Arav woke before dawn, not because he wanted to, but because something tugged him awake—a faint pull on his senses, as if the aether itself was impatient.
He sat up slowly.
Sharanya slept lightly beside Isha, who snored with the elegance of a tiny bull. Everything looked peaceful.
Except the aether.
It buzzed around him, restless and intrusive, like it had decided today was important and he must participate.
He rubbed his eyes. "Please calm down. I'm four."
The aether did not listen.
---
Arav stepped into the courtyard where dew shimmered on the grass. A servant swept fallen leaves, humming a gentle tune. It should have been a calm morning.
He inhaled softly.
The aether inhaled with him.
Nothing happened at first.
Then the broom in the servant's hands bent backward abruptly—as if its wooden spine had turned to warm wax. The poor man yelped.
Arav froze.
"Oh no…"
The broom snapped back to normal with a sharp crack, nearly smacking the servant in the chin.
"Apologies, Young Master!" the servant stammered.
"No—no, it was MY fault," Arav said quickly. "Actually—don't tell Dad. Wait—maybe tell him—NO, don't—just—just pretend the broom was tired!"
The servant blinked, helpless.
Arav backed away, horrified.
This was the first time the distortion touched someone other than him.
Even slightly… even harmlessly… it was too much.
His stomach tightened.
Aaryan strode into the courtyard, alert. "I felt that."
Arav squeezed his eyes shut. "I didn't mean it…"
Aaryan knelt. "Arav."
The boy looked up, expecting anger.
Instead, he met concern—and calculation.
"You're growing faster than expected," Aaryan said. "Your distortions respond to emotion now. Fear, frustration, anything unstable."
Arav stared at the ground. "I don't want to hurt people."
"You won't," Aaryan said. "That's why we prepare."
Sharanya touched his cheek gently. "We'll go slowly. You don't have to master everything in a day."
Isha marched forward dragging her wooden spoon like a legendary artifact.
"Bhaiya bent the broom! He is Broom Bender!"
Arav covered his face. "Stop naming things…"
---
A guard rushed in. "Patriarch! The Ember Scholars' Circle requests entry—they want to examine the phenomenon recorded yesterday."
Sharanya stiffened.
Arav felt cold.
The Scholars weren't political like the elders.
They were worse.
Curious.
Aaryan stood tall. "Refuse them."
"They insisted—"
Aaryan didn't raise his voice, but the air itself seemed to incline toward obeying.
"Refuse them."
The guard bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the floor.
Arav watched and realized something important:
People didn't fear his father because he was powerful.
They feared him because he didn't yield.
Sharanya rested a hand on Arav's shoulder.
"None of them will reach you. Not while he stands."
Arav nodded weakly.
---
— POV: Elder Varun —
Varun placed his tea aside as the latest readings appeared on his projection tablet.
Aether-bend.
Localized distortion.
Minor but patterned.
It was emotion-triggered—exactly what he feared would happen.
Two prodigies in one generation.
Two resonance signatures.
Flame.
Thunder.
Perfect opposites.
Perfect mirrors.
"Aaryan will not allow interference," Varun murmured. "But the Council cannot ignore this forever."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"I pity the day these children meet."
---
Back at the Ashvathar estate, Arav tried to train again. He inhaled slowly, letting warmth settle in his chest. The flame formed gently this time, flickering without mischief.
Aaryan nodded. "Good. Keep that rhythm."
Arav exhaled—
and the system chimed in his mind.
[System Notice: Host stability improving.]
[Warning: External resonance spike detected.]
[Notice: Incoming fluctuation.]
A pulse hit his chest, sharp and electric.
The flame trembled.
The world quivered for a heartbeat.
Across the distance, thunder answered.
Aaryan caught Arav as he stumbled.
The distortion beneath Arav's feet rippled faintly and faded.
"It's him again," Arav whispered. "The other one…"
Aaryan's eyes narrowed. "His resonance is growing. Yours responds because your awakening frequencies match."
Arav shivered.
He didn't want a rival.
He didn't want danger.
He wanted peace.
---
— POV: Thunder Child —
Lightning rolled across the boy's palms, brighter than yesterday.
A pulse hit his chest—warm and familiar.
He grinned, quiet but fierce.
"So you felt it too."
He clenched his fist.
"I'm catching up."
---
Night settled over the estate. Arav sat beside the courtyard lanterns while Sharanya hummed softly inside.
Isha slept half-off her pillow like a tiny lion cub.
Aaryan spoke with guards at the gate, reinforcing new rules.
Arav stared at his hands.
At the flame that listened to him.
At the world that no longer stayed quiet.
"I'll control it," he whispered to the night.
"Before it controls me."
The system answered:
[Resolve detected. Growth efficiency increased.]
Arav felt warmth in his chest that wasn't fire—
it was determination.
The world had stared back today.
And he… had stared right back.