Pre author notes:-Hey readers!
Aarav finally gets a chance to learn something… but the first lesson is nothing like he expected. What do you think of this mysterious trainer? Let me know your thoughts!
Chapter 19——
Aarav didn't stop.
He kept walking right behind the man, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet corridor.
"…I'm serious, you know," he said, voice carrying a mix of determination and
annoyance."You can't just drop one mysterious line like 'stop chasing answers' and expect me to quietly walk away. That's not how this works."
No response.
The man continued walking at the same steady pace, shoulders relaxed, hands loosely at his sides.
"Like… what does that even mean?" Aarav continued, speeding up to match his stride. "Stop chasing answers? That's literally the worst advice anyone has ever given me in two worlds combined."
Still nothing.
Aarav frowned, frustration building again.
"…Do you just ignore everyone, or am I getting special treatment tonight?"
The silence stretched. The man's calm, unbothered demeanor somehow made the whole situation more irritating.
Aarav let out a sharp breath and moved to walk beside him.
"Alright, fine. New question."
He waited a beat, hoping for at least a glance.
Nothing.
"…What is that energy thing?" Aarav asked, gesturing vaguely with his hands. "The one everyone uses during training. With swords. That glowing-not-glowing thing that pushes people back even when they block perfectly."
Silence.
Aarav squinted at the side of the man's face.
"…You know exactly what I'm talking about."
The man stopped abruptly.
Aarav almost bumped into him again.
"…Okay, that's progress," Aarav muttered, catching himself.
The man turned slowly, fully facing him for the first time.
His eyes were sharp now, the lazy haze gone.
"…What do you want?" he asked. His voice was low, direct, carrying quiet weight.
Aarav blinked once.
Then pointed at himself.
"…Me?"
A small pause.
"…I thought that was obvious."
The man didn't react.
Aarav sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Fine. Simple answer."
He straightened his posture a little, trying to look more serious.
"Teach me."
The words hung in the air.
Aarav continued, his tone shifting from light to genuinely earnest.
"That energy. That power. Whatever it is that makes people here fight like they do."
He paused, swallowing.
"I don't have it."
Another pause, heavier this time.
"And I really don't want to die just because I'm the only one who doesn't understand the rules of this world."
The man watched him carefully, eyes studying Aarav like he was weighing something invisible.
"…Name," he said finally.
Aarav blinked.
"…Huh?"
"Your name."
"Oh."
Aarav scratched the back of his neck again, suddenly feeling a bit awkward.
"…Aarav."
Silence stretched for a second longer than comfortable.
The man's gaze stayed locked on him. Not surprised. Not confused. Just… thinking.
Aarav shifted on his feet.
"…What? Is it a weird name?"
"…No," the man replied quietly.
A pause.
"…Just unexpected."
Aarav frowned.
"…That doesn't sound any better."
The man offered no further explanation.
Instead, he asked another question.
"…Why are you here?"
Aarav hesitated, glancing down the empty corridor.
"…That's… a bit complicated."
The man didn't move. Didn't look away. He simply waited.
Aarav let out a long sigh.
"…Fine."
He leaned back slightly against the wall, eyes distant.
"…This is kind of a secret, but apparently… I might be a prince."
The words felt strange even as he said them.
Silence.
The man's expression remained unchanged, but something in his gaze shifted — a tiny, almost invisible flicker.
"…Might?" he repeated.
"Yeah," Aarav said quickly, waving his hand. "Even I don't fully believe it. Some weird mark appeared on me. People started acting strange. And now I'm stuck in this ridiculously fancy room that I definitely can't afford."
He gave a weak laugh.
"…So yeah. That's my current situation. Prince in training, zero powers included."
The man looked at him for a long moment.
Then—
"…I see."
That was all.
Aarav stared, waiting for more.
"…That's it? No dramatic reaction? No 'this changes everything' moment?"
Nothing.
Aarav sighed deeply.
"…Tough audience."
But before he could complain further, the man turned.
"Come."
Aarav blinked, surprised.
"…That was easier than I expected."
---
They walked deeper into the palace, farther than Aarav had ever gone.
The corridors grew quieter, the decorations simpler, the air heavier.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a large, heavy sealed door.
Aarav looked up at it warily.
"…Okay, this already looks suspicious."
The man placed his palm against the door. It opened slowly with a deep, heavy groan.
The moment they stepped inside, the door shut behind them with a loud thud.
Aarav flinched.
"…Yeah. Definitely suspicious."
The space was massive — not a room, but an enclosed training arena.
High reinforced walls. Dim lighting. No windows. The air felt cooler, thicker.
Aarav looked around, eyes wide despite his nervousness.
"…Okay… wow."
He swallowed.
"…This is not normal training."
The man walked a few steps ahead, then stopped.
"…Let's see," he said quietly.
Aarav frowned.
"…See what?"
The man turned slightly, his voice calm but firm.
"…How much you can survive."
Aarav's stomach dropped.
"…I'm sorry, what?"
A low, guttural sound echoed from the side of the arena.
Aarav's head snapped toward it.
Something moved in the shadows.
Then two figures stepped forward.
They weren't human.
Rough, distorted skin. Twisted limbs. Eyes that glowed with unnatural hunger.
Aarav froze, heart hammering.
"…Nope."
He took a step back.
"…Nope. I don't like this at all."
He pointed shakily at the creatures.
"…Why the hell are there monsters inside the palace?!"
The man answered without turning.
"…Training."
Aarav turned to him slowly, disbelief clear on his face.
"…Who trains like this?!"
No response.
The creatures took another step closer. Slow. Unsteady. But very real.
Aarav's body tensed on instinct. His hands grew cold. Breathing quickened.
"…They're not that strong… right?" he asked, voice cracking slightly.
No answer.
"…Right?"
The silence was deafening.
Aarav swallowed hard.
"…Yeah. That's not comforting at all."
The man stepped back, creating clear distance between himself and Aarav.
"…Fight," he said simply.
Aarav stared at him, eyes wide.
"…You're actually serious."
The man didn't reply.
Aarav glanced at his empty hands.
"…I don't even have a weapon!"
Still no response.
The creatures lunged.
Aarav barely managed to stumble backward. His foot slipped on the smooth floor. Panic surged through him like ice water.
"…THIS is your training?!"
No help came.
Only the sound of claws scraping stone and his own ragged breathing.
Aarav forced himself back to his feet, chest heaving, eyes locked on the approaching monsters.
Behind him, the man watched in complete silence.
No interference.
No instructions.
Only quiet, patient observation.
And for the briefest moment, a faint spark of interest flickered in his otherwise calm eyes.
"…Let's see," he murmured to himself, almost too soft to hear.
"…what you really are."