The sun climbed higher, painting the sky in hues of gold and soft blue, as the damp courtyard of Evernest slowly dried under its gentle warmth. The echoes of laughter had faded, replaced by the rhythmic scrape of brushes against stone as Vairagya, Raghav, and Vanshika scrubbed the steps once more. Their movements were slower now, weighed down by Sister Aisha's stern gaze and the lingering exhaustion of their impromptu water war.
Vairagya paused to wipe sweat from his brow, glancing at his friends. "Do you think she'll notice if we just… skip a step or two?"
Raghav snorted, not looking up from his task. "She'd notice if you skipped a single speck of dust. You're not that sneaky."
Vanshika grinned, wringing out her cloth. "He's right. Sister Aisha's eyes are sharper than a hawk's. Besides, we're almost done. Don't ruin it now."
Vairagya groaned dramatically, flopping onto his back atop the steps. "Almost done? My arms feel like they're about to fall off. I wasn't made for this kind of labor. I'm destined for greatness—adventure, heroism, not scrubbing floors!"
Raghav smirked. "Oh, yes, the great Vairagya, hero of the suds. They'll sing songs about how you bravely battled a bucket."
Vanshika giggled, flicking a drop of water at him. "Careful, Raghav. Keep teasing him, and he'll start a rebellion. We'll have a full uprising by lunchtime."
Before Vairagya could retort, a shadow fell over them. Sister Aisha stood at the top of the steps, her arms still crossed, though a faint glimmer of amusement danced in her eyes.
"Finished?" she asked, her tone deceptively mild.
The three scrambled to their feet, nodding quickly. "Yes, Sister Aisha!" they chimed in unison, brushing damp hands on their tunics.
She inspected the steps, her gaze lingering on the gleaming stone. After a long moment, she nodded. "Good enough. Go clean yourselves up before breakfast. And no more battles—at least not until after you've eaten."
They didn't need to be told twice. With a chorus of thanks, they darted off toward the well to wash the soap and grime from their hands and faces, leaving the courtyard quiet once more.
Inside Evernest, the aroma of fresh bread and warm porridge drifted through the halls, drawing the children like moths to a flame. The long wooden tables in the dining hall were already bustling with activity as the orphans gathered, their voices a lively hum of chatter and laughter. Sisters Stacy and Hana moved among them, ladling steaming porridge into bowls and passing out crusty rolls still warm from the oven.
Vairagya slid onto a bench beside Raghav and Vanshika, his stomach growling as he reached for a roll. "Finally, something worth waking up for," he said, tearing off a piece and popping it into his mouth.
Raghav raised an eyebrow. "You say that like you didn't eat half the kitchen's cookies last night."
Vairagya grinned, unrepentant. "A hero needs his strength."
Vanshika rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "You're impossible."
Breakfast passed quickly, the clatter of bowls and the hum of chatter fading as the children dispersed from the dining hall. Vairagya, Raghav, and Vanshika lingered at their table, savoring the last crumbs of their rolls, until Sister Stacy shooed them out to join the morning's tasks. The trio ambled toward the training yard, their steps slow and reluctant, still buzzing with the warmth of the meal.
Meanwhile, beyond the orphanage walls, Sister Yasmin slipped out through the back gate, a woven basket slung over her arm. The sun hung low, casting long shadows across the fields as she made her way toward the edge of the forest that bordered Evernest to gather woods
"You're late," she said, her voice calm but edged with steel.
Vairagya grinned sheepishly. "Only a little, Sister. Step-related duties."
Rajni's eyebrow twitched, but she didn't comment. She stepped forward, planting her staff in the ground with a soft thud. "You've trained under Sister Aisha in physical combat—punches, kicks, endurance. Now, you're mine. Today, we play a game. Tag. I'm it—and your task is to catch me. Begin when you're ready."
The trio blinked, exchanging bewildered looks. "Tag?" Raghav muttered. "That's it?"
Vanshika frowned. "It's never that simple with her…"
Vairagya cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Doesn't matter. I'm the fastest here. Watch this." He darted forward, arms outstretched, aiming to grab Rajni's arm. She didn't even shift her stance—just tilted her head slightly, letting him barrel past. At the last second, she flicked her staff, tapping his ankle. Vairagya tripped, flailing wildly before crashing face-first into the dirt with a muffled yelp.
Raghav snickered. "Nice one, hero." He said as he jumped on Rajni immediately after using Vairagya as a decoy. Rajni flowed like a shadow, stepping aside effortlessly. Her staff whipped out, catching his shin mid-kick and flipping him backward. He landed hard on his back, the air rushing out of him in a groan.
Vanshika hesitated, her mind racing. She'd seen Rajni spar with Aisha once—speed wasn't enough; it had to be cunning. She edged forward, then broke into a sprint, zigzagging to confuse her. Rajni's eyes tracked her every move. As Vanshika dove for her waist, Rajni spun, her robes flaring like a storm. The staff swept low, hooking Vanshika's legs and sending her tumbling into a heap beside Vairagya.
Rajni stepped back, unruffled. "Again."
Vairagya scrambled up, brushing dirt from his tunic. "Okay, she's fast. But I've got a plan this time." He crouched low, then launched himself upward, aiming to tackle her from above—like a hawk diving for prey. Rajni didn't flinch. She raised her staff, catching him under the armpit mid-leap, and redirected his momentum. He sailed over her shoulder, crashing into a pile of dry leaves with a spectacular rustle and a string of muffled curses.
Raghav, back on his feet, tried stealth. He crept behind an oak, waiting until Rajni turned slightly. Then he burst out, aiming a two-handed grab for her shoulders. She sensed him without looking—her staff swung back, tapping his knees. His legs buckled, and he face-planted into the earth, spitting out a clod of dirt.
Vanshika, still wary, opted for distraction. She scooped up a handful of pebbles and tossed them to Rajni's left, hoping to draw her attention. As Rajni's head tilted slightly, Vanshika charged from the right. Rajni's staff twirled, deflecting the pebbles midair with a series of sharp clacks, then whipped around to tap Vanshika's chest. She stumbled back, landing on her rear with a frustrated huff.
"Again," Rajni said, her tone unchanged.
Vairagya groaned, dragging himself from the leaves. "This is ridiculous! Let's try together—swarm her!"
Raghav nodded, wiping dirt from his face. "Speaking facts for once huh,"
Vanshika bit her lip but joined them, forming a loose triangle around Rajni. "On three," she whispered. "One… two… three!"
They moved as one—Vairagya charging head-on, arms wide like a net; Raghav diving low, aiming to grab her legs; Vanshika circling to flank from behind. Rajni stood still until the last second, then erupted into motion. She leaped over Raghav's dive, her staff spinning to deflect Vairagya's grab, knocking his arms aside. As Vanshika closed in, Rajni twisted midair, landing behind her and tapping her back with the staff's tip. Vanshika stumbled into Vairagya, who tripped over Raghav—still sprawled from his dive—and the three collapsed in a tangled heap, groaning and flailing.
Rajni landed lightly, her staff resting on her shoulder. "Pathetic. One more try."
Panting, Vairagya disentangled himself. "Okay, new plan—corner her!" They spread out again, this time moving slower, herding her toward an oak. Raghav feinted left, Vairagya right, Vanshika closing the gap. Rajni let them come, her expression unreadable. Just as they lunged together, she ducked, rolled under their outstretched arms, and sprang up behind them. Her staff flicked out—tap, tap, tap—hitting each in the back. They stumbled forward, crashing into the tree trunk in a pile of bruised limbs and wounded pride.
Rajni straightened, planting her staff in the ground. "Enough. You failed—miserably. The game was to catch me. You rely too much on strength and not enough on thought. Aisha taught you to fight—now I'll teach you to think, with weapons and mana. But not today. Tomorrow, we start over."
Vairagya flopped onto his back, staring at the sky. "She's a monster… I'm never playing tag again."
Raghav sat up, rubbing his neck. "No kidding. I think I'm bruised everywhere."
Vanshika, still catching her breath, muttered, "I told you she was smarter…"
But then the wind picked up.
It started as a gentle breeze, rustling the oaks and tugging at their clothes. Then it grew sharper, colder, carrying a low whistle that hummed through the air. Rajni's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her staff. The trio froze, their exhaustion forgotten as the gusts swept through the yard, kicking up dust and bending the grass.
Vairagya rubbed his arms. "Okay, that's… weird."
Vanshika hugged herself, her voice small. "It's getting chilly. Wasn't it warm just a minute ago?"
Raghav squinted at the horizon, the sky still clear—no clouds, no storm. "It's not natural. It's… heavy."
Rajni turned, her robes whipping in the wind. "Inside, now," she snapped.
The trio—Vairagya, Raghav, and Vanshika—froze for a heartbeat, reluctant to leave her side. But the edge in her voice left no room for argument. They turned and rushed back toward Evernest as the wind howled behind them like a beast stirring in its sleep.
Vairagya dared one last glance over his shoulder. Rajni stood alone, statuesque, her eyes fixed on something far beyond the visible horizon. Her lips were pressed into a thin, unreadable line—like she was hearing a warning in the wind that no one else could.
Inside, the sisters moved quickly, herding the children into the main hall. Their voices were calm, but carried a note of urgency that unsettled the little ones. Father Mathew stood at the front, hands clasped behind his back, gaze steady—yet shadows coiled at the edges of his eyes.
Outside, the air thickened.
A figure emerged from the swirling mist—tall, cloaked in robes so dark they seemed to swallow the light around them.
Rajni's eyes narrowed. Her fists clenched. "You," she hissed, the word steeped in fury.
The figure didn't speak. He simply raised an arm and tossed something forward.
A body.
It landed at her feet with a sickening thud. Sister Yasmin.
Her head lolled at an unnatural angle, her face pale and still, lips slightly parted as though her last breath still lingered there.
Rajni's scream tore through the air—but it wasn't grief.
It was rage.
"YASMIN!" she screamed at top of her lungs.
Her head lolled unnaturally, pale face frozen in a silent gasp, eyes wide and empty. Rajni's breath caught, her staff trembling in her grip. "You," she hissed, fury igniting her voice. She lunged forward, power crackling at her fingertips—blue sparks spitting like wildfire.
But then she saw it—the gloved hand that had thrown Yasmin like discarded refuse, the calm, deliberate tilt of the figure's head. Her chest tightened. This wasn't just death. It was a statement. As soon as Rajni saw her face her rage faltered, a cold wave surging up her spine—not wind, not magic, but dread. Her legs locked, her arms stiffened, her breath snagged in her throat. She couldn't move. Couldn't scream again. Yasmin's lifeless stare burned into her, and the figure was already there—close, too close.
The figure closed the distance in a blink. A gloved hand came to rest on her shoulder, disturbingly gentle.
"Not now, my dear," he whispered, voice velvet over steel.
Behind them, the trio had returned just in time to witness it all—the body of Yasmin, the way Rajni stood frozen, the stranger beside her like a shadow given form.
Vanshika unable to process all it vomited while the other two were still stunned by the view infront of their eyes.
Their blood ran cold.
The figure turned slowly, his gaze sweeping across the three... then settled on Raghav.
He stepped forward, eerily graceful, and tilted Raghav's chin up with a single finger.
For a long, dreadful moment, silence hung.
Then he leaned in close, his whisper barely audible.
"It screams potential," he said with a ghost of a smile. "The other two... don't."