The morning air in Crystal City felt strangely alive, as if carrying whispers only meant for a few…
Siya giggled softly the moment Yami asked, "Can I be your friend?"
Yami blinked, confused.
"Umm… May I know why you're laughing?" He asked politely, scratching his cheek.
Siya shook her head lightly, her smile warm.
"I'm laughing because… this is the first time I'm happy to see someone other than my brother."
Yami's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Siya nodded, holding Misti gently.
"Yes… I'm new here. And… I would like to be friends."
She paused, thinking.
"But… we don't know each other yet."
Yami smiled lightly and said, "Okay… Hello, I am Yami. I work here part-time."
Before Siya could reply, the old man's voice echoed from inside.
"Yami! Are you there?"
Yami called back, "Yes, old man!"
Siya blinked and asked, half-confused, half-curious,
"Why do you call him old man? He's older than you… Shouldn't you say "uncle" or "sir"?
Yami shrugged casually and replied with a small grin,
"It's my way of respecting him."
And with that, he hurried inside.
Siya's trident mark flickered briefly, glowing a soft green before fading.
At that moment, Ansh's eyes caught something unusual outside.
The blue-haired girl, standing just beyond the gate, had a trident mark similar to his own—but it wasn't the familiar blue.
Instead, it shimmered like sapphire, deep and luminous, pulsing faintly in the sunlight.
A chill ran down Ansh's spine as he realized… there was something different about her.
Ansh's gaze shifted back to Siya in front of her room, standing there with a small smile.
She's here… he thought to himself, a sense of relief washing over him.
I don't need to worry… But I should follow that girl.
Siya watched him go, a soft giggle escaping her lips.
"Way to respect…? That's new," she murmured, amused.
Ansh followed the blue-haired girl, noticing her heading toward the Raghunath Temple.
She climbed the stone stairs with quiet grace, and he followed carefully behind.
Suddenly, a boy bumped into him, nearly knocking him off balance.
"Hey! Are you okay? My fault, sorry," Ansh quickly apologized.
The boy muttered under his breath, still catching his balance, "Uh… okay… okay, it's fine…"
Then, almost inaudibly, he whispered, Control… Rudra.
The bot hovered nearby, buzzing softly.
"Huh… Rudra," it asked.
Rudra frowned and asked, "What!"
"You've got a fused eye," the bot replied matter-of-factly.
Rudra threw his hands up in frustration.
"Huh… it's too much, you moron."
Ansh, startled, quickly said,
"I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean anything."
Rudra shook his head slightly and muttered,
"Uh… I wasn't talking to you, mister."
Ansh hesitated, bowing his head slightly.
"Sorry… I'm new here. I don't know much, so I was just…"
Rudra's expression softened, and a small smile appeared.
"It's okay, man. I overreacted," he said, clapping Ansh lightly on the shoulder.
Rudra tilted his head slightly, asking politely,
"Hey, what's your name? Mine's Rudra."
Ansh smiled nervously.
"I'm Ansh… nice to meet you."
Rudra nodded and said,
"So, you're new here? I can help you get settled."
Ansh's eyes drifted upward, catching sight of Girl climbing the stairs. I can't reach her now… he thought.
"Ok… Thanks, Rudra," he replied, giving a small nod.
Rudra gestured toward the narrow pathways of the temple.
"Come on, I'll show you around," he said, falling into step beside Ansh.
Ansh nodded, looking around, following him closely.
As they walked, Rudra pointed out small shops, quiet corners, and hidden stairways, explaining the place with ease and familiarity.
For the first time since arriving, Ansh felt a slight comfort in having someone guide him through this new world.
We shift to the top of the Raghunath Temple.
The blue-haired girl stood silently at the edge, the wind pushing gently through her hair. Her sapphire trident mark glimmers faintly on her neck.
A sudden sweep of air twisted beside her—
And Daksha appeared from the flowing wind, hands in his coat pockets, cigarette between his lips.
He looked at her with mild annoyance.
"Oh… Chhaya, why are you here?" he asked.
Chhaya doesn't turn.
She keeps her eyes fixed on the city below.
"Huh… why did you send Rudra on the mission?" she asks quietly.
"Master… Why did you send Rudra on the mission?
He's a student—same as me."
Daksha shrugged, brushing ash off his sleeve.
"Because it was the easiest option."
Chhaya finally turned, her eyes narrowing.
"Easiest…? Why not me then?"
Daksha paused, studying her expression.
"Huh… don't say it like that."
But Chhaya stepped forward, fingers rising unconsciously to her neck—
touching the glowing sapphire trident mark.
"Master… Is it because of this?"
Her voice was quiet—
but the wind around them suddenly stilled, as if waiting for the answer.
Daksha didn't answer her question.
The wind shifted across the temple roof as Chhaya slowly turned away from him, facing the city. Her blue hair lifted faintly in the breeze, her sapphire trident mark glowing for a moment… then fading.
A little later, she spotted Rudra down below on the street.
"Tch… that bastard, I can do that, so why he…?" She muttered under her breath.
"I can do better… So why did they choose that bastard for the mission?"
Her fingers tightened around her cloak as she stared toward the streets below.
A cold glint flashed in her sapphire eyes.
"I'll show you, Rudra… I'll prove who's stronger."
But then her eyes sharpened—
Because beside Rudra, she saw someone else.
Ansh and on his neck… the trident mark.
Glowing blue.
Chhaya's eyes narrowed in disbelief.
Daksha stepped beside her, following her gaze. His expression shifted—calm, but focused.
"Huh…" he exhaled.
Chhaya nodded slightly, her voice low, "Yes… but master, you know we can't lose—"
Daksha cut her off, still staring at Ansh.
"Chhaya," he said slowly,
"You now have a mission."
Chhaya's eyes sharpened.
"He's the same as me… Then, Master Daksha… Can he also be alive?" She asked quietly, the wind brushing her blue hair aside.
Daksha's expression darkened.
"Yes… it's possible," he said slowly. "It's possible that Nightmare is not dead."
For a split second, their vision blurred—
and the silhouette of the dark boy flickered across their sight, like a shadow trying to crawl back into the world.
Daksha stepped forward, voice low but firm.
"Chhaya… You have a mission now. You must teach that boy."
Chhaya blinked in surprise. "But—"
"No excuses," Daksha cut her off. "It's your mission."
Chhaya looked down toward Ansh again, the wind brushing her blue hair.
"…Okay," she whispered.
Daksha's form loosened into smoke, drifting upward and vanishing into the sky.
And with that…
Chapter 4 ends.
Chapter 5 coming soon…