August 25, 2001. The Briefing.
In the basement of the Seth International corporate tower, the air was cold and sterile. This was the "Incubator"—not for startups, but for molding human assets.
Rohan sat on a metal chair. He was nineteen, with a face that was forgettable—the kind you would pass in a crowd and never recall. He wore faded jeans and a t-shirt that had been washed too many times.
Vikram Seth paced in front of him.
"You know the mission, Rohan," Vikram said.
"Yes, Sir," Rohan's voice was steady, but his hands were clenched. "Infiltrate Gurudeva Institute. Get close to the Principal. Find the source of the 'Aura'. And plant the Receiver."
He pointed to a small, coin-sized black disc on the table. It was a Psychic Anchor. If planted inside the campus, it would punch a hole through Surya's "Domain of Silence," allowing the Order to spy again.
"Why me?" Rohan asked quietly. "I'm just a mimic. I don't have combat skills."
"Because you are empty," Vikram smiled cruelly. "Your System Talent is [The Mirror].
You reflect the personality of whoever you are with. Surya Gowda loves 'diamonds in the rough'. You will reflect exactly what he wants to see: a struggling genius."
Vikram placed a file on the table.
"Your sister's dialysis is scheduled for tomorrow at Seth City Hospital. Paid in full. As long as you report to me."
Rohan flinched. The mention of his sister was the chain around his neck.
"I'll do it," Rohan whispered. He picked up the black disc and hid it in the sole of his shoe.
August 26, 2001. The Siege of Red Tape.
Surya stood at the main gate of his college. But today, he wasn't welcoming students. He was blocking a government convoy.
A white Ambassador with a red beacon had pulled up. Stepping out was Dr. K.S. Hegde, the Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University. He was a man with a thick neck and a thicker ego, accompanied by four police constables and a cameraman.
"Illegal!" Dr. Hegde shouted, pointing a finger at the banner that read [GURUDEVA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED SCIENCES - Admissions Open].
"Mr. Gowda! You have no affiliation! You cannot offer B.Sc or B.Com degrees! This is a fraud! I am shutting you down right now!"
The students inside the campus gathered at the windows, watching the drama.
Surya stepped forward. He held a scroll in his hand—not a paper document, but a copper plate he had "commissioned" (created via System Construction) based on the Hero Stone inscription.
"Dr. Hegde," Surya said calmly. "We are not a college under Section 5 of the University Act. We are a Gurukula under the Indian Heritage & Traditional Knowledge Protection Act."
"Gurukula?" Hegde scoffed. "Do you teach Vedas? Do you teach Sanskrit? I see computers! I see a biology lab! You are teaching modern science under a fake religious banner!"
"Define 'Modern Science'," Surya challenged. "Is teaching binary logic modern? Pingala described it in the Chandah-sutra in 200 BC. Is teaching calculus modern? The Kerala School of Astronomy used it in the 14th century."
He unrolled a blueprint.
"Our curriculum integrates ancient Indian methodology with modern tools. Therefore, we are exempt from your affiliation. We grant our own 'Vidya Pith' degrees."
"That won't stand in court!" Hegde roared.
"Your degrees will be worthless! No company will hire your graduates!"
Surya smiled. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
"Is that so? Then let's ask the market."
Surya gestured to the side.
A car had just pulled up. It wasn't a government car. It was a black sedan with the logo of 'Infosys'.
A man stepped out. It was a mid-level HR manager Surya had managed to contact via Ananya Rao (the reporter).
"Mr. Gowda?" the HR manager asked. "I'm here for the campus recruitment drive you mentioned. You said you have students who can code in C++ without a compiler?"
Surya looked at Hegde.
"You see, Vice-Chancellor," Surya said softly. "Companies don't care about the stamp on the degree. They care about the code. If Infosys hires my students, your affiliation is irrelevant."
Hegde's face turned purple. He was powerless. If the industry validated the college, the university's monopoly was broken.
"You are playing a dangerous game," Hegde hissed. "The Senate will not like this."
"Tell the Senate," Surya stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "that the Black Lotus cannot stop the sun from rising."
Hegde froze. He knew the code word. He looked at Surya with fear. This wasn't just a rogue principal; this was a player who knew the game.
"Move the car," Hegde ordered his driver. "We are leaving."
The convoy retreated.
Surya let out a breath. He had bluffed about the "Infosys Drive"—the manager was just here for a preliminary talk—but it was enough to scare the bureaucrat.
As the dust settled, a young man walked up to the gate. He looked hesitant, wearing worn-out clothes, clutching a file.
It was Rohan.
The Interview.
Surya sat in his office. Shakuntala was counting cash in the corner.
"Name?" Surya asked.
"Rohan," the boy said softly. "I... I want to join the B.Sc Computer Science course. But I have no money."
Surya looked at the boy.
[Eye of Vidya Active]
[Target: Rohan K.]
* Talent: The Mirror (Rank A).
* Analysis: High adaptability. Can mimic skills and behaviors of those around him. Rapid learner.
* Affiliation: [Hidden].
* Intent: [Masked].
Surya frowned. The System usually showed "Affiliation" clearly. For Rohan, it was blurred, like looking through a foggy window.
He is shielded, Surya realized. Someone powerful has put a veil on him.
"Why Gurudeva?" Surya asked.
"Because you take the broken ones," Rohan said. His voice trembled perfectly. "I was rejected by Seth International. They said I lacked 'polish'."
It was the perfect answer. It was exactly what Surya wanted to hear.
And that made Surya suspicious.
Surya leaned back. He tapped his pen on the desk.
"You know, Rohan," Surya said slowly. "We have a saying here. A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress well. But some stones... are just glass. They look shiny, but they shatter."
Rohan's heart skipped a beat. Does he know?
"I can give you a seat," Surya said. "Full scholarship. But you will work for it. You will be the Student Assistant to Mr. Moorthy."
Rohan blinked. "The... mechanic?"
"Yes. You will spend your evenings in the workshop. Grease and oil. Still want the seat?"
Rohan hesitated. He needed to plant the device in the central courtyard, near the Hero Stone. The workshop was in the back.
"I'll take it," Rohan said. "Thank you, Sir."
"Welcome to the family," Surya smiled. It was a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
As Rohan walked out, Shakuntala looked up from her ledger.
"I don't like him," she said bluntly.
"Why?"
"His shoes," Shakuntala pointed with her pen. "His clothes are old. His shirt is frayed. But his shoes... they are cheap canvas, but the laces are tied with a 'Double knot'—military style. And he walks too quietly."
Surya nodded. "You have a sharp eye, Shakuntala."
"He is a spy," she stated. "Vikram sent him."
"I know," Surya said calmly.
"Then why admit him?"
"Because," Surya stood up and walked to the window, watching Rohan walk towards the workshop. "If I reject him, Vikram will send another. A stranger I don't know. With Rohan, I know who the enemy is. I can control the information he sees."
"Keep your friends close?" Shakuntala rolled her eyes.
"And keep your enemies on the payroll," Surya grinned. "Besides, Moorthy needs an assistant. Let's see if our Trojan Horse can survive the Mad Mechanic."
Scene: The Workshop.
Rohan walked into the shed. It smelled of diesel and ozone.
Moorthy was welding a strange contraption that looked like a bicycle connected to a satellite dish.
"New boy!" Moorthy yelled without looking up. "Grab the soldering iron. The comms array is overheating."
"Comms array?" Rohan asked, confused. "I thought this was a college."
"It is," Moorthy flipped his welding mask up. His face was smeared with soot. "We are building a Radio Telescope. To listen to Jupiter."
Rohan stared. Radio telescope? In a shed?
"Don't stand there!" Moorthy threw a wrench. "Tighten the azimuth bolt!"
Rohan caught the wrench instinctively. His [Mirror] talent activated. His body mimicked Moorthy's stance. He tightened the bolt with perfect torque.
Moorthy paused. He looked at Rohan.
"Not bad," Moorthy grunted. "You have good hands. Maybe you aren't useless."
Rohan felt a strange warmth in his chest. It was the first time an adult had complimented him without a hidden agenda.
No, Rohan thought, touching the device in his shoe. Don't get attached. They are the target.
September 5, 2001. Teachers' Day.
The campus was vibrant. The students had organized a celebration.
In the main hall, Karthik was giving a speech.
"They called us failures," Karthik said, his voice echoing. "They said we belonged in the trash. But Surya Sir picked us up. He didn't just teach us physics; he taught us self-respect."
Rohan stood at the back of the hall, watching. He saw the way the students looked at Surya—with pure, unadulterated loyalty.
He saw Dr. Rao laughing with a group of biology students. He saw Shakuntala scolding a student for wasting paper, but smiling as she did it.
It felt... like a family.
Rohan felt a vibration in his pocket. A text message on his hidden pager.
Handler (Vikram): "Status? Is the device planted?"
Rohan looked at the Hero Stone in the center of the courtyard. It was unguarded. He could walk over there right now, drop the black disc into the flower bed, and it would be over. The shield would break. Vikram would win.
He took a step forward.
"Rohan!"
Surya's voice.
Rohan froze. He turned around. Surya was standing there, holding a plate of sweets.
"Happy Teachers' Day," Surya said, offering a laddu. "You are part of the staff now, Assistant."
Rohan looked at the sweet. He looked at Surya's face. There was no suspicion there (or so he thought). Just kindness.
"Thank you, Sir," Rohan took the laddu. His hands were shaking.
"You look pale," Surya noted. "Is the workshop too hard?"
"No, Sir. It's... just a headache."
"Go rest," Surya patted his shoulder. The Principal's Authority washed over Rohan, warm and comforting. "Take the evening off. Go visit your family."
Rohan nodded and walked away fast. He couldn't do it. Not today.
Surya watched him go.
"He hesitated," Surya whispered to himself.
"He's soft," Moorthy came up behind Surya.
"I saw him eyeing the Hero Stone. He has something in his shoe. He walks unevenly."
"He's not soft, Moorthy. He's conflicted," Surya said. "Vikram holds his leash. We need to cut the leash."
"How?"
"We find out what Vikram has on him," Surya's eyes turned cold. "And we buy it."
[Quest Update: The Trojan Student]
* Objective: Turn the Spy into an Ally.
* Method: Break Vikram's leverage (Likely financial/medical).
* Time Limit: Before the 'Black Lotus' grows impatient and detonates the spy.
"Shakuntala," Surya called out. "I need you to investigate Seth City Hospital. Find out who is paying for the dialysis of a patient named... K. (Rohan's sister)."
"Dialysis?" Shakuntala raised an eyebrow. "You want me to hack a hospital's billing record?"
"I want you to audit it," Surya corrected. "And then, I want us to pay the bill."