The morning breeze swept lightly across the training grounds. The grass shimmered under the sunlight, and three figures stood — or rather, two stood and one made a scene.
Daav zipped around like a streak of fire, circling Ansh, who leapt and twisted dramatically, arms flailing as if locked in battle with an invisible army.
"Got you!" Ansh shouted, diving forward, only to miss spectacularly and land flat on his face.
Daav chirped smugly and perched on a wooden post, preening his wings.
Vijay's temple twitched. His arms were crossed, jaw tight. "Do you two ever… stop?"
"Stop what?" Ansh grinned from the ground, brushing dirt off himself. "This is training! Quick reflexes, sharp eyes, lightning-fast movements!"
"It's nonsense," Vijay snapped.
"Correction: genius nonsense." Ansh puffed out his chest, Daav landing proudly on his shoulder in agreement.
That was the last straw. Vijay lunged forward, fist raised. "You little—"
Before the blow could land, Ashwini stepped between them. Her glare was sharp enough to cut stone. "Enough."
Both froze. Even Daav tucked his wings nervously.
Ashwini folded her arms. "You two argue like children. Do you ever think of anything beyond yourselves?"
Ansh and Vijay exchanged identical guilty looks, muttering, "...No."
For a moment, silence fell. Then, slowly, Ashwini's lips twitched, the faintest smile tugging at her mouth.
The tension that had hung between them since the Spirit Forest was gone. The awkward weight of secrets, of memories they could not share, seemed to lift in their familiar bickering.
---
It was then that the air shifted.
Without warning, Rajyugas appeared — as though the sunlight itself bent to reveal him. In his hand gleamed a sword, sheathed, yet emanating an authority that pressed upon them like a heavy storm.
The three disciples snapped upright. Daav froze mid-hop, his ember-like eyes widening.
Rajyugas' gaze swept over them, sharp and unyielding. "What's going on here?"
No one answered. Ansh scratched his head. Vijay looked away. Ashwini pressed her lips tightly shut.
Daav, however, fluttered past, chirping lightly.
Rajyugas' eyes fixed on him. "You. Bird. Be quiet."
Daav didn't even glance at him, continuing to circle lazily.
A faint crack appeared in Rajyugas' calm mask. He tugged half the sword from its scabbard, the polished steel catching the morning sun and throwing a blinding streak of light across Daav's wings.
"I said…" His voice hardened. "Be quiet."
This time Daav shrieked in alarm and darted instantly to Ansh's shoulder, burying himself in the boy's hair.
Ansh stood straighter, his face pale. Ashwini and Vijay stiffened, watching silently.
Rajyugas let the blade slide back into its sheath, his gaze shifting to the three. "It seems you are eager for training. Should I give you the same task again — to collect the Herb of Life?"
The words struck like thunder. All three froze, their bodies locked. The memory of the Spirit Forest flashed like lightning — claws, fire, blood, the roar of beasts.
Ashwini's fingers trembled before she clenched them into fists. Vijay's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. Ansh's lips quivered, but no words came.
Their silence was enough.
Rajyugas allowed himself the faintest curve of satisfaction.
---
"Ansh," Rajyugas called suddenly.
Ansh flinched, eyes widening. "M-me? I didn't do anything!"
Vijay snorted. "That's new."
"Shut up!" Ansh hissed, panic rising.
Daav, sensing danger, fluttered off his shoulder — but not to comfort him. Instead, the little bird landed squarely on Ashwini, leaving Ansh completely alone.
"Traitor," Ansh whispered furiously. "Should I roast this bird for dinner instead?"
Rajyugas stopped a breath away from him. Slowly, he drew the sword free. The sunlight gleamed mercilessly against the blade.
Ansh's knees knocked. "W-wait! If you kill me here, Aunty Meera will punish you for eternity!"
For the first time, Rajyugas' lips quirked in amusement. Without warning, he brought the flat of the sheath down sharply against Ansh's head.
"Silence."
"Ow!" Ansh yelped, clutching his scalp. "You'll really kill me before the monsters do!"
Rajyugas raised his hand in a cutting gesture. His eyes, cold as steel, swept across all three disciples.
"You fought in the Spirit Forest. By now, you understand how dangerous this world is."
His tone shifted — no longer sharp, but heavy, carrying the weight of truth.
"There will always be beasts, enemies, powers beyond your control. If you cannot protect yourselves, you will die. But worse than that… if you cannot protect those you cherish, they will die because of your weakness."
The words pierced them like blades.
Ashwini's mind conjured the image of Daav, tiny body trembling under the fire beast's paw. She remembered the panic, the helplessness as she lay injured, unable to move.
Vijay recalled the moment he was flung aside, powerless, watching Ashwini nearly torn apart. His chest tightened with shame and anger at his own frailty.
Ansh… Ansh saw Daav crushed, Ashwini bleeding, Vijay broken. His heart pounded, lungs burned. And in that desperation, he remembered nothing — nothing but the darkness that had swallowed him whole.
Rajyugas' voice cut through their thoughts. "Some of you gained stronger control in that fight. But that is not enough. You must command your powers as naturally as you command your own limbs."
Ansh's cheeks flushed. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Because in that battle, aside from throwing stones, he hadn't been much help.
Rajyugas' eyes lingered on him. Then, in a deliberate motion, he extended the sword.
"Ansh."
Ansh blinked. "Eh? Me?"
The blade caught the sun, casting its reflection across his face.
"This sword," Rajyugas said, voice steady, "is not only to protect yourself, but to protect those you wish to save."
Ansh stared at it, wide-eyed, hesitant. His hands trembled as he reached forward.
He took the hilt. The cold steel seemed to hum faintly, as if recognizing its new bearer.
Rajyugas' gaze softened for a fleeting moment. He remembered the Rudradeva meeting, the look on Rudradeva's face when Ansh's darkness had surfaced. He remembered Lady Meera's eyes, full of worry and unspoken pleas. And he remembered his own silent vow — to guide this reckless child, to keep him from being devoured by his own strength.
"Grow stronger," he whispered, more to himself than to Ansh.
Ansh lifted the sword. Its shine reflected in his eyes, determination flickering beneath the fear.
Ashwini and Vijay stood silently beside him, watching. For the first time, they saw not just the noisy, foolish boy who dragged them into chaos… but someone who might one day stand before monsters without trembling.
Daav chirped softly from Ashwini's shoulder, eyes fixed on Ansh.
The boy held the blade high, sunlight dancing along its edge.
For the first time, the weight of his path pressed against him. Not a game. Not a joke.
A burden.
A promise.