Things are getting wild! Rukha's sword is still slick with monster goo as she drags Shivyansh through the chaotic corridors of Gurukul. Students are screaming, pillars are cracking, and the beast's roars are getting louder. Shivyansh's eyes are locked on Rukha, his mind racing with questions – what does she know about the stone, and why's she acting like a total boss?
Rukha's focus is razor-sharp, her breathing steady as she navigates the chaos. "Stay close!" she barks, her voice cutting through the din. She's thinking, "How did the king know about my mom? And what's with this royal connection business?"
As they burst through the back exit, the cool night air hits them like a slap. Rukha's eyes scan the grounds – the forest is dark, the trees swaying ominously. "This way!" she says, pulling Shivyansh towards the tree line.
Shivyansh's voice low and urgent. Master "Rukham, stop. Tell me what's going on. The stone –"
Rukha's spinning around, her expression intense. "Not here. We need to move. Now."
The monster's roar echoes through the night, getting closer. Rukha's like, "Your choice – run with me, or stay and face it."
Shivyansh's jaw drops.
Rukha's expression doesn't change, but her grip on Shivyansh's arm tightens. "Stay close, then."
They take off, sprinting into the darkness of the forest. The trees blur together, branches whipping at their faces. Rukha's navigating the terrain like she knows it, dodging low-hanging branches and leaping over roots.
The monster's roars are getting fainter, but Rukha's not slowing down. Shivyansh's struggling to keep up, his breathing getting ragged.
Suddenly, Rukha stops dead in her tracks. They're at the edge of a clearing, a small cave entrance looming in front of them. "In there," she says, pushing Shivyansh towards the brick house.
Shivyansh's eyes narrow. "What's going on, master Rukham?"
Rukha's looking around, her sword at the ready. "Just get inside. I'll explain... something."
Shivyansh's hesitation is brief. He ducks into the cave, Rukha right behind him. The darkness swallows them .
As the darkness envelops them, Rukha's sword arm relaxes, and she sheathes her sword. The sudden silence is almost deafening, with only their ragged breathing breaking the stillness.
Shivyansh's eyes adjust slowly, and he makes out Rukha's outline in the dim light seeping through the cave entrance. "Rukham, talk," he says, his voice low and firm.
Rukha's eyes dart around the cave, as if checking for listeners. "The stone, Shivyansh," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "The one I gave the king... it's not the same as the one you're looking for."
Shivyansh's eyes narrow. "What do you mean?"
Rukha takes a deep breath, her words spilling out in a rush. "I found it in the jungle. I thought it was the one, but it's... different. The king thinks it's crucial, but I don't know what it's really for."
Shivyansh's mind's racing. "And the royal connection?"
Rukha's expression is guarded. "I don't know. The king said... my mom was part of the royal family. I don't know what to believe."
The cave's silence is oppressive, the air thick with unspoken questions. Shivyansh's eyes are locked on Rukha's, his voice gentle. "Rukham, what are you hiding?"
Rukha's gaze drops, her voice barely audible. Nah nothing just following the script okay.
Script what script. Shivyansh's said.
How to explain you? Hmm just forget it i will tell when time comes okay.
After that, Shivyansh thinks to himself, "Wait, she said 'script' earlier too." Rukha says, "Why are you calling me Rukhan? I'm not your master, call me Rukha."
Shivyansh's face falls, and he says, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. Forgive me, it was my mistake. I kept calling you Rukhan, I'm sorry, master."
Rukha's expression softens, and she says, "It's okay, don't worry about it. But don't do it again, or I'll... " She makes a mock-angry face, "I'll blow a fuse on your face."
The tension dissipates, and the atmosphere becomes calm. The night passes, and morning breaks.
Rukha steps out of the cave, opens the door, and surveys the surroundings. Everything's safe. She thinks to herself, "We made it through the night. The kids are safe too."
But her mind's racing, "What's going on? This is happening out of nowhere. How's the novel collapsing like this? How's this possible?" Rukha's getting anxious.
Rukha's thoughts are racing, "What if my world is real? But if it was, the system would've told me, right?" She's lost in thought when suddenly, memories of her past start flooding back.
A system voice echoes in her mind, "You are Rukha, and you must fulfill your role."
Little Rukha's confused, "What role? I don't understand."
–her brother from backside. "Hey, sis! How are you?"
Rukha's taken aback, "I'm... happy?"
Rukha's notices something suspicious and thinks wait a second my brother birthmark on his neck disappeared.
To conform her suspicion.
Rukha said can I ask something.
Her brother smiles, "Ask me anything, sis."
Rukha hesitates, "Uh, what's your favorite thing to do?"
Her brother grins, "Sword fighting and cooking! Those are my top two."
Rukha's expression turns odd, "This isn't... right. Who is this? This isn't the Rukham I know..."
Rukha's eyes widen in horror as she realizes, "This isn't my brother. He doesn't like sword fighting or cooking!" Memories flood back – her brother went to the forest, and she didn't stop him. The system said she'd stop him...
A creeping dread sets in, "Something's wrong. This isn't real."
Rukha's voice is firm, "Stop. You're not my brother. Tell me the truth."
The fake brother's expression twists, "What are you talking about? I'm not your brother..."
Rukha's eyes widen in shock as her brother starts to transform into a monster. But before he can, their mom bursts in, opens the door, and slices her brother's throat with a swift motion.
Rukha's stunned, "M-mom?!"
Her mom's expression is cold, detached. "What's happened? Are you okay, Rukha?"
Rukha's mind's reeling, "Mom... why did you...?"
Her mom's eyes are emotionless, her voice flat. "He was infected.
Rukha's mom says, "He was a monster, Rukha. Forgive me, but maybe your brother... maybe he wouldn't have made it anyway." She explains that she sent him out to hunt and play with friends, trying to justify her actions.
Rukha breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably. Her mom holds her, saying, "It's okay, Rukha. Since your father died, I've been trying to protect you. He was taken by a monster, and maybe your brother..."
Rukha's mind is reeling, "Mom, what are you saying?!" She asks, her voice shaking, "M-mom, what do you mean?"
Her mom's expression is filled with sorrow, "Forgive me, Rukha. I might not be around much longer..."
Rukha's thoughts are a jumbled mess, "I don't remember what happened after that. But I know I changed the story somehow. The system didn't say anything about changing the story... Was Rukha a boy in the original story?"
Shivyansh's voice cuts through her thoughts, "Master, what are you thinking?"