MIRACULOUS MYSTERY

Chapter 10

The city buzzed with excitement, but for Ishan and Shubman, it was anything but a celebration. As they navigated their respective routines, both were consumed by the weight of their newfound identities.
---
At CollegeIshan sat in a crowded cafeteria, surrounded by friends, but his mind was miles away. The news blared from a nearby TV, once again featuring clips of the day's battle. "Scarlet and Nyx: The Heroes We Didn't Know We Needed!" the headline flashed, causing Ishan to cringe.

"Hey, Ishan! You're being super quiet today. What's up?" Mayank asked, nudging him."Oh, nothing," Ishan replied, forcing a smile. "Just... tired from studying."He picked at his food, which looked less like a meal and more like a sad sculpture. Suddenly, a news segment caught his attention. The anchor announced, "Experts speculate that the mysterious heroes could be anyone from your favorite cricketers to... your friendly neighborhood college student!"

Ishan's fork clattered to the plate, and his face turned pale. Great. Just what I needed!"You, okay? You're acting kinda weird," Mayank pressed."Yeah, yeah! Totally fine!" Ishan insisted, waving his hands dismissively. Just focus on being a normal college student, he told himself. That's all that matters right now.--- Bangalore

Shubman stood in the cricket practice area, but his heart wasn't in it. His teammates chattered excitedly about the masked heroes, but all Shubman could think about was how to keep his superhero life a secret.

"Shub, you're looking like a ghost. What's up with you?" Rohit asked, noticing Shubman's distracted demeanor."Just... a lot on my mind," Shubman replied, trying to sound casual."Thinking about Scarlet and Nyx, huh?" Virat grinned, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "They're amazing! I wish I could do something like that."

Shubman laughed nervously, if only you knew..."Yeah, who wouldn't?"Suddenly, a ball flew past him, hitting a nearby water cooler, causing it to burst open. Shubman ducked, his teammates erupted in laughter, and he muttered, "I'd rather deal with a rock monster than this chaos."---

Back at his dorm, Ishan paced around his room, his phone buzzing with messages. He pulled it out to see a flood of notifications, all centered on the heroes.**"Scarlet and Nyx: The Mystery Continues!"**He gritted his teeth, frustration boiling within him. I need to keep my identity a secret. No one can know.

Tikki floated out from his backpack, sensing his anxiety. "You're worrying too much, Ishan. You did great in the battle!"

"It's not about that, Tikki. It's about keeping my life separate. I can't let anyone find out."Tikki nodded, her expression serious. "I understand. Just remember to stay focused on your studies and your friendships. Those are important too.""Yeah, sure, Tikki," Ishan replied, only half-listening. *Just another day trying to pretend I'm not a superhero.---

 BangaloreShubman sat alone in his room, staring at his ring, contemplating the chaos that lay ahead. How do I keep this under control?

Plagg popped up, licking a piece of cheese. "What's got you all twisted up?""Just thinking about how to manage all this," Shubman muttered. "Everyone is talking about us. If anyone finds out...""Relax! You've got this. Just act like you always do,"Plagg encouraged, munching away.Shubman shook his head, "It's not that simple! I can't be Shubman the cricketer and Nyx the hero at the same time."

Plagg rolled his eyes, "Well, you better figure it out, or you'll be in big trouble."Shubman sighed, the pressure is unreal. I can barely manage my batting averages, let alone this superhero gig!---
Both Ishan and Shubman found themselves scrolling through social media, reading the endless theories and speculations about who Scarlet and Nyx really were.**"They could be anyone!"** a comment read. **"I hope they're not famous!"**Ishan felt a shiver run down his spine. They can't be anyone I know. That would be a disaster.Shubman glanced at his phone, feeling the weight of every notification. What if someone connects the dots?

Suddenly, Shubman's phone pinged with a meme: a photo of Scarlet tripping over his own yo-yo, captioned, **"When you try to save the day but trip over your own feet."** Shubman burst out laughing, drawing the attention of his teammates."What's so funny?" Rohit asked."Oh, just... a funny cat video," Shubman quickly replied, but he couldn't help the smirk on his face.---SOMEWHERE The Master observed the two heroes through a magical screen, the kwamis gathered around him."Master, they're struggling to manage their new lives,"Sass noted, concern etched on his tiny face.Wayzz nodded. "They're trying to keep their identities hidden. It's a difficult balance."The Master chuckled softly. "Indeed. But that's part of the journey. They will learn and adapt.""Should we help them?" Wayzz asked.

The Master shook his head, "No, they must navigate this on their own. It will only make them stronger."Sass couldn't help but interject, "But they're a complete mess! It's like watching a circus!"The Master chuckled again. "Exactly. And sometimes, the best lessons come from the biggest disasters."

---As the sun set over the city, both Ishan and Shubman lay in bed, lost in their thoughts, anxious about what the next day would bring. They were determined to keep their superhero lives a secret while trying to maintain their normal existence. Little did they know that the chaos of their dual lives was just beginning, and the media frenzy would only add to the tension.---                                                                                               BYE