The bedroom door slammed shut with a sound that echoed through the mansion. Kiara stumbled backward, her breath trembling as Kaal—no, Yuvaan—stood at the threshold, his eyes burning red and black.
"You know…" he said, his voice low, dangerous, yet oddly human, "you and Yuvaan never completed your bond. Maybe it's time we do."
Kiara's eyes widened in horror. "Yuvaan, no—this isn't you!"
He took a step forward, and for a moment the air itself felt suffocating. Darkness curled around his fingers like smoke. But as he reached toward her, his hand faltered midair. His expression twisted in pain.
Something inside him was fighting back.
The red glow in his eyes flickered. His breath came sharp, uneven. He stepped back, clutching his chest, growling as if at war with himself.
Kiara's tears fell silently. She took a hesitant step closer, her voice soft but full of conviction.
"I knew it. Yuvaan would never harm me… because even though he was born with darkness, he learned something you'll never understand, Kaal."
He looked up sharply, still struggling for control. "And what's that?"
"Love," she whispered.
The word hit like light against shadow. Kaal's form trembled, the dark energy around him rippling violently. He roared in frustration, shattering a nearby mirror.
"Foolish girl!" he snapped. "His darkness has swallowed him whole! Not even your love can dispel it."
Kiara shook her head and pointed toward the window, where the first light of dawn was breaking through the clouds.
"Even the darkest night must surrender to dawn. A single ray of light is enough to break any darkness."
For a heartbeat, Yuvaan's eyes softened — a flicker of warmth beneath the storm. Then Kaal reasserted himself, laughing coldly.
"Then I'll prove you wrong," he said, turning toward the door. "Let's see how your light survives what comes next."
With a wave of his hand, the door sealed itself shut with dark energy.
Kiara rushed forward, pounding against it.
"Yuvaan! Don't do this!"
He glanced back one last time, his lips curving into a smirk.
"Time for some entertainment."
And with that, he vanished in a surge of shadow, leaving Kiara trapped — staring out the window at the rising sun, praying that her light would still reach him.
The first light of dawn spilled across the horizon, brushing the city in muted gold and pink. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wet earth from the night storm. Vikram and Varun rode through the quiet streets, the world still waking, while the weight of the coming quest pressed heavily on them.
"Do you know the legend behind this temple?" Vikram asked, his voice low, almost reverent.
Varun adjusted his scarf against the morning chill. "Not really. Just stories I've heard in passing. Tell me."
Vikram's eyes softened as he looked toward the distant hills. "The Temple of the First Light was built centuries ago by the original Reevavanshi. It houses the Heart Relic, a sacred artifact created to contain the essence of Kaal should he ever awaken fully. They say the Relic was forged from the first rays of sunlight, distilled into pure energy capable of purging darkness."
Varun raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like legend. But if it's real… it's our only chance to stop Yuvaan from being consumed completely."
"Yes," Vikram said gravely, his gaze fixed on the winding road ahead. "Kaal's power grows with each moment. The Heart Relic isn't just an artifact. It's a key. Only someone worthy — someone with both courage and pure intent — can wield it to separate Yuvaan from the darkness that has claimed him."
Varun's hands tightened around the wheel. "And if we fail?"
Vikram's jaw hardened. "If we fail, everything falls. Not just Yuvaan, not just his family… but the entire Reevavansh line and anyone tied to it."
The early sunlight pierced through the mist that clung to the trees, turning the forest into a labyrinth of shadows and gold. The road twisted toward the mountains where the temple waited, ancient and untamed, its secrets hidden from all but those brave enough to seek them.
Varun exhaled sharply. "Then we have no choice. Let's move."
Vikram nodded, and together they accelerated into the forest, the dawn casting long, eerie shadows behind them as if the world itself was watching their quest.