The rain finally eased, and the sun peeked through the clouds. A cold breeze whispered across the land as Pranith drifted silently above, still following Rudra and Dhruva.
His mind, however, was anything but calm.
The scene from moments ago—the kidnappers, the children's cries, Rudra's ruthless strike—kept replaying in his head. Questions clawed at him: Who were those kidnappers? Why was Rudra so merciless? And who exactly is Dhruva, this man so close to him?
Most of all, one thought burned louder than the rest:
What kind of person is Rudra?
Pranith tried calling out to Tarkshya for guidance, but instead of answers, he only heard the spirit's amused laughter: "Figure it out yourself."
Pranith clenched his teeth. This guy…
Down below, Rudra and Dhruva walked side by side, their voices carrying through the still forest. Curious, Pranith floated closer to listen.
"You need to control your anger, Rudra," Dhruva said firmly. "We can't draw blood every time something happens. One day it will affect your goal."
Rudra's reply came calm, but ice-cold.
"I did what had to be done. Remember this, Dhruva: whoever hurts children—no matter who they are—will die by my hands. If that endangers my goal, so be it. Nothing is more important than a child's safety."
Dhruva fell silent, stunned by the conviction in Rudra's tone. Then, slowly, a small smile crossed his lips.
Even Pranith, listening from above, felt his chest tighten. So that's why… that's why he snapped. He's not heartless—he's protecting them.
For the first time, Pranith found himself respecting Rudra.
"Alright," Dhruva finally said. "I understand your resolve. But next time, at least inform me before you act."
Rudra gave a faint nod. "As you wish. Now… tell me. When will we reach the next town? I want to register as an adventurer."
Dhruva chuckled softly. "Patience. First we need to get through this forest. Then, we'll decide our path."
The two continued down the mud road, their conversation fading into the rustling leaves. Pranith followed above them, but his eyes drifted toward the horizon. The sunset painted the sky in gold and crimson, the forest giving way to open fields. By the time Rudra and Dhruva stepped out of the trees, the moon had already risen, bathing the world in silver light.
And then—
Pranith's vision warped.
A pull dragged at his body, and before he could resist, he was yanked out of the Genesis Wave. His eyes snapped open.
He was back in his own bed.
The ceiling fan spun lazily. The world was quiet.
What just happened? Pranith sat up, breathing heavily. How did I come out? Does this mean… I can only enter Genesis Wave at night?
The thought troubled him. If he could only see mornings, afternoons, and evenings in that world, then what about its nights? Did the story continue without him?
Before he could think further, his mother's voice rang through the
house.
"Pranith! Wake up! You'll be late for college!"
"Ahh, I know, I'm awake!" he called back, rubbing his temples. "Just get breakfast ready—I'll be down in ten minutes."
He forced himself into routine, convincing himself of one thing: Genesis Wave is only accessible at night. But that didn't answer the gnawing question of what happened in its darkness.
At breakfast, he ate quickly, dressed, and left the house. On the way to college, he met Krishna.
"Morning," Krishna greeted. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah," Pranith lied, forcing a casual tone. "By the way, do we have any assignments today?"
"No idea, man."
"Then let it be," Pranith muttered, staring at the street.
But then—he froze.
A familiar voice whispered inside his head.
"Still confused, Pranith?" It was Tarkshya.
Pranith's steps halted mid-street. Krishna, walking ahead, turned back. "Pranith? What happened?"
The voice continued, ignoring Krishna.
"You're wondering how to see the daytime of Genesis Wave, aren't you? There is a trick. Cover your left eye with your hand, take a deep breath, and say the words Genesis Wave. From then, you'll see Rudra through your left eye, as if you were there. But remember —do it when you're alone. It only works in the morning."
The voice vanished as quickly as it came.
Pranith stood frozen for five seconds, heart racing. Krishna waved a hand in front of him. "Pranith? Oi, what's wrong with you?"
Snapping out of it, Pranith forced a smile. "Nothing. Just remembered something suddenly."
Krishna frowned. "Drink some water, man. You're acting strange these days…"
Inside, he thought: Something's wrong with Pranith. I need to find out what it is.
Meanwhile, far away in Genesis Wave, power was shifting. The town where Rudra had saved the children was already under the control of a new, ruthless group. Whispers of bloodshed spread like wildfire.
A storm was brewing—
and its first wave was heading straight for Rudra and Dhruva.
End of Chapter Four