I woke up in pieces.
Not broken. Just... scattered. My limbs felt distant, like they weren't mine. My breath was shallow. My chest ached.
But what hit hardest—
Was the silence.
Still there.
No birds. No breeze. No footsteps. No voices.
Nothing.
My fingers twitched against the cot. The sheets were thin, but warm. Someone had placed a cloth over my forehead—it had long since cooled.
I blinked. Slowly.
The ceiling above me was wooden, curved slightly. Incense drifted from the corner of the room, though I could only see its dance in the air—not smell it, not hear the sizzle.
To my left—
Lakshmika.
She was slumped over the edge of my bed, a dried bandage wrapped messily around her upper arm. Her breath was slow, uneven. Eyes closed. Her hand gripped the side of my mattress like she'd been guarding it all night.
Varun leaned against the far wall, arms folded, absent-mindedly flicking something between his fingers—a smooth stone or carved charm. His eyes flicked to me once, then away. He looked angry. Or tired. Maybe both.
And near the desk…
Guru Anita and Ananya. Deep in conversation. I could tell by their lips and hand gestures, by the slow and tired movement of their shoulders. They were talking about something important.
But I couldn't hear a thing.
I tried to sit up—groaned.
That was when the door creaked open.
Two figures entered.
One of them was cloaked in deep blue and gold—his very presence shifted the room. Wise, calm, immovable.
Guru Vasishta.
The other walked beside him.
Tall, composed. The man who had fought like a storm, who danced through chaos with silence as his blade.
The Saviour.
My chest tightened.
Guru Vasiṣṭha stepped forward first. His lips moved—soft, careful.
But I couldn't understand. No sound. Not even a whisper.
He frowned slightly, then turned to the man.
"Why are you talking to him," the man said, "when he can't even hear it?"
His voice, deep and confident, echoed in the space I could only observe.
I mouthed back, slowly: "I can't hear. But I can read your lips."
The man paused.
Something in his expression flickered. Shock. Then—a glimmer of something sharper. Curiosity. Interest. Even... delight?
Guru Anita stepped forward now. Her voice silent to me, but I watched her closely.
"The curse isn't ordinary," she said, pacing slowly. "It was placed on you directly by the Beast Asura. A silence curse that blocks all sound from reaching your soul. Not just your ears."
Ananya added something I couldn't follow.
Anita continued, her face grave.
**"It can only be broken in two ways: if the Asura removes it himself... or if he dies."
I sat there, jaw clenched.
So I was... trapped?
"What do you mean, if he dies?" I mouthed.
"Beast Asuras are ranked," Guru Vasiṣṭha answered. "In the Asura realm, there are kings and hierarchies. Their value determines their rank. The one who cursed you—if he serves or is favored by a higher Asura, he will not be easy to defeat."
I tried to process that.
"So he might come back?"
"He will," the man said.
Lakshmika had woken by now.
Her voice came out fast—I couldn't hear it, but her lips moved with urgency.
"Then... does that mean Aryaman can't train anymore? Not until the curse is lifted?"
I shook my head.
"I can still read lips," I said. "I want to continue."
Guru Vasiṣṭha looked at me for a long moment.
Then turned to the others. A brief discussion happened. Nods. Murmurs. Decisions being made I couldn't hear.
Eventually, the room cleared.
Ananya gave me a soft smile before leaving. Varun gave me a long, unreadable look.
Lakshmika hesitated.
She wanted to say something. Her fingers gripped her robes. But she didn't.
Then she left.
Now it was just me.
Guru Vasiṣṭha.
And the man.
"This," Guru Vasiṣṭha said, placing a hand on the man's shoulder, "is Rudransh. One of the finest students this Ashrama has produced in decades. And perhaps... one of the strongest."
Rudransh gave a lazy half-bow. "Hey, little kid. You've got my attention now. Why are the Asuras after you? You hiding something? Or just born lucky?"
I swallowed.
"I don't know," I mouthed. "But I'm not running."
He grinned.
Vasiṣṭha nodded slowly. "Aryaman, I believe the only way forward is to grow stronger. And quickly. Rudransh has agreed to take you with him. Train you personally. Away from the Ashrama."
"A journey?" I asked.
"Yes. Trials. Missions. Knowledge. Danger. You will return different."
I looked down at my trembling hands.
Then at Vajra, resting on the table nearby.
Was this it? My next path?
My next choice?
That evening, I stood outside the hall.
The sun was falling. The skies bled gold.
Lakshmika was waiting.
"So you're leaving?"
I nodded.
She clenched her fists. Her lips trembled.
"Then... promise me something."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Promise me you won't die out there. Because if you do... I'll kill you myself."
I smiled.
Varun appeared behind her, arms crossed. He didn't speak. Just gave me a small nod.
I nodded back.
Then turned.
Rudransh was already walking ahead, cloak fluttering.
I followed.
And the silence followed me still.
But this time...
It didn't feel like a curse.
It felt like a beginning.