The quiet street slowly returned to silence after the Rakshaks left.
Lanterns flickered faintly outside the homes, and the cool night wind carried the distant sounds of the city.
From the outside—
Everything seemed peaceful again.
But appearances could be deceiving.
Inside the House
Aarav slumped slightly against the wall.
His breathing was still uneven from the tension.
"That was terrifying."
Inside the shared mind, Arivaan leaned calmly against the faint system interface.
"Yes."
The boy frowned.
"You almost sounded bored."
Arivaan chuckled quietly.
"That was a test."
"A test?!"
"Yes."
The boy groaned.
"I hate your tests."
Arivaan glanced toward the window.
The street outside had grown empty again.
"…You did well."
Aarav blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
The system panel flickered softly.
System Recovery: 44%
Host Mental Control: Improved
Arivaan nodded.
"Your meditation held steady."
Aarav sighed.
"I thought my heart was going to explode."
"That happens."
The boy glared internally.
"You're not helping."
But despite his complaints—
Aarav had unknowingly passed an important threshold.
He had maintained mental stability under extreme stress.
Which meant something very important for the system.
The panel flickered again.
Host Compatibility: Exceptional
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"…Interesting."
At the End of the Street
Several houses away—
Rudra Sen slowed his steps.
Devika noticed immediately.
"You stopped again."
The hunter didn't answer right away.
Instead—
He glanced back toward the quiet street.
Toward the small house.
Varun stepped beside him.
"Something still bothering you?"
Rudra Sen nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Devika crossed her arms.
"You sensed something earlier."
"Yes."
"But you didn't find it."
Rudra Sen looked thoughtful.
"Correct."
Varun frowned slightly.
"So we missed something?"
The hunter didn't answer immediately.
Instead he reached into a small pouch at his belt.
From it—
He pulled a thin silver coin engraved with faint symbols.
Devika raised an eyebrow.
"A tracking marker?"
Rudra Sen nodded.
"Just in case."
Before either of them could ask another question—
The hunter flicked the coin into the air.
The object flew silently across the street.
It landed quietly on the roof of Aarav's house.
The coin shimmered once—
Then disappeared.
Devika frowned.
"You marked the house."
"Yes."
Varun looked surprised.
"You still suspect that location?"
Rudra Sen turned away from the street.
"I suspect something."
Devika sighed.
"That's not the same thing."
The hunter's voice remained calm.
"No."
"But it's enough."
Inside Aarav's Mind
Arivaan's instincts suddenly sharpened.
"…Hmm."
Aarav blinked.
"What?"
Arivaan focused through the boy's senses.
Something faint had appeared above the house.
Small.
Subtle.
Almost invisible.
But the fragment of the system still recognized it.
The panel flickered again.
External Object Detected
Energy Signature: Rakshak Mark
Arivaan leaned back slightly.
"…Clever."
Aarav frowned.
"What happened?"
"The hunter left us a gift."
The boy panicked.
"What?!"
"Relax."
Aarav groaned.
"You keep saying that!"
Arivaan chuckled.
"They marked the house."
The boy's eyes widened.
"That's bad!"
Arivaan shrugged mentally.
"It's cautious."
Aarav paced nervously inside the shared mind.
"So they know we're here!"
"No."
Arivaan corrected calmly.
"They're not sure."
Aarav frowned.
"Then why mark the house?"
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"Because good hunters double-check."
The panel flickered again.
Marker Function: Passive Observation
Arivaan studied the information carefully.
The coin above the roof was designed to detect unusual mental disturbances.
If strong Manas energy appeared—
The Rakshaks would know instantly.
Aarav groaned.
"That's terrible."
Arivaan shook his head.
"Not really."
The boy blinked.
"…Why?"
Arivaan leaned back against the interface.
"Because it confirms something."
Aarav frowned.
"What?"
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"They're worried."
The boy sighed.
"You're impossible."
Arivaan chuckled.
"But we still need to be careful."
For now—
No abilities.
No unusual mental activity.
Just quiet recovery.
The panel flickered once more.
System Recovery: 45%
Arivaan looked toward the moonlit window.
"…Good."
Because the hunter had left a trap.
But traps worked both ways.
And the Brainwashing Villain had just learned something valuable.
Rudra Sen was cautious.
Patient.
And suspicious.
Which meant the next encounter between hunter and villain—
Would be far more dangerous.