The morning sun filtered through the windows of Vidur's mansion as Subham stretched and yawned, feeling the weight of yesterday's training still lingering in his muscles. He headed to the dining room, where Master Vidur and Sam were already seated, enjoying their breakfast.
"Morning," Subham mumbled, grabbing a plate and piling it high with food. He had been trying out the Devourer Physique technique and his appetite had grown exponentially.
"Good morning, Subham," Vidur said with a knowing smile. "Today, it's time to show you the power of the Necklace of Dreamland."
Subham raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "The necklace I gave Saheli?"
Vidur nodded and pulled out a pendant from his robe. It was adorned with intricate runes that seemed to glow faintly. "This pendant will activate the power of the necklace. Watch closely."
As Vidur chanted an incantation, the pendant glowed brighter, and somewhere across town, Saheli, still in her pajamas, began to stir. Her eyes glazed over as if some mysterious force had taken control of her, and she started to walk, almost robotically, towards Vidur's mansion.
Subham and Sam watched in awe as the front gate creaked open and Saheli walked in, her movements stiff and unnatural. When she reached the center of the courtyard, Vidur stopped chanting, and the glow from the pendant faded.
Saheli blinked, regaining her senses. She looked around, confused and disoriented. "What... where am I?"
"Welcome, Saheli," Vidur said warmly, stepping forward. "You've been brought here by the power of the Necklace of Dreamland."
Saheli's eyes widened in shock and recognition as she saw Subham standing nearby. "Subham?! What is going on? Where am I? Is this some kind of prank?"
Subham took a deep breath and stepped towards her. "Saheli, there's a lot to explain. But first, please try to stay calm."
"Stay calm? How can I stay calm? Last thing I remember is being in my room and now I'm here!" She looked around frantically, her face a mixture of fear and confusion.
"Okay, okay," Subham said, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. "First of all, I'm sorry for the shock. This is Master Vidur's mansion, and you're here because... well, we need your help."
"My help?" Saheli echoed, still trying to process everything. "Help with what? And why do I feel like I've seen you somewhere recently... wait a minute. Santa Claus? That was you, wasn't it?"
Subham scratched the back of his head, sheepishly grinning. "Yeah, that was me. I disguised myself to give you the necklace."
Saheli's expression softened a bit. "That explains a lot, actually. But why did you need to give me the necklace?"
"It's a long story," Subham began. "Do you remember the reunion? What happened to our friends?"
Saheli's eyes widened as the memories flooded back. "Yes... they... they turned into... and you... you killed them."
Subham sighed. "Yes. But they were already dead before I had to... put them down. I've learned a lot since then, and there's a bigger threat out there. We need your help to stop it."
Saheli looked at him, her fear giving way to a mix of concern and determination. "Okay, but why did you use the necklace to bring me here?"
"The Necklace of Dreamland has the power to control the wearer's actions," Subham explained. "We needed you here urgently, and this was the safest way."
Saheli frowned. "I see. It's still creepy, but I understand. So, what do you need me to do?"
"We need two people to accompany me on a mission," Subham said. "Sam and Rose are already assigned elsewhere, so I thought of you."
Saheli took a deep breath. "Alright, I'll help. But next time, just call me. Seriously."
Subham laughed. "Fair enough. By the way, you still have iron bars on your window, huh?"
Saheli nodded. "Yeah, why?"
"Well, I had to cut through them to get in," Subham admitted, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
"You did what?!" Saheli exclaimed, half-laughing, half-gasping. "You cut through my window to get in?"
"Yep. Had to make sure Santa Claus delivered the necklace," Subham said, chuckling.
Saheli shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. "You're unbelievable, Subham."
"And you're still as oblivious as ever," Subham teased. "But we need to get serious. There's a lot at stake."
Saheli nodded, her expression turning serious. "I'm with you. Let's do this."
As the three of them headed inside to discuss the details, Subham felt a surge of hope. With Saheli by his side, he felt more confident about the challenges ahead.