Capítulo 25: The End of a New Beginning
Arjuna stood before the final gate, a majestic structure with carvings that seemed to pulsate like a living creature. The air around him felt heavy, pressing on the chests of everyone near him. Light and darkness merged in a vortex of energy emanating from the great door.
"What awaits beyond this?" whispered Goddess Saraswati, standing beside Arjuna.
"Our destiny," Arjuna replied in a steady voice.
Behind them, Pandu and Anjani readied their weapons. They knew that this final test was not just about physical strength, but also the strength of the soul. The energy emanating from the gate reflected the deepest shadows of their hearts, making anyone hesitate before going any further.
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed.
"To move forward, you must give up something most precious."
Arjuna turned. The voice came from the gate itself. A creature resembling a large statue appeared, its eyes glowing bright blue, while its body seemed to be composed of the ever-changing elements of nature: fire, water, earth, and wind.
"What do you mean by giving up something precious?" Pandu asked, his tone filled with caution.
"A sacrifice," the creature replied. "Not in the form of an object, but in the form of a choice. Anyone who enters this gate must leave behind something they will never get back."
Anjani stepped forward, her gaze determined. "I will surrender my past. All the mistakes and grudges I have ever carried, I am ready to leave them here."
The creature stared at her in silence, as if weighing Anjani's words. Then, it nodded. "Your choice is accepted."
Anjani felt something heavy lift from her shoulders. She took a deep breath, as if the air had just become cleaner.
Pandu stepped forward next. "I abandon my hatred. All anger toward those who have ever betrayed me, I am ready to abandon it all."
The creature nodded again. The blue light in its eyes seemed brighter, indicating acceptance.
When Saraswati's turn came, she hesitated for a moment. But then she finally said, "I will surrender my fear. Fear of losing the people I love."
This time, the creature did not respond immediately. Instead, it stared at Saraswati more deeply. "Your choice is a great test. If your fear is the power to protect them, are you ready to lose it?"
Saraswati swallowed, but she nodded firmly. "I am ready."
The being nodded and turned to Arjuna. "And you? What are you leaving behind?"
Arjuna was silent for a long time. Memories and feelings swirled in his mind. He realized that whatever he chose to leave behind would change him forever.
"I will leave behind my ego," Arjuna finally answered. "The ego that made me feel like I had to be the strongest, the best. I will learn to accept that true strength is about sharing burdens."
A long silence fell over them. Then, the being nodded one last time. "Your choice is accepted. This gate will open."
A bright white light enveloped the entire place, urging the four of them to step forward. As they passed through the gate, the world around them changed. They were no longer in a dark cave, but in a vast plain filled with purple skies, cool breezes, and the soft sound of flowing water.
Before them stood a large temple. On top of it, the chakra symbol shone like the sun.
"That is our goal," Saraswati whispered.
However, Arjuna felt something strange. He realized that although they had moved closer to their goal, the real struggle had only just begun.
Each step toward the great temple on the plain felt like treading the line between reality and dream. Arjuna and the others walked with great caution, but there was a strange calm that enveloped the place. The majestic purple sky and the cool breeze seemed to greet them, but Arjuna could not ignore the feeling that this was just the calm before the storm.
The purple sky above them seemed endless, spreading a magical aura that was hard to describe. Each step toward the great temple brought with it a more mixed feeling; hope, worry, and anticipation all rolled into one. Arjuna led the way, but deep down, he felt small in the face of the power of the universe that radiated in this place.
"This place is like another world," Pandu said, his voice low but full of wonder.
"This is not just a place," replied Goddess Saraswati, her eyes scanning every detail of the landscape. "This is a space where the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds merge. This gate leads us to a higher dimension."
"Higher dimension?" Anjani repeated skeptically. "Then what is the purpose of all this? We are here to complete a mission, not to walk in this unknown world."
Saraswati smiled slightly, as if she had anticipated this reaction. "Sometimes, to complete a mission, we must understand what is unseen. Perhaps this is where all the answers will be found."
Arjuna said nothing. He was too busy processing what he saw and felt. Each step brought them closer to the temple, but each step also revealed a new layer of energy that felt like it weighed on their bodies.
When they finally reached the foot of the temple stairs, the four of them paused. The stairs seemed endless, towering up to the top of the building, covered in bright chakra light.
"I feel like we are being watched," Pandu whispered, gripping the hilt of his sword tighter.
"We are indeed being watched," Saraswati replied calmly. "Not by an enemy, but by something greater. Our presence here was predetermined from the beginning."
Anjani snorted. "If that is so, why do we still have to go through all these trials?"
"Because destiny is something that must be earned, not given," Arjuna said, finally speaking. He stared at the stairs with unwavering determination. "And this trial is the universe's way of making sure we are worthy of the power that lies at the end of this path."
Without another word, Arjuna began to climb the stairs. The others followed him, though their bodies felt heavier with each step. The energy emanating from the temple was not only physical pressure, but also mental.
The Trial of the Stairs of Destiny
Halfway up the stairs, a voice echoed in the air. In an instant, the four of them stopped.
"Are you ready to accept the hidden truth?" the voice asked, echoing in a tone that did not come from any particular direction.
"What do you mean?" Arjuna asked, trying to remain calm.
"Every soul has darkness hidden. Every heart has wounds that have not healed. If you want to go further, you must face the shadow."
Before they could respond, the atmosphere changed. The stairs beneath them disappeared, and each of them was separated, surrounded by pitch-black space.
Arjuna and His Shadow
Arjuna stood alone in the darkness. There was no sound, no light. Just himself and the oppressive silence. But then, a figure emerged from the shadow. The figure resembled himself, but his eyes were filled with the fire of anger.
"Do you think you can be a hero?" the figure asked, its voice filled with scorn. "You think this is all about saving the world? No, Arjuna. This is all about you. Your ego."
"I have abandoned my ego," Arjuna replied firmly, though his voice trembled slightly.
"Really?" the shadow asked, coming closer. "Then why do you still feel the need to prove yourself? Why do you continue to burden yourself with responsibilities that are not even entirely yours?"
Arjuna fell silent. The words hit him harder than any other attack.
Pandu and His Fear
Pandu found himself on a battlefield. Bodies were strewn around him, and his hand held a bloodied sword. In the distance, he saw the faces of people he knew people he loved.
"You failed to protect them," a voice echoed around him. "You are only a soldier, Pandu. You were never worthy of being a protector."
Pandu tried to speak, but the voice grew louder, attacking him from every direction.
Saraswati and Her Heart's Dilemma
Saraswati stood in a calm lake, but her reflection on the water's surface looked different. The reflection smiled, but the smile was full of deceit.
"You claim to be wise, but you still hesitate. You are afraid of losing them, even though you know that losing is part of the journey."
"My fear is not my weakness," Saraswati replied, her voice steady.
The reflection laughed. "Really? Then prove it."
Anjani and Her Anger
Anjani stood in a room filled with mirrors. Each mirror showed her, but in different emotions: anger, sadness, hatred, despair.
"Your anger is your strength, but also your destruction," said a voice from one of the mirrors.
"I don't need a lecture," Anjani replied, hitting the mirror until it shattered. But from the shards of the mirror, a larger and stronger reflection emerged.
"You are only fighting yourself, Anjani. How long will you continue to fight your reflection?"
Back to the Stairs
When each of them had faced and overcome their reflections, they returned to the stairs. Their faces were covered in sweat and exhaustion, but there was something different a new awareness.
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
Oyex_Sabiansyah
Oyex_Sabiansyah When they finally reached the top of the stairs, the temple gates opened. Inside, a bright chakra light enveloped them, welcoming them to the next stage of their journey.
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