Surya sir's voice was steady but carried a hint of urgency as he spoke. "So, we need to get ready for tomorrow."
Suddenly, the old lady shuffled back toward them, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "There you are, handsome boys!" She cackled softly. "I forgot to ask your name."
Surya sir sighed and straightened his posture. "My name is Surya."
The old lady's face froze, her wide eyes locking on him with sudden recognition. "Are you... the Surya?Radiant King?" Her voice trembled, a mix of awe and surprise.
Behind Surya, Jay and Rudra exchanged amused glances, both mumbling under their breath. "Surya sir is quite famous among old ladies, huh?" They both snickered quietly.
But Surya sir wasn't letting it slide. He turned sharply, his voice loud and clear. "I can hear you boys."
The old lady, oblivious to their banter, continued. "You had two more boys in your team back then, didn't you? Where are they?" Her expression softened with nostalgia as she leaned closer. "The second one... a sweeter person with such a charming smile. What was his name again?"
A deep sadness crossed Surya sir's face, and for a moment, the weight of the past seemed to catch up with him. His voice, usually so strong, softened with emotion. "Devraj," he said quietly. "He was my senior."
The old lady nodded slowly, her wrinkled eyes full of memories. "Yes... Devraj. He had a heart like no other. I see why you miss him."
Surya sir took a deep breath, his mind clearly pulling him back to another time. "We all do."
The moment hung in the air, heavy and filled with the weight of unspoken stories and losses.
Jay, sensing the shift in mood, stepped forward, trying to steer the conversation back to the present. "Surya sir, we should focus on tomorrow. The full moon is close, and we don't have much time."
Surya nodded, pulling himself from the past. "You're right, Jay." His voice regained its strength. "Let's go prepare. We have a fight ahead of us."
The old lady, her grin returning, cackled once more. "Be careful, handsome Radiant King. Beauty attracts danger, after all."
The old lady's grin faded as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a grave tone. "There's one problem."
All three boys stiffened, exchanging wary glances. "What?" they asked in unison.
The old lady's eyes darkened. "We don't know where or which of the young ones they will kidnap next."
Jay's brow furrowed, frustration creeping into his voice. "So, what are we going to do about that?"
Surya sir stroked his chin, deep in thought. "Let me think..." His eyes lit up as an idea formed. "I have it. We can spread out and cover different areas, keeping watch."
Jay's expression turned uneasy. "But if they come to my area, and there are too many of them, what am I supposed to do?" His fists clenched slightly as he voiced his concern.
Rudra rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "Don't be such a coward." He shot Jay a teasing glance before adding, "I and Surya sir will come to you quickly if there's trouble."
The old lady's expression grew more serious, her voice heavy with warning. "Be careful, boys. These aren't ordinary thugs. They're not weak. The government has classified them as A-level criminals."
Jay's eyes widened in fear, his voice shaky. "A-level? What does that mean?"
Rudra gave Jay a bewildered look, as if he couldn't believe the question. "Where have you been living? The government ranks criminals based on the severity of their crimes."
Jay blinked, confusion written all over his face. "So, A is the first level, right? We don't have to worry too much if they're just A-level."
Rudra let out a sarcastic laugh. "Hahaha! Oh, Jay..." He shook his head, amused by Jay's innocence. "No, not even close. There are levels like D, C, B, A, A+, and Z." His voice dropped as he added, "A is the third-highest level, right below A+ and Z."
Jay swallowed hard, his face paling. "So, they're that dangerous?"
Rudra's gaze hardened, the weight of their mission settling between them. "Yes, they are. But we're not backing down."
Surya sir, sensing Jay's unease, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Stay sharp. We'll handle this together."
Surya sir's face grew serious as he turned to both Jay and Rudra. His eyes narrowed with determination as he said, "We have one day to train. Both of you must be prepared."
Jay blinked, his confusion evident. "Train us? Why?" His voice wavered slightly, unsure of what Surya sir meant.
Surya sir crossed his arms, his tone stern but calm. "You've only handled level C threats so far, Jay." He glanced at Rudra before continuing, "Level A is far more dangerous. It's beyond your current capabilities."
Rudra's expression tightened, a mixture of curiosity and frustration. "So, what does that mean? Are you saying we're not ready?"
Surya sir's gaze softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "I'm saying you're capable, but not yet at the level you need to be for this mission. That's why your training starts now."
Jay's brows furrowed, his frustration slipping through. "We don't have time for training, Surya sir. The full moon is tomorrow!" His fists clenched as he tried to make sense of the situation.
Surya sir raised a hand, silencing Jay's protests. "We make time. If you rush in unprepared, you'll only get yourself killed. We can't afford that."
Rudra exhaled deeply, his arms crossed as he looked between Jay and Surya sir. "Alright, what kind of training are we talking about?"
Surya sir's eyes gleamed with purpose as he answered, "I'll push your abilities to their limits. Jay, your water manipulation has far more potential than you realize. Rudra, your strength and adaptability are impressive, but there are weaknesses you haven't addressed yet."
Jay's shoulders tensed, a mixture of doubt and determination flickering in his gaze. "What if it's not enough? What if we still can't handle them?"
Surya sir smiled faintly, but there was a seriousness beneath it. "You will be ready. Trust in your training and in yourselves."
jay's shoulders relaxing slightly as he processed Surya sir's words. "So what do you suggest, Surya sir? What kind of training do we need to undergo in this short time?"
Rudra's expression tightened, a mixture of curiosity and frustration flashing in his eyes. "So, what does that mean? Are you saying we're not ready?"
Surya sir's gaze softened, yet his voice remained firm, resonating with authority. "I'm saying you're capable, but not at the level you need to be for this mission. That's why your training starts now."
Jay's brows furrowed, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "We don't have time for training, Surya sir! The full moon is tomorrow!" His fists clenched, every muscle in his body tense as he struggled to process the urgency of the situation.
Surya sir raised a hand, silencing Jay's protests with a calm authority. "We make time. If you rush in unprepared, you'll only get yourself killed. We can't afford that."
Rudra exhaled deeply, his arms crossed defiantly as he glanced between Jay and Surya sir. "Alright, what kind of training are we talking about?"
Surya sir's eyes gleamed with a determined spark. "I'll push your abilities to their limits. Jay, your water manipulation has far more potential than you realize. And Rudra, while your strength and adaptability are impressive, there are weaknesses you've yet to address."
Jay's shoulders tensed, doubt clouding his gaze. "What if it's not enough? What if we still can't handle them?"
A faint smile crossed Surya sir's lips, but a seriousness lingered beneath it. "You will be ready. Trust in your training and in yourselves."
Jay relaxed slightly, absorbing Surya sir's words, though uncertainty still flickered in his eyes. "So what do you suggest, Surya sir? What kind of training do we need to undergo in this short time?"
Surya sir nodded, his expression resolute. "We don't have much time to train, but this will help you become better than you are now."
Rudra raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across his face. "What kind of training is this?"
Surya sir's demeanor shifted, filled with a quiet confidence. "Just watch." He lifted his hand, a spark igniting in his palm as he declared, "FIRE STAR!"
A small fireball, no larger than his palm, flickered to life, casting a warm glow around them.
Jay scoffed, crossing his arms, amusement dancing in his eyes. "This little fireball? In front of my water powers? This is nothing—it's child's play."
Surya sir held up a hand, cutting through Jay's overconfidence. "Wait, Jay. Let me explain. You have to stop it. Or, in other words, destroy it."
Rudra furrowed his brow, confusion etched across his features. "What do you mean by stop it? It's too small. We can destroy this easily."
Surya sir's smile deepened, a challenge lighting his eyes. "Let's see if it's as easy as you think."
The atmosphere thickened with tension, as Jay and Rudra exchanged uncertain glances, readying themselves for what lay ahead.
.
..
...
*To Be Continued*
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Word Count: 1544