(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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With Dev's death, the battlefield finally stilled.
His servants—
Once fanatically loyal—
Were quickly rounded up and suppressed by others.
Many of them, after interrogation, revealed the truth:
They had been enslaved by the cursed red pendants,
Their wills bent until nothing remained of their true selves.
Those proven to be victims of that brainwashing were eventually released, though not without caution.
Each would live under constant surveillance, their steps shadowed until the new order of balance could ensure none strayed again.
Two days later...
The Brahmansh world had already begun reshaping itself.
The Brahmansh Council, long shattered, was reforged to maintain order.
The gathering was somber, but resolute.
Guru Arvind, the only surviving elder of the previous council, was unanimously accepted as the chief elder, the anchor of continuity.
Rajendra, carrying both his father's legacy and his own contributions in the war,
Was given a seat among the elders, a recognition of duty earned in blood and sacrifice.
Mohan Bhargav, whose wisdom in science and Astra knowledge bridged the human and divine, was welcomed as another elder,
His calm demeanor seen as crucial in guiding the next generation.
When the council turned to Anish Shetty,
Expecting his name to rise among the elders, he shook his head with a tired smile.
"My path has always been to fight when needed, not to sit in halls of decision. I will retire."
Murmurs swept the chamber, but he raised his hand and continued firmly,
"My family's mantle will not end with me. My son Rohit will inherit it, once his training under Guru Arvind is complete. And Tarun, too, will begin his training. The council needs youth who can rise, I am not suitable for it."
The decision was respected.
The names were written, the circle reformed.
The Brahmastra Council was whole again—
Not the same as before,
But stronger in its diversity and born from survival.
"____"
"____"
"____"
The great hall of the newly reformed Brahmastra Council buzzed with voices, banners of famous Astra lineage swaying faintly as if stirred by unseen winds.
The seats of the fallen elders had been filled at last, their successors standing proudly, carrying the weight of betrayal and redemption alike.
When all was set, the elders turned their gaze to Amirtha.
"Amirtha,"
Rajendra said, his tone solemn,
"Your wisdom, your power, and your choices in the darkest hour saved countless lives. The council requests you take a seat among us, as an elder of equal standing."
The chamber quieted.
All eyes on her.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Amirtha, dressed in plain robes, lowered her gaze for a moment before shaking her head firmly.
"I have long left behind the path of ambition,"
She said.
"If not for Dev's return, if not for my son's fate, if not for Rudra being drawn into this… I would never have stepped forward. Do not mistake my actions for desire of power. I reject this seat."
Her words rang with finality.
Some elders frowned, others nodded in quiet understanding.
Nod~
The matter closed, the council shifted focus.
The successors of the betrayed elders,
Who had fought in the last stand against Dev and his army,
Were officially acknowledged as new elders.
Their induction was solemn, but proud—
The bloodline and duty of their fallen mentors honored at last.
Then came the matter of the younger generation.
Tejas, Meena, Ravi, Sandeep, and Shiva—
Though still unconscious—
were granted a special status, ranked just below elder.
It was recognition of their courage and sacrifices,
But also an acknowledgment of their youth.
Time would forge them into the leaders they were destined to become.
But when the council's gaze turned toward Rudra,
The hall's atmosphere shifted.
He stood there, worn and battered, his body still bearing the strain of his divine awakening.
One of the elders began,
"Rudra… your deeds surpass even our comprehension. For this reason, we—"
Before they could finish, Guru Arvind rose, his voice cutting through the chamber like a blade.
"There is no choice here,"
He declared.
"Rudra cannot reject his responsibilities. Every Brahmansh present in the battle saw what transpired that day. The Brahmastra chose him. The divine itself chose him. With the blessing of Mahadev."
Whispers rippled through the hall, but no one interrupted.
"He will not be bound by the limits of this council,"
Guru Arvind continued.
"Rudra shall be a Special Elder—free to act without the authorization of the Brahmastra Council. He will be the one responsible for steering our order into the future. For too long, the Brahmansh have been stagnant. Change must come, and he will lead that change."
The words fell heavy, undeniable.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Even Rudra, stunned, could not form a protest.
The weight of countless eyes, of expectation and destiny, pressed upon him.
Guru Arvind's voice carried a calm authority as he addressed the gathering.
His eyes, however, were fixed on Rudra.
He knew his disciple all too well—
If Rudra were given even the faintest option, he would reject the responsibility without hesitation.
That could not be allowed.
'If he refuses here,'
Guru Arvind thought,
'this newly rebuilt council will crumble into endless debates. And in that chaos, ambition and greed will find their chance to rise again.'
So before Rudra could even open his mouth,
Arvind's words cut across the hall like a seal of destiny.
A murmur spread across the chamber.
Every Brahmansh present that day had witnessed Rudra's deeds.
No one could question his right to the role.
Rudra stood silent, his gaze sweeping the faces before him—
"____"
The reverence in their eyes, the weight of their expectations pressing against his chest.
He wanted to refuse, to step back into the shadows and return to the life he had carved for himself.
But then his eyes locked with Guru Arvind's.
The old master's expression was firm, almost mischievant, the kind that said without words.
"You can't say no."
Rudra exhaled slowly, shoulders sinking under the invisible burden.
Sigh~
"…I see I have no choice,"
He muttered, the sigh escaping him like surrender.
The chamber erupted with bows and acknowledgments,
Yet Rudra felt none of the pride they expected—
Only the heavy chains of duty settling around him once more.
Three days passed...
Before Shiva and Sandeep finally stirred awake, their bodies still marked with faint traces of the wounds that had nearly claimed them.
Word spread quickly, and soon the room filled—
Amirtha, Rudra, Meena, Tejas, Ravi, Rajandra, Guru Arvind, and Junoo all gathered at their side.
The moment Shiva blinked at the faces hovering above him,
Amirtha was already pressing him into a fierce embrace.
Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes as she half-scolded, half-pleaded,
"Don't you ever throw your life away like that again, Shiva! Do you hear me?"
Her words carried to Sandeep too,
And though he wasn't her blood, her gaze softened toward him.
She had watched him grow from childhood.
To her, he was no different from her own.
Sandeep bowed his head in silence, guilt and warmth clashing in his chest.
"____"
"____"
Shiva and Sandeep exchanged a glance, then turned toward Rudra.
The three of them locked eyes—
So much left unspoken, yet so deeply understood.
Then, without hesitation, they pulled each other into a tight, rough embrace.
A man's hug, firm with brotherhood, unshaken by words.
Shiva whispered,
"Thank you… for everything."
Sandeep added softly,
"We owe you our lives."
But Rudra only shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"No. You're my brothers. We grew up together, fought together, and stood against death together. Nothing I did comes close to what your lives mean to me."
For a moment, the weight of war seemed to fade.
The room was filled not with wounds or scars,
But with the bond of friends who had faced the abyss and returned—together.
Three months passed...
Three months passed in quiet recovery,
The shadow of Dev's fall slowly giving way to the rhythm of ordinary life.
The Highland Leaf – Restaurant & Inn...
The late afternoon sun painted The Highland Leaf – Restaurant & Inn in a warm glow,
The carved wooden sign swaying gently with the breeze.
Guests milled about in the courtyard, laughter and the smell of fresh food drifting out from the open kitchen.
Ravi stepped through the gate with Mani at his side.
His younger brother's eyes widened at the sight of the bustling inn, taking in the rows of tables, the polished counter,
And the line of guests waiting to be seated.
Rudra was at the entrance, sleeves rolled up, helping the staff unload crates of supplies.
When he turned and saw Ravi, a smile tugged at his tired face.
"Finally decided to stop wandering?"
Rudra asked, walking over.
Ravi chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
Chuckle~
"Yeah… figured it's time to do something that lasts. Mani and I—we'll stay here. Work under you, if you'll have us."
Mani nodded enthusiastically, clutching a small satchel to his chest.
Nod~
"I can help too, Rudra anna!(bro)"
Rudra looked at them for a long moment, then let out a sigh—
Sigh~
Half relief, half pride.
He placed a hand on Ravi's shoulder.
"You don't need to ask. This place is as much yours as mine if you're willing to put in the effort."
Inside, he led Ravi through the busy dining hall.
"I'll start you in management—supplies, staff schedules, keeping the books balanced. This isn't a soldier's battlefield, Ravi, but trust me, running a place like this can be a war of its own."
Ravi laughed.
Haha~
"Sounds easier than fighting Dev's army."
"You'll change your mind after one evening rush,"
Rudra smirked.
Smirk~
He then crouched down to Mani's level.
"And you, Mani? What do you want to do?"
His eyes lit up.
"I want to learn everything! Cooking, serving, helping guests..."
Rudra nod's his head.
Nod~
"Then we'll start with small steps. For now, you'll shadow the kitchen staff. No skipping work just because you're the youngest, understood?"
Mani saluted playfully.
"Yes, sir!"
The three of them shared a laugh, and for a moment, the weight of battles past seemed far away.
The inn bustled around them, alive with warmth and purpose.
For Ravi and Mani, this was more than just a place to stay—
It was the beginning of a home.
Shiva, meanwhile, chose to remain in Ooty with Meena, staying by Amirtha's side n the resturant.
After all that had happened,
He couldn't bring himself to leave his mother again.
As for Sandeep, his path led him back to the orphanage since Ravi who helped him manage previously has left with his twin brother who he let perviously by accident.
The children needed him, and in truth, he needed them just as much.
Caring for them was his way of honoring those bonds of family and friendship that had carried him through battle.
Meanwhile...
Rudra's gaze lingered on the world-travel interface in his system,
Its holographic glow reflecting in his eyes.
The gentle hum of the hotel's evening activities seemed distant, almost muffled, as he made up his mind.
He approached Amirtha and Junoo at the reception desk.
They were laughing quietly over some minor mishap with a guest, unaware of the weight of his thoughts.
Rudra cleared his throat.
"I'm going on a little journey,"
He said calmly, though there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
"It might take some time before I return."
Amirtha's smile faltered.
"A journey? Where exactly are you going, Rudra?"
Junoo's brows furrowed.
Frown~
"And why wouldn't you tell us if it's just a little trip? We're not letting you leave without knowing where."
Rudra let out a soft sigh.
Sigh~
He didn't want to worry them unnecessarily,
And he knew full truth would only stir their protective instincts.
"I… got the ability to travel to other worlds,"
He said, carefully choosing his words.
"It's a power I unlocked when my Brahmastra fully awakened. I need to test it, see where it can take me."
Both women exchanged glances, alarm flashing in their eyes.
"____"
"____"
"Other worlds?"
Amirtha whispered.
"Rudra, that sounds… dangerous. You can't just go alone!"
Junoo nodded in agreement.
Nod~
"We're coming with you. You can't keep us from going."
Rudra shook his head, resolute.
"It's too risky for you. I'll only take you if I'm certain it's safe. For now, I need to do this alone. Trust me, I'll make sure it's secure before you ever step foot there."
Amirtha's hands clenched instinctively on the edge of the reception desk.
"You've been through so much already… I can't just stand by."
Rudra's expression softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I know. And I wish you could come. But this… this is something I must do myself first. If it's safe, I promise—you'll come with me."
Junoo's eyes glimmered with concern, but she gave a small nod.
Nod~
"Then at least… promise us you'll be careful."
Rudra nodded, feeling the weight of their gaze.
Nod~
"I promise. I'll return safely, I swear."
With that, he turned toward the world-travel function, the golden holographic interface pulsing like a heartbeat.
One last glance at the hotel, at the people who had become his family, and Rudra stepped forward, ready to cross into unknown worlds.
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(Author's POV)
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