"Pranith… Pranith, come fast! We're going to be late!" his mom called from downstairs.
Pranith rushed down, half-dressed, rubbing his eyes. "What happened, Mom? Why are you wearing that fancy saree? Is there some occasion today?"
His mom folded her arms and frowned. "What do you mean by 'fancy saree'? Did you forget what day it is?"
Still clueless, Pranith glanced at the calendar on the wall—and froze. "Oh no… today's my little sister's first birthday!" he blurted.
Mom sighed. "Finally! Now go get ready quickly. And your dad's heading straight to your uncle's house—so don't make us late."
"Okay, okay! Give me a minute," Pranith said, running back to his room.
A few minutes later, he came down neatly dressed, grabbed his bag, and helped his mother into the car. They reached his uncle's home, where the celebration was already in full swing. Decorations shimmered in soft yellow lights, and laughter echoed through the hall.
His mom went inside to help with the arrangements while Pranith wandered toward his little cousins. His uncle had two daughters—one three years old, the other celebrating her first birthday. The moment they saw him, both rushed toward him, giggling. Their laughter filled the air with warmth and joy.
Soon, more relatives arrived. The house grew louder with chatter, teasing, and greetings. Pranith's father joined them not long after.
As the evening passed, Pranith found himself smiling but… distracted.
While playing with the children, he suddenly remembered the kids of Via Minor. A strange unease gripped him. He looked around,
searching for a quiet place to think, but every room was filled with relatives. He sighed and stayed with the children instead.
At 7:45 p.m., the cake-cutting began. The room burst with laughter and clapping as the candlelight reflected in everyone's eyes. By 8:20, dinner was served.
Pranith ate quickly, chatting briefly with his cousins. But as time ticked closer to nine, his thoughts drifted more and more toward Genesis Waves. What's happening there? Are they safe? he wondered.
Finally, he made up his mind. He went to his mom. "Mom, I need to head home. I have some college work to finish."
She nodded. "Alright, but tell your dad and uncle before you leave."
Pranith walked over to where his dad and uncle were talking. "Dad, I'm heading out. I need to finish something for college."
His father looked at him. "So late? Alright. We'll be coming back late tonight. Lock the door and go to sleep, okay?"
"Okay, Dad. Bye, Uncle. Sorry for leaving early."
His uncle smiled. "I thought you'd stay the night. Anyway, don't stay up too late."
Pranith nodded, said his goodbyes to his aunt and cousins, and left.
Outside, the night air was cool and quiet. He hurried home, thoughts racing between two worlds. By the time he reached, it was 8:55 p.m. He locked the door behind him, went straight to his room, and lay on the bed.
As the clock struck 9:00, his vision began to blur—his consciousness fading like mist under moonlight.
And then…
The air turned cold.
A thick fog surrounded him.
Screams echoed from every direction.
Pranith gasped. "What… happened here?"
He was standing in the middle of Via Minor. The once-bustling town was now burning—houses in ruins, people dragged into the town square, their cries piercing the night. Even the Public Safety Department was overwhelmed.
Flames crackled. Shadows moved.
A few adventurers tried to resist, but the enemy's power was overwhelming. A two adventurer still stood, bloodied but defiant, as others fell around him.
"What in the world is going on?" Pranith muttered, heart pounding. "Who are these people? Even the laws of this place aren't working…"
He began searching desperately for Rudra and Dhruva.
Then, through the smoke, he saw a small girl trapped in a ring of fire, crying helplessly.
A loud neigh shattered the noise—two horses burst through the flames, ridden by Rudra and Dhruva.
Dhruva leaned down, grabbed the girl, and pulled her onto his horse. Together, they rode straight toward the center of the chaos, where all the townsfolk were being forced to gather.
Rudra's face burned with fury, his eyes blazing like embers in the dark.
The Flames of Via Minor had begun to rise.
End of Chapter Six