Today, we were leaving.
I could see Nini.
She looked devastated.
She was holding an Asthi Kalash.
Surya's ashes were inside it.
I could already feel my heart growing heavier with every passing moment.
Nini had lost her smile.
Surya was dead.
It was too much to process.
Nearby stood Gaja, the commander.
He was holding another Asthi Kalash.
This one contained Ganari's ashes.
And Ganaraj...
According to the doctors of Greto, he was paralysed.
A living corpse.
There was a possibility that he could still hear and see everything around him.
But he couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Couldn't even express what he was feeling.
I could barely stop myself from crying.
This was killing me from the inside.
Seeing my chaotic group of friends end up like this...
It hurt.
Far more than anything else.
[Gaja]: He shall be departing for Planet Morco. The Asthi Visarjan will be performed in the sacred River Ganora. It shall allow the soul of Queen Ganari to rest in peace.
He spoke solemnly before turning toward their spacecraft.
[Mala]: May fortune be with you.
There was genuine concern in her voice.
[Gaja]: There is nothing more to lose.
His voice was rough.
It had changed since the battle against Haidoro.
Most likely because of the wound around his neck.
The Ganas departed.
Nini remained behind, still embracing the Kalash containing Surya's ashes.
Her hollow eyes were painful to look at.
I couldn't take it anymore.
I turned around and walked toward our spacecraft.
The moment I entered...
I broke down.
Tears poured from my eyes.
Why?!
Why did this happen to them?!
I fell to my knees.
It should have been me!
I was the one who brought misfortune to others.
I was the cursed one...
***
Ten years ago...
A small boy sat inside a cage.
Chains restrained his body.
He was only six years old.
The scene took place inside one of the grand courts of the Immortalus Society.
Members of the Immortalus Society Authority sat in judgment.
At the center of the chamber stood their leader, Haimono.
He rose from his seat.
[Haimono]: This child is cursed.
His voice echoed throughout the chamber.
[Haimono]: Nothing about him is normal. His Dark Energy Reserves are abnormal. There is something mysterious surrounding him. He even possesses fragments of a Dragon within his body.
He pointed toward the child.
[Haimono]: This boy is cursed and will bring misfortune to everyone around him.
The six-year-old could only stare at them with innocent eyes.
He didn't even remember his own past.
He had been discovered at the site of a destroyed facility.
He was one of the survivors of the infamous 1994 alien invasion.
During the invasion, thousands of humans had been abducted and subjected to horrifying experiments.
Only a handful survived.
This boy was one of them.
He had eventually been discovered by the Leader of the Immortalus Society...
Krishna.
The judgment continued.
Several members of the Authority whispered among themselves, clearly supporting Haimono's conclusion.
Then a young man standing in the courtroom spoke.
"Is that all?"
Everyone turned toward him.
"Such lame reasoning."
His tone was completely indifferent.
"And frankly, I don't care about your opinions."
Black, spiky hair.
A black leather jacket.
Black belt.
Black shoes.
And an aura that seemed to embody darkness itself.
It was Krishna.
The Leader of the Immortalus Society.
The man who would eventually become Pratik's mentor.
Standing beside him was the Society's Advisor.
The second-highest authority in the organization.
The man widely known as the Blue Flash.
Arun.
[Arun]: Every member of the Immortalus Society Authority possesses a voting value of ten.
He smiled playfully.
[Arun]: However, Krishna, as the Leader, possesses a voting value of eight hundred. I, as the Advisor, possess a value exceeding seven hundred.
He shrugged.
[Arun]: If the two of us agree, the Authority's judgment is overturned.
Haimono clenched his fists.
[Haimono]: Should I consider this a re—
[Krishna]: Shut up and sit down.
Krishna's expression remained completely calm.
[Krishna]: As I said, I don't care about your opinion.
He glanced toward the child.
[Krishna]: If this kid ever harms the Society in the future, I'll execute him myself.
Then he simply turned around and walked out.
Arun approached the cage.
With a single touch, he vaporised the entire structure.
He picked up the child and followed Krishna.
Haimono's rage finally exploded.
He kicked his golden chair across the courtroom, sending it crashing through the wall.
[Haimono]: This is an insult to someone as great as me!
He glared toward the exit.
[Haimono]: I will never forgive Krishna!
[Agni]: But, Sir... he is the Leader. He possesses greater authority. What are we supposed to do?
She sighed.
Haimono's expression darkened.
[Haimono]: It doesn't matter.
He paused.
[Haimono]: It would be much easier if Krishna simply disappeared, wouldn't it?
The Authority members looked toward him.
[Haimono]: I'll make sure he isn't around to order everyone anymore.
His eyes became cold.
[Haimono]: He must die.
Most of the members nodded.
Agni remained silent.
[Agni]: And how exactly do you intend to defeat him?
Her voice remained calm.
[Agni]: Krishna may not be the strongest member of the Society, but he is extremely cunning. We should proceed carefully.
She paused.
[Agni]: But is that child really cursed?
Haimono frowned.
[Haimono]: I don't know.
He looked toward the destroyed cage.
[Haimono]: But there is something different about him. His Dark Energy Reserves are abnormal, and he possesses a Dragon attribute embedded within his body. It must be the result of those alien experiments.
He scoffed.
[Haimono]: A laboratory rat. A useless vermin.
He paused before continuing.
[Haimono]: If he grows under Krishna or Arun, he could eventually become an even greater threat than either of them.
His fists clenched.
[Haimono]: I won't allow that. Anyone who opposes me will witness their own end.
***
Back to the Present
I am a living curse.
You are right.
You are a stain on Sorcery.
A cursed boy.
All you bring is despair.
You shouldn't have been born.
The voice echoed through my mind.
Haidoro.
Of course.
He was trying to take control while I was vulnerable.
I hated this.
I closed my eyes.
Then...
I felt a hand rest gently on my head.
I opened my eyes.
The Empress stood behind me.
I immediately wiped my tears and bowed.
[Pratik]: Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty.
I deliberately avoided eye contact.
[Chandrika]: You don't need to bow.
Her voice was gentle.
[Chandrika]: I'm here as Yash's mother, not as the Empress.
I slowly raised my head.
Still, I couldn't bring myself to look directly at her.
[Chandrika]: You seem depressed.
[Pratik]: Pardon me...
My voice was barely audible.
She smiled.
[Chandrika]: You seem to be carrying responsibilities far greater than someone your age should have to bear.
She paused.
[Chandrika]: I appreciate your strength. But you should talk about your problems with someone you trust. You don't have to carry everything alone.
Yes.
That's what I needed.
I didn't need to carry the entire burden myself.
I looked at her.
She seemed almost divine.
So calm.
So pure.
I...
I think I should talk to Master Krishna.
Maybe he could help me.
[Pratik]: Thank you for your advice, Mot—
I froze.
[Pratik]: I mean... Empress.
What was that?!
I almost called her Mother.
Before I could recover...
She embraced me.
My eyes widened.
That warmth...
It felt reassuring.
Safe.
For the first time in a long while, I understood what a mother's love might feel like.
***
Haidoro groaned in frustration.
He had tried to take control of Pratik.
But now...
He had failed.
All because of the Empress.
[Haidoro]: I won't give up! I will—
He suddenly stopped.
A strange sensation ran through him.
Fear.
Haidoro slowly turned around.
Chandrika was standing behind him.
Inside Pratik's unconscious realm.
How?
Haidoro stared at her in disbelief.
Chandrika looked completely calm.
[Chandrika]: Consider this a warning.
Her voice remained gentle.
Almost frighteningly so.
[Chandrika]: If you ever possess this child and attempt to harm Yash again...
Her eyes narrowed.
[Chandrika]: I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your existence.
She turned away.
Then disappeared.
Haidoro remained frozen.
[Haidoro]: What the hell was that...?
**
Later,
The spacecraft was ready to depart.
They were returning to Earth.
Yash, Chandrika, and Ravi stood together, saying their goodbyes.
Bhaskar remained beneath a tree, watching silently.
Then, in the blink of an eye...
The spacecraft disappeared into the distance.
Destination: Earth.
They would reach it after several months.
Inside the spacecraft, Pratik, Mala, Grimori, Kel, and Lila continued deeper into the ship.
Then they saw something unexpected.
Gomo and Arun were sitting together, casually eating ramen.
Pratik immediately spit out the water he had just drunk.
[Arun]: We finished our work, so we're returning to Earth with you.
Gomo smiled.
[Gomo]: No need to thank me for the guidance.
The two laughed.
Suddenly—
SPLASH!
Cold water hit Pratik's face.
He turned around.
A massive three-tusked elephant stood behind him.
[Pratik]: Hey! You came back!
His face immediately lit up.
He hugged Gajotra.
Several more three-tusked elephants stood behind him, trumpeting happily.
Except...
They were tiny.
Almost the size of cats.
Pratik stared at them.
[Gomo]: I reduced their size so they could fit inside this small spacecraft.
He continued eating his ramen as if this were completely normal.
[Arun]: They kept insisting on accompanying their master, Pratik.
Everyone burst into laughter.
For the first time in a while...
Pratik laughed too.
A small moment of happiness.
A brief moment of peace.
A laugh before the next adventure began.
To be continued...