The sun was sinking behind the high towers of the Bharadwaj Academy, washing the sky in streaks of gold and scarlet. The arena was packed — students, learners, and disciples from every corner had gathered. The announcement of Ashwini Guruwar vs. Rohan Vardaan had spread like wildfire.
Ansh was bouncing on his toes, whispering, "She's really going through with this."
Vijay folded his arms. "Of course she is. Once she decides something, not even Rajyugas could stop her."
Daav sat on Ansh's shoulder, chirping anxiously. The firebird's feathers flickered orange — like it sensed the tension in the air.
Ashwini stood in the center of the wide circular arena. The wind brushed against her hair as she fixed her calm, determined gaze on Rohan. She looked small compared to him — Rohan was a year older, taller, his robe embroidered with the insignia of a Council member's heir.
Rohan smiled mockingly.
"I didn't think a little gardener like you would dare to challenge me."
Ashwini tilted her head. "You talk too much. Maybe that's why your plants don't grow."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Ansh covered his mouth, barely holding in his laughter.
Rohan's smile sharpened. "You'll regret that."
He snapped his fingers — and fire burst from the ground in a perfect circle around him.
A hot wind rolled over the arena as streams of flame coiled around his arms like serpents.
Ansh's grin faded. "Oh no… that's Flame Serpent Technique. It's advanced fire control."
Vijay nodded slightly. "Rohan trained under one of the Fire Council Masters. Ashwini's at a disadvantage."
But Ashwini didn't flinch. She simply spread her arms — and roots, vines, and tiny glowing buds emerged from the cracks in the stone floor, spiraling up her arms.
Rohan's voice echoed across the arena. "I'll burn every last root of yours to ash."
Ashwini smiled faintly. "Then I'll just grow more."
The referee raised his hand. "Match — begin!"
Flames erupted forward.
Rohan's serpents lunged, their mouths snapping with heat. Ashwini twisted, leapt, and slammed her palms on the ground.
Thick vines burst out, forming a green dome. The flames struck — whoosh! — and half of them vaporized instantly.
Rohan laughed. "You can hide, but you can't last."
The fire encircled her dome, turning it red-hot. Ashwini crouched inside, sweat dripping down her brow. Her vines withered — she needed air, space, something to breathe through.
She whispered, "Adapt."
She placed both hands on the ground again, her eyes glowing faintly green. The next instant, the dome split apart into hundreds of tendrils, each whipping outward like a snake and grabbing dirt and debris from the arena. She reshaped them — forming thick, wet roots to cool the flames.
Steam hissed as fire met sap.
From the stands, Ansh's eyes widened. "She's… using moisture from the plants themselves to counter the heat!"
Vijay smirked faintly. "That's Ashwini. Always learning mid-battle."
Rohan frowned as his flames dimmed slightly. "You think you can outlast me? I can burn for hours!"
He slammed his hand down — the ground exploded, sending molten streaks of lava across the floor. The heat shimmered so much that even the crowd felt it.
Ashwini leapt aside, a thin burn marking her arm. She winced but didn't slow. Instead, she raised her hand toward the sky — and the air shimmered. Dozens of glowing green orbs formed above her, pulsing with light. She waved her hand downward, and the orbs fell like rain — each one sprouting into a vine that absorbed the lava like a sponge.
Rohan blinked in disbelief. "You're using life-force to drain fire? That's… impossible!"
Ashwini's voice was calm. "Not impossible. Just something you never tried."
They clashed again — fire twisting, roots snapping. Sparks and petals filled the air.
Rohan charged forward, swinging a whip of fire. Ashwini met it with a vine wrapped in glowing bark — the two collided, fire and nature exploding together in light.
He kicked, she dodged. She countered, he burned through her vines. For a while, they were equal — a storm of red and green in perfect rhythm.
Students in the stands cheered wildly. Some for the flame, some for the roots.
Ansh yelled, "Go Ash! Show him who's boss!"
Rohan grit his teeth. He'd thought she'd crumble easily — but this girl was relentless. Every flame he made, she adapted. Every burn he caused, she healed.
"Why won't you fall!?" he shouted.
"Because I still have friends watching," she said with a grin. "And they don't like sore losers."
Rohan roared, gathering every ember into a blazing spiral above him — a firestorm, twisting with dragon-shaped energy. The crowd gasped. Even the referee stepped back.
Vijay's eyes widened. "That's forbidden for students! He could burn the entire field!"
Ansh's hand went to his sword. "If she gets hurt—"
But Ashwini raised her hand high, her green glow intensifying. The ground beneath her bloomed — an entire forest of light emerged, roots weaving together into massive walls.
She whispered, "Life thrives even after fire."
The fire dragon dove down — the vines caught it mid-air, wrapping around it tightly. Smoke billowed, flames burst — and then, suddenly, the green light flared brighter than the red. The fire was swallowed whole.
When the smoke cleared, Ashwini stood there — panting but smiling, surrounded by a circle of blooming flowers. Rohan was on his knees, his flames completely gone, staring in disbelief.
The referee's voice broke the silence. "Winner — Disciple Ashwini vidya!"
The arena erupted in cheers.
After the Battle
Rohan stared at the ground, his fists trembling. Ashwini walked up slowly, then offered him her hand — just as Vijay had done earlier.
"You fought well," she said softly. "But you lose the moment you fight with anger instead of heart."
Rohan looked up at her, shocked. For a second, his pride cracked — and he took her hand.
From the stands, Ansh shouted, "That's my teammate! I told you she'd win!"
Vijay smiled quietly. "She didn't just win. She taught him something."
Daav flapped his wings proudly, glowing faintly gold.
Ashwini turned back toward them, grinning from ear to ear. She looked tired, bruised, her robe half-burned — but her eyes were brighter than ever.
For the first time since the tournament began, all three of them felt it again — that same spark from their early days of training.
Not just power.
But purpose.