They didn't rush.
No one spoke.
The distance closed slowly.
Step by step—
Until shapes became clear.
Four figures.
Standing in the open.
Not hiding.
Not retreating.
Waiting.
Arjun slowed.
"…Hold," he said.
The squad stopped.
The wind passed between them—
Carrying nothing.
No hostility.
No welcome.
Just awareness.
The first figure stepped forward.
A girl.
Her hair—
Dark.
Cut unevenly.
Falling across her face in loose bangs that didn't stay in place.
She didn't move them.
Didn't adjust.
Her eyes—
Sharp.
Focused.
Not scanning.
Already locked.
"…You crossed into our zone," she said.
Her voice was calm.
Not loud.
But it carried.
Behind her—
Another figure shifted.
Tall.
Broad.
Shoulders heavy—
Not from size alone.
From stance.
Arms relaxed at his sides.
But ready.
His gaze stayed on Aarav.
Measuring.
Next—
A boy.
Leaning slightly to one side.
Not careless.
Balanced.
His eyes moved constantly—
Not nervous.
Calculating.
He smiled faintly.
"…They don't look weak," he said.
The last one didn't step forward.
Stayed behind.
Still.
Too still.
Face partially hidden—
But eyes visible.
Watching everything.
Saying nothing.
Anaya's gaze moved across them once.
"…Organized," she said quietly.
"…Yeah," Kabir replied.
"…And not surprised."
Arjun stepped forward.
Not aggressive.
Not cautious.
Neutral.
"…Then we're not the first," he said.
The girl's expression didn't change.
"…You're late."
Silence.
Aarav exhaled.
"…Late for what?"
The boy tilted his head slightly.
"…For the part where things start changing."
Kabir's eyes narrowed.
"…Zones linking?"
A flicker—
The first real reaction from them.
The girl's gaze sharpened.
"…So you've seen it."
"…Enough," Arjun replied.
Silence stretched.
Not tense.
Weighted.
The tall one finally spoke.
"…You're the ones who broke 18-A."
Not a question.
A statement.
Aarav smirked slightly.
"…News travels fast."
"…Not news," the boy said.
"…Pressure."
Anaya's expression shifted.
"…You felt it too."
"…Everyone did," the girl replied.
Silence again.
But different now.
Shared.
Arjun looked at her directly.
"…Then you know what's coming."
A pause.
For the first time—
She hesitated.
Slight.
But real.
"…We know enough."
"…Not enough," Arjun said.
The wind shifted again.
Stronger.
Pulling between both groups.
Not separating—
Connecting.
Kabir glanced at it.
"…This isn't coincidence."
"…No," the quiet one finally spoke.
His voice—
Low.
"…It's alignment."
Silence.
That word stayed.
"…Alignment of what?" Aarav asked.
No answer.
The girl stepped closer.
Not threatening.
But firm.
"…You crossed into our zone," she repeated.
"…So decide."
A pause.
"…Are you passing through—"
Her eyes sharpened.
"…Or staying?"
The air shifted again.
The distance between them—
Gone.
Now—
It wasn't two groups.
It was—
A line.
And neither side had stepped back.
Arjun didn't hesitate.
"…That depends."
A beat.
"…Do you plan to stop us?"
Silence.
The boy smiled again.
Wider this time.
"…That depends."
A pause.
"…Can we?"
The wind stopped.
Completely.
And for the first time—
The world didn't feel empty.
It felt—
Occupied.