The armored vehicle finally pulled up outside the familiar gates of the family estate. The journey had stretched longer than expected, filled with heavy silences and revelations that still echoed in Akshat's mind. He stepped out, shoulders tense, and pushed open the front door. The moment he crossed the threshold, Gunjan Aether's voice cut through the air like a whip.
"Akshat! Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried we've been?" Gunjan stood in the hallway, arms crossed, her face a mix of exhaustion and sharp anger. Ritik lingered behind her, saying nothing.
Akshat closed the door quietly. "I needed answers, Mother. We talked. Properly, for once."
Gunjan's eyes narrowed. "Answers? From your father? That's not what you need right now. Kurana Alexanderia has been reaching out again. He wants you on his side—working under him. It's stable. It's safe. You should take the offer instead of running around chasing ghosts."
"Safe?" Akshat let out a bitter laugh. "You think that's what I want? I've spent my whole life being told what's dangerous, what's safe, what I should hide. I'm not signing up to be anyone's tool."
Gunjan stepped closer, her voice softening just a fraction but still firm. "You don't understand the bigger picture. Kurana has connections. Power. After everything we went through to give you a normal life, you're throwing it away. Think about your brother. Think about us."
"I am thinking about us," Akshat shot back, his tone rising. "And about me. This is my life. What I choose to do with it is my decision. Nothing—and no one—will stop me. Not you, not Father, not Kurana."
Ritik finally spoke, low and tired. "Son..."
But Akshat was already turning away. "I'm going home. My real home."
He left without another word, the door clicking shut behind him. The night air felt cooler outside, a small relief as he made his way to the modest house he shared with his closest companions.
---
Inside, the lights were still on. Ryuki and Aavya were waiting in the living room, sprawled on the couch with half-empty mugs of tea. Ryuki looked up first, her dark hair tied back messily, relief flashing across her face. Aavya, with her sharper features and quiet demeanor, set her book aside.
"You're late," Aavya said, though her voice carried no real scolding. "We almost went looking."
Akshat dropped onto the armchair across from them, rubbing his neck. "Long night. Family stuff. You know how it gets."
Ryuki smiled faintly. "We ordered food earlier. Saved you some. Figured you'd come back hungry and grumpy as usual."
They fell into easy conversation for a while—normal things that felt grounding after the weight of the evening. Aavya complained about a botched deal at the market earlier, mimicking the vendor's exaggerated gestures. Ryuki teased Akshat about the new scar on his arm from whatever trouble he'd found himself in. Laughter came in small bursts, the kind that came naturally among people who had shared roofs and secrets for years.
Then Akshat leaned forward, his expression turning serious. "Ryuki... I've gathered some information about Rubika's disease."
The room grew quiet. Ryuki's eyes widened, emotion flooding her face instantly. She sat up straighter, hands gripping the edge of the couch. "You did? Akshat, how? Tell me—what did you find? Is there a way to cure her? She's been getting worse, and the doctors here... they don't even know where to start."
Akshat chose his words carefully, keeping his own history buried deep. He didn't mention the nights of screaming pain or the way his body had once torn itself apart. That wasn't the point tonight.
"There are old records pointing to specialized treatments. Experimental ones, but promising. Something about stabilizing rare antibody imbalances before they spiral. It's not a simple fix, but there might be a real shot if we can access the right resources."
Ryuki's voice cracked. "Thank you. Really. I don't know what I'd do without you looking into this. She's only eight... she shouldn't have to go through any of it."
Aavya reached over and squeezed Ryuki's shoulder. "We're all in this. Akshat's stubborn when he sets his mind on something. If there's a lead, he'll chase it down."
Akshat nodded. "Exactly. I'm not promising miracles yet, but I won't stop digging. You're not alone in this, Ryuki. None of us are."
They talked longer into the night—about Rubika's latest symptoms, about how Ryuki had been balancing visits to her sister with work, about Aavya's half-joking suggestion to steal better medical equipment if things got desperate. The conversation shifted to lighter topics again, old stories of their early days sharing the house, the ridiculous arguments over who cooked worst. It was the kind of night that reminded Akshat why he kept fighting: for the people who had become his chosen family.
After the girls went to bed, Akshat stayed up. The house grew silent except for the low hum of the desk lamp. He spread out every document he could access—old files, encrypted notes, fragments pieced together from years of quiet searching. Hours passed as he read line after line.
Then one entry caught his eye. Coordinates and faded blueprints. Orion Aether's original laboratory—the place where Akshat had spent his earliest years. It had been sealed for a long time, but if anything remained, it could hold answers. A cure for Rubika's illness, perhaps. Or deeper secrets that might change everything.
He marked the location carefully. Tomorrow, he would act.
---
The next morning, Akshat made his way to Kurana Alexanderia's office in the city center. The building was sleek and imposing, all glass and polished stone. A secretary ushered him in without delay.
Kurana sat behind a wide desk, a man in his prime with sharp eyes and an air of calculated calm. He rose when Akshat entered, offering a firm handshake and a welcoming smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Akshat Aether. Good to see you finally accepted the invitation. Please, sit. Would you like something to drink?"
Akshat took the seat but declined the offer. "I'm not here for pleasantries. I want you to arrange a meeting. I need to meet the Solarius Knight himself."
Kurana paused, then leaned back in his chair. A low chuckle escaped him, growing into full laughter. A smirk played on his lips as he studied Akshat. "If you want to meet the Solarius Knight, boy, you'll have to die first."
Akshat's muscles tensed. He rose halfway from his chair, fists clenched, ready for whatever came next. The challenge hung in the air like smoke.
But Kurana raised a hand, still smiling—though now it carried layers of something deeper. Emotion flickered across his face: happiness, sadness, exhaustion all tangled together.
"Relax. He is dead already. A decade has passed since it happened."
Akshat froze. "What?"
Kurana's smile remained, bittersweet. "I killed Solarius Knight."