The smoke burned Tez's eyes.
Every breath felt like swallowing hot ash.
"Mira... stay behind me," he said, tightening his grip on his sister's trembling hand.
She nodded silently, her small fingers clutching his as though letting go would make her disappear.
The familiar streets of Suryanagari had become unrecognizable.
Only hours earlier, laughter had echoed through these very lanes during the Festival of Gratitude. Clay lamps had illuminated every doorway, children had chased one another beneath strings of marigold flowers, and the scent of sweet rice pudding had drifted through the evening air.
Now...
The marigolds burned.
The lamps lay shattered.
The songs had become screams.
A roof collapsed nearby with a deafening crash, sending sparks high into the dark sky. Villagers rushed in every direction, calling the names of loved ones.
"Mother!"
"Father!"
"Help us!"
Tez had never imagined that fear could have so many voices.
"Brother..."
Mira's voice shook.
"I'm scared."
Tez forced himself to smile despite the terror gripping his own heart.
"I'm here."
It was a promise made more for himself than for her.
---
They hurried toward the great banyan tree, where Devadatta had instructed them to gather.
The massive tree stood at the centre of Suryanagari, older than anyone could remember. Generations had played beneath its shade. Weddings had been blessed beneath its branches. Elders had settled disputes there with wisdom instead of anger.
Now the sacred tree was surrounded by frightened villagers.
Acharya Somdev stood beneath its spreading branches, directing people toward the western fields.
"Children first!"
"The elderly beside them!"
"No one runs alone!"
Even amid the chaos, his voice carried remarkable calm.
Several young men formed a protective line with farming tools in their hands.
Wooden staffs.
Axes.
Harvesting sickles.
Weapons never meant for war.
Tez looked around desperately.
"Mother?"
No answer.
"Father?"
Nothing.
Only frightened faces searching for other frightened faces.
Then he saw Ariv.
His closest friend stumbled through the smoke, supporting his injured grandfather.
"Tez!"
"Ariv!"
The boys embraced for a brief moment.
"Have you seen my parents?"
Ariv shook his head.
"I've been looking for mine too."
His grandfather coughed violently.
"The eastern wells..." the old man whispered.
"They've poisoned them with ash..."
Tez looked toward the eastern side of the village.
The flames were spreading unnaturally fast.
Entire rows of houses burned together as though someone had planned exactly where each fire should begin.
This was no accident.
Someone understood Suryanagari.
Someone had studied it.
---
Suddenly...
A frightened horse charged through the gathering crowd.
People scattered.
Children screamed.
Mira slipped from Tez's grasp.
"Mira!"
The little girl fell hard onto the dusty ground.
Before the terrified horse could reach her, Tez threw himself forward.
He wrapped both arms around his sister.
The horse thundered past, missing them by only a few inches.
They rolled into the dirt together.
"You foolish boy!"
An elderly woman helped them to their feet.
"You could have died!"
Tez looked down at Mira.
She was crying quietly.
"I'm sorry..."
He brushed the dust from her hair.
"You never have to apologize for needing your brother."
He hugged her tightly.
For a single heartbeat, the world outside ceased to exist.
---
The peace lasted only moments.
A burning beam crashed across the road ahead.
Behind it...
The masked warriors emerged once again.
There were six of them now.
They moved with terrifying precision.
One examined houses.
Another searched courtyards.
A third questioned frightened villagers.
None paused to steal valuables.
Gold ornaments remained untouched.
Grain stores remained full.
Jewellery lay scattered where frightened families had dropped it while fleeing.
"They're not robbers," whispered Ariv.
"No."
"They're hunting."
Tez felt cold despite the heat surrounding him.
One masked warrior suddenly pointed toward the banyan tree.
The others nodded.
They began walking directly toward it.
Acharya Somdev stepped forward alone.
He carried nothing except his wooden walking staff.
"This village welcomes travellers," he called.
"But not murderers."
The tallest warrior stopped.
For several silent moments neither moved.
Then the warrior spoke.
His voice was calm.
"We seek only one thing."
"What?"
"The bearer."
Somdev's eyes narrowed.
"I know of no such person."
The warrior studied the old teacher carefully.
"You are either telling the truth..."
"...or protecting it."
Without another word, he gestured.
The masked men spread throughout the square.
Searching.
Watching.
Questioning.
Their discipline was frightening.
Not once did they strike an innocent without purpose.
Not once did they shout.
It was as though every movement followed instructions given long before they arrived.
---
Tez instinctively touched the leather pouch hidden beneath his tunic.
For reasons he could not explain, his father's final gift suddenly felt much heavier.
One warrior's gaze briefly rested upon him.
Only for an instant.
Then the man's attention shifted elsewhere.
Tez exhaled quietly.
Had he imagined it?
---
Nearby, two masked men spoke in low voices.
The roar of the fire almost drowned their words.
Almost.
"The southern houses?"
"Already searched."
"And the child?"
"Not yet."
Tez froze.
"The commander said the symbol must not leave the village."
"If necessary..."
The second man's voice dropped even lower.
"...burn everything."
Tez's heartbeat quickened.
The child?
The symbol?
His hand instinctively closed around the leather pouch beneath his clothing.
Could they be searching for this?
Before he could hear more, another warrior called them away.
The conversation ended.
But its meaning lingered like smoke.
---
Suddenly...
A familiar voice echoed across the square.
"Tez!"
Father!
Devadatta emerged through the smoke, his clothes blackened with soot.
A deep cut marked his shoulder, yet he continued helping wounded villagers toward safety.
Relief flooded Tez's heart.
He started running.
"Father!"
But before they could reach one another...
Another explosion shook the ground.
The temple roof collapsed in a shower of burning timber.
The sacred bells crashed to the earth.
The sound echoed across the valley.
Every villager stopped.
Even the attackers turned briefly toward the ancient temple.
For generations the temple had stood as the heart of Suryanagari.
Watching it fall felt like watching the village itself lose its soul.
Devadatta's expression hardened.
"No..."
he whispered.
Then he looked at Tez one final time across the smoke-filled square.
Their eyes met.
Without speaking...
His father raised one hand.
Not in farewell.
In reassurance.
Stay strong.
The crowd surged between them again.
Smoke swallowed the square.
And Devadatta disappeared from sight once more.