Inside the Dimensional Chamber, the artificial desert glowed under a blazing sun. Heat waves rippled through the air, but within the container, a small zone of calm existed where Mukhi stood beside Aishwarya.
"What did you understand about Lioran?" he asked gently.
Aishwarya looked down, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the edge of her mat.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then her thoughts drifted back—
To the battlefield.
To Bheem.
To the moment when everything seemed lost.
She remembered how Lioran had stood in front of her.
How he had taken the danger upon himself.
How his words had steadied her shaking heart.
"When I was a child," Aishwarya said slowly, "Gramps used to tell me stories every night."
Mukhi listened silently.
"Stories about Vaelion," she continued. "About how powerful he was… but more than that, how kind he was."
Her voice softened.
She remembered the Ashram courtyard, bathed in evening light.
Flashback — Years Ago
A small six-year-old Aishwarya sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes sparkling as Shourya sat beside her.
"Grandpa," she asked curiously, "why do you always tell me stories about Vaelion?"
Shourya smiled.
"Because of his kindness," he said.
"Kindness?" little Aishwarya tilted her head.
"Yes," Shourya replied. "Vaelion was so kind that he even forgave his enemies."
"Even enemies?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Shourya said gently. "And I want you to grow up like that."
"Like Vaelion?" she asked.
He nodded. "That's why I tell you his stories."
Aishwarya beamed.
"Then I'll become very kind!" she declared proudly.
Shourya laughed softly.
Flashback Ends
"And when I met Lioran," Aishwarya said quietly, "I felt something strange."
Mukhi looked at her.
"It felt like… Gramps wanted me to become like him."
"Like Lioran?" Mukhi asked.
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "When he motivated me… I saw that same kindness. I've never seen that expression on anyone's face before."
She swallowed.
"He's truly Vaelion's heir. I believe that."
Mukhi raised an eyebrow.
"Oh," he said slowly. "You really like him."
"Like?" Aishwarya blinked.
Only then did she realize how much she had spoken.
Her eyes widened.
Her heart skipped.
"No—no, it's not like that!" she said quickly. "He's just a friend."
Mukhi smiled knowingly.
"Oh? Just a friend… or more than a friend?"
Aishwarya's face flushed instantly.
"N-No! It's not what you think!" she protested.
Mukhi chuckled.
"Come on, Aishwarya. I've known you since you were a two-month-old baby," he said. "I know everything."
Her cheeks turned red.
In pure embarrassment, she kicked him.
"Get out!" she shouted.
Mukhi stumbled back, laughing.
"She shouldn't kick elders," he muttered as he walked away.
Aishwarya covered her mouth with both hands.
"Did I really talk about him that much?" she whispered to herself.
Her heart raced.
"No… no. He's just my friend," she said, forcing herself to breathe.
"I need to focus."
She straightened her posture.
And resumed her training.
Ashram of Korea — After the Meeting
The meeting hall slowly emptied.
The air still felt heavy.
Shourya walked alone through the corridors of the Korean Ashram, his footsteps echoing sharply against the stone floor.
His mind replayed the argument again and again.
Flashback — The Meeting
"Are you accusing us?" Sweyon, the Korean master, had asked sharply.
"According to my informant," Shourya replied coldly, "this was the work of one of the authorities."
Murmurs spread across the hall.
"Otherwise," Shourya continued, "tell me—who else could manipulate headquarters and feed us false information?"
"You are blaming us?" another master snapped. "We respect you, Shourya, but we won't tolerate this."
"And I won't tolerate anyone who tries to kill my students," Shourya shot back.
Tension ignited.
"Do you have proof?" a master asked.
Shourya got silent.
"No you don't?" That master said.
Then Jack, master of the American Ashram, leaned back with a smirk.
"Why are you so angry over a weapon?" he said.
Shourya froze.
"What did you say?" he asked quietly.
"The Vaelion heir is just a weapon," Jack said. "A tool to defeat the Narvan King."
Shourya's aura flared.
"Watch your tongue," he warned. "He's not a weapon. He's human."
"Oh, so what?" Jack scoffed. "We're using him to save the world."
"Stop talking," Shourya snapped. "You fool."
Jack stood up.
"Mind your words," he said angrily.
"Why do you keep calling him 'Vaelion heir'?" Shourya roared.
"His name is Lioran. He is the hope of this world, not your tool."
Sweyon intervened before it escalated further.
"Enough," he said. "Sit down."
Flashback Ends
Shourya clenched his fist.
"I can't tolerate that arrogance," he muttered.
"If this world is doomed one day… it will be because of people like them."
He stopped.
A portal shimmered open in front of him.
"Enough politics," Shourya said firmly.
"I need to see how Skanda is training them."
He stepped forward.
And vanished into the light.
TO BE CONTINUED…