A week had passed since the battle with Bheem.
The morning air at the Ashram was crisp, carrying the cool mist from the great waterfall that cascaded behind the training grounds.
Lioran stood shirtless before the waterfall, his muscles tense, his hands glowing faintly with threads of golden light. The mist wrapped around him like shimmering smoke as his energy pulsed outward in rhythmic bursts. A few feet away, Aishwarya mimicked his stance — her form precise but still slightly unsteady. She exhaled, channeling her Prāṇa to her palm. The air crackled faintly.
FWOOSH!
A burst of orange flame shot from her hand, striking against the water curtain. Steam hissed upward, shrouding her in a ghostly haze.
Aishwarya sighed, lowering her arm. "Still not enough," she murmured, frustration clouding her eyes.
Lioran wiped sweat from his brow, smiling faintly. "You're improving fast. Last week, your flames couldn't even reach halfway."
She smirked. "Yeah, but you're still showing off that perfect control. Makes the rest of us look bad."
He chuckled lightly. "I don't think you're far behind."
She tilted her head, brushing wet strands of hair from her face. "You really think so?"
Apart from them, Sharin was meditating beneath the waterfall.
Then, a voice called from the forest path.
"Lioran! Aishwarya! Sharin!"
They turned to see Mukhi running toward them, his robe flapping as he crossed the stone bridge that led to the training area. His expression was urgent.
"Master Shourya is calling for you three!" he said, panting slightly.
Lioran's brows drew together. "For what?"
Mukhi straightened, trying to catch his breath. "He said… it's about a new mission."
Aishwarya blinked. "A mission? Already?"
Sharin, who had been meditating on a nearby rock, rose to his feet. "Guess training time's over."
The three exchanged quick looks — excitement mixed with tension — before following Mukhi back toward the Ashram.
Inside the main hall, Shourya sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed. The room was dimly lit, filled with the scent of incense and the hum of flowing Prāṇa. The candle flames around him flickered gently, as if breathing in unison with his calm heartbeat.
When the three entered, the air itself seemed to grow heavier. Shourya opened his eyes, their deep golden hue gleaming faintly in the half-darkness.
"I've been expecting you," he said, his tone calm but measured. "Today, I'm sending you on a new mission — one that may be… a little more difficult than your last."
Sharin stepped forward. "Another Narvan, right?"
Shourya nodded. "Yes. But not just any Narvan. This one's power reading is far beyond the previous one."
Aishwarya's expression hardened. "How strong is it?"
Shourya turned toward the crystalline projection tablet hovering beside him. Data shimmered across it, symbols dancing like streams of light.
"Vargh level — 9,570."
Sharin's eyes widened. "Nine thousand… that's insane! That's almost twenty times stronger than the one we faced in our first mission!"
"Indeed," Shourya said. "We received information from Headquarters this morning. The Narvan was detected in an abandoned industrial complex… in Goa."
"Goa?" Lioran repeated. "That's far from here."
"Distance doesn't matter," Shourya replied. "The creature has already caused three disappearances. If it grows any further, its influence might spread across the entire coastal sector."
Mukhi stepped forward, holding out a file. "Your flight tickets are ready. Departure at 7 p.m."
Lioran blinked. "You already booked them?"
Shourya smiled faintly. "Of course. I knew you'd accept before I even asked."
Sharin grinned. "Heh, guess we don't really have a choice."
Shourya's gaze sharpened slightly. "You always have a choice, Sharin. But you also have responsibility. Power means nothing without purpose."
A brief silence followed. Then Lioran nodded firmly. "We're ready, Master."
"Good," Shourya said. "Go and prepare. Pack only what's necessary. You'll depart within a few hours."
The three turned to leave, but Shourya's voice stopped them at the doorway.
"Wait."
They turned back.
Shourya's eyes focused on Lioran. "Lioran, have you mastered your Golden Burst yet?"
Lioran hesitated, remembering the blinding energy he unleashed against Bheem — that overwhelming power that had surged through his veins like molten sunlight. "Not completely," he admitted. "That one time… it felt natural, instinctive. But after that, I've been trying to replicate it. The control slips every time."
Shourya nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Don't be disheartened. What you accomplished during that battle was remarkable — merging your Prāṇa techniques with your innate Prāṇa attribute without my teaching. Also it shows that you have a rare Ākāśa attribute. I am really proud of you."
The words struck deep. Lioran lowered his gaze but couldn't hide the hint of pride forming on his face. "Thank you, Master."
Then Shourya turned to Aishwarya. "And you, Aishwarya — how is your Flame Impact progressing?"
She looked down slightly. "I've been practicing every day, but… I can't recreate it. No matter how hard I try, it doesn't work the same way it did back then."
Shourya's tone softened. "Do you remember what drove you in that moment?"
Aishwarya thought for a moment, eyes distant. "I… I was angry. Scared. Desperate to protect Lioran."
"That's it," Shourya said quietly. "Emotions are the spark that can transcend technique. When your heart burns, your Prāṇa follows. But power born only from emotion is unstable. You must learn to control that fire — not let it consume you."
She nodded slowly. "I'll try, Gramps."
Shourya smiled faintly. "Don't just try. Feel. Understand. Flame is not just destruction — it's warmth, it's life. Learn that balance, and you'll surpass yourself."
Her eyes lit with renewed determination. "I will."
Finally, Shourya turned his gaze to Sharin. "And you? How goes your training?"
Sharin straightened proudly. "Just as you taught me, Master. I've been refining my Prāṇa compression daily. The control's getting better and i am very close to combine my Prāṇa techniques with my Prāṇa attribute."
Shourya nodded approvingly. "Good. I knew you'd adapt quickly. Just remember — Prāṇa is alive. It listens to your will, not your fear. Trust yourself."
Sharin smiled slightly. "Yes, Master."
Shourya rose from his seat, the air around him rippling faintly as his immense Prāṇa radiated out. "All of you have grown," he said. "But growth doesn't end with comfort. Each mission will test not just your strength — but your hearts."
He walked past them, hands clasped behind his back. "Out there, beyond these mountains, the world is changing. Narvans are appearing in places they shouldn't. Someone — or something — is awakening them."
Lioran's eyes narrowed. "You think it's connected to the ancient war you mentioned?"
Shourya paused but didn't answer directly. "Perhaps. Or perhaps this is the beginning of a new one."
A cold breeze swept through the hall. The candles flickered violently before settling again. Shourya turned back to them. "Go. And remember — if you sense something beyond your capability, retreat. Strength means knowing when to fight and when to wait."
They bowed deeply. "Yes, Master."
The sun had dipped low by the time they reached the nearby airfield. The sky glowed with hues of amber and crimson as the plane's turbines whirred in the distance. Mukhi had come along to see them off, handing each of them their travel tags.
"Everything's arranged," he said. "Now go and complete your mission."
"Got it," Sharin said, slinging his duffle bag over his shoulder. "Guess this is our first long-distance mission."
Lioran looked at the horizon, where the dying sunlight bled into the sea of clouds. "Feels like… something big is coming."
Aishwarya smirked faintly. "Don't tell me you're scared."
He chuckled. "No. Just… cautious."
"Good," she said, adjusting her gloves. "Because last time you said 'it'll be fine,' I almost dead."
"Hey, that wasn't my fault!" Lioran protested.
Sharin laughed. "Yeah, sure. You two keep arguing. Just don't burn the plane mid-flight."
The three boarded with light hearts but heavy expectations.
Inside the cabin, Aishwarya took the window seat, eyes glued to the fading horizon. Sharin sat beside her, earphones in, while Lioran leaned back, gazing up at the cabin lights.
Outside, night embraced the sky. The engines roared softly as the plane began its ascent.
The world below turned into a sea of glittering lights, slowly vanishing into darkness.
But far away, in the northern sector — inside the Headquarter from where Shourya knew about the mission — silence ruled a different kind. The control room was dimly lit, dozens of monitors flickering in the gloom. Bodies of operators slumped over their consoles, unmoving. Red warning lights pulsed slowly across the walls, reflecting off the blood on the floor.
A faint humming sound filled the air — an eerie, rhythmic pulse, almost like breathing.
From the shadows near the main server, a figure emerged. Cloaked in pitch-black hoodie, face hidden beneath a hood, the stranger moved gracefully between the corpses, boots echoing softly on the metallic floor.
He stopped in front of the central terminal — the one displaying live Prāṇa readings from across the nation. The Goa sector's data blinked faintly on-screen.
He started smiling.
TO BE CONTINUED…