Previously:
Two days after their victory over the shadow witch, Theresa Sebastian, Moksh and Albert stood before the senior members of the Asian Paranormal Council. The formal setting, a stark contrast to the elemental chaos they had just endured, was thick with tension. They were there to deliver their report, but Moksh and Albert had a different kind of truth to reveal.
Albert began by detailing the resolution of the Ross Island disturbance: the witch was bound, the elemental fractures healed, and peace was restored. However, Moksh, with a clear and unwavering voice, insisted that the council needed to hear the complete story—the one they had deliberately hidden.
At the Grandmaster's reluctant command, Albert unsealed a hidden document and read the account of Theresa Sebastian's past. He told of a gifted child persecuted for her elemental affinity, of her village's unjust accusations, and of a nascent Paranormal Council that failed her horribly. Instead of helping her control her power, they attempted a reckless binding ritual that left her scarred and in agony. This brutal act, combined with her exile and a final betrayal, fueled a desire for vengeance that transformed her into the very monster they feared. Her murders were not random acts of evil, but a tragic and calculated ritual to fix the ley lines that the council's own failure had damaged.
The chamber fell into a profound silence as the weight of this long-buried secret settled upon the council members. Grandmaster Elias admitted that the truth was hidden to avoid blame, but Moksh countered, "Burying mistakes doesn't erase them. It feeds them." Albert added a final warning: if the council didn't change its approach to handling such cases, Theresa would not be the last "monster" they would face.
As the meeting ended, Moksh and Albert left the chamber with an unspoken understanding. The fight against darkness was far from over, but their partnership was strong. They knew that defeating individual villains was only part of their mission; the real challenge was to fix the flawed world that created them.
After that:
The corridors of the Asian Paranormal Council's headquarters hummed with activity. Uniformed officers moved with purpose, their boots echoing on the polished marble floors. Moksh and Albert walked in step, the silence between them now carrying a different weight—not of shared trauma, but of impending separation.
"She deserves to know, you know," Albert said, breaking the quiet. "After everything."
Moksh stopped, leaning against a cool, stone archway. "What she deserves is peace. Not another piece of the mess I've gotten myself into. She's got her own life to live." He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of quiet frustration. "I'll talk to Pragya. But after that… I'm just going to go."
Albert placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Hey. It's okay. You're not running. You're just… moving forward."
Moksh offered a tired smile. He saw Pragya walking toward them, a small stack of files in her arms. She looked more relaxed than she had in the Grandmaster's chamber, but her expression still held a hint of concern.
"Moksh," she said, her voice soft. "The Grandmaster has a message for you. He says to tell you that he looks forward to your 'official' report from your new office." She handed him a folder stamped with the seal of the council. "This is your transfer packet. Everything you need to get started."
Moksh took the folder, his fingers brushing hers. "Pragya… I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye before."
"We just did, didn't we?" She smiled faintly. "But thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that."
A few moments of awkward silence passed before Albert cleared his throat. "Well, I'll go get the Glider ready. Moksh, meet me at the hangar in thirty minutes."
As Albert walked away, Moksh turned to Pragya. "I… I'm not really good at this stuff. The 'official' part, I mean."
"It's a lot," she agreed. "But you'll be great. The council needs people like you in charge. People who aren't afraid to speak the truth."
"Even if it makes them uncomfortable?"
"Especially then," she replied, her gaze steady. "They can't afford to bury their heads in the sand anymore. Not with what you and Albert uncovered."
They stood for a moment longer, the unspoken feelings between them hanging in the air. Finally, Moksh nodded, a flicker of resolve in his eyes. "Thanks, Pragya. For everything."
"Anytime, Moksh."
He watched her walk away, her figure growing smaller as she disappeared down the long corridor. With a sigh, he opened the packet. Inside were his new credentials, a keycard for the West Asian headquarters, and a list of his new responsibilities. The top of the page read: Indian Paranormal Council, New Delhi, India. A familiar pang of homesickness mixed with a strange sense of anticipation. This wasn't just a new job; it was a new beginning.
The Glider
He headed to the vehicle department, his Glider waiting for him—a sleek, black motorcycle that ran on crystallized magical energy. As he rode it toward the hangar, he couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't just leaving a case behind. He was leaving behind a part of his life.
Albert was waiting by the hangar door, the space filled with the distant sounds of roaring engines and the hum of powerful enchantments. Moksh's eyes widened, a genuine smile spreading across his face as he took in the sleek, obsidian vehicle. The Glider was a marvel of both engineering and enchantment. At rest, it was a motorcycle with a powerful, almost predatory, grace. Its chassis seemed to be carved from a single piece of dark, polished metal, and its tires hummed with contained energy. Miss Ilish, a senior vehicle artisan for the council, stood proudly beside it.
"The glider is just as you wanted it, Moksh," she said, her voice a mix of professional pride and a hint of maternal fondness. "You can check it if you need to. It can transform into a motorcycle, or, if needed, a flying glider. It will also come to you from anywhere when you call it. And yes, I've also integrated it with your IDAIA (Investigation Deduction Artificial Intelligence Assistant), just as you requested."
Moksh ran a hand over the smooth body of the bike, memories flashing through his mind. He remembered drawing up the blueprints late at night in his small workshop, the design a mix of his love for classic bikes and his knack for weaving tech with magic. The Glider was a tangible link to a past he'd tried to leave behind, now repurposed for his new life.
"It's perfect, Miss Ilish. Thank you," he said, his voice filled with sincere gratitude.
Albert clapped him on the back. "Looks like you're ready for your new ride."
Moksh mounted the bike, the seat molding to his form as if it had been made for him alone. He felt a surge of energy—a combination of the Glider's power and his own magical signature—flow through him.
As Albert prepared the teleportation enzyme, he paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "Hey, Moksh. You know… that IDAIA device of yours? It's pretty incredible. I also need a digital assistant. Can you make me a short device for one?"
Moksh nodded without hesitation. "Yes, of course. Wait a few days. I'll send you a smartwatch soon."
"A smartwatch?"
"It's an even better model I've been working on," Moksh explained. "It'll have all the functionality of a regular digital assistant, but also some… extras." He winked, a playful glint in his eyes.
"And hey," Albert called out just before the portal fully formed. "Give Tara a hug from me."
Moksh gave a final, firm nod in return. Albert finished the incantation. A swirling portal of vibrant, golden light erupted in front of them, the air crackling with energy. Moksh gunned the engine of the Glider, the sound a low, powerful rumble. He drove into the portal, the Glider and its rider vanishing from the Asian Paranormal Council headquarters and reappearing in the teleport area of the Indian Paranormal Council's headquarters in Delhi.