Arav woke earlier than usual.
Not because of noise.
Not because of a distortion.
Not even because Isha decided frogs were bedtime companions again.
He woke because something tugged at him—soft, faint, like a thread tied around his chest being pulled from outside the estate.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes.
The room was still dark, only a hint of dawn coloring the window.
"Again…" he whispered.
The same gentle presence from last night brushed the boundary.
Not forcefully.
Not intrusively.
Just… checking.
He swallowed.
It didn't feel dangerous.
If anything, it felt hesitant.
Curious.
Like someone reaching out but afraid they'd be noticed.
Arav slipped out of bed quietly, feet touching the cold floor. He tiptoed to the window, pressing his hand against the frame. The forest beyond the estate was still.
No movement.
No glow.
Just silence.
But he felt it.
A whisper.
A thought that wasn't a thought.
A sensation without words.
He closed his eyes and reached inward toward his flame.
Warmth answered him.
Calm, steady.
Then that external thread tugged again—gentle, asking.
"Who are you?" Arav whispered.
No reply.
But the tug faded as if startled.
He hadn't meant to scare it.
He wasn't even sure it was a person.
Before he could think more, a soft knock echoed behind him.
"Arav?" Sharanya's voice drifted in quietly. "Are you awake?"
Arav spun around. "Yes!"
She opened the door, her hair loosely tied and worry lines faintly visible. "Did you feel it again?"
Arav nodded.
She came closer and knelt beside him, gazing out the window with him. "Your father is outside already. Meghala said she sensed a flicker too."
Arav bit his lip. "Is it following me?"
Sharanya didn't answer directly.
She wrapped her arms around him instead.
"Whatever it is, you are not facing it alone. Remember that."
Arav leaned into her embrace.
"Will it hurt anyone?"
"I don't think so," she murmured. "If it wanted to, it wouldn't knock politely."
Arav almost smiled at that.
Almost.
---
By breakfast, the estate was fully awake—and not in the calm, sleepy way it usually was.
Meghala walked in carrying three pastries in her mouth, two cups of tea in her hands, and no regard for balance or logic.
Aaryan sat at the table, back straight, eyes sharp.
He wasn't eating.
He was listening.
Sharanya placed food quietly, trying not to startle anyone.
Isha was attempting to teach her frogs how to sit in chairs. "No, mister green! That's bhaiya's seat!"
Arav sat down, still thinking about that whisper.
Meghala plopped into the seat beside him.
"So. Who wants to tell me why some shy little cosmic kitten keeps tapping our wards?"
Aaryan gave her a look. "Do not assign adorable titles to unknown entities."
Meghala shrugged. "Fine. Mysterious threat. Creepy forest peeper. Aether peeping tom? Which one?"
Sharanya sighed. "Meghala…"
Arav couldn't help a small laugh.
Aaryan leaned forward slightly, voice low. "Did it appear again, Arav?"
Arav nodded. "Just before dawn."
Meghala raised an eyebrow. "Same feeling?"
"Yes. But…" Arav hesitated. "It felt like I scared it."
That got everyone's attention.
Sharanya frowned. "You reached back again, didn't you?"
Arav nodded silently.
Aaryan tapped the table once—his version of a frown. "We don't know its intent yet. You must not respond directly."
"I didn't mean to," Arav whispered. "It just felt… close."
Meghala exhaled sharply. "Kid, you're like a lamp in a dark room. Even if someone isn't looking for you, they'll notice."
Arav blinked.
"So I should hide?"
Aaryan's expression softened a fraction—barely. "Not hide. But learn how to dim the lamp."
Sharanya added gently, "We'll help you."
Isha held up a frog. "My frog says bhaiya glows too much."
Meghala pointed dramatically. "See? The frog agrees!"
Everyone ignored her.
---
Late afternoon arrived with a sky full of heavy clouds—not storm clouds, not thunder, but dense gray that made the entire world quieter.
Meghala led Arav to the courtyard again.
"Today," she announced, "we're learning concealment."
Arav blinked. "Like hiding?"
"No," she said. "Hiding is running. Concealment is control."
She tapped the center of his chest lightly.
"Your flame is loud. Anyone attuned to aether can feel it. And whatever's knocking on our door? It's definitely attuned."
Arav nodded slowly.
"So how do I learn concealment?"
Meghala smiled wide.
"With practice. Lots of practice. And maybe some bribery."
"Bribery?"
Meghala held up a bag of sweet fritters.
"Every time you stabilize your flame without leaking aether, you get one."
Arav's eyes widened.
"That's cheating."
"Motivation," she corrected.
He took a breath.
Calmed his heart.
Reached inward.
His flame flickered, then dimmed slightly.
A very, very tiny ripple escaped—just enough to wiggle Meghala's hair.
She stared at him.
"No fritter."
Arav deflated.
Meghala tossed one into her mouth. "Mine now."
Another attempt.
Another ripple.
"No fritter."
By the tenth attempt, Sharanya was watching with fond amusement and Aaryan with silent approval.
Isha had joined in too, holding up her frogs like judges.
Finally—
after half an hour—
Arav took one breath…
and nothing leaked.
No ripple.
No crackle.
No distortion.
Just silence.
Meghala grinned. "THAT gets a fritter!"
Isha cheered. "Bhaiya didn't explode anything!"
Sharanya clapped quietly.
Aaryan nodded once—his version of a proud smile.
Arav smiled shyly, taking the fritter.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Peaceful.
Then a breeze drifted through the courtyard.
In it—
a whisper.
Not from thunder.
Not from flame.
Not from any clan.
Just a faint voice brushing his consciousness.
Found you…
Arav's heart seized.
Meghala's head snapped toward him instantly.
"Arav?"
Aaryan stood.
Sharanya froze.
Isha dropped a frog.
Arav whispered, voice shaking,
"It spoke."