The journey back to Maitraya was silent. The weight of what had happened at the bandit camp lay heavily on all of them—Dhruv, Shyama, Bhadra, and even Rudra, though he showed no sign of it. The forest that had once seemed alive with sounds of nature now felt muted, the shadows deeper, as if the world itself understood the darkness they carried within them.Dhruv walked with his eyes fixed on the ground, his mind replaying the events over and over—the screams, the blood, the way Rudra had relentlessly cut down the fleeing bandits, indifferent to their pleas. He had always believed that there was a way to change people, a way to bring peace without unnecessary violence. But Rudra had shattered that belief in an instant.Rudra walked slightly ahead, his expression unreadable, his posture rigid. He had no regrets—at least, that was what he kept telling himself. He had done what needed to be done. The bandits were a threat, and threats needed to be eliminated. Simple as that. He ignored the cold glances from Shyama and Bhadra. He didn't need their approval. He didn't need anyone's approval.When they finally reached the village, the atmosphere shifted. The villagers, who had been waiting anxiously, rushed forward to greet them. They cheered, their eyes filled with gratitude and relief. The threat was gone, and they could finally feel safe again. The elders approached, their expressions filled with respect as they addressed the group."You have done Maitraya a great service," one of the elders said, his voice carrying the weight of the village's gratitude. "The bandits will trouble us no more. We are indebted to you."Dhruv managed a weak smile, but the praise felt hollow. He knew the truth of what had happened—the cost of their victory was far greater than anyone here realized.The elder turned to Rudra, his eyes filled with something akin to admiration. "Rudra, your strength was instrumental in ending this threat. We owe you our thanks."Rudra merely shrugged, his face devoid of any emotion. "I did what had to be done. No more, no less." His voice was cold, detached, as if the massacre had meant nothing to him. The elder looked taken aback, but Rudra paid him no mind, turning his gaze towards the village, uninterested in their gratitude.The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, their initial admiration beginning to fade. Rudra's indifference, his arrogance, only fueled the distrust they already had for him. Whispers spread through the crowd, the grateful cheers replaced by murmurs of disapproval. Dhruv could sense the change in the air, and it pained him. He knew that Rudra's attitude was making things worse, alienating him from the very people he was trying to protect.Before the situation could escalate, Dhruv stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "The bandits have been dealt with, and we've already given them the respect of a proper cremation," he said, choosing his words carefully. "There's no need to speak further of what happened. Let's focus on rebuilding and moving forward."The elders exchanged glances before nodding. They trusted Dhruv—he was the son of a noble, someone they respected. If he said the matter was closed, they would follow his lead. Slowly, the crowd began to disperse, the villagers returning to their homes, their whispers still lingering in the air.Later that evening, Dhruv found Rudra alone near the edge of the village, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. The tension between them was palpable, and Dhruv knew that this conversation was inevitable."Rudra," Dhruv began, his voice filled with frustration, "we need to talk about what happened back there. You went too far."Rudra turned to face him, his expression impassive. "Too far?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "They were bandits, Dhruv. They were a threat. I eliminated them. End of story.""It wasn't just about eliminating a threat," Dhruv argued, his voice rising. "There were children there, people who could have changed, who could have had a chance at a better life. You didn't give them that chance."Rudra scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "You think words and second chances can change people? Fear is what keeps people in line. Fear is what makes them respect you. Those bandits would have never stopped. They would have come back, and more people would have suffered."Dhruv shook his head, his heart aching. "There has to be another way, Rudra. A way that doesn't involve senseless killing."Rudra took a step closer, his eyes cold. "The villagers praised me, Dhruv. They thanked me for what I did. They fear me, and that means they respect me. That's the only way to survive in this world. You can keep dreaming of peace, but it won't protect anyone."The words hung heavy between them, neither willing to back down. Dhruv saw the conviction in Rudra's eyes, the belief that power and fear were the only answers. It hurt him to see how far apart they had drifted, how different their paths had become.Nearby, Shyama and Bhadra watched the exchange, their faces filled with concern. Shyama turned to Bhadra, her voice low. "Dhruv is trying so hard to reach him, but I don't think Rudra wants to be reached," she said, her eyes dark with worry. "He's becoming more dangerous with each passing day. His arrogance, his belief in fear—it will lead him down a dark path."Bhadra nodded, his face grim. "I know. I trust Dhruv, but... Rudra scares me. What he did today, the way he fought, the way he looked at those people—it's like he wasn't even human.""We need to be careful," Shyama said. "If Rudra keeps going like this, he might become more than just a threat to the bandits. He could be a danger to all of us."That night, Rudra sat alone, staring at the stars above. The sky was clear, the air cold. He replayed the events in his mind, the way he had cut down the bandits, the praise he had received from the villagers, and the way they had looked at him afterward. Their fear, their whispers—it didn't bother him. If anything, it reassured him. Fear was respect. And respect was power.But deep down, beneath the arrogance, there was something else—a hollow feeling, an emptiness that no amount of power could fill. He remembered the elder's praise, the gratitude in his voice. It should have made him feel proud, but instead, it felt meaningless. He didn't need their thanks. He needed something more, something that eluded him.A memory surfaced—Rajan, Dhruv's father, dragging him into the courtyard, his voice filled with contempt as he reprimanded him in front of everyone. "You think you can just take what isn't yours? You think you're entitled to anything, Rudra?" The words echoed in his mind, the humiliation as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. He clenched his fists, the anger bubbling beneath the surface. That was why he fought. That was why he needed power—so that no one would ever look down on him again.Meanwhile, Dhruv sat with his younger sister, her innocent smile a balm to his weary soul. She was too young to understand the complexities of what had happened, but her presence reminded him of why he fought—why he couldn't give up on Rudra."Dhruv, you look sad," she said, her small hand reaching out to touch his. "Did something bad happen?"Dhruv smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sometimes, people make choices that hurt others. But I believe that everyone has a chance to be better. We just have to keep trying."She nodded, her eyes wide with understanding far beyond her years. "You'll make them better, won't you? You're the best."Dhruv hugged her, his heart heavy but resolute. "I'll try, little one. I'll always try."As the village settled into the quiet of the night, a messenger arrived at the elder's home, his face pale. He brought news—rumors of a rival group, a powerful figure who had taken notice of the power vacuum left by the elimination of the bandits. The elder listened, his heart sinking. He knew that Maitraya's troubles were far from over.The next morning, Dhruv, Shyama, Bhadra, and Rudra gathered at the elder's request. The air was heavy with anticipation, the knowledge that their fight was not over clear in their eyes. Dhruv glanced at Rudra, hoping that somehow, despite everything, they could still stand together against what was to come. But Rudra's eyes were cold, his expression unreadable.The rift between them was growing, and Dhruv feared that if it continued, they might not be able to face the challenges ahead—not as allies, but as enemies.