The sibling duo—Om and Shreya—walked out of the exam hall, side by side, into the soft afternoon light. The crowd had mostly dispersed by now, with the majority of students and parents having already left after the final batch concluded.
Yet, the few remaining students and staff still present at the gate were now cheering Om's name, their voices filled with admiration and wonder.
Even with no public announcement of his elemental, word had spread—Om had done something no one else had ever done.
The aura around him had shifted. No longer just a quiet student, Om now walked with the presence of someone watched by destiny.
Near the exit, Shreya came to a stop.
"I have to go back and speak with the Chief Examiner," she said, brushing invisible dust off her uniform.
Om nodded. "Okay. Mark's waiting for me outside."
He stepped out through the main gates of the center.
The once-bustling area had quieted down. Most of the parents and spectators had gone home, the event essentially over. But—just as Aren had mentioned earlier—recruiters still lingered.
Lots of them.
They had stayed for this very moment.
The moment when someone like Om would walk out with a test result unlike anything seen in decades.
From the corner of the courtyard, one sharply dressed man in a business suit sprinted over to Om. His face wore a practiced smile, his breath slightly ragged from running.
"Good afternoon, sir!" the man said brightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you. What an incredible day, isn't it? We represent the Deprest Family, and we're prepared to offer you a world-class lifestyle, an elite education, and a very generous salary—of course, contingent on a standard contract. May I ask what your elemental affinity is?"
Om opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, another recruiter rushed over, stepping between him and the first.
"Sir, please don't believe the Deprest Family," he said, bowing slightly. "We represent the Felora Institute, and our resources and benefits easily exceed what they offer. We would be honored to have someone of your talent join us!"
And just like that, more recruiters began to swarm—each of them offering wealth, status, resources, training, and in some cases... land titles.
But Om didn't flinch.
He stood quietly, allowing them to speak but offering no commitment.
Then a new figure approached—slowly.
Unlike the others, this man walked, not ran. He wore a black suit, his hat casting a shadow over his eyes. But his presence was impossible to ignore. As soon as he neared, every other recruiter fell silent.
A ripple of whispers passed through the crowd.
"Wait... is that who I think it is?"
"What's he doing here again? He already took someone."
"Shh! Don't let him hear you."
The other recruiters stepped back instinctively, clearing a path.
The man removed his hat with a smooth motion and bowed his head slightly.
"Good afternoon, Om," he said.
Om raised an eyebrow. "You know my name?"
The man smiled.
"Yes," he said. "I'm Hetach. I represent the Gurukul."
A hush swept over the remaining recruiters.
Now they understood. The Gurukul had already recruited Arun earlier—who awakened Darkness. And now Hetach had returned.
For Om.
Om studied him carefully. "You seem to know a lot about me, Hetach."
Hetach chuckled. "We've been watching the Elemental Test closely today. You made quite the impression. Two opposite God-Tier elements, awakened in the same center, on the same day. That's more than rare—it's legendary."
Om noticed the recruiters around him slowly retreating. No one dared compete against Gurukul.
Once Gurukul came knocking, the only option was to step aside.
"You made quite the quiet entry," Om said with a smirk.
Hetach bowed slightly. "Thank you for the compliment."
He pulled out a device and sent contact information directly to Om's watch.
"Your sister is one of our esteemed members as well. We were planning to approach you regardless, but now it's a certainty. Gurukul would be honored to have you join us."
Om nodded. "I appreciate it. I'll reach out soon."
"We can discuss everything in detail at a café, or at your home if you prefer," Hetach offered.
They shook hands.
Then Hetach turned and walked away. A sleek, dark vehicle was already waiting for him. Within seconds, it disappeared beyond the gate.
Om turned and walked toward the parking lot, where he spotted a familiar figure sitting under the shade of a tree.
Mark.
The older man was lounging casually, flipping through something on his watch—likely a game.
When he noticed Om approaching, he closed the display with a smile.
"Congratulations," Mark said simply.
Om grinned. "Thanks. I got a—"
Mark raised a hand, cutting him off. "Light and Water, right?"
Om blinked. "How...?"
Mark shrugged. "Let's just say I have my ways."
How fast is his network? Om thought. Even Gurukul only got here a few minutes ago.
Mark stood and stretched. "Come on, let's get home. You've had a big day, but the real work starts now."
They both climbed onto the bike. The engine roared to life.
As they rode through the emptying streets, Om raised his voice over the wind. "Gurukul's recruiter came. Hetach. Offered me a spot."
Mark didn't look back, but Om saw the faintest smile in the reflection of his mirror.
"And what did you say?" Mark asked.
Om answered without hesitation.
"I want to join."