The Mirror Of Eternity

The humid air of the Vindhya forest clung to me, thick with the scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine. Today was Shivratri, but instead of the grand temples, my path led to a forgotten ruin, a whisper from an ancient manuscript.

As an archaeologist, mysteries were my lifeblood. This abandoned temple, hidden deep within the mountains, felt like a calling, a challenge I couldn't ignore. The sun dipped low, casting long, dancing shadows as I pushed through the dense undergrowth, my satchel heavy with tools.

And then, I saw it. A crumbling marvel, its stone walls entwined with vines, its carvings telling tales of celestial symbols and fractured orbs. The air here was different, heavier, as if the temple itself watched me.

Inside, the sanctum was dark, save for the faint light filtering through cracks. At its center stood a massive mirror, its frame a masterpiece of golden vines and lotuses, yet its surface was clouded, marred by jagged cracks. I reached out, my fingers brushing the cool frame, and a strange hum vibrated through me.

Then, everything changed. The air shifted, a strange pull gripped me, and the mirror pulsed with blinding golden light, engulfing me completely. When the light faded, I opened my eyes to a sight that stole my breath. I wasn’t in the temple anymore. I was on a hill overlooking a city of golden domes and towering spires, vibrant with people, yet eerily repetitive. The same woman fetched water, the same child chased a kite, the same chants echoed. This kingdom was stuck in time.

My gaze fell on a grand palace. Then, he appeared—King Rudraksha Veeraditya, his dark armor gleaming, his golden eyes piercing, utterly aware and unaffected by the loop. Our gazes met, and a shiver ran down my spine, a feeling of dangerous obsession. I was in a world that shouldn’t exist, and nothing would ever be the same.