I woke up to the sound of Alex yelling right into my ear.
"Hello, sleeping beauty! Wake up!! Lululululu- !"
"Shut up…! I'm awake now," I groaned.
"Since you're awake," Alex smirked, "let's wake Shaan up together… hehehe."
We exchanged a mischievous look and quietly walked toward Shaan. He was sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of what was coming.
"SHAAN! WAKE UP!!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry- AAHH!"
Shaan jolted awake, panicking.
"Shaan… are you alright?" I asked, stepping closer.
Alex scratched his head. "Did we scare him too much?"
Man… I forgot about last night. He must be having a nightmare…
Shaan looked around, his face pale and tense. Sweat covered his forehead.
Alex immediately moved closer and pulled him into a hug, gently patting his back.
"It's okay, Shaan… everything's alright. Just breathe slowly."
For a moment, Alex froze.
A memory flashed in his mind-
He was a little kid again, crying, while his mother held him close, softly patting his back.
"Everything will be alright…"
I watched them quietly.
At times like this… he's more mature than all of us. They actually look kinda cu- …what am I even thinking?!
"Shaan… are you still thinking about that?" I asked.
"I know it was just a dream," Shaan said, his voice still shaky, "but it felt so real… like I was actually there… walking through old Indian streets and then…"
Just like me?
"Then what?"
Shaan paused. His expression turned blank.
"I… forgot."
Alex sighed. "What can we expect? He *is* dumb."
"I'm not dumb! It's normal to forget dreams!"
I looked away, mumbling under my breath. "Sigh… I got my hopes up for nothing."
Just then, Lian walked in.
"Guys, teachers are calling everyone. We have to leave. Freshen up, quickly."
We got ready in a hurry and headed out.
At the beach, an old man was sitting on a woven mat, surrounded by students.
Our teacher, Jun Li, stood beside him.
"Sit down, everyone! He is a well-known historian from India. He's here to tell you about the history of this island… and the mystery behind it. So listen carefully."
Alex leaned toward Lian. "Do we really have to sit through this? Can't we just leave?"
"I agree with Alex," I said.
"No. We're staying," Lian replied firmly.
"Get your butts down here," Shaan added, already seated.
Why is he so interested in this…? And Lian even brought notes? Yeah… I'm leaving.
"Lu, you coming?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, totally. Let's just lea-"
Before I could finish, Zhan appeared and sat beside me.
Alex sighed. "You guys are hopeless. I'm leaving."
I grabbed his hand and gave him my best puppy eyes.
He stared at me in disbelief.
"…Don't do that."
Too late. I dragged him down and made him sit between me and Zhan.
"You're my bestie, right?" I whispered. "Help me out…"
"I hate you all."
We settled down, and the old man began his story.
He spoke about India, about 1700 years ago- the golden age...
Then his voice lowered.
"About 1600 years ago… there existed a kingdom called *Dvivajras*."
**A story…**
The king of Dvivajras died suddenly, throwing the kingdom into chaos. War loomed, and they desperately needed a ruler.
The only heir… was a 10-year-old boy.
He was known as the *Devil-Eyed Child* cause of his red eyes...
From the moment he was born, people believed he was cursed. And after the king's death, that belief only grew stronger.
But with no other choice, the child was crowned king.
What followed shocked the world.
Under the rule of a mere child, the kingdom defeated the most powerful empire of that time.
People didn't celebrate him.
They feared him.
They called him a gift from hell.
Years passed. The kingdom expanded, growing rich and powerful.
But greed is human nature.
Neighboring kingdoms grew jealous, and even within Dvivajras, conflict began to rise.
Dhruv, the king's uncle, the second born, desired the throne for himself.
A silent war began.
Too afraid to kill the boy himself or perhaps unable to, Dhruv sought out an assassin.
And he found one.
A child.
Known as the *Devil's Heir*.
A name earned after a brutal war in the north… where it was said that a single child wiped out an entire kingdom.
Then came the inevitable clash-
The Devil-Eyed King
vs
The Devil's Heir
The battle ended in devastation.
Blood flowed like rivers.
Leaves turned red.
Fields of peace became lands of death.
When it was over-
There was no winner.
The entire empire… vanished.
Swallowed by the raging ocean itself.
"The end."
The old man looked around at all of us.
"Some believe this very island… is the remains of Dvivajras. And if it rises again…"
He paused.
"It may mark the beginning of another war."
He smiled faintly.
"Or perhaps… it's just a story. What do you think, children?"
Something feels off… Why would the two 'devil' children fight each other? Over the kingdom? But the uncle hired him as an assassin… didn't he? what did he offer? It feels like parts of the story are missing…
I looked up and met Zhan's eyes.
He looked… disappointed.
"Wow…" Shaan said. "That gave me goosebumps."
He turned to Alex.
"…Alex? Seriously? You're sleeping?!"
Alex yawned. "Finally it's over. Not bad… could be a good bedtime story."
"I don't know," Lian said. "It might be fake… but it feels real to me. What do you think, Lu?"
"It's uneven," I replied. "Like parts of it were cut away. History is always told from someone's perspective."
I smirked slightly.
"But still… the story is kinda fire. And this island just got way more interesting."
"I can't wait to explore more!" Shaan said excitedly.
Alex suddenly leaned onto him. "Ooooh, someone's excited~ Shaaaan… wanna watch the stars tonight?"
"Hey- get off!"
"They've gotten closer, haven't they?" Lian said.
"Yeah…" I said, watching them.
"They fit each other well."
I paused.
"…Not that I'm shipping them or anything."
Lian burst out laughing.
And… so did I.