The keeper of time

Chapter 6: The Stranger in White

The moment Aryan said her name, Anaya's heart jumped, her chest tightening with confusion and unease. His voice was rich and smooth, carrying a quiet authority, but his familiarity unnerved her. Who was this man? And how did he know her name?

Riya stepped forward, as always, her protective instincts kicking in. "Who are you?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing at the tall figure before them. "How do you know her name?"

Anaya, still reeling from their abrupt arrival in ancient Patliputra, looked around, trying to keep her bearings. The marketplace bustled with life—traders haggling over silk, women dressed in vibrant saris moving gracefully through the crowd, and the air thick with the scent of sandalwood and spices. But none of it could distract her from the stranger standing before them.

The man was tall, with sharp, angular features that seemed almost carved from stone. His dark, deep-set eyes gleamed with something unreadable, and his white dhoti, simple yet elegant, contrasted against the rich colors of the city. His presence was both commanding and unsettling.

"I've been watching you," Aryan said, his eyes locking onto Anaya's with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. "I know why you're here."

Her stomach twisted. Watching me? Anaya's mind raced. She barely knew where she was, let alone who this man might be. Instinctively, her fingers brushed against the amulet hanging from her neck, seeking comfort from its familiar weight.

Riya wasn't backing down. "That's not an answer. Who are you?"

Aryan's gaze flickered to Riya, his lips curling slightly as if amused by her persistence. "My name is Aryan. I'm a Guardian of the amulet."

"Guardian?" Anaya's voice came out more skeptical than she intended. "You expect me to believe that?"

Aryan crossed his arms, looking almost smug. "You can believe what you want, but the amulet brought you here for a reason. I've been waiting for the Keeper to arrive for years. And now that you're here, it's time to finish what was started centuries ago."

Anaya took a step back, feeling a wave of doubt and suspicion. "Wait—so you've just been hanging around here for years waiting for me to show up?" She raised an eyebrow, trying to keep the sarcasm in check, though it leaked into her voice. "That's convenient."

Aryan's smile widened slightly, a mix of amusement and something else—something Anaya couldn't quite place. "Believe me, it hasn't been the most exciting wait. But I had faith. The amulet doesn't choose just anyone."

Her brow furrowed as she processed his words. She glanced at Riya, who looked just as skeptical as she felt. "So, what? You're here to guide us to the next fragment?"

"Exactly." Aryan's tone was annoyingly confident. "The next piece is hidden inside the royal temple. But the Sutra are already watching the city, and they'll stop at nothing to get it before you do."

Anaya's pulse quickened at the mention of the Sutra. They'd been on her tail ever since she discovered the amulet. But still—trusting this stranger? She wasn't so sure. There was something about Aryan that unsettled her. The way he spoke, the way he looked at her, it was all too... calculated.

"And why should I trust you?" she shot back, folding her arms defensively. "For all I know, you could be one of them."

Aryan's expression shifted, his smile fading as his eyes darkened. "If I were one of them, you wouldn't still be standing here."

Riya, still on high alert, stepped closer to Anaya, her voice low. "We should be careful. He knows too much, and I don't like it."

"I don't either," Anaya muttered under her breath, but before she could say anything else, Aryan sighed dramatically, as if they were wasting his time.