The outer district of Ujjaini had grown quieter as the afternoon sun climbed higher.
Most people had returned to their daily routines. Vendors closed their stalls for midday meals, and the streets carried the slower rhythm of ordinary life.
Inside the small house near the market street, Aarav sat on the floor beside the window.
A simple wooden book lay open in front of him.
From the outside, he looked like any ordinary child reading during a quiet afternoon.
But inside his mind—
Something important was happening.
The faint system interface flickered again.
For the first time since the battle with the Rakshaks—
The panel stabilized.
System Core Fragment – Active
Recovery Progress: 25%
New Function Available
Arivaan leaned mentally forward.
"Oh?"
Aarav felt the shift immediately.
"What is it?"
Arivaan studied the interface carefully.
The system had been rebuilding itself slowly since he escaped Devika's mind.
Most functions remained locked.
But now—
One small section had reopened.
The panel expanded slightly.
Unlocked Ability: Minor Cognitive Influence
Aarav frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"It means we're making progress."
The boy didn't look relieved.
"That sounds bad."
Arivaan chuckled.
"Only for other people."
The system description appeared below the ability.
Minor Cognitive Influence
Allows the user to slightly influence nearby thoughts and emotional responses.
Range: Very Short
Effect: Weak
System Cost: Low
Arivaan nodded slowly.
"Interesting."
This wasn't the full Manas-Bandhan ability.
Not even close.
But it was something.
A starting point.
Aarav grew nervous.
"You're not going to use that on my family, right?"
Arivaan leaned mentally back against the fading interface.
"Relax."
"This ability barely works."
The boy didn't seem convinced.
"What if the Rakshaks feel it?"
Arivaan shook his head.
"They won't."
The system panel confirmed it.
Mental Signature: Minimal
Even trained Rakshaks would struggle to detect such a weak influence.
Which made it perfect.
Subtle.
Invisible.
Safe.
Arivaan looked toward the window again.
Outside, a few villagers passed through the street.
Merchants.
Travelers.
Workers carrying supplies.
Normal people living normal lives.
The perfect testing ground.
Aarav immediately panicked.
"No!"
Arivaan sighed.
"You're overreacting."
"You're going to control someone!"
"Not control."
Arivaan corrected calmly.
"Influence."
The boy crossed his arms mentally.
"That's still bad."
Arivaan ignored the complaint.
Instead he focused on the system panel.
The ability required concentration.
No commands.
No chains.
Just subtle pressure on nearby thoughts.
Like nudging a drifting leaf in the wind.
Arivaan exhaled slowly.
"Let's try it."
Aarav protested immediately.
"Don't!"
But Arivaan had already chosen a target.
Across the street—
An elderly fruit seller stood beside his wooden cart.
The man looked tired.
Frustrated.
No customers had stopped for several minutes.
Arivaan focused carefully.
The system panel flickered.
Minor Cognitive Influence – Activated
A faint ripple spread through the air.
Barely noticeable.
Even Aarav struggled to feel it.
The fruit seller suddenly paused.
Then he looked toward Aarav's house.
His expression softened slightly.
"Maybe I should call out louder," the man muttered to himself.
He straightened his cart.
Then began shouting again.
"Fresh mangoes! Sweet mangoes!"
A woman walking down the street stopped.
She glanced at the cart.
"…Maybe I'll buy some."
Within seconds—
The fruit seller had his first customer.
Arivaan ended the ability immediately.
The system panel flickered again.
Influence Complete
Energy Cost: Minimal
Aarav stared in disbelief.
"You made that happen."
Arivaan shrugged mentally.
"Barely."
The boy looked uneasy.
"That's creepy."
Arivaan chuckled.
"That's survival."
He studied the system interface again.
Even such a small ability had potential.
Influence conversations.
Create distractions.
Guide decisions.
Nothing powerful.
Nothing obvious.
But enough to stay alive.
The panel flickered once more.
Recovery Progress: 27%
Arivaan nodded slowly.
"Better."
Aarav whispered nervously,
"What happens when you get stronger?"
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"Then we stop nudging thoughts."
The boy swallowed.
"And start controlling them."
Aarav shivered.
"You're evil."
Arivaan didn't deny it.
Instead he leaned back mentally and looked out the window again.
Across the district—
Life continued normally.
No Rakshaks nearby.
No suspicion.
No danger.
Just time.
And time meant growth.
The system panel flickered softly.
Minor Cognitive Influence – Ready
Arivaan closed Aarav's eyes briefly.
"…Good."
Because rebuilding power didn't require armies or battles.
Sometimes—
It only required a single thought planted in the right mind.