Eklavya:
"Are we in heaven…? What is this place?"
I turned slowly in circles, my eyes struggling to process everything at once.
The air felt different—not heavy, not sharp—just strangely alive. It carried the faint scent of paper, polished stone, and something I couldn't quite name. My heartbeat sounded louder in my ears, as if my body understood this place before my mind did.
The towers rose high into the sky, sleek and silver, their glass catching sunlight in soft reflections. They didn't pierce the heavens—they stood with quiet confidence, like structures that had witnessed generations pass through their doors. Wide staircases curved toward grand entrances. Long corridors connected buildings in perfect architectural symmetry.
Students walked across the campus lawns in small groups—laughing, checking their phones, arguing about assignments. Backpacks hung from their shoulders. Some sat on the steps reading. Others leaned against pillars.
Completely ordinary.
Completely human.
Yet something lingered beneath it all.
The stone pathways shimmered faintly—not glowing, not unnatural—just polished so finely that light slid across them like water. When the breeze passed, it carried a strange stillness with it, as if the campus itself was quietly watching.
Nothing openly floated. Nothing obviously defied gravity.
Which somehow made it more unsettling.
Because everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Like a secret hidden in plain sight.
"It's… a college campus," Amit said casually.
I blinked. "A college?"
Rudra adjusted his glasses, his voice calm and precise.
"Yes. Officially, it functions as one. Students attend lectures, complete courses, earn degrees. To the outside world, this is nothing more than a prestigious private campus."
He paused, his gaze scanning the towers.
"But in reality… this is where Aetheris live. Where they train. Where they are shaped."
His voice lowered slightly.
"And where Rah(path) truly begins."
My throat felt dry.
As we moved forward, I began noticing things I hadn't seen before.
A book hovering beside a student as she read, its pages turning on their own.
A boy walking forward—but his feet barely touching the ground.
A faint shimmer flickering around someone's fingers before vanishing instantly.
They looked normal.
But they weren't.
"Wait," I said slowly. "So everyone here…?"
"Not everyone," Amit replied. "Some are ordinary students. Some don't even know what this place truly is."
"And the rest?"
Rudra answered.
"The rest are Aetheris."
Aetheris.
Aestheris. Aspirants. Aether… whatever they were called.
I still had no idea what any of it meant.
As we continued walking, something Amit had whispered earlier echoed in my mind—
It's not safe for us to stay here anymore.
Not safe.
A chill ran down my spine.
What exactly had I walked into?
And then—
It hit me.
I didn't even know the name of the guy beside Amit.
Amazing.
I'm stepping into a secret supernatural warrior society… and I don't even know who's walking next to me.
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
"By the way… may I know your name?"
He blinked once, then gave a small exhale.
"Oh. Right. Never told you."
He looked at me.
"I'm Rudra."
Rudra.
The name felt heavy. Like it carried a storm sealed inside it.
"Nice to meet you," I said quickly. "If you don't mind… I want to ask something."
He glanced sideways. "What?"
What didn't I want to ask?
I took a breath.
Big mistake.
Everything came rushing out.
"Even though you explained Aether and those people… I still don't understand anything! Why are those things killing people? How did you even get these powers? How did you know I have them? Am I supposed to fight them? Am I some kind of hero? Am I actually strong? Or am I just some normal person you dragged into something insane? Why is it so important that I—"
"No."
The word cut through the air instantly.
Rudra stopped walking.
So did I.
"You talk too much," he said flatly.
I froze.
He adjusted his glasses slightly.
"It's like you've never had anyone to talk to before."
The words hit deeper than I expected.
My fingers tightened slightly.
I looked away.
Students passed by us, laughing about something trivial. Normal lives. Normal conversations.
"…Maybe I haven't," I said quietly.
The admission slipped out before I could stop it.
"I mean… I was always around people."
I forced a faint smile.
"But it never felt like I was really there."
Silence followed.
I noticed Amit glance at me briefly. He didn't say anything. But his expression had softened, just slightly, before he looked forward again.
Rudra didn't apologize.
Didn't react.
He simply continued walking.
"I will explain everything," he said calmly. "But not now."
His eyes shifted toward the massive structure ahead.
"First… we meet the Pradhānācārya(principal)."
The word carried weight.
Authority.
Finality.
I swallowed hard.
Answers existed.
Just not for me.
Not yet.
And as we walked toward the enormous structure, one thought echoed in my mind—
Whatever this Rah truly is…
I've already stepped onto it.
There's no turning back now.
We reached the door.
No.
Calling it a door felt disrespectful.
It was a monument.
Carved from dark stone streaked with silver veins of light, ancient symbols shimmered faintly across its surface. The structure stretched endlessly upward, disappearing into the sky itself.
My jaw didn't just drop.
It spiritually disconnected from my body.
I froze where I stood.
What in the world…
How can a door be this huge?
Was it built for humans… or giants?
And honestly—what kind of name is Rah for a place this beautiful?
I hesitated.
Rudra sighed faintly.
"We don't have time."
Suddenly—
I was in the air.
"What the—?!"
Wind roared past my ears as Rudra lifted me effortlessly with one arm and launched forward.
The world blurred.
How is this even possible?
How can someone lift a whole person like I weigh nothing?
This place is insane.
These people are insane.
And then—
He stopped.
And dropped me.
No warning.
No hesitation.
I hit the floor face-first.
"Ugh—!"
Pain shot through my nose as I lay there for a second, stunned.
What is wrong with this guy?!
I pushed myself up, ready to complain—
"Pradhānācārya."
Amit and Rudra spoke in perfect unison.
Their voices weren't casual.
They were filled with deep respect.
The kind that isn't forced—
But earned.
I froze.
Slowly, I turned.
The first thing I saw—
Shoes.
Polished.
Immaculate.
They reflected the glowing floor beneath them.
My gaze slowly traveled upward.
Flowing robes.
An aura so intense that the air itself felt heavier near him.
Not dark.
Not bright.
Just overwhelming.
And when my eyes finally reached his face—
My soul nearly left my body.