The night settled fully over the city. Warm lights flickered along the streets. Voices softened into something distant. Mira slowed as they reached a quieter stretch again. Not empty, but peaceful.
"…we're not going back yet," she said.
Aditya glanced at her.
"…where are we going?"
"You said you'd stay."
A small pause.
"…so I'm making sure you actually do something normal for once."
He almost smiled.
"…define normal."
"You'll see."
She led him through a narrow path between buildings. Worn stone. Faint echoes of old construction. They emerged onto a slightly elevated area. A small rooftop. Not grand. Not perfect. But it overlooked a large part of the city. Lights stretching into the distance.
Mira sat down first. Aditya followed, taking a place beside her. No rush. No hesitation.
"…you come here too?" he asked.
"Sometimes."
"…when?"
"When I don't want to think."
A faint pause.
"…or when I think too much."
He understood that. They sat in silence. But it wasn't empty. Below, the city moved. Unaware. Alive.
"…this is what you protected," Mira said quietly.
Aditya looked out.
"…yeah."
"…was it worth it?"
The question lingered. He didn't answer immediately. This time, he didn't think about destruction. Or power. Or consequence. He thought about this. The quiet. The warmth. Her sitting beside him.
"…yes."
The answer came without hesitation. Mira nodded slowly.
"…good."
A pause.
"…then don't treat it like something temporary."
The words settled. Not heavy. Just real. Aditya leaned back slightly.
"…you're saying that again."
"I will keep saying it."
"…why?"
She turned her head slightly toward him.
"…because you keep acting like you'll disappear."
He exhaled softly.
"…I might."
Mira didn't deny it this time.
"…then don't do it alone."
Silence. The kind that holds meaning. Aditya looked at her.
"…you'd come with me?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked back at the city.
"…I don't know if I can go where you're going."
A pause.
"…but I can stay while you're here."
That felt heavier than any promise. Because it was real. Not forever. Not guaranteed. Just… now. Aditya shifted slightly.
"…that's enough."
Mira smiled faintly.
"…yeah."
The wind moved softly around them. This time, it didn't react to him. Didn't bend. Didn't distort. It just passed. Like it would for anyone else.
"…I think I like this more," he said quietly.
"…what?"
"…not changing everything just by existing."
She laughed softly.
"Yeah, that's usually how normal people live."
"…I'm starting to understand that."
A pause.
"…slowly."
"Good."
They sat there longer. Not speaking. Not needing to. Until—
"…what are you going to do about it?" Mira asked suddenly.
Aditya glanced at her.
"…about what?"
"…everything."
A small pause.
"…your power."
"…your past."
"…whatever you're becoming."
The question stayed. Not pushing. But waiting. Aditya looked at his hands. Steady. Controlled. But not fully understood.
"…I need to learn it."
Mira nodded.
"…that sounds dangerous."
"…it probably is."
A faint pause.
"…then don't rush it."
He looked at her.
"…I won't."
Another silence. Then—
"…you're going to train, aren't you?"
"…yes."
"…good."
She stood up.
"…because if you don't understand yourself…"
She looked down at him.
"…then everything you build is unstable."
The words echoed something deeper. Something he had already been told. He stood up as well.
"…then I'll start tomorrow."
Mira nodded.
"…I'll be there."
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…for what?"
"…to make sure you don't overdo it."
A faint smile appeared again.
"…you think you can stop me?"
She smirked.
"No."
A pause.
"…but I can try."
That felt strangely reassuring. They stood there for a moment longer. Looking over the city. Not as something distant. Not as something fragile. But as something they were both part of now. And for the first time—Aditya wasn't just someone who protected the world. He was someone who had chosen to live in it.