Paraedons: A War beginning

*Chapter 8: The Hidden Truth**

In the dimly lit lab of Professor Durga’s research facility, two of her most trusted students, Karthik and Abbey, stood side by side, silently exchanging glances. They both knew the weight of the secret they carried. As members of the team searching for the descendants of the Jaba tribe, they had information that could turn the tide in the battle against the Paraedons. Yet, they were forced to play the role of ignorant allies, hiding the truth even from their own mentor, Professor Durga, and MacMillan.

Karthik and Abbey were not just researchers—they were Jaba's descendants themselves, the very people MacMillan and Professor Durga were desperately seeking. Years ago, the remaining children of the Jaba tribe had made a pact, a solemn vow to never reveal their lineage, to never admit their true heritage to anyone. They knew that the moment they spoke of their ancestry, the Paraedons would be able to trace them, hunting down each member of the tribe until no Jaba blood remained.

The cost of breaking this vow had already been witnessed when Navya Kapoor, another descendant of Jaba, made a fatal mistake. She had attempted to fight back against one of the Paraedons, only to be captured and taken away. The Paraedons kept her imprisoned, torturing her in hopes of making her reveal the locations of the remaining Jaba tribe members. But Navya, even under immense pain and suffering, had kept her silence, refusing to betray her people.

Karthik and Abbey knew that revealing their identity could lead to the same fate. They couldn't risk exposing themselves to MacMillan and Professor Durga, for fear that the Paraedons would learn of it too. They decided to act clueless, masking their knowledge of the Jaba and Paraedons while secretly doing everything they could to protect their own.

Professor Durga, always perceptive, noticed the distress on their faces. She suspected that something was amiss with her students. One day, unable to contain her curiosity, she confronted them, asking if everything was alright. Karthik and Abbey, forced to lie, assured her that they were just stressed about their research. The lie didn’t fool Professor Durga; she could sense that they were hiding something significant.

Pretending to believe their words, Professor Durga let them go but immediately began to plan her next move. That evening, she returned to her private shrine, a small temple hidden in the depths of the university grounds. Surrounded by ancient texts and symbols of protection, she began a powerful ritual of dark magic, her voice chanting incantations that echoed through the still air. The ritual was meant to reveal the truth that lay hidden in the minds of her students.

Through her mystical powers, Professor Durga's suspicions were confirmed—Karthik and Abbey were indeed descendants of the Jaba tribe. She learned that they had taken a vow to never speak of their heritage, to stay silent about their past, for fear of putting the entire Jaba lineage in danger. They were bound by this promise, unable to communicate their truth in words.

Determined to help without forcing them to break their vow, Professor Durga devised a plan. She realized that while they couldn't speak of their lineage directly, there might be other ways for them to convey their knowledge. They could use signs, written messages, or symbolic gestures to communicate what they knew about the Jaba tribe and the dangers posed by the Paraedons.

The next day, Professor Durga called Karthik and Abbey to her office. She subtly hinted that there were other ways to share information without breaking their promise, letting them know that she understood their predicament. Her words were carefully chosen, and her tone was gentle, encouraging them to find a different way to convey their message.

Karthik and Abbey looked at each other, realizing that Professor Durga was offering them a way out—a way to fight against the Paraedons without betraying their oath. They nodded, knowing that they had found a trusted ally in Professor Durga, someone who would stand by them in the battle to protect the legacy of the Jaba tribe.