"OK then I'll tell you." The man paused, his gaze serious. "However, I must inform you that your powers have not yet been awakened. This has been kept hidden from you for a reason."
"Why would anyone do that?" Shiva inquired, her eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of concern. "I promise to explain everything in due time, but first, you must come with me," he replied, gesturing for them to follow. Just as he was about to turn and lead the way, he hesitated, glancing back over his shoulder. "Wait a moment, does anyone know that you are here right now?"
Shiva shook her head vigorously, her long hair swaying with the motion. "No, we told our parents we were going to another city for fun. They would never allow us to come here if they knew the truth about this town."
The man nodded, a look of understanding crossing his face. "Ah, then that is acceptable. You are safe here for now. Come along, we have much to discuss and even more to uncover." With that, he turned and began to walk, leading the group deeper into the shadows of the unknown, where secrets awaited to be revealed.
He led the group into the spacious living room, where the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. With a deliberate motion, he pressed a hidden button on the wall, and to their astonishment, a sleek cabinet materialized before them, seemingly out of thin air. As the stranger approached and carefully opened the cabinet doors, they were greeted by an intriguing assortment of items nestled inside. Among them was a delicate necklace that shimmered in the dim light, a beautifully crafted bracelet that seemed to pulse with energy, an ornate key that hinted at secrets yet to be uncovered, and a gleaming knife that exuded an air of mystery and danger.
"What is this?" the group inquired, their curiosity piqued as they gathered around the mysterious items displayed before them.
"This," the stranger began, holding up a beautifully crafted bracelet, "is a protective bracelet designed specifically for people like Iaa. Its purpose is to shield her from any negative energy that might attempt to infiltrate her body while she is perceiving any entity from their perspective. It acts as a barrier, ensuring that only positive energies can reach her, allowing her to navigate the complexities of the spiritual realm safely."
He then turned his attention to a delicate necklace that sparkled in the dim light. "This necklace is of utmost importance as it safeguards Sita's voice. It is said to protect her vocal essence at any cost. However, be warned: once this necklace begins to show signs of wear and tear, finding a replacement will be an arduous task. This is because it was meticulously crafted by a priest three centuries ago, specifically for your oldest generation, a lineage that has long since faded into obscurity."
Sita, intrigued yet confused, interjected, "What do you mean by generation? Were there more like us?"
The stranger smiled knowingly, "I will share that story when the time is right. For now, let us focus on the items at hand."
He gestured towards a heavy, ornate key resting on the table. "Now, we come to the key. This key is typically used for a specific room," he explained, pointing towards a door at the far end of the room. "It is a unique key that only comes into the possession of the maker of the catcher that is Aravali. The door it unlocks can only be opened with this key, and even I, who am familiar with its significance, cannot touch it. It is bound to its creator, and only they can wield its power."
Finally, he picked up a gleaming knife, its blade reflecting the light ominously. "And lastly, we have this knife for Shiva. If you were to stab any entity with this knife directly in the chest, it would temporarily strip them of their power for a duration of fifteen minutes, making it significantly easier to capture them. However, it is crucial to note that all four of these items share three commonalities. First, they were all crafted by the same priest, whose skills were unparalleled. Second, once any of these items breaks, finding a new one will be nearly impossible. Lastly, no one can forcibly take these items from their rightful owners; they are bound to their masters in a way that transcends mere physical possession."
"But wait, do we not have any records of our ancestors that could provide details about the priest?" Aravali inquired, her brow furrowing with curiosity as she looked at the stranger.
"We did have such records," the stranger replied, his voice low and serious. "However, during the British Colonial Period, they were hidden away. The elders realized the significance of their powers and decided to conceal the information to protect it from being exploited. They hoped that one day, the next generation would uncover it, but unfortunately, no one has succeeded in finding it since then."
Aravali's eyes widened in astonishment. "Oh wow—wait, this place is that old?" she exclaimed, glancing around as if the very walls held secrets of the past.
"Indeed," the stranger confirmed, nodding solemnly.
"By the way, we never asked for your name," Iaa chimed in, her tone shifting to a more casual one.
"Ah, yes, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier," the stranger said, clearing his throat. "I am Kuwarjeet Singh Chavda, the leader of a group of paranormal detectives that belongs to your one generation older than you."
"Such a long name! We're just going to call you Jeet; it's much easier," Sita suggested with a grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you prefer," Kuwarjeet replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Okay, now tell us how we can activate our powers," Iaa pressed, her eagerness palpable.
"Uh... well, to do that, I will need a drop of blood from each of you," he explained, his expression turning serious once more.
"BLOOD! Well, that's not a problem for us; we're not scared of blood," Aravali declared confidently, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.
"Alright then, I will wait until tomorrow. We can proceed then. For now, you all should get some rest," Kuwarjeet instructed, his tone softening as he looked at the group, sensing their fatigue.
As they prepared to leave, the weight of the revelations hung in the air, and the promise of adventure loomed just beyond the horizon. Each of them felt a mix of excitement and trepidation, knowing that their lives were about to change forever.
TO BE CONTINUED...