escaped… but…”

  Scholar (interrupting, voice low and certain): “The book fell… into the human world.”

  Guard (stunned): “Y-yes… How could you know that?”

  Scholar (back turned, facing the roaring skies):

  “Because it has begun… just as it was foretold. “The heir of the forgotten master… has touched the ancient words.”

  He slowly lifts his hand, eyes alight with power and awe.

  ‘From heavens above, a book did descend , A legacy sealed, a beginning, not end .Bound in the pages, his power lay still ,Waiting for hands that would dare to fulfill…’

  [Back on Earth – Thou Son Room]

  Thou Son tiptoes inside, clutching the book like it’s made of explosives. He throws it on his bed, staring at it with comic dread.

  Thou Son: “Okay... either I’ve just activated a magical relic... or a cursed library card.”

  He flops onto his chair, sighing.

  Thou Son: “Please tell me I’m not the chosen one. I’m barely chosen to clean my room.”

  [Back in the Ancient World – Scholar, eyes fierce, voice thunderous]

  “His creation, once torn, now returns to the fold, Through pages of wisdom, through whispers of old .A guide to the humble, a force to behold ,A tale of rebirth, of magic untold…”*

  Scholar: with deep voice “I want to see you. Am sure of it , The successor…..”

  “Prophecy begins”