The morning sun climbed higher above Ujjaini, lighting the busy streets of the outer districts.
Vendors shouted prices across crowded markets. Farmers pushed carts of grain and vegetables toward the city center. Children ran through narrow alleys while temple bells echoed from distant shrines.
To the people of the district, the city felt normal again.
But beneath that routine—
The Rakshaks were hunting.
The Search Begins
On a rooftop overlooking the market street, Devika Agnivarna stood with her arms crossed.
Her sharp eyes scanned the district below.
Beside her stood Captain Varun, spear resting against his shoulder.
Both warriors looked far more serious than usual.
Because this was no ordinary patrol.
This was a hunt.
Varun spoke quietly.
"We've searched three districts already."
Devika nodded.
"And found nothing."
Varun frowned.
"He said a fragment survived."
Devika's expression darkened.
"Yes."
She could still remember the final moment inside her mind.
Arivaan's shadow dissolving.
His final words.
Another part of me survives.
Devika clenched her fists.
"I hate unfinished enemies."
Varun looked toward the crowded street below.
"The problem is scale."
He gestured toward the district.
"There are thousands of minds here."
Devika sighed.
"And we don't know what he feels like anymore."
Before the battle, Arivaan's mental presence had been powerful.
Distinct.
Easy to detect.
Now—
A fragment could hide anywhere.
Inside anyone.
A merchant.
A soldier.
A child.
That thought made Devika uneasy.
Footsteps echoed behind them.
A third figure stepped onto the rooftop.
Rudra Sen.
The hunter's silver blade hung at his side, but his sharp eyes immediately studied the district.
"Report."
Varun straightened slightly.
"No trace."
Devika added,
"Not even a faint mental signature."
Rudra Sen nodded slowly.
"That was expected."
Devika frowned.
"You think he's already hiding inside someone?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
Devika exhaled sharply.
"Then this search could take weeks."
Rudra Sen shook his head.
"No."
Both warriors looked at him.
"We don't search for him."
Varun raised an eyebrow.
"Then what?"
Rudra Sen looked down at the crowded district.
"We search for anomalies."
Devika tilted her head.
"Explain."
The hunter's voice remained calm.
"A fragment that weak cannot control powerful minds."
Varun nodded slowly.
"Meaning his host will be ordinary."
"Exactly."
Devika frowned.
"But ordinary people are everywhere."
Rudra Sen pointed toward the market street.
"But fragments grow."
Devika understood immediately.
"He'll need time."
"Yes."
"And when fragments grow…"
The hunter's eyes sharpened.
"They make mistakes."
Across the District
Far below the rooftop—
Inside a quiet house near the street corner—
A boy named Aarav sat beside the window.
He watched the market carefully.
The faint system panel flickered inside his mind.
Recovery Progress: 22%
Detection Risk: Moderate
Arivaan leaned mentally against the interface.
"…There they are."
Aarav blinked.
"What?"
Arivaan focused through the boy's eyes.
Across the rooftops in the distance—
Three familiar figures stood.
Devika.
Varun.
Rudra Sen.
The Rakshaks had already reached this district.
Aarav's heart started racing.
"They're here?!"
Arivaan replied calmly.
"Relax."
"But what if they find us?!"
Arivaan chuckled quietly.
"They won't."
Aarav stared nervously out the window.
"But they're looking for you!"
Arivaan studied the rooftops again.
The Rakshaks scanned the streets carefully.
Alert.
Focused.
But they weren't looking at the houses.
They were watching the crowds.
Arivaan nodded.
"Good."
Aarav frowned.
"What's good about that?"
"They're expecting movement."
"But we're not moving."
The boy blinked slowly.
"…Oh."
Arivaan leaned back mentally.
"Exactly."
The perfect hiding place was not darkness.
It was normal life.
And nothing looked more normal than a quiet child inside his home.
Back on the Rooftop
Devika narrowed her eyes.
"Something about this district feels wrong."
Varun glanced at her.
"You sense something?"
Devika hesitated.
"…Not exactly."
But she couldn't explain the feeling.
The air felt too quiet.
Too ordinary.
Rudra Sen studied the streets carefully.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Keep searching."
Varun nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Devika took one last look across the rooftops.
For a moment—
Her eyes passed directly over the small house where Aarav sat near the window.
Then she turned away.
The Rakshaks moved across the rooftops again.
Continuing their search.
Inside Aarav's Mind
Arivaan watched them leave.
Then sighed quietly.
"That was close."
Aarav trembled slightly.
"You're scary."
Arivaan chuckled.
"Efficient."
The system panel flickered again.
Recovery Progress: 24%
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"Good."
Because time was slowly returning to his side.
And while the Rakshaks searched the city—
The Brainwashing Villain continued growing stronger inside the most ordinary place possible.
The mind of a child.