Morning sunlight slowly filled the narrow room.
Dust particles floated through the warm light coming from the small wooden window, while the quiet sounds of the outer district echoed faintly through the street below.
Inside the modest house, the boy still sat near the wall.
Silent.
Watching.
Thinking.
But now two minds occupied that quiet space.
One frightened.
One calculating.
Inside the shared consciousness, Arivaan studied the situation carefully.
"Alright," he murmured internally.
"Let's gather information."
The boy shifted nervously.
"Why?"
Arivaan answered calmly.
"Because I don't even know your name."
The child hesitated for a moment before whispering.
"…Aarav."
Arivaan nodded.
"Aarav."
The name settled into his thoughts as he began observing the boy's memories more carefully.
Fragments appeared slowly.
Not like full control.
More like scattered glimpses.
A small house.
A narrow street.
A mother working at a textile stall.
A father who repaired tools and farming equipment.
A simple life.
Arivaan leaned mentally against the faint system interface.
"Well."
"That's surprisingly normal."
Aarav frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Arivaan chuckled softly.
"I expected something more dramatic."
Aarav hugged his knees nervously.
"You're still a bad person."
Arivaan didn't argue.
Instead he examined the room again through the boy's eyes.
A wooden bed.
A clay water pot.
A shelf holding a few simple books and prayer items.
This family wasn't wealthy.
But they weren't starving either.
Just ordinary people living near the edge of the city.
Arivaan nodded slowly.
"That's actually good."
Aarav blinked.
"What is?"
"Being ordinary."
The boy didn't understand.
But Arivaan did.
Ordinary people were invisible.
Rakshaks searched powerful minds.
Warriors.
Scholars.
Mages.
Not children living quiet lives.
The floating panel flickered again.
System Integrity: 19%
Recovery Phase: Stable
Arivaan studied it carefully.
Still weak.
Still fragile.
But slowly improving.
Aarav spoke again.
"…What happens now?"
Arivaan answered honestly.
"We survive."
Aarav frowned.
"And after that?"
Arivaan leaned mentally against the wall.
"Then we rebuild."
The boy immediately shook his head.
"No."
Arivaan sighed.
"You're going to have to accept reality."
"I won't help you!"
Arivaan chuckled quietly.
"You already are."
Aarav glared inwardly.
"I hate you."
Arivaan shrugged.
"That's fine."
Just then—
Footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the room.
Aarav's mother.
The boy's heart began beating faster.
Arivaan immediately focused.
"Calm down."
Aarav whispered mentally,
"She'll notice something's wrong!"
Arivaan replied calmly,
"Then act normal."
The door opened slowly.
A woman stepped into the room carrying a clay bowl of warm porridge.
She smiled gently.
"Aarav, you're awake already?"
The boy hesitated.
Arivaan immediately nudged his thoughts.
"Answer her."
Aarav swallowed.
"…Yes, mother."
The woman set the bowl down beside him.
"You usually sleep longer."
Arivaan guided the boy's body carefully.
Not controlling completely—
Just helping.
Aarav picked up the bowl.
"I… couldn't sleep."
His mother frowned slightly.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
Aarav glanced down at the food.
"…Yes."
That wasn't entirely a lie.
The woman sat beside him.
"You've been restless lately."
Arivaan studied her quietly through the boy's eyes.
Kind.
Tired.
But observant.
Too observant.
He whispered mentally,
"Eat the food."
Aarav hesitated but obeyed.
The warm porridge tasted simple but comforting.
His mother smiled faintly.
"That's better."
She stood up slowly.
"Your father already left for work."
Aarav nodded quietly.
Then she added,
"And the Rakshaks are searching the district again."
Arivaan's attention sharpened instantly.
Aarav froze.
"…Why?"
His mother lowered her voice.
"They say a dangerous criminal escaped the city battle last night."
Arivaan almost laughed.
The hunters were moving quickly.
Good.
That meant they still had no idea where he was.
His mother sighed.
"Stay inside today."
"I will."
She smiled again before leaving the room.
The door closed softly behind her.
Aarav exhaled in relief.
"That was scary."
Arivaan leaned mentally against the fading system panel.
"You handled it well."
The boy frowned.
"I didn't want to."
Arivaan ignored the complaint.
Instead he looked out the window again.
The district had grown busier.
Merchants.
Travelers.
City guards.
And somewhere among them—
Rakshak scouts.
The floating panel flickered again.
Recovery Progress: 21%
Arivaan nodded slightly.
"Slow but steady."
Aarav whispered nervously,
"What are you planning?"
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"For now?"
He watched the street carefully.
"We stay invisible."
Because rebuilding power required patience.
And hiding inside the mind of an ordinary boy—
Was the perfect disguise.
For now.