The twins trained hard under Ganak in the pit. Every day, they pushed themselves beyond their limits, mastering different weapons and building raw strength. As the sun set, they would step out into the bustling markets of Lohitpuri, blending into the crowd, watching, listening, and gathering whispers. They were no longer just training for survival—they were building something bigger. Something Arya would need when he returned.
Their efforts had borne fruit. The twins were now personally recruiting for Chorpatta. Every evening, they roamed the streets and alleys, gathering information and spotting those who could be trusted. Those with the right spirit, the right loyalty. With Ashvapati's quiet support, Chorpatta had grown to over forty whisperers.
It was time to expand.
They divided the new recruits into groups of ten. Ten were sent to Bhuva Mandala. Ten stationed around Suryagadh. Ten remained in Lohitpuri, keeping the home base strong. The last ten were tasked with something far more dangerous: entering Jangal Mandala.
This final group was warned extensively. Jangal Mandala was still largely unknown territory. Two of the whisperers had visited its outskirts, but that was all. Rohak personally instructed them to move with extreme caution and report back frequently. No unnecessary risks.
The twins gave a final piece of warning before they departed.
"Remember, Jangal Mandala now has a warlord in the Yamsabha. His name is Sarthak. He has ties with Rankriti. If he catches you, there's no saving you. Move carefully."
Later that evening, as they trained with Ganak, Rudra brought up the name again.
"Did you say Sarthak?" Ganak asked, pausing mid-strike.
"You know him?" Rudra asked, stepping back.
Ganak lowered his weapon slightly. His eyes grew distant, remembering.
"He was a fellow fighter here. We trained together. Fought together. We were young then. He won a grand fight and chose to leave the pit as his reward. I stayed on."
"How was he?" Raghav asked, curious.
"One of the best I've ever seen," Ganak said simply. "Strong. Brutal. He could drop ten men in one fight without breaking a sweat. He rarely spoke. There was no mercy in him. He made sure the crowd got the show they paid for—blood, broken bones, or worse."
He paused, tightening his grip on his sword.
"He was here even before Upendra rose to power. When Upendra did, he offered Sarthak a position—to lead his armies. Sarthak refused and left. No one knew where he went. But from what you're saying, it's definitely him."
"And now he's a warlord," Raghav said quietly.
"He doesn't talk much," Ganak said. "But he's always watching. He's relentless. If he marks you as his enemy, he will end you. No matter how long it takes."
The twins exchanged a look.
"We need more information on him," Raghav said. "If Ganak respects him, we can't underestimate him."
"Agreed," Rudra said. "Task is clear then. We watch Sarthak. And we gather every piece of information we can."
They resumed their training, but the air between them had grown heavier.
The stakes were rising.
The twins knew that if they were to bring Arya back—if they were to make a dent in the power structures of Kalagraha—they would need every whisper, every ally, and every ounce of strength they could muster.
They had to be ready.