The Final Capture (Vanasagheray Trilogy Part II)

Chapter Six: 99%

The sun hangs high in the sky, casting a warm golden light over the open field beside the once old but now a new looking bungalow. The grass sways gently in the afternoon breeze, and the sound of distant birds fills the air. Vanasagheray stands in the middle of the clearing, his face calm but focused, as Ankit and Lyra watch him from a few steps behind, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

"Alright," Ankit says, breaking the silence, "show us what you can do."

Vanasagheray glances at them briefly, a small, confident smile playing on his lips. He turns his gaze back to the open expanse, his hands slowly rising in front of him. As his fingers spread out, the air around them seems to thicken, the atmosphere suddenly charged with an unseen energy.

Then, without warning, the distant mountains on the horizon begin to shift. Ankit and Lyra watch, their eyes wide, as the towering peaks start to bend and curve, as if the earth itself is being manipulated by an invisible force. The massive mountains, solid and immovable just moments ago, now bend toward them like a wave of stone, arching in an impossible, graceful motion.

"What the—" Ankit breathes, his voice filled with disbelief.

Lyra's hand flies to her mouth, her eyes locked on the surreal sight unfolding before them. The mountains continue to bend, their peaks nearly touching the ground before them, yet everything remains eerily quiet, as though the world outside their view is entirely unaware of what is happening.

Vanasagheray lowers his hands slightly, turning to face his friends. "Only you two can see this," he says calmly. "No one else."

Ankit glances around, his heart pounding. Despite the incredible sight in front of them, the world outside the field remains unchanged. Birds still fly overhead, the trees sway gently in the wind, and there is no sign that anyone else can see the earth-shattering phenomenon before them.

Lyra stares at Vanasagheray, her voice barely above a whisper. "How... how are you doing this?"

Vanasagheray smiles faintly, lowering his hands further as the mountains begin to slowly return to their original form. "It's not real. Well, not entirely. I'm bending perception—what you see, feel, experience. To you, it's as real as anything else. But to the world, nothing has changed."

The mountains, now upright once more, stand tall and unbothered, as if nothing extraordinary had just occurred. Ankit exhales sharply, still trying to wrap his head around what he's just witnessed.

"That is... insane," he mutters, shaking his head in disbelief. "You can make us see anything?"

Vanasagheray nods. "Within certain limits, yes."

Lyra's eyes are still wide with awe. "It felt so real. I could feel the ground moving, the air shifting around us..."

Vanasagheray meets her gaze, his expression serious now. "That's the point. It's not just a trick of the mind. It's the blending of perception and reality. It's dangerous if not controlled."

Ankit rubs his temples, still processing. "Man, we have so much to learn about you."

Vanasagheray smiles, lowering his hands completely as the energy in the air dissipates. "This is just the beginning."

Vanasagheray, with that same subtle smile, takes a deep breath, the afternoon light casting long shadows across the field. "If you think that was impressive," he says softly, "watch this."

He lifts his hands again, this time with slow, deliberate movements, as though he's guiding the very fabric of reality. Ankit and Lyra stand frozen, their hearts racing, eager to see what will happen next. The air around them begins to hum softly, vibrating with an almost musical resonance that grows louder with every passing second.