"Alex, what did you just say?" Richerd's tone carried a quiet weight, his brows furrowed beneath the dim lantern light of his study. "You said something about… the Vassal of Void, right?"
Alex stood beside the table, his gloved hands resting on the edge, eyes scanning the old parchment scattered across it. "Yes. You heard it right, brother. Since the day that healer woman told me about the journey of Shambhala, I've been digging through every ancient record I own. And I found something." His voice dropped lower. "A ritual. An ancient one. It speaks of awakening a soul capable of becoming either the savior of the world—or its destroyer."
Richerd leaned back, exhaling slowly. The candlelight trembled. "And you think Rudra… has something to do with it?"
"I don't think," Alex said. "I know. That boy isn't ordinary. His energy, his eyes, the way he survived wounds that should've killed him—it all connects somehow. Even the healer sensed it."
Richerd rubbed his temples, tired. "You make it sound as if my son's cursed."
Alex crossed his arms. "Maybe blessed. Maybe cursed. The old healer from Indica was clear. We have only two paths—either Rudra faces the same fate again, or he becomes strong enough to defy it."
Richerd looked up sharply. "And what if we don't choose?"
"Then fate chooses for us," Alex said flatly. "And it rarely chooses kindly."
For a while, silence filled the room—thick, heavy, almost suffocating. The crackle of the fireplace was the only sound.
Finally, Richerd spoke again. "You think he's ready for another journey?"
Alex smirked faintly. "He's barely conscious. But yes, one day soon he'll have to be. And I'll find someone to go with him—a partner he can trust."
Richerd shook his head. "You won't go with him yourself?"
"I can't. My duties keep me bound here. But I'll find someone worthy." Alex hesitated, then chuckled dryly. "Though, I'll admit—I'd rather face an army of demons than try explaining this to your wife."
Richerd smiled weakly. "You're not wrong about that. But let's leave the talk of destiny for another night. He's finally awake after a month… come, let's have dinner together."
Alex nodded, his expression softening. "Maybe it'll be our last peaceful dinner for a long time."
The Dinner
The grand dining hall shimmered beneath crystal chandeliers, their glow painting the marble floors in warm gold. The long oak table was laden with dishes—roasted meat glazed in honey, bowls of steaming soup, soft bread, and vegetables seasoned with herbs. The air carried the aroma of spice and warmth.
Rudra and Victoria were already seated. As Richerd and Alex entered, Rudra rose from his chair with a faint smile. "Welcome, Father. Welcome, Uncle Alex."
Richerd chuckled. "Look at you, already standing. You're stronger than I thought."
Alex grinned, placing a rough hand on Rudra's shoulder. "How are you, brat? You scared us all to death."
Rudra smiled faintly, his voice calm but distant. "I'm fine now. The pain is gone. It feels like… I've woken from a long dream."
Richerd exchanged a subtle glance with Victoria and whispered, "His bones were shattered. How is he walking already?"
Victoria leaned closer. "Even the city healer was astonished. His recovery rate isn't human. At this pace, he'll be fully healed before the next moon."
Richerd's eyes narrowed slightly, but he forced a smile. "That's… good news."
Rudra noticed the hush between them. "Mother, Father—what are you whispering about? Is something wrong?"
Richerd waved it off. "Nothing, son. Just asking your mother what the healer said. But it seems I don't need to worry—you're already better. Let's eat."
But Rudra didn't sit yet. "Wait, Father. You promised me something. You said you'd tell me everything."
Alex raised a brow. "You're worried about how you got injured, aren't you?"
Rudra nodded. "Yes. I keep seeing flashes in my dreams. Flames… monsters. It doesn't feel like an accident."
Alex sighed. "You were on a mission, Rudra. Delivering goods near the border. Bandits ambushed you, and you fell off a cliff. That's what happened."
Rudra frowned, trying to piece together fragments in his head. "Then why do I remember faces that weren't human? Their eyes… they burned like coals."
Victoria's hand shot out, gripping his tightly. "Don't push yourself. You've been asleep for almost a month. Dreams and memories blur when the body suffers that long. Rest your mind."
Richerd nodded quickly. "She's right. For now, eat. Let's not talk about nightmares over food."
Rudra hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Alright. I'm starving."
Victoria served him a bowl of soup. "No heavy food yet. Start with this."
Rudra took a spoonful and smiled. "Maybe I should've stayed asleep a bit longer. At least I wouldn't have to follow all these rules."
Everyone laughed, the tension in the air finally breaking. For the first time in weeks, the mansion echoed with joy. For that single meal, they were just a family again — untouched by the storms of destiny.
When the plates were empty and candles burned low, Alex rose from his seat. "I should go. It's late."
Richerd nodded. "Thank you for coming, brother."
Victoria smiled. "It means a lot to him."
Alex turned to Rudra. "Heal fast, brat. The world doesn't wait for slow men."
Rudra smirked. "I'll remember that."
Under the Starlit Sky
The night air was crisp. Stars shimmered over the gardens like a sea of silent fireflies. Rudra and Richerd walked side by side under the pale moonlight, their shadows stretching long across the cobblestone path.
Richerd broke the silence first. "So… what will you do once you're healed completely?"
Rudra looked up at the sky. "Maybe I'll join Uncle Alex again. I like what he does. It feels… meaningful."
Richerd chuckled softly. "You know, Rudra, I'm getting old. You're my only son. Your mother and I built everything for you. I'd love to see you join our trade someday—make it yours."
Rudra turned toward him. "Are you worried about what happened, Father?"
Richerd stopped walking, his gaze distant. "Of course I am. You're all I have. Watching you fight for your life… I can't show weakness, but it tore me apart. And I know your mother felt the same."
Rudra's voice softened. "Father…"
Richerd placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm not forcing you to follow my path. But I'd be proud to see you choose it—not for duty, but for love."
Rudra smiled gently. "If it makes you and Mother happy, I'll do it. That's all that matters."
Richerd's eyes shimmered in the moonlight. "You're a good son, Rudra. Better than I deserve. Come, it's late."
They turned back toward the mansion, their steps slow, the night calm — unaware that beyond the walls, something else had begun to stir.
The Shadow Returns
Later that night, Rudra stood before his mirror, his shirt off, his body marked by pale scars that glowed faintly under the moonlight. His reflection stared back, unreadable.
He traced the lines across his chest with trembling fingers. "Were these really from a fall?" he whispered. "Or… something else?"
The silence in the room was thick, broken only by the whisper of wind through the open window. Rudra sighed and sat on the bed.
"Maybe it's just my imagination," he murmured. "I'll find out when the time's right."
He lay back, letting exhaustion pull him into uneasy sleep.
Outside, the night had turned heavy. Clouds drifted, cloaking the moon. The garden below grew darker—unnaturally so. From the far end of the courtyard, something moved. Slow. Soundless. Watching.
A shadow crawled across the mansion wall, bending light as it moved. It reached Rudra's window and paused.
Then came a whisper.
"So… you're finally awake."
The voice was deep, low, and filled with cruel amusement. Two crimson eyes blinked open within the darkness, gleaming like blood in moonlight.
"It's time we meet again, Rudra," the voice hissed. "You didn't think you could sleep forever… did you?"
A twisted grin formed in the blackness.
Then laughter — a sound neither human nor beast — filled the night.
"Haa… haaaa… haaaaaaa!"
The echo slithered through the corridors, fading into the distance.
And Rudra, deep in his sleep, stirred restlessly — unaware that the darkness he thought he escaped… had found him once again.