The bright lights of the training chamber remained harsh and unforgiving. Akshat Aether stood completely naked, blood still dripping slowly from several shallow cuts across his torso and thighs. His powerful, V-shaped physique glistened under the overhead lights. A few feet away, Adeline Alexanderia sat on the floor, defeated, her eyes locked unashamedly on his thick, exposed shaft.
The heavy door hissed open.
Kurana Alexanderia and Alexander Vane stepped inside. Kurana's sharp eyes scanned the scene without a flicker of surprise. Alexander Vane, however, froze for a second before quickly averting his gaze.
"Ugh… sorry for the disturbance," Alexander muttered, clearing his throat awkwardly as he looked toward the ceiling.
Kurana Alexanderia, dressed in his usual immaculate black attire, simply smiled faintly. He walked forward, hands clasped behind his back, completely unbothered by Akshat's naked state or the charged atmosphere.
"You performed well today," Kurana said, stopping a few meters away. "Better than I expected. You are nearly ready to do me a favour now."
Akshat's breathing was still heavy. He made no move to cover himself. "Favour? What favour?"
Kurana's eyes gleamed with calculated calm. "This favour is deeply connected to your life, Akshat. Only you can do it. Relax yourself for a few days. Recover properly. When the time comes, I will call you."
Without waiting for further questions, Kurana turned and left the chamber. Alexander Vane gave Akshat one last awkward glance before following his superior out, muttering something under his breath about "bad timing."
---
Later that evening, back at a safe house on the outskirts of the city, Akshat sat shirtless on a sturdy chair while Aavya carefully changed his bandages. The young woman worked with quiet efficiency, cleaning the wounds on his chest and arms before wrapping fresh gauze around them. Her touch was gentle but professional.
"You're healing faster than most people would," she said softly, not meeting his eyes for long. "Still… you should eat more. Fighting on empty for days isn't normal."
Akshat remained silent, staring at the wall. His body ached, but his mind was elsewhere — replaying Kurana's words.
His phone suddenly vibrated on the table. It was Manya.
He answered on the second ring. "Manya?"
"Akshat… I need you to do me a favour. A big one," Manya said, her voice unusually serious. "I can't explain over the phone. Just… come over when you can. Please."
She didn't elaborate. Before Akshat could ask more, she ended the call.
---
Meanwhile, in Manya's rented apartment, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. Vanya and Manya sat facing each other on the couch, the same couch where many intimate nights had already taken place. Vanya looked nervous but determined. Manya, usually bold, had a guarded expression.
"Manya… I need to ask you for a big favour," Vanya said quietly.
Manya leaned back, already sensing where this was going. "So you really like Akshat…" Her voice was low. "Then what am I to you?"
Vanya reached out and took Manya's hands. "You are precious to me, Manya. More than you know. You've been my safety, my love, my everything since that night. But I can't ignore Akshat either. He saved me. He's been watching over both of us, even when I didn't know it. He makes sure you're okay behind my back. I… I don't want to lose either of you."
Manya stayed quiet for a long moment, processing. "I can't blame you. Somewhere in my heart… I also like Akshat. It feels like a sin — liking anyone besides my goddess."
Vanya squeezed her hands tighter. "The favour is… I want to adopt a child."
Manya's eyes widened. "What? Aren't we too young for that? We're only about 24. You're really thinking about this already?"
"I know it sounds sudden," Vanya continued, her voice trembling slightly. "But the truth is… blood is thicker than water. I want to have Akshat's child."
Manya stared at her, stunned. "Oh dear… didn't you tell me the doctor said your female biology is disturbed? That you can't get pregnant?"
Vanya looked down, then back up with raw honesty. "I can't become pregnant… but you can."
The words hung heavy in the air. Manya went completely silent. She pulled her hands back slowly and stood up, walking to the window. For several long minutes, she didn't speak — just stared outside, thinking deeply. She thought about Akshat — two years younger than her, the man who carried so much weight on his shoulders, the one who had protected Vanya, the one who made her own heart race sometimes despite her love for Vanya.
Finally, Manya turned around. Her voice was steady, though filled with complicated emotions.
"I'm ready," she said. "I want to have Akshat's child in my womb."
Vanya's eyes filled with tears. She stood up and hugged Manya tightly, their bodies pressing together. Manya hugged her back, stroking her hair.
"This doesn't mean I love you any less," Vanya whispered. "If anything… this makes us a real family."
Manya kissed the top of Vanya's head, her bold personality shining through even in this vulnerable moment. "Then we'll do this together. All three of us. But we need to talk to Akshat first. Properly."
The two women stayed locked in the embrace, the weight of their decision settling over them like a new chapter — complicated, messy, but filled with strange hope.
---
Akshat, still unaware of the conversation happening across town, stared at his phone after Manya's call. His body hurt, his mind was exhausted from training, and now both Kurana and Manya wanted mysterious favours from him.
He leaned back in the chair as Aavya finished the last bandage.
"Whatever comes next," he muttered to himself, "it better not be more blood."