"Well, well~! Isn't this nice? I swear, the idli here is everything. My classic staple breakfast!"
Arun was here again.
Actually, scratch that, she was with him. At a restaurant of all places.
The aroma of spices tickling her nose, the distant yelling of the chef and the feel of the morning sun dancing across her face was more grounding than she'd liked to admit.
"So... what do I call you, old man?" Arfa smirked, her hands clasped under her chin as she watched the man eat shamelessly.
Arun didn't bother swallowing the bite, his voice muffled through his chewing. "For first starters, old man is a no, obviously." He gulped down a glass of water with such urgency you'd think he was an outlaw.
"And second, no uncle. Can you imagine me of all people being called that?"
Arfa's brows raised, her lips in an amused smile. "Uncle it is, then."
"No! What did I just say!?"
A couple from the table over turned their heads.
Arfa laughed, with Arun pouting like an actual idiot. 'Seriously, what kind of man was he?'
"Okay, old man—"
"Arun, kid. Call me Arun, it's fine."
Arfa raised a brow.
"...Really? No 'respect your elders' talk?"
"No! Seriously," He waved his hand dismissively, already taking a bite from his idli. "It's fine. Besides, why not just ask me what you want to know? Your situation isn't really rare but it's still one of a kind."
"Uh, huh. Right." She lowered her eyes, then flicked them back up already scanning the man seated in front of her.
'So that means consuming parts of this "Hollow" creature isn't really all that condemned in whatever society he's involved in.
But still, the fact that he had to report my presence to that Mahendra person he mentioned must imply there are still some consequences. I wonder.'
"Hm? I know what you're thinking, you know? Isn't it about Drive and Drive channelling?" Arun grinned, leaning closer and pushing up those ridiculous sunglasses onto his head, the silver chain at his neck glinting like a knife's edge.
"No." Arfa replied flatly. "But yes, I do want to know about it. Not to ask stupid questions, but..." she leaned closer, tilting her head.
"Go ahead~ You kids always do dumb things anyways~!" Arun mocked, but was clearly a bit sombre now.
She rolled her eyes.
"This... Drive. I don't need to to confirm that it's a sort of energy deriving from internal dissonance that can be channelled for various purposes."
"Ding, ding! Correct! And?"
"Yeah, and." She sighed theatrically. "And apparently it can also be derived by eating a body part of a Hollow, which is a... creature? Formed by Drive. Am I right?"
Arun hummed, head tilting to the side. Arfa swore she saw a rare gleam of dullness in those alive eyes.
"Yeah, for the most part. Drive can also be awakened if it was latent in a person. So, that's most probably your case."
Arfa groaned, finally taking a bite of her idli. "I can't believe I'm in a world where being emotionally repressed gives you powers.."
Arun chuckled, letting go his arms stretch on the headrest of the sofa seat. "Oh, there's still a lot more."
"So what now? When are we going to see this Mahendra guy you keep speaking of?" Arfa poked at her food, taking another bite.
"When you finish eating, of course." He stated the obvious. "And, wow, you're a slow eater~! Picky much?"
"Hah, I'm only being slow to annoy you."
"It's not working. Anyhow, might as well tell you the rest of the story." He crossed his arms, stray strands of hair falling across his forehead.
Arfa was immediately irked, because people's eyes landed on them. Specifically him. "Are you really that good looking to them?" She muttered, chuckling.
"Hah? Don't change the subject, let me think and let them watch. It's not like I hate the attention anyway." He smirked.
"You peacock."
"Drowned kitten."
"Ahhhh, just tell me already, stop dragging this out!"
"Nahh, I've decided. Mahendra will explain it all to you anyway. He's also the reason I haven't killed the higher ups yet, so yay~!!" He gestured childishly with jazz hands.
She raised her brows in surprise. "Killed? What, are they like corrupt politicians? No, wait, more importantly, you channel Drive not just as a defense as I did against the Hollow but as an actual offensive ability?" Arfa mutters the last part, more to herself.
"Sounds like something out of an action movie, doesn't it? It's super fun stabbing the Hollows as well. You'll see~" He got up, walking towards the door, bill already paid on the table.
Arfa blinked. 'When did he pay for that?'
She stood up, metal of the chair legs screeching on the white tiles. "Wait, old man!"
"Come on! The car's outside."
Arfa caught up to the man, burying her hands in the pockets of her coat. "Why are your legs so long? It's not fair that you can walk so fast."
"It's 'cause you're short."
Arfa gasped in mock offense.
"And, see, I'd really love to continue our chat, but you really should get in." He smiles, a hand already on the open car door with the other gesturing her to get in.
"You're really just kidnapping me, huh?" She quipped, sliding onto the car seat, the scent of air fresheners hitting her senses.
Arun slid in beside her, the car door slamming shut. "Mmm, not really a kidnapping if you're agreeing to come with me~" He turned to the driver who gave him a quick good morning.
"Good morning as well~! Let's head to the Academy, Viresh."
"Of course, sir." The driver simply nodded, starting the engine.
"Arun. I have something to ask. You said Drive is energy that leaks from almost everyone, right? Is that why I'm sensing such different Drive structure in you?" Arfa asked, looking up from her hands.
Arun looked back at her, only a small smile on his face now. "Exactly~!" His tone was mellowed out now. "The fact that you're sensing others' energy traces just after a day of activating your Drive simply tells me more about you."
"What? How?" She asks, brows pinching together.
"Well, it's not usual that a person who's crazy enough to eat a Hollow part actually survives, or even if they did, they're gone mentally and emotionally."
Arfa's eyes narrowed. 'Is he saying I'm already gone?'
'Jokes aside, if what he's saying is true, then there could be serious consequences to me too due to triggering Drive. And I can already tell that this man is quite the expert just from sensing his Drive.'
'His Drive is... unexpectedly heavy despite being so scattered. What is he?'
She pauses and sighs, and Arun looks over. "Then I shouldn't have eaten the eye?"
He brightens up quickly, chuckling. "Oh no, no! You were in a tight situation there, and trust me, that thing would've devoured you if you hadn't eaten it first."
He laughed, "Can't believe I'm lucky enough to meet someone who eats Hollows like cough drops!"
"Will you stop teasing me," she muttered, face flat. She turned her head, looking at the sharp and tall, glinting buildings as they drove through the city, eyes lowering in that perpetual exhaustion.
'How far are we going? If Drive is something that isn't well known, then most likely the Academy's also a place probably disguised as a temple.'
'Cool, I've never been to temples. Next thing you know, they'll hand me prayer beads and teach me to control Drive through meditation.'
"Whatcha thinking? You do know, I can read your mind, right?" Arun grins, poking at her cheek.
She swats his hand away. "Is that your Drive effect or something?"
"Woah! Nah, I'm just kidding. But you'll know soon enough, so no point in ruining surprises, no?" He leans back, crossing his legs and humming a tune.
"The car vibe is so boring," He practically shouts, this man. "Viresh, music please. Something up beat, because I can tell this girl beside me might as well be the human form of teen angst."
"We're almost there, sir." The driver sighed, making no move. "So, no point in music now."
"Okay, first of all, never say that first sentence ever again." Arfa laughed at Arun's theatrics.
The car slowed to a stop. "Sir," The driver, Viresh turned, face contorted in exasperation. "We've arrived."
Arfa looked outside. And was immediately disappointed. "What? I thought it was going to be a place thoroughly disguised, why is it so huge?"
Arun chuckled, looking up as well as they both got out of the car.
The doors slammed shut and Arfa's eyes raked the building. It was magnificent, with a spindly tower and intricate architecture. A bit ancient looking, which was to be expected considering they were currently on the outskirts of the city.
The large gates opened into the area spanning 50 yards, the building looming behind it like a dark mountain of authority etched from stone.
"Woah. You people have the budget for this stuff?"
"Nanna muddu—"
"Don't call me that."
"Ours is a government recognised institution. Think about it. If everyone leaks Drive, isn't it right to teach people to control it?"
"But it's not like you can bring everyone here." She responded as their footsteps resounded across the large hallways. She could sense other Drive signatures. Possibly other students.
And another signature that felt like it was suppressing her own Drive.
"Well, you're not wrong. That's why we take in people like you who have the skills to channel their Drive and exterminate Hollows."
"So.... we're basically labourers then?" She replies, deadpan.
"My Chinna, watch your mouth. I don't want to be called a labourer when I'm this fabulous." He ran a hand through his hair and she grimaced.
"Okay, you really are prideful."
"Mm, not prideful. Just playful, that's all. We need some liveliness around her somehow, no?" He laughs and several heads peek out from the classrooms they were walking by.
"Oh, it's Mr. Madhav!!" A girl speaks up, her yellow-hazel eyes practically glowing in the morning sun.
A choruses of 'good mornings' resounded as Arun replied with a laugh, the classroom already behind them.
Arfa could hear the whispers behind her.
"Don't worry, they're all good kids. You'll be joining them too, so I hope you know how to make friends." He abruptly stops, resting his forearm on her head.
She looks up at him. "Me? I'm social skills in human flesh~!" She smirks.
"Right." He lets go of her, waving his hands at the door. "So, you're about to meet the boss! The man behind it all—"
Before he could finish, an energy flooded as the door opened and time seemed to slow as Arfa felt her Drive dampen.
"What's—"
"Arun. I see you've got another problem child." An authoritative voice resounded.
The man that spoke those words stood before them now, clad in a beige suit with white strands peppering the dark brown of his slicked back hair. His eyes, though, appeared tired.
Arfa blinked. 'What's with everyone being so perpetually exhausted here? I mean, I'm not one to say, but...'
"Another?" Arun spoke up, already childishly grinning as Mahendra let them both in. Arfa's eyes tracked the room.
'A false ceiling design, bookshelves and on the desk... Mahendra Yash. Hm, fits the man who looks like a tax lawyer. Also... are those plushies?'
Mahendra stopped beside her, gesturing her to sit. "Those are given by my students. I don't fancy such trivial cotton figures."
Arun plops down on one of the two seats in front of Mahendra's desks. "You say that now, but I've seen you dusting them off with so much pride in your eyes~! Just admit it, you love your students."
Arfa sat down, watching Mahendra sigh and take his seat at his desk. "Uh, so... is this where you test me and stuff?"
"No. Arun has already sent me your report and dug up your files to enroll you here." The older man spoke, sifting through files before pulling one out.
"What? He didn't even tell me anything, though." She leaned back, a hand on her chest in mock theatrics, though the question in her voice was real.
"That's just how I work, nanna muddu~" Arun wiggled his fingers at her, laughing.
Mahendra sighs. "What I want to know," he places a single file before her, leaning back in his chair, "is about your disappearance in the past two years."
Arfa looked up, a defensive smile already on her face. 'Really? This now?'
"There's practically next to nothing of you in these files before 2016. It could mean your records were either misplaced, which rarely happens, or..." The older man leaned forward, dark grey eyes hiding an entire storm in them.
"Someone erased them. And on your request."
Arfa's smile twitched.
'Ah. So this is where I get exposed.'
Arun sighed theatrically beside her.
"Why don't you just tell us," he turned to her with a grin too unnatural to be real, "Hanged Man?"
Her smile finally dropped.