: The First Hunt
The forest was colder than usual that morning. Mist floated over the ground like silent ghosts, wrapping around the trees of the Eastern Valley. Agni and Neer walked ahead of the team, side by side, though neither had spoken much since leaving the Gurukul.
Neer finally broke the silence.
"Why do you always look so serious?" he asked, nudging Agni lightly.
Agni didn't turn. "Focus. We're here for the creature."
Neer smirked. "I am focusing. On you."
Agni glanced at him then quickly looked away.
"You're impossible," he muttered.
"And yet," Neer said with a wink, "you're still walking next to me."
Behind them, Dharaaya and Vaayansh talked quietly, their pace matching each other without effort. Aakaash walked at the end—calm, expression unreadable, but his eyes catching every movement around them.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
A deep growl echoed through the valley.
Vaayansh drew his breath sharply. "It's close."
A massive black creature stepped out from between the trees. Its body was made of shifting smoke, its eyes burning red like trapped fire. It wasn't fully solid—its form twisted like a nightmare trying to take shape.
Dharaaya shivered. "This… isn't a normal beast."
Agni stepped forward. "Stay behind. I'll—"
Neer grabbed his wrist. "We do this together."
Agni didn't argue.
THE BATTLE BEGINS
The creature roared and leapt toward them, claws extended. Before it could strike, Vaayansh swept his hand in a circular arc.
"Vāyu-Chakra!"
A swirl of wind exploded from his palm, pushing the beast back several feet.
Dharaaya planted her knee on the ground, both palms touching the soil.
"Dhara-Shrinkhala!"
Thick vines burst from the earth, wrapping around the creature's legs, trying to hold it down. The monster screamed, shaking violently.
"It's resisting!" Dharaaya yelled as her arms trembled.
Aakaash finally lifted his gaze. Something changed in his eyes—like a ripple in calm water. He didn't speak, just stepped forward.
A strange stillness spread around him. The vines strengthened, as if reacting to his presence.
Vaayansh noticed and whispered, "What… is he?"
But Aakaash said nothing.
The creature snapped the vines and dashed toward Dharaaya.
"Dharaaya!" Vaayansh shouted and sprinted.
Before the beast could reach her, Vaayansh kicked off the ground, spinning mid-air.
"Vāyu-Pravaah!"
A sharp gust launched him forward. He grabbed Dharaaya's waist and pulled her aside as the creature smashed into the spot she was standing.
Their bodies collided softly. Dharaaya looked up at him, breath unsteady.
"Thank you…"
Vaayansh let go quickly, cheeks warm. "Just… be careful."
Agni and Neer moved in next.
Neer dashed to the left, Agni to the right, their steps almost perfectly synced.
"Distract its head," Agni said calmly.
Neer grinned. "Already on it."
He whirled around the beast, water swirling around his hands.
"Jal-Vyuh!"
He slashed forward, sending razor-thin water arcs at its face. The creature howled as the attacks cut through its smoky form.
Agni closed his eyes for one breath.
When he opened them, fire glowed within.
"Agnipath."
Flames erupted from Agni's fists as he charged straight into the creature's chest. The impact blew the monster backward, crashing into a thick tree trunk, scorching it black.
Their teamwork was natural.
Too natural.
Almost like they had fought side-by-side in another life.
Neer noticed it too. "We're getting good at this, hmm?"
Agni didn't reply, but the corner of his lip twitched.
THE FINAL STRIKE
The beast rose again—bigger now, more twisted, its red eyes glowing brighter.
Aakaash stepped forward suddenly.
"Akaash—wait!" Dharaaya warned.
He didn't. He raised one hand gently.
And the wind, earth, and even the air around him stopped moving.
A cold silence filled the battlefield.
The creature froze, unable to move.
"Now!" Aakaash said softly.
Agni burst forward, flames trailing behind him like a comet.
Neer rushed at his side, water swirling like a silver river.
"Agni—together?" Neer asked, voice low.
Agni nodded. "Together."
Fire and water collided—not in conflict, but perfectly aligned.
"Agni–Neer Samyukt!"
Their combined strike hit the creature, burning through its smoky form while the water sealed its escape. The beast screamed, its body twisting violently.
A shadowy voice whispered from within it—
"He… is coming for you…"
Then the creature exploded into black smoke and vanished.
Everything fell silent.
---
AFTER THE BATTLE
The group stood breathing hard.
Dharaaya wiped sweat from her forehead. "That… was not normal."
Vaayansh nodded. "Something ancient is in these forests."
Neer looked at the spot where the creature disappeared. "That voice… Agni, did you hear it?"
Agni hesitated.
"…Yes."
"What do you think it meant?" Dharaaya asked.
Agni shook his head. "We'll tell Gurudev. For now, stay alert."
As they began walking back toward the Gurukul, the tension slowly faded.
Neer walked beside Agni and nudged him softly.
"You fought well today."
"You too," Agni replied quietly.
"Is that your way of praising me?" Neer teased.
Agni's ears turned slightly pink. "Don't push it."
Behind them, Dharaaya walked beside Vaayansh, their hands brushing accidentally more than once.
She giggled.
Vaayansh pretended not to notice, but he didn't move away.
Aakaash followed silently, eyes thoughtful. He touched the air with his fingertips as if feeling something unseen.
Neer glanced back at him. "That guy… he's hiding something big."
Agni replied softly, "Everyone has secret
Agni looked away, but Neer stepped in front of him with that familiar grin.
"Oh? So even you're hiding something from us, Agni?"
Neer laughed, lightly tapping Agni's shoulder.
Agni sighed. "Neer…"
But Neer kept laughing anyway.
Aakaash shook his head.
"Neer, can you be serious for one minute in your life?"
Neer raised his hands.
"What? I didn't say anything wrong."
Dharaaya hugged her arms, glancing back at the forest.
"I… still don't know who that black shadow was talking about.
Who is coming? And why?"
Neer stepped forward, voice calm for once.
"Whoever it is… we'll face him together."
He looked at each of them one by one.
"We're a team, right?"
Everyone nodded in quiet agreement.
The wind rustled through the trees as they walked toward the Gurukul tired, confused, but united.
Together. Always.
The five finally reached the Gurukul gates, the evening sun painting them gold.
But even the warm light couldn't chase away the chill of that last whisper echoing in all their minds.
"He is coming for you…"
The mystery had just begun.