The silence in the meeting hall was suffocating. The crater Aamir had created still smoked faintly behind him, and the faint scent of scorched stone lingered in the air.
Aamir stood tall in the center, cloak in tatters, crimson eyes glowing faintly. Before him were the faces he had once fought and bled beside—Kunal, Raj, Riya, Seenu, Meera.
They stared at him with shock and raw emotion, their hearts thundering in disbelief.
Aamir broke the silence first. His voice was calm, steady, and carried weight that hadn't been there five years ago.
"I can sense it in you… You've all grown stronger. Quite a bit."
He smiled faintly, lifting his head proudly. "But don't worry. Now I'm here."
For his old friends, those words sparked tears and warmth—but for others in the chamber, the reaction was far more complicated.
King Luis of Valtania narrowed his glowing blue eyes, studying Aamir like a puzzle piece that didn't belong. His mind buzzed with disbelief.
