Om and Mark returned home to find the house alive with laughter and decoration.
Sharanya, Om's mother, had organized a small celebration, and Shreya had just arrived from the examination center to join them. Colorful garlands hung across the living room walls, sweet aromas drifted from the kitchen, and a bright banner read:
"Congratulations, Om!"
Moments later, Rudra entered, her steps tired but determined. She had come straight from her test center.
Om was cutting the cake when she walked in. Mark was already devouring his second slice, clearly in no mood to wait for anyone. Rudra walked over and dropped onto the sofa beside Om, her usual energy dulled just a little by the exhaustion of the day.
She glanced at him with a teasing smile. "So… I heard you got a God-tier elemental. The Life Element?"
Om smiled back. "Yeah. If you've checked the news today, you've probably seen my face on every channel."
She raised an eyebrow. "I did. But you haven't seen it yourself?"
Om reached for the remote and turned on the TV. The screen instantly filled with headlines:
"Two Students Awaken God-Tier Elementals!"
"Arun and Om: Future of Dharma?"
"One More Surprise: A Legendary Elemental!"
They showed footage of Arun during his Darkness awakening, followed by a blurred shot of Om during his test, where the glass orb shattered. The third image, however, brought gasps from the room.
It was Rudra.
The news anchor declared her awakening with excitement: "Rudra Krishna—awakened the Ice Element, a Legendary-tier affinity, and one of the rarest in current military records!"
Everyone turned to her in astonishment.
Rudra chuckled nervously as the room erupted with congratulatory cheers. Her mother, Manasvi,and Hari Krishana entered just in time, holding another cake with a proud smile on her face.
A second celebration began.
Even Mark, who had been too focused on cake to notice much else, perked up. "Two cakes in one day? Best test day ever."
The gathering filled the house with laughter and chatter. For a moment, Om looked around and felt a quiet warmth bloom inside him—not from the test, or the power he had gained—but from the rare sight of his mother, Sharanya, truly smiling. It had been a long time.
The party ended late in the evening. Guests left one by one, and soon, the house fell into a soft silence.
Om stepped onto the balcony, the cool night breeze brushing against his skin. He leaned on the railing, gazing at the stars.
Moments later, Mark joined him, sipping juice from a glass.
"Thinking about something?" he asked.
Om smiled. "Not really. Happy with . A God-tier elemental, Mark."
Mark nodded. "Good. Be proud. But remember do not skip training ."
He sipped again, then added, "Don't forget training tomorrow. We've got a lot to cover before you head to Gurukul. I want you fully prepared."
Om chuckled. "Yes, sir. Goodnight."
He walked back inside.
Mark remained on the balcony, gazing up at the stars. Then, with a knowing voice, he said aloud to the shadows, "Are you spying on me again?"
From just beyond the balcony wall , Harikrishna coughed awkwardly and stepped into view.
"No," he replied, half-embarrassed. "Just out here for some fresh air. Star-watching."
Mark gave a smirk. "Relax. I'm just teasing."
Harikrishna laughed nervously, then turned to leave. Mark gave him a long glance before heading to his house
Harikrishna quickly downed the last of his drink and walked back home, saying bye Sharanya and Shreya on his way out.
Later that night, at the Krishna household...
Rudra had fallen asleep almost immediately upon returning. The day had been long
In the living room, Harikrishna and Manasvi sat quietly.
"She was exhausted," Manasvi said, pouring herself tea.
Harikrishna didn't respond at first. His mind was elsewhere.
He finally sighed and said, "Mark's observation skills are too sharp. He noticed me eavesdropping tonight. I didn't even make a sound."
Manasvi grimaced. "I still don't understand why we're doing this. Our daughter has awakened a Legendary elemental. They should be coming to us for for our daughter , not the other way around."
Harikrishna turned toward her. "You still don't see it, do you? This morning, Chief himself showed up at Om's test center. Not even his own children, or the inner sect candidates, were tested today. Yet he went there in person."
Manasvi's eyes widened. "Bharat came... for Om?"
Harikrishna nodded.
Manasvi's composure cracked for the first time.
"Then... we've been completely wrong about everything," she whispered.
He leaned forward. "Did you find anything about Mark?"
Manasvi shook her head. "Nothing. It's like the man doesn't exist. All public records are blocked. Whatever files we try to access, they redirect us. Someone very high up is hiding his background."
Harikrishna's eyes narrowed. "How high?"
Manasvi hesitated… then spoke quietly. "President Abhyant himself. He's the one sealing Mark's records."
All the humor drained from Harikrishna's face. He sat still for a moment, stunned.
Then he muttered, "If you can't find out who he is… and Abhyant is protecting him…"
Manasvi nodded grimly. "Then we aren't watching Om anymore. We're being watched."
Harikrishna leaned back, processing the weight of that realization.
Manasvi added softly, "And the strangest part is… Mark knows. He knows everything. But he hasn't done a thing. No threats. No warnings. He just… lets it be."
Harikrishna took a sip of water. Even with the glass against his lips, his throat still felt dry.
"We stop looking into Mark," he said at last. "Focus on Om."
Manasvi offered a helpless smile. "And the worst part? We don't even know what we're stepping into."
Harikrishna's face grew serious.
"Then it's time she knew."
Manasvi blinked. "Rudra?"
He nodded. "She's going to Gurukul soon. We can't keep this from her anymore. She deserves to know the truth—about us. About everything."
Manasvi exhaled deeply.
"Yes. We'll tell her. Before she leaves."
In the room next door, Rudra lay awake.
She had awoken midway through the conversation—and had heard everything.
Tears rolled silently down her cheeks as she stared at the ceiling, her heart pounding. The whispers about secrets.