SONTARA: CHAPTER ONE- The Gathering Storm

What I am about to tell you today may not have been told to you by anyone before.

There is an infinite source of power that has been energizing our Earth for eternity, because of which life exists on this planet – we exist, animals and birds exist, and there is a reason to live.

We are fortunate to have this reservoir of energy, though nothing is written about it in history. Only a few people claim it exists, and it is called **Sontara**. Only a handful of people have seen it so far, and I am one of them. My name is **Nirtaman**. Let me tell you everything in detail...

**(Scene 1: Raastan's Mansion. An old man and four other people are sitting together, engaged in a serious conversation.)**

**Guruji:** There is unrest in Sontara. I don’t know why, but its energy is slowly diminishing. It feels like some danger is looming over it. If something happens, life will be destroyed in an instant.

**Yarmatan:** Can we do nothing? What use is our power if we can’t protect Sontara? We were born for this very purpose, and if we can’t fulfill it, our lives are worthless.

**Nirtaman:** Yarmatan is absolutely right. Whether there’s a way or not, we will have to make our own way. We need to find out what’s happening. Could Sontara be warning us about some great catastrophe? What do you two think about this?

**Hitam:** Hmm...

**Ritam:** Guruji, you must know something about this. Why are you silent? Please, tell us something.

**Guruji:** What I know, if it’s true, then we have very little time. Look, it’s written in the ancient books of our ancestors: 

When the gods created Sontara, a demon named **Yitook** was also born. He wanted to make himself immortal by absorbing all of Sontara’s energy. But then, the gods divided his body into a hundred pieces and scattered them in different places. If someone brings these hundred pieces together, Yitook could come back to life.

**Hitam:** You’re saying Yitook has returned?

**Guruji:** The book says if someone revives Yitook in the future, half of Sontara’s energy will be depleted, signaling to its guardians that the world is in danger.

**Nirtaman:** What should we do now?

**Guruji:** Go and find the sword.

**Ritam:** Which sword?

**Guruji:** The **Sword of Lifasat**. It is in the Lifasat jungle, and you’ll have to go there. You need to find the door. Then it will tell you what to do.

**Nirtaman:** What do we need the sword for?

**Guruji:** I’ll tell you later, once you succeed in bringing it back.

**(Scene 2: Lifasat Jungle. The group is searching for the door when suddenly Yarmatan’s voice is heard.)**

**Yarmatan:** The door is here! Come quickly!

(The group gathers around Yarmatan.)

A voice from the door speaks – Only the guardians of Sontara can open this door. The fact that you are alive is proof of your role as its guardians. But even so, you cannot enter without answering riddles. Three doors will question you. If you answer correctly, you may proceed, but if you answer wrong, one of the guardians will be reduced to ashes. Do you accept this challenge?

(We accept all your conditions.)

**1st Door:** I am something that sinks every day but never dies. What am I?

(After thinking for a while, Nirtaman answers.)

**Nirtaman:** The sun. It sinks every day but never dies.

(Absolutely correct. You may proceed to the second door.)

**2nd Door:** I am seen by everyone but can never see anyone myself. What am I?

**Ritam:** A mirror. Everyone sees it, but it cannot see them.

(Absolutely correct. You may proceed to the third door.)

**3rd Door:** I am always in front of you, but you can never touch me. What am I?

**Yarmatan:** This one is easy: the future. We can never reach it because it always becomes the present.

(The door opens, and the group enters. They find the sword and return to the mansion with it.)

**(Scene 3: Raastan's Mansion. Guruji is standing, and the four guardians return with the sword.)**

**Guruji:** Give me the sword.

**Nirtaman:** Here it is, Guruji.

**Guruji:** You don’t need to do anything with it; I will handle it. Haha ha ha...

(At that moment, Guruji transforms into a demon.)

**Hitam:** Who are you? Where is our Guruji?

**Kartakshas:** I am your Guruji, or you could call me **Kartakshas**. I have sent your Guruji to Yitook. I revived my master, and it was all done on his orders. Now, I will go to him...

(Just then, Yarmatan attacks him, and Kartakshas falls to the ground. The others join in, injuring him, but he escapes, leaving the sword behind.)

**Ritam:** Where did that coward run off to? You won’t escape from me! Where is the sword?

**Nirtaman:** Here it is. But what do we do with it now? We don’t know anything about it. Guruji never told us.

**Hitam:** It must be written in Guruji’s book.

(The group starts searching for the book, and what they discover leaves them completely stunned.)

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**To be continued...**

**(WAIT FOR CHAPTER 2)**

An original Epic Fantasy by YASH CHAUDHARY