A few days later—
Rudrahan returned to school.
By then, everyone already knew.
He didn't need to ask.
The way people looked at him made it obvious.
Sahach must've told them, he thought.
The moment he entered the classroom, voices followed.
"So, what are you going to become now?"
One of them asked. "A fighter? A soldier?"
Another added excitedly, "I heard Astra users can jump to the top of a mountain in just a few leaps!"
Before Rudrahan could respond—
a voice came from the door.
"You're partially right."
Everyone stood up immediately.
The teacher entered with a faint, intrigued smile.
"Sit down."
As the class settled, he continued,
"Yes, Astra users can reach great heights with very few movements… but not all of them. Only those who have reached the pinnacle of Laksha—or higher."
Then his gaze shifted.
Toward Rudrahan.
"Congratulations on your awakening," he said. "Your path of growth has now expanded."
Rudrahan nodded slightly.
"Thank you."
The teacher turned back to the class.
"Attention, everyone. Since this is your final year, for the next week, your first class will be focused on the basics of Astra Sūtra."
A few groans spread across the room.
"I know some of you may find it boring," he added calmly, "but understanding it is necessary."
Then—
he paused.
"This year, we have invited a special guest for these lectures."
The class went quiet.
"Dr. Barot Stav."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
What had felt like a boring announcement—
became something else entirely.
Rudrahan leaned slightly toward Sahach.
"What would someone like him gain by coming to a place like this?"
Sahach didn't answer immediately.
"Maybe," he said slowly, "he has something to gain."
His eyes stayed on Rudrahan a moment longer than usual.
As if thinking about something deeper.
After school—
the two walked back together.
"So," Sahach said, wiping sweat from his forehead, "what are you planning? College… or waiting till eighteen for the army academy?"
"I'm thinking," Rudrahan replied.
Sahach sighed.
"You always say that."
He wiped his forehead again.
"…Hey," he muttered, "isn't it a bit hot today?"
Rudrahan glanced at him.
"What—"
Thump.
Sahach collapsed.
For a split second—
Rudrahan froze.
Then moved.
He caught him before he hit the ground completely, quickly lifting him onto his shoulder. His movements were smooth, controlled.
"His temperature…" he muttered.
It was rising.
Fast.
Without wasting time, Rudrahan grabbed Sahach's bag with his free hand—
and ran.
The distance wasn't far.
Five minutes at most.
He covered it in barely two.
Reaching the shop, he stepped inside, breathing heavily.
Tarun looked up.
Then saw his son.
"What happened?!"
"He fainted… on the way…" Rudrahan said between breaths.
"His fever… it's rising…"
Tarun moved immediately, helping him carry Sahach upstairs into their home above the shop.
"Lie him here."
He turned sharply.
"Go call the doctor!" he ordered the errand boy.
Then to Rudrahan—
"Go bring Kreena. She's at your house."
Rudrahan nodded.
Dropped the bag—
and ran again.
He reached home quickly, knocking on the door.
Maitreyi opened it.
"Rudra? What—"
"Sahach…" he said, still catching his breath.
"He collapsed."
Then more clearly—
"Aunty Kreena… Tarun uncle called you."
Both women froze.
Then moved instantly.
"Let's go," Maitreyi said.
Rudrahan followed them back.
Upstairs—
Sahach lay on the sofa.
His eyes were open now.
But weak.
Tarun stood beside him.
So did his younger sister—quiet, holding back tears.
"Did you call the doctor?" Kreena asked quickly.
"I sent Lome," Tarun replied.
Kreena turned to Rudrahan.
"What exactly happened?"
Rudrahan steadied his breathing.
"We were just talking," he said. "Then he said it felt hot… and suddenly… he collapsed."
Maitreyi gasped softly.
"…Could it be—"
She didn't finish.
She didn't need to.
Everyone understood.
Except one.
"Aunty… what do you mean?" Sahach's little sister asked.
Tarun answered instead.
"He's awakening."
Silence filled the room.
The cycle—
had begun AGAIN.
Sahach's little sister, Mira, stood near the corner, wiping her eyes.
Then, in a half-joking tone, she said,
"So… this monkey is going to awaken too?"
"Mira!" her mother snapped immediately.
"Not now!"
The tension in the room should have stayed.
But—
Sahach let out a weak chuckle.
Kreena rushed closer to him.
"Don't talk," she said quickly. "Just lie still. Conserve your energy."
Sahach ignored that.
Still shaking slightly, he turned his head toward Mira.
"At least… at least I'm conscious," he said weakly, "unlike Rudra."
Rudrahan stood nearby, watching.
"Yeah," he said calmly, "you'll understand that in a few hours."
Sahach froze.
"…What?" he asked, a hint of fear creeping into his voice. "What do you mean?"
Rudrahan didn't answer.
But inside—
he almost smiled.
Not out of cruelty.
But relief.
He wasn't the only one anymore.
"Good luck," he added quietly.
That was enough.
The atmosphere in the room shifted.
The tension didn't disappear—
but it loosened.
Right then—
the doctor arrived.
He examined Sahach briefly.
Checked his pulse.
His temperature.
His breathing.
Then straightened up.
"He has awakened," the doctor said. "This is the body adapting."
He handed over some medicine.
"Use this only if the fever worsens."
And just like that—
he left.
Barely fifteen minutes.
Sahach blinked, confused.
"…Wasn't that a bit fast?" he muttered. "He didn't even say he'd come tomorrow…"
A pause.
"…And what was Rudra talking about—something happening in a few hours…"
No one answered.
Maitreyi stood up.
"Alright, Kreena. We'll leave now."
She turned.
"Rudra, take your bag."
Rudrahan nodded.
As they stepped out—
Sahach watched silently.
Still confused.
Still unaware.
That night—
everything changed.
The pain came without warning.
At first—
it was bearable.
Then—
it wasn't.
Sahach's body tensed violently.
A sharp cry escaped him.
"Ah—!"
It felt like something was tearing through him from the inside.
Not one place—
everywhere.
His back arched.
His muscles tightened.
It felt—
as if knives were being driven into his body.
Again.
And again.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't think properly.
Only feel.
The heat rose.
The pain deepened.
"…Rudra… you—" he tried to speak, but the words broke.
Now he understood.
What Rudrahan meant.
And why—
he had said "good luck."
End of Chapter