The tournament grounds were still buzzing long after Ashwini's victory.
Students crowded the arena gates, gossiping and giggling, still whispering about how Rohan—the so-called Prodigy of the Council Line—had been outsmarted by a "little forest girl."
And right in the middle of it all were three small troublemakers.
Ansh was hopping along the path, hands behind his head, whistling a tune he definitely just made up. Daav sat proudly on his shoulder, puffing his feathers like a mini-king.
Ashwini trailed behind, holding her battle-scarred robe, sighing. "Can you not hum so loudly, Ansh?"
"I'm celebrating!" he said, spinning dramatically. "Our Ashwini the Mighty has beaten Rohan the Roasted!"
Vijay snorted. "You mean Rohan the Overcooked."
Daav chirped, letting out a tiny flame puff that looked suspiciously like a crown.
Ashwini couldn't help it—she laughed, even as she tried to scold them. "You two are impossible."
"Impossible and proud!" Ansh said, striking a heroic pose. "Did you see his face when you blocked his dragon? It was like—" He opened his mouth wide in mock horror. "'Whaaat?! My royal fire can't burn weeds?!'"
Vijay burst out laughing, nearly doubling over.
Even Daav mimicked a tiny version of Rohan's angry glare, puffing his cheeks and flapping his wings indignantly.
As fate would have it, Rohan chose that exact moment to walk past the corridor, his robe freshly changed, hair still slightly singed from the match.
The laughter died instantly.
For a heartbeat, silence.
Then Ansh grinned wider.
"Oh! Speak of the roasted phoenix himself!" he said cheerfully. "Hey, Rohan! Should we call for some water? You still look a little… crispy."
Rohan froze, his jaw tightening. His two companions—both learner-level aides—glared at Ansh. "Watch your tongue, brat! That's—"
Rohan raised a hand to silence them. His voice came out cold but tired.
"You've got a loud mouth for someone who hides behind a Vice Principal's shadow."
Ashwini stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "We don't hide behind anyone. We train, we fight, we fall, and we stand again. That's what disciples do."
Ansh nodded solemnly, then immediately ruined it by adding, "Also, we don't burst into flames and lose to a bunch of flowers."
Vijay sighed. "Subtlety doesn't exist for you, does it?"
Rohan's cheeks twitched. He looked at Ashwini, then at Vijay, then at Ansh—his pride warring with embarrassment. Finally, he said quietly, "You're strong. I underestimated you."
Ansh blinked, caught off-guard. "Wait—was that… respect? Did he just praise us?"
Ashwini hid a smile. "You should take the compliment before he changes his mind."
But Ansh couldn't resist. He leaned forward, hands on his knees, whispering loudly to Daav, "Did he really say that? The mighty Rohan—the one who walks like he's balancing his ego on his nose?"
Daav nodded solemnly and chirped once.
Vijay chuckled. "Ansh, stop bullying him. You'll get us banned from the mess hall again."
"Worth it," Ansh said without hesitation.
Rohan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll remember this, you know. Next time, none of you will get off this easy."
Ashwini crossed her arms. "Next time, maybe you'll learn to fight without yelling your move names every five seconds."
Vijay added dryly, "Or maybe try not burning the entire arena floor next time. The maintenance team almost fainted."
Rohan turned red again. "You three—!"
Ansh interrupted him with mock formality, bowing low. "The 'Three Little Monsters' of Rajyugas, at your service!"
Daav flapped his wings dramatically, adding a shower of harmless sparks.
For a moment, even Rohan couldn't help it—he smiled faintly. "You're all insufferable."
Ashwini smirked. "But you'll still lose next time."
He gave a short laugh and walked off, muttering something about "brats with too much confidence." His two aides followed quickly behind.
As soon as Rohan disappeared around the corner, Ansh let out a loud cheer.
"Victory two times over!" he yelled. "Ashwini won the match, and I won the comedy round!"
Vijay shook his head. "Sometimes I think your brain and your mouth live in separate worlds."
Ashwini grinned, though she looked a little thoughtful. "Still… he's not completely bad."
Ansh looked shocked. "Not bad?! He called us weeds!"
"Maybe," she said softly, "but sometimes weeds survive where nothing else grows."
For a moment, they all went quiet. The laughter faded into a comfortable silence as they walked back toward the dorms. The sky above the academy was deep orange, the same color as the training field back in the forest where their journey began.
Daav fluttered from Ansh's shoulder to Ashwini's, chirping gently.
Vijay tucked his hands behind his back.
And Ansh looked at both of them, smiling wide.
"Still," he said, "I bet next time he won't even show up if you're on the list."
Ashwini rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the smile that followed.
"Maybe. But next time—don't tease him too much."
Ansh puffed his chest. "No promises."
They walked off together under the golden sunset, three tiny disciples who had already begun to shake the entire academy without even realizing it.