I woke up to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains. My body ached, and my head felt heavy. As I tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me to lie back down. It took a moment for my surroundings to come into focus. I was in the infirmary, surrounded by the familiar faces of my fellow guardians.
"He's awake!" someone exclaimed, and soon, the room was filled with concerned voices.
I warned you about this, Rudra.
I closed my eyes, trying to remember what had happened. The fight with the wraith, the surge of power, and then… darkness. "What happened?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
You didn't have full control over your powers, yet you tried to use them forcefully, which took a toll on your body. That's why you blacked out.
I sighed, frustration bubbling up inside me. "I had no choice. Lysandra was in danger. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
I understand your intentions, but you must learn to control your powers. Recklessness will only lead to more harm.
Kairos and Caelum rushed in. Their faces were etched with concern.
"Rudra, you're awake!" Kairos exclaimed, his voice a mix of relief and worry.
Caelum stepped closer, his eyes scanning me for any signs of lingering injury. "What happened in that fight? Lysandra was badly injured, and you were too."
I took a deep breath, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory. "The wraith… it was stronger than we expected. Lysandra and I fought hard, but it was relentless."
Kairos nodded, his expression grim. "We completed our mission and won the fight, but it looks like you two fought the leader of that group. That's why we rushed to help, but by the time we got there, the fight was already over. You guys were barely standing."
He paused, guilt flashing in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Rudra. It was my mistake for not completely analyzing the enemies. I let you fight the leader without a proper plan."
I shook my head, trying to reassure him. "We did what we had to. Did you get any clues about the people they kidnapped?"
Caelum sighed. "The wraiths we fought didn't tell us anything, even after we tortured them. But we brought two wraiths back with us. Yumiko is questioning them now. Maybe we can get some answers."
"How is Lysandra?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.
"She's recovering fast, thanks to her powers," Kairos replied. "Lisa and Seri are with her, so don't worry."
I tried to sit up, wincing at the pain that shot through my body. "I want to see the questioning."
Kairos and Caelum exchanged worried glances. "You need to rest, Rudra," Caelum said firmly.
But I was determined. "I can't just lie here. I need to know what's going on."
After a long debate, they finally relented and helped me to my feet. We made our way through the corridors, eventually arriving at a room I had never seen before. It was hidden, almost as if it wasn't meant to be found.
I sense some guardian spirit power hiding this room. Perhaps a spirit is helping them.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense. One wraith was suspended in a test tube filled with some kind of liquid, wires attached to its body. Another wraith was being repeatedly tasered by Yumiko, who was demanding information about the humans.
I stepped into the room, my eyes locking onto the wraith being tortured. Without hesitation, I picked up a sword and drove it through its heart, knowing from my previous fight that it was their weak spot.
The room fell silent, everyone staring at me in shock. Kairos and Caelum's mouths dropped open, and Yumiko just stared, her eyes wide.
After a few seconds, Yumiko pulled me aside. "What did you do?" she hissed.
"It was pointless to keep them alive," I said, my voice cold and steady. "If what that wraith said to me is true, then it's pointless to torture them. You know how they take human form and behave normally, without raising suspicion even from their families. Do you know why? Because they kill them and eat them to take their flesh, making a new one. They completely absorb their memories and skills—how to drive, how to talk, how to walk—everything they learn after they eat them. So yes, they are all dead."
Yumiko's expression softened, understanding dawning in her eyes. "I see. But we still need answers, Rudra. We need to find out how to stop them."
I nodded, feeling the weight of our mission pressing down on me. "Then let's find another way. We can't afford to waste time on methods that won't work."
Kairos and Caelum's faces twisted with fury at my words. Without a moment's hesitation, they stormed into the room where the wraith was suspended in the test tube. The scientists in the room looked up in alarm as Caelum pulled out his gun and, with a single shot, blasted the test tube apart. The liquid spilled out, and the wraith slumped to the floor, wires dangling from its body.
The scientists panicked, their voices rising in a cacophony of fear and confusion. "Stop them! Yumiko, do something!" one of them pleaded.
Yumiko, however, remained calm. She glanced at me, then back at the scientists. "Look into their eyes," she said quietly. "Do you believe they would stop now? Let them be. We can always catch more, can't we, Rudra? We will bring them here even if they are half-dead. We will bring them here even if we have to drag them."
Kairos, his face a mask of cold determination, drew his sword. With a swift, decisive strike, he ended the wraith's life. The room fell silent, the only sound the soft hum of the remaining equipment.
I stood there, watching the scene unfold, a mix of emotions churning inside me. The wraiths had caused so much pain and suffering, and yet, seeing my friends so consumed by rage was unsettling.
Kairos turned to me, his eyes still burning with anger. "We need to find out where they are hiding and put an end to this once and for all."
Caelum nodded in agreement. "No more half-measures. We need to be prepared for anything."
Yumiko stepped forward, her expression serious. "We will continue our efforts to gather information. But we must also be cautious. The wraiths are cunning and dangerous. We cannot afford to underestimate them again."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of our mission pressing down on me. "We'll do whatever it takes. We can't let them continue their reign of terror."
As we left the hidden room, I felt quite heavy hearted like a burden was placed in my heart, I wanted to cry thinking about what will those family have to go throught when they hear about this. How are we going to tell them? Only thing I had on my mind that this shouldn't happen to my family and my friends no matter what happens, I will make sue of that. Even if storm arises, I will show them the most dangerious dance of shiva, Shiv dandav...