Axel was still hanging in mid-air.

  “Put me down!” he shouted, his face bright red.

  Leaves swirled lazily around him, caught in the invisible current holding him aloft. Below, Dhruv stood calmly with his hands in his pockets, as if this were the most normal conversation in the world.

  Rudra stood nearby, arms folded, trying very hard to look serious—

  —and failing.

  Dhruv glanced up.

  “Relax,” he said coolly. “We just want to talk.”

  “Talk?!” Axel snapped. “You kidnapped me!”

  Rudra tilted his head. “Technically… we relocated you.”

  “Rudra,” Dhruv warned quietly.

  Rudra immediately straightened. “Right. Serious mode.”

  Axel twisted mid-air again.

  “Dhruv, you’re getting too smart in front of the teachers. I was following you to beat you for that… and make you feel bad!”

  Dhruv stepped a little closer.

  “So that’s it?” he asked calmly. “You wanted to beat me because I answered questions?”

  Axel looked away. “You think you’re better than everyone.”

  “I never said that.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  The wind whispered through the branches above them.

  Rudra blinked in confusion.

  “Wait… so you followed us all the way here just because Dhruv answered questions in class?”

  Axel stayed silent.

  Dhruv exhaled softly.

  “You bully others because they’re afraid of you,” he said evenly. “But I’m not.”

  Axel stopped struggling.

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  For the first time, hesitation flickered across his face.

  “Then fight me properly!” he snapped.

  Dhruv shook his head.

  “If I wanted to fight, you’d already be on the ground.”

  Rudra’s eyes widened. “Ohhh… that was cold.”

  Axel clenched his jaw. “Let me down!”

  Dhruv stepped back.

  “Fine. Go.”

  The invisible current faded. Axel dropped and stumbled slightly as his shoes hit the dirt. He steadied himself and glared at them.

  “This isn’t over.”

  Dhruv met his eyes without blinking.

  “I know.”

  Axel turned sharply and stormed off, leaves crunching beneath his steps.

  Rudra let out a long breath.

  “Well… that was dramatic.”

  Dhruv continued watching the path Axel had taken.

  “He’s angry,” he said quietly.

  Rudra scratched his head. “Yeah? Obviously.”

  Dhruv shook his head slightly.

  “No. Not just at me.”

  Rudra frowned. “Then at who?”

  Dhruv didn’t answer.

  A slow grin spread across Rudra’s face.

  “Now,” he declared dramatically, rubbing his hands together, “it’s time to execute my master plan.”

  Dhruv immediately raised an eyebrow.

  “No. That plan. Absolutely not.”

  Before Rudra could respond—

  TRRRRNNNNG!

  The school bell rang across the campus.

  Both froze.

  Rudra’s face paled. “Oh no. Break’s over!”

  Dhruv glanced toward the academy building.

  “We’re late.”

  “Our teacher is going to destroy us!”

  “Relax,” Dhruv said calmly. “Run.”

  They sprinted across the field, shoes pounding against the ground, leaves scattering behind them. By the time they reached the classroom door, they were slightly out of breath.

  The door creaked open.

  The classroom fell silent.

  The arithmetic teacher turned slowly, chalk still in his hand. His sharp gaze locked onto them instantly.

  “Oh?” he said. “And where were you two brilliant minds?”

  Rudra stepped forward confidently, as if he had rehearsed this moment.

  “Sir, of course… on the ground.”

  A few students snickered.

  The teacher’s eyebrow twitched.

  “Then stay on that ground. Do not come inside.”

  The class burst into laughter.

  Rudra blinked. “Sir?”

  Ignoring him, the teacher’s gaze shifted to Dhruv.

  “And you?”

  Dhruv stood straight, composed as ever.

  “Dear Sir, I sincerely apologize for being late. I lost track of time during the break. It won’t happen again. May I come in?”

  The room quieted.

  The teacher studied him carefully.

  “…Fine. Come in.”

  Dhruv stepped inside without another word.

  Then the teacher pointed toward Rudra.

  “You will remain on that ground.”

  The laughter doubled.

  Rudra stood awkwardly half in and half out of the doorway, scratching his head in defeat.

  Dhruv took his seat.

  For a brief moment, his eyes drifted toward Lucia.

  She was trying very hard not to smile.

  Across the room, Axel wasn’t laughing.

  He was watching.

  The class ended. Practical training was next.

  The teacher gathered his books and left the room. Low chatter filled the air.

  Rudra slipped back inside and walked straight toward Dhruv.

  “I saw that,” he said.

  “Saw what?”

  “You were smiling.”

  “No, I wasn’t,” Dhruv replied calmly.

  Rudra narrowed his eyes… then waved it off. “Fine. Leave it.”

  His expression shifted slightly.

  “Now,” he said in a lower tone, “the time has come.”

  Dhruv immediately understood.

  The plan.

  “No. This is a bad idea.”

  “I’m going to do it.”

  “Then I won’t take responsibility.”

  Rudra smirked. “After practical class ends, we’ll try it.”

  Dhruv hesitated.

  He didn’t want to agree.

  But he also knew Rudra wouldn’t stop.

  “…Okay.”

  Across the room, Axel was watching silently.

  He remembered the interrogation.

  And now—

  he knew something was wrong.