After Ryu left to rest, Anshu stretched and looked at Ansh.
"I should get going now."
Ansh raised an eyebrow. "Going where?"
Anshu gave him a side-smirk.
"Blue Breathers ki meeting hai. Tu bhool gaya kya?"
("There's a Blue Breathers meeting. You forgot, didn't you?")
Ansh blinked, then smacked his forehead.
"Ohh damn… I totally forgot!"
He chuckled. "Alright, let's go together then."
Without another word, Ansh grabbed Anshu's wrist, and in a blink, both vanished in a swirl of violet and silver flame.
—
Townhall of Xyther – Blue Breathers HQ
The massive, glowing chamber buzzed with quiet energy. This was the heart of the Blue Breathers — the elite council of the realm.
In the center was a large round table surrounded by nine high-backed chairs. And for years, one chair always remained empty. No one knew who it was meant for… until now.
In a flash, two glowing lights exploded into the room.
Ansh and Anshu appeared in their chairs—Ansh calm and confident, Anshu relaxed like he owned the place.
The room went silent. Eyes widened. Whispers spread.
"He actually came..." someone muttered.
"So he's real..." another said.
Anshu stood, gave a light bow, and said with a smile,
"Nice to meet you all. I know, I'm late. For about… six years."
The room chuckled nervously.
Then his smile faded.
"Jokes aside… we have to be ready for what's coming next."
He looked around the room.
"Ansh and I won't be able to interfere directly. But we wanted to warn you. Things are going to change."
A tense silence filled the air. The members began whispering among themselves. The atmosphere turned heavy.
Until—
Ansh raised his hand and said casually,
"Relax everyone. Anshu loves to mess with people."
The room let out a nervous laugh.
Anshu grinned.
"There's nothing to worry about. Ansh is here. He'll handle everything. No pressure, bro."
He slapped Ansh on the shoulder playfully.
The room went dead silent again.
Nobody ever called Director Ansh by his name without a title. Who was this man?
Then, without warning, Anshu winked, stretched his arms, and said,
"Okay then, I'm going bye-bye."
Poof!
He vanished without a sound.
The chamber stayed silent for a full three seconds.
Then someone whispered,
"What kind of power was that…?"
---
Director Ansh addresses the Council
Ansh stood up slowly.
"There's something I need to share. A boy recently awakened his Embermark. Its color… was silver."
Gasps filled the room.
Silver.
Only those with Silver Embermarks were allowed in the Blue Breathers.
Ansh didn't tell them it was actually violet. He wasn't ready to share that part yet.
He simply said,
"We've finally found the 10th member of the Blue Breathers."
The third seat holder, a lean man with white hair and glowing eyes, leaned forward.
Sitzu.
"Director. When will he arrive?"
Ansh replied calmly.
"He's only 15. He needs to train first."
More gasps.
"Fifteen?!" someone whispered.
Ansh nodded. "Yes. That's all I had to say. Meeting dismissed."
He vanished instantly, like a puff of wind.
Everyone sat frozen for a moment.
No chants. No scrolls. No tools. He just disappeared.
Sitzu turned to the woman beside him, the 4th member—Liora, her long silver braid resting on her shoulder.
"We should also get going now."
Liora simply nodded.
The other members got up, returning to their work… but one thought kept repeating in their minds:
A boy awakened silver… at fifteen.
---
Back at the Floating Castle
Director Ansh returned to the castle and walked into Ryu's room.
"Ryu," he said. "Are you ready?"
Ryu stood quickly. "Yes, sir!"
Ansh smiled.
"Do you know how high we are right now?" he asked casually.
Ryu blinked. "Uh… no?"
Ansh looked out the window.
"Fifty thousand feet above the ground."
Ryu raised an eyebrow. "Okay… why are you telling me this?"
Ansh turned slowly toward him.
"Because…"
And before Ryu could move—
Ansh shoved him.
Right out the window.
"WHA—AAAAA!"
Ryu's scream faded into the wind as he plummeted toward the clouds.
Ansh chuckled from the balcony.
"Let's see if your instincts are awake yet."