The metro was filled with silence... but the air felt heavy.
Around me, people stared at their phones, scrolling through the news—
Headlines everywhere:
"Unknown explosion—many feared dead."
"Mystery creature destroys downtown lab."
There were no clear videos.
Those who tried to film… didn't survive.
The reporters outside the blast site were only guessing, showing shaky footage of rubble and chaos.
But none of it showed us.
There were no clear images. No footage of the fight. No faces.
Someone was erasing the truth.
I walked slowly from one train car to the next, scanning every face.
Something is wrong… but I can't see it.
Frustration built up. I felt like I was missing something obvious.
I entered the next car—still nothing.
Just ordinary people, buried in their screens. No threats. No signs.
But my instincts screamed otherwise.
I had to focus.
I sat down on the floor in the center of the train car, legs crossed.
Passengers stared, confused, whispering to each other.
I ignored them.
I closed my eyes… and concentrated.
Deep breath in.
Focus.
I began drawing energy in—my aura slowly building around me. I could feel it—faint at first, but growing.
Almost there…
And then—I opened my eyes.
The world around me sharpened.
I tuned into the energy patterns in the space.
And that's when I saw it.
Not human.
Near the ceiling, small—almost invisible—was a bee-like creature.
But its eyes glowed unnaturally.
Cold. Artificial. Watching.
A surveillance drone.
Without hesitating, I leapt up—ignoring the stares—and grabbed it midair.
Got it.
I walked back to Aelira, my hand tightly closed around the buzzing thing.
She looked at me curiously. "What is that?"
"They're watching us through this," I replied.
And without a second thought—
CRACK.
I crushed the insect drone in my hand.
Aelira's eyes narrowed slightly.
And our stop is come.
We took a taxi and reached the airport.
Aelira went to the counter to get the tickets while I found a seat in the waiting area. Gatlong wasn't far—just a three-hour flight.
I leaned back, letting out a quiet sigh. My body still ached from everything that had happened, but I tried to stay calm.
Soon, Aelira returned.
She placed a small shopping bag beside me. I peeked inside and froze.
Another set of brand-new clothes—stylish, clean, and expensive. I flipped the tag.
₹40,000.
I looked at her, stunned. "You really don't hold back, do you?"
She just gave a small smile and handed me a warm packet.
"Samosas?" I asked.
She nodded and sat down beside me.
We unwrapped the crispy snacks and ate quietly.
The taste was incredible—spicy, fresh, and comforting. Somehow, it made the tension fade, if only for a moment.
Meanwhile, at the Palace of Astryx —
In a dark, towering room, Jake stood before the massive window, swirling a glass of dark red wine in his hand. Thunder rolled beyond the clouds, as if echoing his thoughts.
An elf entered the room, bowing slightly.
"Sir. Oliver and Kol… failed the mission."
Jake didn't turn.
"Call them."
Moments later, Oliver and Kol stepped inside the meeting room, both visibly frustrated and bruised.
Oliver spoke first. "You were right, sir. The boy, Kian… he's a descendant of King Korel."
Jake turned slightly, his gaze sharp. "Then why did you lose him again?"
Kol clenched his jaw. "He's awakened part of Joe's power. And… there was a magician with them. They outmaneuvered us."
Oliver added, "They also destroyed our tracking device. We can't follow them… but we know where they're headed. Gatlong."
Jake's expression remained cold. "Then go. And don't fail again."
"Yes, sir," they said in unison before leaving the room.
Jake turned back to the window.
"Call Kai," he said to the elf. "Tell him… I need to speak with him."
The elf bowed and exited swiftly.
Alone, Jake took another sip from his glass and whispered to the stormy sky,
"…This ends soon."
Back to the story—
We boarded the flight to Gatlong, and I took the window seat, as usual. With my eye mask resting on my head, I pulled out my e-book reader and began flipping through another story. It helped calm my mind.
Three hours later—late into the night—we landed in Gatlong.
The city was known not just for its size, but for its legendary sweets: Gulab Jamun, Jalebi, Kaju Katli, and dozens more. Just thinking about them made my mouth water.
After grabbing a taxi from the airport, Aelira and I checked into a hotel downtown. The room had two beds, clean sheets, and a wide window overlooking the quiet street below.
We both changed into fresh clothes. Aelira called room service to order dinner.
I placed Ron's sword into Noah's internal storage and sat on the bed, thinking.
"This is a big city," Aelira muttered as she leaned against the wall, "How are we supposed to find him?"
Just then—
Knock knock.
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
I walked over and opened the door.
Standing there was an old man. His back was straight, his eyes sharp, and he held a calm, unshakable presence.
He stared at me for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"So… you're the boy."
My breath caught.
"I'm Kan," he said. "Mind if I come in?"
"O-Of course," I replied, stepping aside.
He entered and took a seat in the chair by the desk. For a moment, there was only silence between us.
"I know where Master Kael is," Kan said flatly. "We'll go to him tomorrow."
"…How did you find us?" I asked cautiously.
Kat tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden armrest. "I placed an invisible barrier on the city's entrance. Anyone who steps through it… I can sense. Especially someone like you."
So he's a magician too—and a powerful one, by the looks of it.
He stood up slowly, straightening his coat.
"Get some rest. We leave at sunrise."
And with that, Kan walked out of the room without another word.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Tomorrow…
I would meet Master Kael.
Morning sunlight bathed the streets of Gatlong in a golden glow.
Aelira and I stood outside the hotel, bags packed and Noah tucked safely inside my backpack. The city was slowly waking up—vendors opening stalls, cars rumbling down the road, and birds chirping above.
Then we saw him.
Kan approached us with a calm stride, hands behind his back.
"So… where does Master Kael live?" I asked, adjusting my bag.
"He doesn't live here," Kan replied. "He lives… far from the cities. I'll accompany you to reach him."
"How far?" I asked.
Kan looked at me and said simply,
"Two thousand kilometers."
I froze.
"What?! 2000 kilometers?! That's insane!"
He nodded. "Yes. A long journey by road."
I glanced at Aelira. Even she looked mildly surprised.
"Why not just fly there?" I asked, still trying to process the distance.
Knt shook his head. "Too dangerous. If we take a flight, they'll detect us—and worse, they might send new elites after us. Ones we may not be able to fight yet."
His voice was calm, but the implication was heavy.
I clenched my fist. They were still hunting us.
Kan turned and began walking down the street. "Come."
We followed him through narrow alleys and into a quiet neighborhood. Eventually, he stopped in front of a small house. An old man smiled from the window and handed him a set of keys without a word.
Kan walked toward a parked car, opened the doors, and slid into the driver's seat.
He glanced back at us.
"Get in."
We climbed inside.
And just like that, our real journey—to Master Kael—had begun.