Arjun's ReturnA faint beep. Then another.
Arjun's eyes fluttered open. White light, sharp and sterile, bled into his vision. The hospital ceiling swayed above him like a fragile sky. His lungs burned, then steadied.
"Brother!"
Meera's cry pierced through, warm and desperate. She threw her arms around him, trembling.
"I'm alive…" His voice cracked as he clutched her tight. "I'm really alive."
The doctor froze at the doorway, stammering."He… he was dead. How…?"
Arjun managed a weak smile, though his chest still ached. "Guess… some things can't be explained."
Meera sniffled, her small hand gripping his. "Mom will be back any second. She went for food—you'll surprise her."
For a moment, laughter stirred in the room, fragile and human.
Karthik's AwakeningElsewhere in the ward, another body stirred. Karthik's eyes snapped open, storm clouds behind them. The monitors screamed, nurses gasped—he tore free of wires and stumbled into the cold night beyond.
His house was silent. Too silent.
He entered. The walls still smelled of old incense, but the air was empty, lifeless.And then—her.His mother lay still. Cold. Untouched.
Karthik dropped to his knees, body shaking, sobs ripping out of him like jagged glass."Ma…"
From the corner of the room, shadows slithered. A voice, serpentine, coiled around his grief.
"Not yet, Karthik. She can return. But not without price."
Karthik's head jerked upward, tears burning. "Tell me how."
"Seven souls. Pure ones. Take their light, bring me their power, and her chains will break."
His eyes blazed with unnatural glow, sorrow hardening into vow."Then show me where they are. I'll do it. Anything."
The shadows purred with satisfaction.
Shadows in the HospitalBack in Arjun's room, the fragile calm fractured.
The lights flickered—once, twice—then bled into dim orange. The air chilled. Shadows lengthened unnaturally along the walls.
Arjun frowned, muscles tense. Something was wrong.
"Meera…" he whispered, shifting her behind him.
Then—steel gleamed. A knife shimmered inches from her throat.
Arjun lunged, shoving her aside. The blade scraped his shoulder. Blood welled.
Figures emerged—masked, their bodies bending like liquid shadow. Their voices hissed like broken glass."An Elysian. Freshly awakened."
The name struck a chord. Elyra's voice whispered in his mind.Noctyrae… assassins of the dark roots.
One lunged. Instinct surged through him—a pulse of air exploded outward, forming a jagged shield of wind. The knife skittered off harmlessly. His chest heaved."I… did that?"
Focus, Elyra urged. Don't think. Move.
But his body was heavy, his power wild. He staggered, barely holding the next strike at bay.
The assassins circled closer.
The Stranger ArrivesA voice cut the tension—calm, commanding."Step back."
Everyone froze.
A figure entered the room, cloaked in pale stormlight. His eyes burned with clarity, his presence heavier than stone.
The assassins hissed in unison."Another Elysian…"
He smirked faintly. "Try me."
They struck together.
The room erupted. Beds splintered, windows shattered as gale winds roared. In one sweep of his hand, two assassins slammed into the wall—shadows bursting like smoke.
The third dropped from the ceiling, blade aimed at his skull. He caught it with two fingers. Sparks shrieked.
"Pathetic."
With a twist, he flung the assassin down. The floor cracked, dust choking the air.
Only one remained—its form warping, blades jutting from its arms."You bleed like the rest," it hissed.
"Make me."
They collided. Strikes like thunder, light and shadow slamming into each other with force that bent walls and rattled glass. Too fast for Arjun's eyes, too heavy for human breath.
Then—silence.
The assassin unraveled into ash.
The stranger stood untouched, gaze fixed on Arjun. Calm, unreadable."You're one of us."
And just like that—he vanished, leaving only broken walls and silence behind.
Arjun's heart hammered. Meera clung to him, terrified but alive.
And somewhere in the city, Karthik stepped into shadow, hunting souls.
The night had only begun.