Chapter 16: Winds of Redemption
The hangar was alive with activity. Engineers scrambled to calibrate the team’s aerial vehicles, sparks flying as arc welders repaired damage from the last mission. The hum of engines echoed through the vast space, punctuated by the occasional burst of comm chatter.
Prithvi stood at the center, his arms crossed, the glow of the holographic battle plan casting sharp shadows on his face. His voice was calm, deliberate. “This isn’t just another mission. If we fail to get the Ring of Indra, Varunasura will be unstoppable. He’ll control the storms, the skies—every avenue of attack. We can’t let that happen.”
“Easier said than done,” Sona muttered, leaning against a crate. “This is Indra’s ring we’re talking about. It’s been in an aerial maze since the ancient Vedic wars. Even if we find it, retrieving it won’t be simple.”
“It never is,” Arjun said, strapping his sword Vritra onto his back. “But that’s why we’re the ones doing it.”
Prithvi turned to Chanakya’s holographic form. “Do we have coordinates on the maze’s location?”
The AI nodded. “Confirmed. The aerial maze hovers over the Northern Ghats, protected by ancient wind barriers. It will require precise navigation, as the maze’s structure is dynamic and constantly shifting.”
“Great,” Arjun said, adjusting his gloves. “So it’s not just a death trap—it’s a moving death trap.”
Kaal Sarp’s voice cut through the conversation like ice. “If you’re afraid, stay behind.”
Arjun shot him a glare. “Not afraid, just realistic. Not all of us enjoy living on the edge of doom, Kaal.”
“Enough,” Prithvi said sharply, his gaze sweeping over the team. “We have one shot at this. Focus.”
Vikram stepped forward, holding a datapad glowing with intricate arcane symbols. “I’ve worked up a navigation algorithm. It uses harmonic resonance to map the maze’s shifting structure in real time. It won’t make it easy, but it should give us a fighting chance.”
“Good work,” Prithvi said, his tone softening slightly.
Sona raised an eyebrow. “And what about Varunasura? If Kangana’s intel is right, he already knows about the ring. There’s no way he’s letting us grab it without a fight.”
“That’s why we move fast,” Prithvi said, stepping toward the sleek aircraft parked at the far end of the hangar. “We hit the maze before his forces arrive. If they show up, we’ll deal with them.”
Arjun smirked. “That’s your plan? ‘Deal with them’? Bold.”
Prithvi didn’t smile. “We don’t have the luxury of hesitation, Arjun. The storm’s already on the horizon. We either face it head-on, or it consumes us.”
The team filed into the aircraft, the tension palpable. Vikram worked at a console near the cockpit, feeding the navigation algorithm into the ship’s systems. Sona and Kaal checked their weapons, while Arjun leaned against the bulkhead, his gaze distant.
Prithvi settled into the pilot’s seat, his fingers dancing over the controls. The engines roared to life, the craft lifting smoothly off the ground.
Chanakya’s voice filled the cabin. “Course set for the Northern Ghats. Estimated time to arrival: thirty-seven minutes.”
“Let’s hope that’s enough time to get in, get the ring, and get out,” Sona said, her voice tinged with skepticism.
“It has to be,” Prithvi replied, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
As the craft soared through the storm-laden skies, lightning crackled around them, illuminating the swirling clouds. The team remained silent, each member lost in their thoughts.
Arjun finally broke the quiet, his voice uncharacteristically subdued. “You think Raaj would’ve done better on a mission like this?”
Sona glanced at him, her brow furrowing. “What?”
“Raaj,” Arjun repeated, his gaze still fixed on the storm outside. “He always had a knack for thinking three steps ahead. Maybe if he were here, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Sona’s expression softened. “Arjun, Raaj was… He was good. But what happened wasn’t your fault.”
Arjun’s jaw tightened. “I was the one who told him to fall back. If I’d been faster, smarter, maybe he wouldn’t—”
“Enough,” Prithvi said, his voice cutting through the cabin. He turned slightly in his seat, his eyes locking onto Arjun’s. “Guilt doesn’t help us here. Raaj made his choice because he believed in this fight. Don’t tarnish his sacrifice by doubting yourself now.”
Arjun looked away, his fists clenching. “Easier said than done.”
The tension lingered, but no one said more.
As the craft neared the Ghats, the clouds parted, revealing the towering, shifting structure of the aerial maze. It was a labyrinth of shimmering energy, its walls made of whirling winds and crackling lightning.
Sona let out a low whistle. “That’s… a lot worse than I imagined.”
Chanakya’s voice broke the awed silence. “The maze’s structure shifts every twenty seconds. Recommend immediate entry to maximize synchronization with navigation data.”
Prithvi nodded, gripping the controls. “Hold on.”
The craft surged forward, plunging into the maze. The wind roared around them, buffeting the ship as Prithvi guided it through narrow passages and sudden turns.
“Vikram, how’s that algorithm holding up?” Prithvi shouted.
“Barely,” Vikram replied, frantically adjusting the console. “This thing’s moving faster than I expected. I need more time to recalibrate.”
“We don’t have time,” Prithvi said, banking hard to avoid a sudden lightning strike. “Just do what you can.”
The maze’s shifting walls closed in around them, the gaps narrowing with every second. Sona gripped her seat, her knuckles white. “Please tell me you’ve done something like this before, Prithvi.”
“Not exactly,” he admitted, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “But it’s all about instinct.”
“Great,” Sona muttered. “We’re flying on instinct. Totally reassuring.”
Despite her sarcasm, Prithvi’s focus was unwavering. The ship weaved through the maze with precision, each movement deliberate and controlled.
But as they approached the maze’s center, Chanakya’s voice took on a warning tone.
“Alert: multiple hostiles detected. Varunasura’s forces are converging on your position.”
Prithvi’s hands tightened on the controls. “Of course they are.”
The storm ahead grew darker, the lightning more frequent. Shapes emerged from the clouds—armored aerial units bearing Varunasura’s emblem.
“They’re blocking the center,” Sona said, her voice tense. “The ring’s right there.”
Prithvi’s jaw set. “Then we punch through.”
Arjun grinned, the tension in his shoulders easing as he drew Vritra. “Finally. I was getting bored.”
The craft surged forward, the storm roaring around them. The battle for the Ring of Indra was about to begin.
The storm’s fury deepened as the aerial maze loomed ahead, its shifting walls of lightning and wind twisting like a living thing. Prithvi maneuvered the craft with precision, his focus unyielding even as enemy units closed in.
“Multiple hostiles engaging,” Chanakya announced, its tone clinical but urgent.
“Understatement of the year,” Arjun muttered, his eyes narrowing as the first wave of enemy fighters appeared. Sleek, sharp-winged crafts bore down on them, their energy cannons glowing with menace.
Sona’s fingers flew over the weapons console. “Activating defensive turrets.”
The ship’s cannons roared to life, spitting streaks of plasma into the oncoming crafts. Two of the attackers exploded in bursts of fire and smoke, but more quickly filled their place.
“They’re swarming us!” Sona shouted, her voice strained.
Prithvi jerked the controls to the side, narrowly avoiding a barrage of energy blasts. “Arjun, Kaal—prepare for a boarding operation. We’ll need to split up once we breach the maze.”
Arjun grinned despite the chaos. “Finally, some action.” He tightened the strap on Vritra, the blade vibrating faintly as if sensing the battle ahead.
Kaal Sarp gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. “Just point me where I’m needed.”
Sona glanced back, her tone sharp. “Try not to die, either of you.”
“No promises,” Arjun quipped, his grin fading as his eyes lingered on the swirling storm outside.
The craft jolted as a glancing hit rocked its frame. Sparks flew from a nearby console, and Vikram cursed under his breath as he scrambled to maintain the navigation algorithm.
“I can’t keep this system running if we’re getting hit every five seconds!” he shouted.
“Do your best,” Prithvi said, his voice calm despite the chaos. “We’ll handle the rest.”
The ship veered sharply as Prithvi took them into the heart of the maze. The walls of wind and lightning loomed closer, the gaps between them shrinking with each shift.
“This is insane,” Sona muttered, her fingers gripping the console.
“Just trust me,” Prithvi said, banking hard to avoid another strike.
As they neared the maze’s center, a larger enemy craft descended from the clouds. It was a monstrous thing, its wings crackling with lightning, its cannons glowing like molten gold.
“Let me guess,” Arjun said, drawing his blade. “That’s the welcoming committee?”
“More like the bouncer,” Sona said grimly.
Prithvi’s eyes narrowed. “We don’t have time to play with it. Chanakya, calculate a route past the flagship.”
“Unable to comply,” the AI replied. “Enemy unit is blocking all direct paths to the ring’s location.”
“Figures,” Prithvi muttered. “Alright. Sona, keep them busy. Arjun, Kaal—on me.”
The craft’s hatch opened, and the roar of the storm filled the cabin. Arjun and Kaal leaped out first, their suits activating mid-air as they descended toward the enemy flagship. Prithvi followed moments later, flames igniting around his gauntlets as the wind threatened to tear him from the sky.
Sona’s voice crackled over the comms. “I’ll keep the smaller units off your back, but don’t take too long. This maze is getting tighter by the second.”
“We’ll be quick,” Prithvi said, his tone resolute.
The three of them landed on the flagship’s hull, their boots magnetizing to the metal surface. Lightning arced dangerously close as they moved toward the main hatch.
Arjun’s blade thrummed with energy as he led the way. “So, what’s the plan? Knock politely and hope they surrender?”
“Subtlety isn’t our strong suit,” Kaal said, drawing his daggers.
Prithvi raised a hand, signaling for silence. “Stay focused. This ship’s loaded with defenses.”
As if on cue, a turret emerged from the hull, swiveling toward them with deadly precision. Prithvi reacted instantly, raising a gauntlet and unleashing a stream of fire that melted the turret’s barrel before it could fire.
“Nice shot,” Arjun said, moving ahead.
“Keep moving,” Prithvi ordered, his eyes scanning for more threats.
Inside the craft, the air was stifling, heavy with the hum of machinery. Arjun led the way through the narrow corridors, his blade at the ready.
“So,” he said, his tone almost casual, “any bets on what kind of craziness we’re about to walk into?”
“Focus,” Kaal said sharply.
Arjun smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His thoughts were elsewhere, on a battlefield long past.
Raaj’s voice echoed in his memory: “Stick to the plan, Arjun. No improvising.”
But there had been no time for a plan. No time to save him.
Prithvi noticed Arjun’s hesitation, his voice cutting through the tension. “Stay sharp, Arjun. This isn’t the time to lose focus.”
“I’m fine,” Arjun said, though his grip on Vritra tightened.
The corridor opened into a massive chamber, its walls lined with glowing conduits. At the center stood the Ring of Indra, suspended in a swirling vortex of wind and lightning.
“There it is,” Prithvi said, his voice low.
Arjun stepped forward, but his gaze wasn’t on the ring—it was on the enemies emerging from the shadows. Armored soldiers, their weapons crackling with electrical energy, moved to block their path.
“Looks like we’ve got company,” he said, his blade humming with anticipation.
Prithvi raised his gauntlets, flames flickering to life. “We take them down fast and secure the ring. No mistakes.”
Kaal nodded, his daggers gleaming. “Agreed.”
As the first soldier charged, Arjun met them head-on, his blade slicing through their defenses with ease. But even as he fought, the weight of his past lingered in the back of his mind.
Raaj should be here. He should’ve been the one leading this fight.
Prithvi’s voice snapped him back to the present. “Arjun, focus!”
“I’m focused,” he muttered, though his movements were sharper, more aggressive than usual.
The battle raged on, each clash of weapons echoing through the chamber. The soldiers were relentless, their attacks coordinated and precise.
Prithvi and Kaal fought side by side, their movements synchronized as they held the line. Arjun moved ahead, his strikes wild but effective as he carved a path toward the ring.
“Arjun, wait!” Prithvi called, but he was already too far ahead.
The vortex around the ring intensified, the winds threatening to tear the chamber apart.
“We don’t have much time,” Prithvi said, his tone urgent.
Arjun didn’t respond, his focus entirely on the ring—and the memory of Raaj’s voice in his mind.
The chamber shook violently as the vortex around the Ring of Indra intensified, the walls crackling with arcs of lightning that illuminated the swirling chaos. Arjun pushed forward, his blade Vritra humming in sync with the storm’s energy.
Behind him, Prithvi and Kaal were locked in battle with the remaining soldiers, their movements a blur of fire and shadows as they fought to keep the path clear.
“Arjun!” Prithvi shouted, flames erupting from his gauntlets as he incinerated an enemy. “Fall back! That vortex is too unstable!”
“I’ve got this!” Arjun called back, his voice strained but defiant. He could feel the pull of the ring, its power resonating with his blade, urging him forward.
In the skies above the maze, Sona was holding her own against Varunasura’s aerial forces, her plasma turrets tearing through the enemy crafts with ruthless precision.
“Prithvi,” she said over the comms, her voice edged with tension, “you’ve got incoming. A second wave of fighters is converging on your location, and these ones look meaner.”
“Great,” Prithvi muttered, blocking a spear strike with his gauntlet before countering with a burst of fire. “How long can you hold them off?”
“Longer than you,” Sona shot back, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness.
“Do your best,” Prithvi said. “We’ll secure the ring and regroup.”
The door to the chamber burst open, and more soldiers poured in, their weapons sparking with elemental energy.
“We’re out of time,” Kaal said coldly, his daggers flashing as he dispatched another enemy. “If we don’t take the ring now, we won’t leave this maze alive.”
Prithvi’s eyes flicked toward Arjun, who was still moving toward the vortex, his steps unsteady against the gale-force winds.
“Arjun, stop!” Prithvi barked, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of the storm.
Arjun’s thoughts were a jumble of noise and memory. The storm reminded him of that day—lightning flashing, Raaj shouting orders, the chaos overwhelming them both.
“Stick to the plan, Arjun! Fall back!”
But he hadn’t. He’d stayed, convinced he could save the others, and Raaj had paid the price.
The memory pushed him forward, his grip tightening on Vritra. If he could just get to the ring, if he could wield its power—maybe this time, he could make it right.
The storm around the ring surged as Arjun stepped closer, the energy pulling at him like a living thing. His blade began to glow, its resonance with the ring growing stronger.
“Almost there,” he muttered, his voice lost in the gale.
Behind him, Prithvi and Kaal fought desperately to hold the line. The soldiers were relentless, their attacks growing more coordinated as they pressed forward.
“Kaal,” Prithvi said, his voice tight, “cover me.”
Kaal didn’t argue, moving to intercept another wave of enemies as Prithvi surged toward Arjun.
The vortex was nearly blinding as Prithvi reached Arjun, the heat and static electricity making his armor hum with energy.
“Arjun,” he said, grabbing his shoulder, “listen to me. You can’t do this alone. The ring’s power is too volatile—it’ll tear you apart.”
Arjun turned to him, his eyes blazing with determination. “I have to do this, Prithvi. I can feel it. Vritra can handle it.”
“It’s not about the blade,” Prithvi said, his voice firm but not unkind. “It’s about you. This isn’t about proving something or making up for the past.”
Arjun’s jaw tightened, but his grip on Vritra didn’t falter. “You don’t understand—”
“I do,” Prithvi interrupted. “But if you die here, Raaj’s sacrifice means nothing. Don’t let your guilt cloud your judgment.”
Before Arjun could respond, a deafening roar filled the chamber as one of Varunasura’s airborne crafts broke through the maze’s outer wall. The massive ship hovered just outside, its cannons glowing with destructive energy.
Sona’s voice came over the comms, frantic. “Guys, you’ve got a big problem. That ship’s charging up for a blast, and I can’t take it out from here.”
Prithvi turned back to Arjun. “We don’t have time for this. We need to work together, or we’re both dead.”
Arjun hesitated for a moment before nodding, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Fine. What’s the plan?”
Prithvi activated his gauntlets, flames flaring around them. “You focus on the ring. I’ll keep the vortex stable long enough for you to grab it.”
“And what about that?” Arjun said, nodding toward the enemy craft.
“We’ll deal with it when we get there,” Prithvi said. “Let’s move.”
The two of them stepped into the vortex together, the storm’s energy buffeting them from all sides. Prithvi’s flames pushed back the worst of it, creating a narrow path for Arjun to reach the ring.
“Almost there,” Prithvi said, his voice strained.
Arjun extended Vritra, the blade glowing brighter as it connected with the ring’s energy.
The ring pulsed, its power surging through the blade and into Arjun. His entire body tensed as the energy overwhelmed his senses, but he held on, his grip unyielding.
“Got it!” he shouted, yanking the ring free from its vortex.
The storm around them dissipated instantly, the chamber falling silent except for the hum of the ring in Arjun’s hand.
Prithvi exhaled, lowering his gauntlets. “Good. Now let’s get out of here.”
But the relief was short-lived. The enemy craft outside the maze began to fire, its cannon blasts tearing through the walls and sending debris raining down around them.
“We’ve got to move!” Prithvi shouted, pulling Arjun toward the exit.
As they ran, the chamber began to collapse, the walls crumbling under the onslaught. Kaal met them at the doorway, his expression as unreadable as ever.
“Took you long enough,” he said, stepping aside to let them pass.
“Don’t start,” Arjun muttered, though his tone lacked its usual sharpness.
The three of them made it back to their craft just as the maze began to disintegrate. Sona was already at the controls, her face pale but determined.
“Buckle up,” she said as they strapped in. “We’re not out of this yet.”
The ship shot forward, weaving through the collapsing maze as enemy crafts pursued them. Prithvi and Arjun worked the turrets, their combined firepower holding the attackers at bay.
As they broke free of the maze, the team let out a collective breath. The Ring of Indra was theirs, but the cost of the mission weighed heavily on them all.
The sky was chaos. The storm roared louder than ever as the team’s craft darted through the clouds, enemy ships swarming like predatory birds. Each blast from the attackers’ cannons sent shockwaves through the air, the turbulence threatening to rip them apart.
Inside the ship, the tension was suffocating. Sona’s hands gripped the controls, her knuckles white as she pushed the craft to its limits. “We can’t keep this up much longer,” she shouted over the comms.
Prithvi, strapped into one of the side turrets, fired relentlessly at the oncoming ships. “Just keep us in the air,” he replied, his voice steady despite the chaos. “We need time to regroup.”
“Time isn’t exactly on our side,” Arjun muttered, his fingers tightening around Vritra as he stood by the rear hatch. The blade pulsed faintly, resonating with the Ring of Indra now fastened to his wrist.
Kaal Sarp watched him from across the cabin, his expression unreadable. “You’ve got the ring. Use it.”
Arjun shot him a glare. “It’s not that simple.”
“Isn’t it?” Kaal said, his tone cold. “You’ve been carrying that blade around like it’s an extension of yourself. Now it’s time to prove it.”
“Back off, Kaal,” Sona snapped, her voice sharp. “This isn’t the time for one of your lectures.”
“He’s right,” Arjun said quietly, cutting her off. He stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the raging storm outside. “I have to do this.”
Prithvi turned from the turret, his eyes narrowing. “Arjun, don’t—”
“I can handle it,” Arjun interrupted, his voice firm. “You said it yourself, Prithvi. Raaj’s sacrifice can’t be for nothing. If I have a chance to make a difference, I’m taking it.”
Before anyone could stop him, Arjun activated the rear hatch. The wind howled as it slid open, the force nearly pulling him off his feet.
“Arjun!” Sona shouted, her voice tinged with panic.
He glanced back, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Trust me.”
And then he jumped.
The storm swallowed him whole, the wind tearing at his armor as he plummeted toward the enemy fleet. For a moment, the chaos around him faded, replaced by a singular focus: the pulsing energy of Vritra and the ring on his wrist.
Raaj’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Stick to the plan, Arjun. No improvising.”
But there was no plan this time. Just instinct.
He gripped the blade tightly, its glow intensifying as he called on the power of the Ring of Indra. The storm responded instantly, lightning arcing toward him as if drawn to the weapon.
Above him, Sona struggled to keep the ship steady, her heart pounding. “What the hell is he doing?”
Prithvi’s voice came through the comms, calm but resolute. “He’s trying to turn the tide.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Kaal asked, his tone as detached as ever.
“Then we’re all dead,” Prithvi said bluntly.
Arjun’s descent slowed as the storm wrapped around him, the lightning coiling like serpents. The nearest enemy craft turned its cannons on him, firing a barrage of energy blasts.
With a single, fluid motion, Arjun swung Vritra, the blade slicing through the air and sending a shockwave of lightning that obliterated the incoming fire. The enemy ship didn’t stand a chance; it exploded in a brilliant burst of light and debris.
The other ships hesitated, their pilots clearly uncertain about how to deal with this new threat. Arjun didn’t give them time to regroup.
He landed on the hull of the largest craft, his blade sparking as it clashed against the ship’s defenses. The energy coursing through Vritra made him faster, stronger, every movement precise and devastating.
The ship’s turrets swiveled toward him, but he leaped out of their range, hurling a bolt of lightning that disabled the weapons.
Inside the cockpit, the enemy pilots scrambled, their voices frantic. “He’s unstoppable!”
Arjun smirked, his confidence growing with every strike. For the first time in a long while, he felt in control.
But the storm wasn’t just a weapon—it was a reminder. The crack of thunder, the flash of lightning, the chaos—it was all too familiar.
“Fall back, Arjun!”
“I can handle it!”
“No, you can’t!”
The memory hit him like a punch to the gut, his movements faltering for a split second. The enemy took advantage, a cannon blast grazing his shoulder and sending him sprawling.
From the ship, Prithvi saw the hit. His heart sank, but he kept his voice steady. “Arjun, focus. You’re not alone this time.”
Arjun gritted his teeth, pulling himself up. The pain was sharp, but it grounded him.
“You’re not alone.”
The words anchored him, cutting through the guilt and fear. He wasn’t just fighting for Raaj’s memory—he was fighting for the team, for the mission, for the future.
He raised Vritra, the blade glowing brighter than ever as he channeled the full power of the Ring of Indra. The storm around him answered his call, the lightning converging into a single, massive strike.
“Let’s end this,” he muttered, his voice filled with determination.
With a deafening roar, the lightning surged through him and into the ship beneath him. The enemy craft disintegrated in an instant, the explosion rocking the battlefield.
The remaining ships began to retreat, their pilots unwilling to face the storm’s wrath.
Arjun hovered in the air, the storm quieting around him as he descended toward the team’s craft. Sona was waiting at the hatch, her expression a mix of relief and exasperation.
“You’re insane,” she said as he stepped inside.
“Maybe,” Arjun said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “But it worked.”
Prithvi clapped a hand on his shoulder, his gaze steady. “Good work. Raaj would’ve been proud.”
Arjun nodded, the weight on his shoulders lifting slightly. “Thanks.”
As the craft sped away from the battlefield, the storm finally began to dissipate. The Ring of Indra was theirs, but the cost of the mission lingered in their minds.
For Arjun, it wasn’t just a victory—it was redemption.
The skies were calm now, the storm reduced to a faint echo on the horizon as the team’s craft glided above the clouds. Inside, the atmosphere was heavy, the adrenaline of the battle giving way to exhaustion and reflection.
Sona sat at the controls, her expression tight. She hadn’t said much since Arjun’s return, her focus locked on the instruments in front of her.
“You could at least say it,” Arjun said, breaking the silence.
Sona glanced at him. “Say what?”
“That I was reckless. That I could’ve gotten us all killed,” he replied, leaning back in his seat.
Sona’s grip on the controls tightened. “I didn’t need to. You already know.”
Prithvi stood by the viewport, his gaze distant as he watched the clouds drift below. The glow of the Ring of Indra still lingered faintly, a reminder of what they had just achieved.
“We needed that win,” he said quietly, breaking the tense silence.
Arjun leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Did we, though? I mean, sure, we got the ring, but at what cost? I almost lost control out there.”
“But you didn’t,” Prithvi said, turning to face him. “You channeled the ring’s power and turned the tide. That’s what matters.”
Arjun shook his head. “It wasn’t just the ring. It was… Raaj. I kept hearing his voice out there. Kept thinking about what I should’ve done back then.”
Sona glanced over her shoulder, her tone softening. “Arjun, Raaj made his choice. You can’t keep carrying that weight alone.”
“Maybe not,” Arjun said, his voice low. “But it doesn’t change what happened. Or what I failed to do.”
Kaal, who had been silent until now, spoke up from his corner of the cabin. “Failure is inevitable. The question is whether you let it define you.”
Arjun gave him a sharp look. “And what would you know about it?”
Kaal’s eyes narrowed, his tone cold. “More than you think.”
“Enough,” Prithvi said, his voice firm. He stepped forward, his presence commanding. “This isn’t the time to tear each other down. We’re all carrying losses. We’re all trying to make sense of what’s ahead. But we can’t let it divide us.”
Arjun sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re right. I just… I don’t want to screw up again.”
“Then don’t,” Prithvi said simply. “Learn from it. Grow from it. That’s all we can do.”
The words hung in the air, and for the first time in hours, the tension began to ease.
Vikram entered the cabin, his datapad glowing faintly as he tapped through the flight diagnostics. “We’re clear for now,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact. “No sign of pursuit.”
“Good,” Sona replied, her focus still on the controls.
Vikram glanced at her, then at the others. “We should talk about the ring. It’s not just another tool—it’s a game-changer. But it’s also a responsibility. Whoever wields it needs to understand that.”
“Arjun gets it,” Prithvi said, his tone confident.
Arjun looked up, surprised. “You sure about that?”
“I am,” Prithvi said. “Because I saw what you did out there. You didn’t let the ring control you. You used its power for the right reasons. That’s what matters.”
The cabin fell silent again, the weight of Prithvi’s words settling over them.
Sona finally spoke, her voice softer than before. “We’ve still got a long way to go. Varunasura’s not going to stop, and neither can we.”
Prithvi nodded. “This was a step forward, but it’s just the beginning. We have to keep moving, keep fighting. And we have to do it together.”
Arjun leaned back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Together, huh? Sounds like a plan.”
Kaal’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—acceptance, perhaps. “For now.”
As the craft approached their base, Prithvi turned back to the viewport. The clouds parted, revealing the sprawling landscape below, the storm far behind them.
The Ring of Indra pulsed faintly on Arjun’s wrist, its energy now a part of him.
The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a while, they felt ready to face it.