As they left Keshav's home, the village felt quieter than before, the heavy silence of grief pressing down on them. The air around the trio buzzed with unspoken emotions, each step carrying the weight of their promise to Keshav's family.
Jay broke the silence first, his voice barely above a whisper. "We can't let this happen again." His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white. "I won't."
Rudra's eyes narrowed, his usual calm now tinged with determination. "We won't." His words were firm, resolute. "But we need more than just anger, Jay. We need answers. We need to know exactly what we're dealing with."
Jay shot him a look, his frustration evident. "Then let's go back to the academy. There must be records—something about Asuras and their magic. We can't keep stumbling in the dark."
Surya sir, who had been walking slightly ahead, turned to face them. His expression, though weary, was measured. "The academy holds many secrets, some of which even I am not privy to. But you're right, Jay. We'll need every bit of knowledge we can gather." He paused, scanning the horizon as if the answer might be hiding there. "But before we return, there's something we need to do."
Jay raised an eyebrow, his tone impatient. "What now? We don't have time to waste—"
"We're not wasting time," Surya sir interrupted, his voice cutting through the tension. "We're going to seek out the elders in City-k. They know more about the Asuras than anyone. If we go back to the academy without fully understanding the enemy, we'll be no better off than when we started."
Rudra nodded thoughtfully. "He's right. The elders have seen more than we can imagine. If anyone knows how to defeat an Asura, it's them."
Jay let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But after that, we head straight to the academy. No more detours."
Surya sir, Jay, and Rudra made their way back toward Keshav's home, their footsteps heavy with purpose. The decision to blend in, to become a part of the village's fabric, was essential if they were to gather the information they needed without drawing attention.
As they approached the house, Jay spoke first, his voice low. "We're really going through with this? Wearing Keshav's clothes?" His tone was tinged with discomfort, the idea of donning his fallen friend's belongings adding another layer to his grief.
Rudra, ever the pragmatic one, gave a quiet nod. "It's the best way to move unnoticed. No one will suspect us if we look like locals." He glanced over at Surya sir, whose face was set in grim determination. "We need this information, Jay. For Keshav's sake."
Surya sir stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Jay's shoulder. "I know this feels wrong, but it's necessary. We can't afford to be recognized right now. The elders… they might not talk to us if they think we're outsiders or tied to the academy."
Jay exhaled sharply, his eyes flicking toward Keshav's door. "Alright… let's do it."
They entered the quiet house, and the familiar scent of wood and incense greeted them, a stark contrast to the grim task they were undertaking. Maya, still reeling from the loss of her brother, stood by silently as her father retrieved a set of Keshav's old clothes, folded neatly, but worn with the marks of hard work and village life.
Keshav's father handed them over, his hands trembling slightly. "These should fit… take care of them, please." His voice cracked, the weight of giving away his son's clothes overwhelming him for a moment.
Surya sir bowed his head respectfully. "We will treat them with honor. Thank you."
The group stepped into a side room to change. Jay stared at the simple tunic and pants in his hands, swallowing back the lump in his throat. As he slipped them on, he felt the rough fabric against his skin, a stark reminder of Keshav's absence. "I feel like I'm wearing a ghost," he muttered under his breath, though Rudra overheard and shot him a sympathetic glance.
Rudra, now fully dressed in the villager's attire, tied a scarf around his neck. "We're not just wearing his clothes, Jay. We're carrying on his fight. Remember that."
Jay nodded, though the heaviness in his heart remained. "You're right… we owe it to him." He adjusted the simple belt around his waist, pulling it tight with a resolve that mirrored his inner turmoil.
When they all stepped out, Surya sir gave them a once-over, nodding with approval. "We look the part. Now, let's keep our heads low and move quickly. The elders won't stay out in the open for long. They tend to gather at the shrine before dusk."
Jay straightened his back, brushing a hand over the coarse fabric of the tunic. "Then let's get this over with."
As they made their way through the village, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. The air was thick with unease, the weight of their mission heavy on their hearts. Suddenly, an elderly villager, her gnarled hands clutching a basket, shuffled past them.
"Psst!" Rudra leaned closer to Jay and Surya sir, lowering his voice. "I overheard some folks talking about an old lady who lives near the abandoned house. They say she might know something about the Asuras."
Jay raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face. "A weird old lady? How do we even know if she's reliable?"
Surya sir, ever the calm voice of reason, nodded thoughtfully. "It's worth a shot. We need all the information we can gather." He glanced toward the direction of the abandoned house. "Let's go."
As they approached the decrepit structure, the air grew colder, the silence around them almost palpable. They reached the old lady's dwelling, and before they could knock, the door creaked open, revealing a frail figure with wild gray hair and an unsettling grin.
"Well, well, well," she croaked, her eyes widening as they fell upon Surya sir. "A handsome young man has come to visit! Marry me, young handsome man!"
Surya sir's eyes went wide, shock flashing across his handsome features. "I—uh…" he stammered, taken aback by her forwardness.
The old lady cackled, her laughter echoing around the empty village square. "Oh, don't be shy, dear! You could do worse!" She leaned closer, her gaze sharp and piercing. "But enough about my romantic aspirations. You want to know about the auras, yes?"
Rudra, suppressing a smirk at Surya sir's flustered expression, nodded. "Yes, we need to understand what happened to Keshav."
The old lady's demeanor shifted, her grin fading into a serious expression. "The aura that killed your friend is not from this village." She leaned back, her eyes narrowing as if recalling a distant memory. "There are no auras in Time Village, but there are dark beings—evil people—called the Maharaks."
Jay's brow furrowed in confusion. "Maharaks? What do they want?"
The old lady shook her head, a deep frown settling on her wrinkled face. "They kidnap the young ones from the village. Every full moon night, they come to take a boy or girl. What they do with them… I don't know." She paused, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "But it can't be good."
Surya sir straightened, his expression now grave. "We need to warn the villagers. If they're taking children, we can't let that happen again."
"You're right," Rudra said, his eyes burning with determination. "We can't let fear paralyze us."
The old lady's expression softened slightly. "If you intend to confront them, be careful. They are powerful and cunning. You'll need more than just bravery."
Jay nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "We'll do whatever it takes."
Surya sir placed a reassuring hand on Jay's shoulder. "We'll gather the villagers, warn them, and prepare a plan. We owe it to Keshav and the others."
The old lady watched them with an unsettling gleam in her eye. "Just remember, my dear young man," she said, directing her gaze at Surya sir. "Beauty attracts danger."
Surya sir swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking in. "Thank you for your help. We'll take your warnings to heart."
As they turned to leave, the old lady called after them. "And don't forget—marriage proposals can be very persuasive!"
Surya sir blushed as they hurried away, the tension of their encounter lingering in the air.
"Well, that was something," Jay said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"At least we got the information we needed," Rudra replied, his voice steady. "Now, let's act before it's too late."
"So, that's not related to Keshav's death," Surya sir said, the realization dawning on him like the slow rise of the sun.
Jay, feeling a mix of confusion and urgency, nodded vigorously. "Yes," he replied, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency. "But the full moon night is tomorrow. We need to prepare."
.
..
...
*To Be Continued*
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Word Count: 1518