Rudra walked through the Inner Academy with a new kind of clarity.
The scrolls, tucked safely under his arm, were more than techniques. They were proof that he was no longer just keeping up—he was becoming.
As he passed stone archways and prāṇa-lit lamps, students turned to stare. Some whispered. Others looked away.
Let them talk, he thought. Let them wonder.
He stepped onto the bridge toward the Outer Academy. The wind here felt lighter, gentler—like the city itself had loosened its grip.
He smiled.
Jade.
They had promised. Once they were well, they'd visit Amber together.
As Rudra stepped into the familiar, bustling chaos of the Outer Academy courtyard. Sunlight, warm and ordinary, felt like a blessing after the crushing pressure of Zone 5. He spotted Jade leaning against their old oak tree, kicking idly at a loose stone, a flicker of worry in his eyes that vanished the moment he saw Rudra.
"Rudra!" Jade pushed off the tree, striding over. His gaze swept Rudra, taking in the lingering traces of fatigue, the subtle shift in presence – denser, quieter, like stone settling after an earthquake. "Stars, man. You look... different. Less pulverized than I expected, honestly. How was the first day? Inner Academy initiation? Spill!"
Rudra managed a small, weary smile. "Busy. Different." He kept it deliberately vague, the memory of the gravity domain, Edward's revelations, and the humming stone tablets in his pocket feeling too raw, too immense for casual conversation. "Lots of rules. Lots of... space. And a theory class." He shrugged. "It was... interesting."
"Interesting?" Jade snorted, falling into step beside him as Rudra gestured towards the Academy gates. "That's like calling a dragon 'warm-blooded'. Come on, details!
Did you meet any strong people?
Yeah, quite a few! "It was intense, Jade. But... manageable."
Jade studied his friend's profile, sensing the deliberate reserve. He knew Rudra. Pushing wouldn't work. "Alright, alright, 'interesting' and 'intense' it is," he conceded, though curiosity still burned in his eyes. "Just promise you won't turn into one of those silent, brooding Inner Academy types who only talks in cryptic grunts."
The walk to Amber's family estate was a comfortable silence punctuated by Jade's attempts at lighter chatter about Outer Academy gossip Rudra had already missed. The imposing gates of the Maarwood residence soon loomed, guarded by stern-faced retainers in house colors. A word from Jade, and they were admitted, led by a silent servant through manicured gardens fragrant with evening blooms, towards a secluded courtyard bathed in the golden light of dusk.
"Miss Amber will join you shortly," the servant murmured before bowing and retreating.
They waited. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and the distant murmur of the city. The tranquility felt alien after the day Rudra had endured.
The sound of quick footsteps on gravel broke the quiet. Amber appeared in the arched entrance to the courtyard. She looked different – a touch more refined, her fiery hair neatly braided, wearing a simple but elegant dress instead of Academy robes. Her eyes, wide and emerald-bright, scanned them both, a wave of pure, unguarded emotion washing over her face – relief, joy, a touch of sadness held carefully in check.
"Rudra! Jade!" Her voice was a breathless rush, the familiar warmth flooding back instantly. She crossed the courtyard in quick strides, pulling Jade into a brief, fierce hug, then turning to Rudra, her hands hovering for a moment before she clasped his forearm in their familiar greeting. Her touch was warm, grounding.
Amber pulled back from clasping Rudra's forearm, her emerald eyes sparkling. "It's so good to see you both! Feels like forever. You look well, Jade. Rudra..." Her perceptive gaze swept over him, lingering on the subtle changes – the denser presence, the quiet intensity in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "You look... different. Sharper. What's happened? Outer Academy must be kicking your..." She trailed off, seeing Jade's barely contained grin and Rudra's neutral expression.
Jade couldn't hold back any longer. He practically bounced on the balls of his feet. "Different? Amber, you have no idea! Rudra didn't just join the Outer Academy grind. He broke through! He's Awakened! And not just that..." Jade paused for dramatic effect, his eyes wide with excitement. "He's already in the Inner Academy! Admitted yesterday!"
The words hit Amber like physical blows. Her bright smile froze mid-curve. The color drained from her face, leaving her freckles stark against suddenly pale skin. Her eyes, wide as saucers, locked onto Rudra, then darted back to Jade as if seeking confirmation this wasn't a cruel joke.
"W-what?" Her voice was a breathless whisper, barely audible over the rustling leaves. "Awakened? Inner Academy? Rudra? But... but that's..." Disbelief warred violently with the evidence before her – Rudra's calm nod, Jade's earnest excitement. Her mind reeled. Just days ago... he was just a mortal. He hadn't felt a single ripple! He was... just Rudra! The carefree boy who didn't take training seriously seemed worlds away from the elite Initiates. "How... how is that even possible? Inner Academy... that's for seasoned Initiates! You... you only just Awakened?" She looked at Rudra, her expression a mixture of utter bewilderment and dawning awe. "What did you do? What happened in those few days?"
Rudra shifted slightly under her intense scrutiny. The gravity domain, Vaishnav's fury, Edward's intense gaze – none of it belonged in this sun-dappled courtyard. "Trained hard," he said simply, his voice low. "Got lucky. " It was painfully vague, but the truth was too weird, too raw.
Amber stared at him, the shock slowly giving way to pure, incredulous wonder. "Lucky? Rudra, this isn't luck! This is... legendary!" A hesitant smile touched her lips, awe momentarily eclipsing her confusion. "Inner Academy... Stars above, Rudra! That's incredible!" She reached out impulsively, squeezing his arm again, her touch warm with shared astonishment. "I... I don't even know what to say. It's amazing! But..." Her smile faltered slightly, the bewildered distance creeping back in. "It feels so sudden. You were just... you."
Before she could dwell further on the impossible 'how', before the questions about tests or opponents could form fully, Rudra saw the moment. The joy about his ascension was bright but fragile. The heavier news needed space. He met Jade's eyes, a silent, almost imperceptible nod passing between them.
The atmosphere in the courtyard shifted instantly. The buoyant energy sparked by Rudra's news evaporated, replaced by a sudden, heavy silence. Amber felt it like a chill. Her smile vanished entirely, replaced by wary apprehension as her gaze flicked between Rudra's serious expression and the somber resolve settling over Jade's features. The celebration was over.