Only V

Chapter 15 - The perfect preparation

Avyan wandered through the dimly lit corridors, a puzzled expression on his face, scratching his head and dragging his feet. He struggled to comprehend what had transpired in the training room. He called out Elara from in there but it turned out to be useless. He peered into every corner of the room, his anxiety mounting. The thick, enigmatic mist now filled the entire space, making it difficult to see or think clearly. After walking around for a bit, he found a big shaft at the top of the room however, there was no way to reach such a height. He tried to climb up the platforms but failed to do so. Due to these failed attempts at understanding the concept of the training room, he decided to give up and laid back besides the door, "What is this place? What am I supposed to do? I can't climb these platforms, therefore reaching that duct is out of sight. Should I be careful?",   Eventually, fatigue took over, and he drifted into a restless sleep. When he awoke, the door was miraculously unlocked. He stood up, his muscles aching, and made his way back to his quarters.

As Avyan finally found his way back to their quarters, he noticed Akash sitting alone in the expansive garden outside. The garden was a riot of colours, with flowers ranging from bright yellows to deep purples, even striking blacks. Akash was sitting on a bench, staring at a cluster of blue lilies. His mind was a whirl of emotions, but he found a brief respite in the beauty of the flowers. The late afternoon sun casts a golden hue over the garden, creating a serene atmosphere. The delicate petals swayed gently in the breeze, reminding him of simpler, more peaceful times.

Avyan approaches hesitantly, his face showing signs of recent stress and frustration.

Akash looked up and said, "These are blue lilies. This particular species is quite rare."

Avyan crouched to take a better look. "Yes, they look beautiful", Avyan replied, following Akash's gaze to the delicate blue lilies swaying gently in the breeze. "They remind me of the sky, so calm and peaceful."

Akash said, "You know what, I was thinking about what happened last night. I lost my calm last night, Avyan. I shouldn't have, but the stress of everything got to me. I feel terrible for snapping at Ishan when he was just trying to help"

Avyan placed his hand on Akash's shoulder, providing a little support, "I understand. Ishan is not someone who keeps grudges. He is one of the most chill guys I have seen. I am sure he must have even forgotten it"

Akash looked towards Avyan and said, "Yesterday, when I heard the news I thought there was no way out. I thought there is no way, I could save my sister. I thought that I did not stand a chance against creatures who hold a power like this. That is why anger got the best of me but after today, I realised, we might have a chance. I saw things at the lab, I understood them. I think there is a chance I can do something. This chance is enough for me to bet my life on it"

Avyan was confused, "What are you talking about?"

Akash stands up, "Come, let's get back to the boys, I'll tell everyone at once"

Avyan and Akash head to their room. As they open the gate, they are shocked to see Ishan and Anirudh in a state like never before. Blood seeped through the bandages that covered Ishan's body, the crimson stains stark against the white gauze. Seeing someone who never got behind in any physical confrontation in such a state sent chills down Avyan's spine. Anirudh was no better, clutching his stomach with both hands. His face is contorted in pain, with tightly shut eyes, furrowed brows, and an open mouth as if letting out a silent scream or groan. He was curled up in a fatal position, knees drawn up towards his chest in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Sweat beads were visible on his forehead, and his skin is pale, indicating the severity of the discomfort.

Ishan spoke out in utter discomfort, words hardly coming out of his mouth, "Water..."

Akash rushed to the table beside Ishan's bed and poured him a glass of water. He gently picked Ishan up and said, "It was wrong of me. I should have been more understanding and calm"