The next morning, the sky above Doon City was a soft ocean of golden clouds. A cool breeze brushed the cobbled streets as Rudra stepped out of his home, satchel over his shoulder and spirit light.
Breakfast had been peaceful—his uncle unusually quiet, sipping tea with one eye on Rudra the whole time. There were no lectures today. No sarcastic comments. Just a quiet nod when Rudra stood to leave. It was the kind of silence that said, "You're doing well. Keep going."
As Rudra approached the academy gates,
Dawn painted Adraksha Academy in pale gold as Rudra walked the familiar path, the scent of dew-kissed grass and aged stone filling the air.. He pushed open the academy's towering outer gate, its iron scrollwork casting long shadows in the morning light.
And he froze.
Leaning casually against the sun-warmed archway was a figure he hadn't seen in days standing tall and smiling awkwardly, was Jade.
"Jade!" Rudra shouted with surprise.
Before Jade could react, Rudra crossed the gap and pulled him into a tight hug. Jade let out a small grunt and laughed, patting Rudra's back.
"You're crushing my ribs, man."
A wave of pure, unadulterated relief washed over Rudra, so intense it momentarily stole his breath. Jade looked thinner, a shadow of weariness clinging beneath his eyes, Yet, he stood upright, a familiar, if slightly worn, grin spreading across his face as he hugged back Rudra.
"Rudra Nice to see you man!" Jade's voice, rougher than before but warm, cut through the quiet courtyard.
"You too," Rudra replied, his own gaze tracing on Jade's face. "They kept you in the hospital longer. How… how are you really?"
Jade's grin softened, a flicker of something darker passing through his eyes before he masked it. "Stiff. Annoyed. Eager to get back to making your life difficult. You know, the usual." He pushed off the wall, falling into step beside Rudra as they headed towards the main academy building. "And you? Heard you haven't exactly been resting either."
They walked in companionable silence for a moment, the familiar crunch of gravel underfoot a comforting rhythm. The shared experience hung unspoken between them – the terror, the pain, the helplessness. It forged a new layer of understanding, a silent pact beneath their usual banter.
"So," Jade began, his tone shifting, a note of genuine awe creeping in. "The rumor mill's been churning. They say you sparred with Garek. Senior Garek. And… held your ground? Drew?" He stopped walking, turning fully to face Rudra, disbelief warring with admiration in his expression. "That true?"
Rudra shrugged, feeling a flush creep up his neck. "It was just a friendly bout, Jade. Testing the waters after… everything. Garek wasn't exactly pushing his limits." He kept his tone light, deflecting. He didn't want pity or misplaced hero worship, especially not from Jade.
"Just a friendly bout?" Jade echoed, his voice low. "Rudra, there's an ocean between a Prana Initiate and a Mortal Warrior. An ocean most drown trying to cross. Even holding your own, even for a moment… that's not 'nothing special'. That's…" He trailed off, shaking his head, a slow smile replacing the disbelief. "Actually, scratch that. It's exactly the kind of insane thing I'd expect from you. Especially now." His gaze turned serious again, assessing. "You seem… different. Sharper. Like you finally decided what you're aiming for."
Rudra met Jade's eyes. The easy-going mask Jade usually wore was thinner now, revealing a perceptiveness Rudra sometimes forgot he possessed. "The incident," Rudra said simply, the words heavy. "It clarified things. Wasting time isn't an option anymore."
Jade nodded slowly, a flicker of shared determination passing between them. "Yeah," he murmured. "It does that."
They resumed walking, the weight of their conversation settling into a comfortable resolve. As they neared the corridor branching towards their usual classroom, Rudra stopped. "Head on in, Jade. I need to see Professor Devyani."
Jade raised an eyebrow. "Devyani? First thing? Why?"
Rudra managed a small smile. Academy business. Promotion stuff."
"Promotion?" Jade's eyes widened. "Already? Annual evaluations aren't for months." He saw the look in Rudra's eye – focused, intense. "Ah. Right. Wasting time isn't an option. Good luck, then. Don't let her scare you too much." He offered a final grin before heading down the familiar hallway.
Rudra watched him go for a second, taking a steadying breath. Jade was right. This felt like stepping onto a new path. He turned and made his way towards the faculty wing, the polished marble floors echoing his footsteps. He stopped before a heavy oak door bearing Professor Devyani's nameplate. He knocked.
"Enter." Her voice was crisp, familiar.
Rudra pushed the door open. Professor Devyani sat behind her meticulously organized desk, scrolls neatly stacked, a single vibrant orchid the only splash of color. She looked up, her sharp eyes immediately pinning him. A flicker of something – perhaps approval, perhaps calculation – crossed her face.
"Rudra. Punctual. I assume you're here about your rather… ambitious request?" She leaned back, steepling her fingers.
"You know why I'm here, Professor," Rudra replied, standing respectfully before her desk. The nervous energy from seeing Jade had settled into a focused calm.
"Indeed. Promotion to the Inner Academy. Ahead of schedule. By three months." She studied him, her gaze piercing. "Someone's impatient."
"The Outer Academy has nothing more to teach me," Rudra stated, his voice firm. "Not what I need. Not now."
A ghost of a smile touched Devyani's lips. "Confidence. Or recklessness. The line is often thin." She stood, her movements efficient. "I spoke with the Vice-Principal. He agrees to consider your request."
A spark of hope ignited in Rudra's chest. "He did?"
"Hold your horses, Initiate," Devyani cautioned, though her eyes held a glint. "There is a condition. One non-negotiable condition."
"Name it," Rudra said instantly.
"You must pass a test. His test. Only then will the gates to the Inner Academy open for you, outside the usual channels."
Rudra didn't hesitate. "I accept." Confidence surged through him, a tangible force. He had faced death. He had drawn against a Senior. He was ready.
"Good." Devyani picked up a small, ornate token from her desk. "Follow me." She swept past him, her robes whispering against the floor. Rudra fell into step behind her, leaving the familiar confines of the Outer Academy.
They moved towards the heart of Adraksha, crossing a wide, arched bridge that spanned a deep chasm filled with swirling, iridescent mist. On the other side stood the Inner Academy. It wasn't just a building; it was a fortress, a castle sculpted from luminous, pale stone that seemed to drink in the sunlight. Towers clawed at the sky, vast wings sprawled in multiple directions, and an aura of immense, ancient power radiated from its very foundations. It felt alive. Rudra's breath caught. This was the crucible where true power was forged.
Devyani led him through towering gates manned by silent, armored guards whose eyes glowed faintly with restrained energy. The corridors within were vast, vaulted, lined with intricate tapestries depicting legendary battles and soaring beasts. The air hummed with dense Prana. Students moved with purposeful strides, their uniforms finer, their auras sharper, more controlled than anything Rudra had encountered before. He felt like a minnow swimming into an ocean.
They approached the largest structure at the academy's core – a colossal central keep. Guards clad in shimmering silver armor, radiating palpable power, stood at attention before immense double doors. Devyani nodded, and the guards pushed the doors open without a word, revealing a cavernous antechamber and another, even grander door at its end.
Devyani knocked. A voice, deep, resonant, and surprisingly pleasant, answered. "Come."
The inner door swung open silently. Rudra followed Devyani into a room that seemed to defy scale. High, arched windows flooded the space with light, illuminating walls lined with shelves holding ancient tomes, gleaming artifacts, and mounted creatures Rudra couldn't identify. A large, polished obsidian desk dominated the far end. Behind it stood a man.
Vice-Principal Edward.
Rudra had heard the legends – the ten-day battle against the Makara demon, the pacification of the Whispering Peaks rebellion. He expected an imposing, scarred veteran, perhaps radiating visible menace.
Edward was… not that.
He appeared middle-aged, with thick, well-groomed brown hair swept back from a high forehead. His face was clean-shaven, revealing strong, handsome features that hinted at a charismatic youth. His skin was smooth, and his eyes, a startling shade of amber, held an unnerving calmness and depth. He wore simple, dark grey robes of exceptional quality, unadorned but speaking of immense refinement. Rudra felt a sudden, incongruous thought: He must have broken hearts across the province.
Edward's gaze settled on Rudra, and despite the pleasant expression, Rudra felt instantly seen, as if layers of pretense were effortlessly peeled away. A wave of nervousness, different from anything he'd felt before – a primal awareness of immense, contained power – washed over him. This was the apex predator in his domain.
"Professor Devyani," Edward acknowledged, his voice warm. Then his amber eyes fixed fully on Rudra. "And this must be the prodigy I've heard whispers about. Rudra." He offered a small, genuine smile. "Welcome."
Rudra bowed deeply, the formal gesture feeling simultaneously necessary and inadequate. "Vice-Principal Edward. It's an honor, sir." He kept his voice steady, fighting the instinctive urge to step back under that penetrating gaze. Behind him, Rudra sensed Devyani standing with her arms crossed, a faint, amused grin playing on her lips as she watched his discomfort. She hadn't bowed, Rudra noted. Edward didn't seem to mind.
"Please, enough formality," Edward said, gesturing towards a chair in front of his desk. His movements were fluid, economical. "Sit. And relax, Rudra. I don't bite. Often." The slight twinkle in his eye did little to dispel Rudra's tension. He sat, perched on the edge of the plush chair.
Edward leaned back, steepling his own fingers in a mirror of Devyani's earlier gesture. "Professor Devyani informs me you seek early entry into our Inner Academy. A bold request. The standard path exists for a reason – it allows for measured growth, ensuring students are truly prepared for the… intensity within these walls." He paused, his gaze unwavering. "Why the rush? Why not wait three months for the evaluations? I have no doubt you'd pass then."
Rudra met Edward's gaze squarely, the nervousness hardening into resolve. "Three months is too long, Vice-Principal. The Outer Academy offers foundation, but it lacks the forge. I need the pressure, the challenges, the power that resides here. Waiting feels like stagnation.
Edward studied him for a long moment, the silence stretching, thick with unspoken assessment. Rudra felt like his very soul was being weighed. Finally, Edward nodded slowly. "Conviction. I respect that. Very well." He leaned forward slightly, the air in the room seeming to grow denser, charged. "If you wish to bypass the established timeline, you must earn it. You must pass my test."
"I understand, sir," Rudra said, his voice firm. "I am ready."
Edward's smile returned, wider this time, showing sharp, even teeth. "Confidence. I like that." He glanced towards Devyani. "Patience, Devyani. It begins momentarily."
They waited in silence. Rudra focused on his breathing, centering himself, pushing down the thrum of adrenaline. The sheer presence of Edward was a test in itself.
A soft knock echoed through the vast office.
"Enter," Edward commanded.
The door opened. A figure stepped inside, closing it silently behind him.
He appeared to be around Rudra's age, perhaps a year older. Long, ink-black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall of night, stark against the vibrant red of the lightweight, form-fitting armor he wore – plates of lacquered crimson that seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. His face was pale, sculpted with sharp, almost severe angles, devoid of expression. But it was his eyes that arrested Rudra. They were dark, deep-set, and utterly cold. Not angry, not hostile, but profoundly empty, like chips of obsidian reflecting nothing. An unnerving stillness radiated from him, the stillness of a predator conserving energy before the strike. The air temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.
Edward gestured towards the newcomer, his voice smooth as silk, but carrying an undeniable weight. "Rudra, allow me to introduce your test. This is Vaishnav."