Against The Eternity Chapter 60: [59] Chapter - 35: Departure into the Dark (Arc finale) (Special Chapter)

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[59] Chapter - 35: Departure into the Dark (Arc finale) (Special Chapter) Eklavya stepped out through the back window of his room with a movement so controlled that not even the faintest creak of wood followed him. The night air brushed against his face, cool and quiet, carrying with it the lingering scent of extinguished firecrackers and oil lamps from the festival that had only recently faded into memory. He closed the window behind him from the outside, sealing away the room he had grown up in. The room that had sheltered his childhood, without allowing himself even a second glance back inside. Hesitation had no place left in him. He landed soundlessly upon the roof, his feet barely disturbing the settled dust. From there, he moved like a shadow across the tiled surface, his black robe blending seamlessly with the darkness that blanketed the clan estate. His steps were light, deliberate, and utterly devoid of urgency, as though this departure had been rehearsed countless times in his mind long before it became reality. When he reached the section of the roof directly above the clan leader’s quarters, he paused. The room below housed Ishant, his father, still recovering from the injuries sustained on the battlefield. From within his storage ring, Eklavya retrieved a folded letter, its edges crisp, its surface untouched by hesitation. He did not open it again to read its contents. Those words had already been carved into his resolve. Extending his hand slightly, he guided the letter downward using a precise manipulation of ki, slipping it through the narrow opening of the ventilation panel and into the room below. It floated gently, settling beside Ishant’s bed upon the small wooden table. He placed it carefully enough that it would not fall, not even if the night wind stirred. This way, Eklavya would not need to enter the room. Would not need to face the weight of seeing his father lying there, unconscious but alive—a sight that might fracture the fragile control he maintained. With a single steady breath, he turned away. He leapt beyond the clan’s boundary walls in one fluid motion, landing on the stone road outside with controlled force. The city lay before him, quiet but not entirely asleep. Some houses remained lit, their doors closed, while spiritual ki lanterns flickered softly outside shops and homes, their glow painting long, wavering shadows across the streets. In the distance, a few late celebrants still set off firecrackers, the muted explosions echoing faintly, reminders of joy that no longer belonged to him. Eklavya stretched his shoulders subtly as he began walking toward the city’s exit, his pace unhurried, his senses alert. Every step carried him farther from the life he had known, yet he felt no regret. Only clarity. When the city gate came into view, two guards stood at their posts, spears resting against their shoulders, their expressions dulled by exhaustion and lingering festival indulgence. As Eklavya approached, one of them straightened slightly, opening his mouth to speak. “Where are you going? It’s—” He never finished that sentence. With a discreet flick of his fingers, Eklavya released a thin mist into the air, invisible to ordinary sight. The sleep powder dispersed instantly, carried by the faint breeze. Within moments, both guards swayed, their eyes glazing over before they collapsed silently against the gate, breathing steady, utterly unconscious. Eklavya did not slow his pace. He passed through the gate and sprinted into the darkness beyond the city walls, his figure quickly swallowed by the night. After running for nearly half a kilometer, he stopped, standing still beneath the open sky. He did not look back. There was nothing left behind that could change his decision. His thoughts turned inward, structured and cold. The first reason for leaving was simple—he needed strength. Not incremental growth, not slow refinement, but power sharpened through danger and isolation. The second reason, howev