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Now Ira and Kartik follow Master Naval all the way to his HQ office.
They move quietly behind him, curious and a little anxious about what awaits inside.
When they reach the HQ office, Master Naval asks them to sit down.
He himself takes a seat, settling comfortably as he prepares to speak.
The room is quiet, filled with an air of anticipation, making Ira and Kartik exchange curious glances.
Sunlight streams through the large windows, highlighting the neat rows of books and mysterious gadgets scattered across the room.
Master Naval's calm demeanor contrasts with the slight nervousness on their faces, hinting that something important is about to unfold.
Master Naval tells them, "Don't be so afraid. I won't scold you. Ira, I'm glad you saved someone's life."
His voice is calm and reassuring, easing the tension in the room.
Kartik and Ira feel a mix of relief and pride, realizing the importance of their actions.
Master Naval then turns to Kartik and asks,
"So, Kartik, my son, now tell me your story. What were you doing at that dangerous place?"
He looks at Kartik with a gentle but curious expression, waiting for him to explain.
Kartik tells Naval everything, explaining how he ended up in this place through the portal.
He adds, "And as soon as I arrived, I ran into this nosy Ira."
His voice carries a mix of embarrassment and amusement, making the moment feel light despite the seriousness of his journey.
He even mimics a few of the funny expressions Ira made, causing a small, unintentional chuckle to escape him.
Ira snaps back, "Hey, slow-witted! Who are you calling nosy, huh?"
They start playfully roasting each other, exchanging light-hearted jabs and laughter, filling the room with a lively energy.
Naval clears his throat, placing his hands firmly on the table, and says, "Enough! Both of you, be quiet now."
The room falls silent, but a faint smile lingers on Naval's face, showing he secretly enjoyed their little banter.
Even in that calm office, the air seems charged with warmth and the budding camaraderie between them.
Master Naval then asks Kartik, "So, Kartik, who all are there in your family?"
Kartik replies, "It's just me and my grandmother."
Naval pauses for a moment, thinking to himself, "Just your grandmother, huh…" before saying aloud, "So, you don't have parents? Forgive me."
Kartik quickly responds, "Oh no, no, there's no need to apologize. Actually, I don't even know who my parents are."
He shrugs slightly, a mix of curiosity and acceptance in his eyes, as if he's lived with this mystery all his life.
Naval raises an eyebrow and asks, "Then you never asked your grandmother about this?"
Kartik shakes his head, explaining, "It's not like that. When I asked her, she said she would tell me when the right time comes."
Naval leans back slightly, thinking to himself, "Hmm… now she's keeping all the cards close."
A quiet tension fills the room, but beneath it lies a subtle sense of intrigue, as Naval senses that Kartik's story is only beginning to unfold.
Ira turns to Naval and says, "Master, there's one more thing I need to tell you. When we were hiding from our enemies, and they were close to us, Kartik sensed their evil energy."
Her voice is steady, but there's a hint of awe as she looks at Kartik, impressed by his sudden awareness.
Hearing this, Naval is visibly shocked for a moment. Yet, a very faint smile appears on his face as he thinks to himself, "I knew this would happen if he is truly capable… but this isn't exactly good."
He leans back slightly, letting the weight of Ira's words sink in, while internally calculating the implications of Kartik's hidden abilities.
The room grows silent for a few seconds, filled only with the soft hum of the office lights, as Naval contemplates what this could mean for the challenges ahead.
Then Naval asks Kartik about his grandmother's name, his curiosity mixed with a careful interest.
Kartik replies softly, "Her name is Sayo."
There's a gentle warmth in his voice as he says it, a subtle respect and love shining through. Naval nods slightly, filing away the name for future reference, while quietly thinking about the bond between Kartik and his grandmother.
The room feels calm for a moment, but beneath the calm, Naval senses that knowing Sayo's name might be more important than it seems.
Then Naval thinks to himself, "I knew it… only Sayo could have a grandson like him."
A faint smile touches his lips as he recalls subtle hints he had noticed before.
He leans back slightly in his chair, the corners of his mind already connecting pieces of the puzzle.
The air in the room feels heavier now, charged with unspoken thoughts and the quiet realization of Kartik's unique lineage.
Naval then turns to Kartik and says, "By the way, Kartik, I should tell you… you can't go back from here so easily. At least, it's not going to be that simple."
Kartik is completely shocked. He's not exactly scared, but his expression is priceless—wide-eyed and a little confused, making the moment unintentionally funny.
After a brief pause, Naval continues, "Alright, you both can go now."
He then looks at Ira and adds, "Ira, make sure to keep an eye on Kartik while he's here."
The two of them leave the office, and as they walk, Kartik turns to Ira with a 😅 expression and asks, "Hey Ira, listen… can I talk to you for a moment?"
Ira glances at him with a teasing smile and says, "Why are you asking me? You know I'm nosy, right?"
Kartik grins awkwardly, "Yeah, but you heard what Master just said…"
Before he can finish, Ira playfully walks ahead, leaving him trailing behind with a mix of frustration and amusement.
Naval leans back in his chair, thinking to himself, "Sayo, your grandson has grown much stronger than I expected. I can't believe he sensed that energy so easily. Even I'm shocked."
He pauses for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he continues his inner thought, "Although you haven't told him about his true existence yet—who he really is—I'm sure you made that decision carefully. I'll respect your choice, and for now, I won't reveal anything to him."
The office feels quiet again, the soft hum of the lights echoing Naval's contemplative mood. His mind races with possibilities, yet he remains patient, knowing that timing is everything.
---
But even as Naval sits in silent thought, a faint tremor of anticipation runs through him. Somewhere, in the shadows of what's to come, he senses that Kartik's journey is only beginning… and the real tests have yet to appear.
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