The infirmary was quiet, heavy with the scent of herbs and iron. Ravi lay unconscious on the cot, his chest rising and falling shallowly. But somewhere far from his body, his soul drifted into a realm that felt both endless and alive.
Flames painted the skies orange. The earth beneath him glowed like molten gold. And then it appeared—a colossal lion, mane blazing with fire, its wings stretching wide enough to blot out the heavens. Its fangs gleamed like polished ivory, sharper than blades, its eyes burning with the fury of a thousand suns.
Ravi stumbled back, overwhelmed. "What… what are you?"
The lion's voice rumbled like thunder, shaking the very ground.
"The one who shielded you. When that beast's claws tore through you, it was I who stood between death and your fragile flesh. I am your spirit."
Ravi's mouth went dry. "My… spirit? But… I thought—spirits were only for those who…" His words broke.
The lion lowered its head, eyes narrowing. "Do not mistake my intervention for acceptance. You are weak, Ravi. Barely an ember in a storm. You cannot wield me. Not yet."
Despite the fear prickling through him, Ravi's lips curved into a trembling grin. "Then train me. If I'm weak, I'll get stronger. I'll become someone even you can't deny!"
For the first time, the lion chuckled. The sound was low, rumbling, but there was something approving in it.
"Very well, boy. Step into my realm. I will forge you until you are worthy of my name."
And with that, Ravi's soul was pulled deeper into the lion's realm, flames and light surrounding him. On the outside, his body twitched, a bead of sweat trailing down his brow.
Meanwhile In the forest:-
Dawn broke across the forest, golden rays slicing through mist. The students gathered nervously, still shaken by the events of the previous day. Blood and fear clung to them like a second skin.
Vir stood at the center, his robe unmoving despite the breeze. His eyes, sharp as steel, swept across the gathered faces.
"Today," he said, voice steady, "you will take the first step toward understanding your true selves. Spells are not enough. Strength is not enough. What defines a mage… is the bond with their spirit."
Murmurs rippled through the group. Excitement. Unease.
Vir lifted his hand. The ground trembled. From the shadows coiled a titanic serpent, scales black as obsidian, eyes glowing gold. Its hiss rattled the very marrow of every student.
Gasps erupted. Some staggered back in terror.
"This," Vir continued, voice like iron, "is my spirit. Its strength is not mine—it is me. A spirit is your soul given form. It will either guide you… or consume you."
The serpent's tongue struck the ground, splitting soil with a spark.
Among the students, Aarav stiffened. A warmth bloomed in his chest, like rivers bursting through long-dry earth. His vision blurred—and then he saw them. Eyes. Ancient. Unblinking. Watching him from within.
"You… are mine."
Aarav gasped, clutching his chest. The glow faded instantly, leaving only silence.
Vir's eyes flicked toward him, sharp, knowing. But he said nothing. He only dismissed the serpent with a wave, the beast dissolving into mist.
"Spirits," Vir said finally, "are merciless teachers. Learn to listen before they decide to stop speaking."
Across the sea, in Shanghai, Huo lay in his bed, his body wrapped in bandages. He kept staring at the ceiling, shame gnawing at him.
"It's my fault…" he whispered. "Because of me, they nearly died."
Jing Feng dropped into the chair beside him, smirking lightly. "You really think you're that important? Don't flatter yourself. We're alive because we fought as a team, not because of you—or in spite of you."
But Huo turned away, guilt pressing on him like a weight he couldn't lift.
Elsewhere in the institute, Luo Peng sat under interrogation again. Senior teachers circled him, their voices sharp.
"You summoned a real monster inside a training ground. Explain."
"I—I lost control!" Luo Peng laughed nervously, his tone too polished. "Unstable channels, it happens—"
But the way his lips twitched, the carefully rehearsed panic—it was too perfect. One teacher noted how his eyes gleamed, cold and calculating, whenever he thought no one was looking.
When the session ended, the staff exchanged uneasy glances.
"Foolish… or infiltrated?" one muttered.
Neither answer brought comfort.
Beneath the earth, in a cavern lit by red crystal veins, Rahul knelt before the hooded leader.
"My report," he said, voice steady. "Aarav is stronger than expected. His light and water spells grow sharper each day under Vir's guidance. The teacher himself… his spirit is formidable. Dangerous."
The leader's staff tapped once on stone. "So the boy is not a wasted seed after all."
From the shadows stepped another figure, cloaked, his aura pressing down like a storm. Even the cavern air seemed to choke around him.
The leader's voice hardened. "Meet your senior. He will oversee the next stage. Fail him, and you will not leave this cavern alive."
Rahul bowed, hiding the faint smirk curling his lips.
Behind them, a chained creature writhed as cultists poured shimmering water down its throat. Its veins lit up in sickly blue fire. The roar that followed cracked stone and sent dust raining from the ceiling.
"Soon," the leader whispered, his eyes gleaming, "their gates will drown in despair."
Varanasi Institute of Magic
Infirmary (Night):-
That night, the infirmary's lantern flickered weakly. Ravi's body twitched, his soul still deep in the lion's realm.
The door creaked. A shadow slipped in. Rahul.
He stood by the bed, eyes narrowing at Ravi's unconscious face. "Even lions sleep, little cub. And tonight… you belong to us."
Dark chains slithered from his palm, wrapping around Ravi's body. His soul fought elsewhere—his flesh was helpless.
With a smirk, Rahul vanished into the night, leaving behind nothing but the scent of smoke… and a single drop of blood on the sheets.
At dawn, Aarav, Mira, and Arjun burst into the infirmary. The bed was empty.
Ravi was gone.