Never in her entire life, Khushi thought she'll do something like this. Not even in her wildest dreams, she dreamt of doing something like this. She always had been a dreamer proud of her imaginative powers but still even as a child, she hadn't ever dreamt of something like this.

Riding a majestic white stag in a moonlit jungle. A majestic white stag who was also capable of shifting in a quite annoying bespectacled human was never quite there in her mind.

Yet here is she doing just that.

Racing through the fireflies lit jungle on the back of a majestic white stag.

Feeling free and unnerved.

The ride is simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying with the stag galloping like a snake and no premotion of what next. It was the kind of memory Arjun asked her to concentrate on.

Of course, she didn't have any such strong happy and at the same time freedom inducing memory back when they first started with the training. At that time, a gloomy cloud of unwanted memories of pain was circling above her. Raining bad memories, quite literally.

And her first day of training wasn't something noteworthy yet she couldn't help but recollect it almost fondly now. It had been two weeks since the first training day and she hadn't made much progress yet.

Well, not at all the kind of progress she wanted to make. But Arjun reassured her that it's a slow process and firstly she has to come in terms with herself. Accept her predicament. Accept she isn't a human anymore.

Accept she is a Sur.

And a royal. 

The word "royal" seems to be the most fav of all her new mentors. They tell her this almost every day and she doesn't know why or what weightage this word holds in their world? Even Arjun won't explain it to her. And to say, he is her favorite mentor.

Even though on her first day of training, she was almost as terrified of this new world as she was of Arjun. He was an unknown entity to her. The guy with a stoic face and tranquil eyes. She didn't know him at all and he was supposed to be the one she could depend on most.

But she was determined to overcome her fear of Arjun.

She was determined to learn.

She needed too.

Needed to attain her purpose.

Needed to seek justice.

And she couldn't do it until she mastered her powers.

So she was determined. She had too.

For no one but she can bring herself to justice.

So when she woke up that day with the weird surge of energy coursing through her again. The symphony of loud laughing thunder, melodic chirping birds, the goosebump-inducing sound of the conch shell, and the soft chime of a bell. All in all, she found herself awake again in the godly hour everyone calls ungodly.

She was terrified and determined. 

Her mother's pic on the bedside table fuelling her determination.

So, the moment Riya came to fetch her for the first day of training. She was all ready and a bundle of extremely nervous energy. Sometime last night, she had started picturing what her first day of training will be like?

She could clearly imagine her tutors in dhotis or any other attire of the past kings and queens shown in the tv shows or something. For the way, they talked it reminded her of them only. She even imagined a medieval age training set up.

After all, even the armory full of weapons gave that vibe.

But all her imaginations came untrue when Riya took her to the terrace of the house. She had never ventured to the terrace before but what a beautiful place it was. And if anything ever makes her believe in love at first sight again then at the present moment, it was the terrace.

It was such a beautiful place and it made her feel like she was standing on the top of the world. The mighty mountains of north stood in front of her unbowing. She could see the forest stretch in the east. The sea roared and crashed in the west and south. It was a beautiful sight.

And her mentor stood there with his shoulder-length hair flying in the breeze, his eyes smiling. He wasn't dressed in a dhoti as she expected. He was looking quite comfortable in track pants and a loose T-shirt. Khushi was all ready to conquer her powers.

"I can't see anything, it's not working " Khushi huffed out with a frustrated sigh.

It took only two days for her determination to crumble and how wouldn't it? When she couldn't master a simple meditation step. How will she master the more extensive exhausting parts of her training?

"You're air, dear. And the air is always in motion. So, it must be hard for you. But you'll conquer it. I'm sure, " Arjun assured her with a slight chuckle.

"But how? I don't even know what I'm seeking looks like?" She asked him tired and depressed already.

It was just mediation and she couldn't control her own mind? How can she control her powers if her own mind isn't in her control?

"Well, maybe I can help you with that, " Arjun said looking thoughtfully and she just watched him at a loss of words.

"Look into my eyes, " Arjun asked her and Khushi was startled for a minute.

But compiled anyway. He was the mentor after all. For the first few minutes, nothing happened. Well, except her heart producing uncomfortable and nervous vibes.

Arjun's silver eyes were frighteningly beautiful, after all. But the terrifyingly magnetic pull of his eyes turned into a gateway. A gateway to his soul and core. She knew at a glance this was what he was asking her to find for the last two days.

It was a disk, a rotating white disk with seemingly black pearls on it. It has serrated edges. She didn't know how but she knew the disk had 108 serrated edges and from each sharp edge power and emotions were connected. She could see the colorful veins like roots of a banyan tree sprouting out of the disk. It was a large network of interconnected roots. And it was clear what power Arjun favored. The tornado with lightning and rain rotating in the center of the disk was a straight giveaway. The network of power had all elements but the chosen one reigned in the center.

And as soon as she thought it she was out gasping, sitting in her spot in front of Arjun. She had just traveled inside his mind and she felt drained.

"Now you know, what you're seeking through your core chakra will most likely be blue with white pearls, " Arjun told her seemingly totally unbothered by her trip in whatever that place inside his soul was called?

"How?"

How did you know that? How could you just show me? How was I able to see inside your soul?

Khushi didn't know what to really ask when the breathless how escaped her lips? But whatever it was it was powerful and draining magic.

"Well, because I'm your ruler and you're a royal. And well, I'm connected to all the air clans so, " Arjun shrugged indifferently.

"Ruler?" Khushi asked not exactly liking the sound of her ruler.

"Yes, I'm the king of Air element and you, well your father's family was the appointed head by our family from generations," Arjun said looking quite uncomfortable with this matter.

And Khushi couldn't control the anger surging through her veins again. Riya said she found nothing about her father yet here Arjun was claiming her father was supposed to be the deputy ruler under him than how didn't they know his identity? What aren't they telling her?

"And you said, you don't have any idea about my father?" Khushi was more than aware of her flaring nostrils and the almost threatening predator like edge in her voice. Another reminder she had changed.

"We aren't, "  He admitted impassively.

"How?" Her eyes all but turned into an angry viper like narrow slits, ready to attack any second.

"I've been a ruler for no more than a few months, Khushi and the once who would have known are no more, " said Arjun as impassively as before but the dark swirl in his eyes terrified Khushi.

For a second something dark truly unleashed itself in his eyes. Something terrifying. Something she didn't dare challenge though she was feeling a little ashamed too. They had given her no reason to doubt them yet she is questioning them.

But could she really be blamed? After everything, she had gone through but again Arjun's action tugged at her consciousness.

Could all this power really for preserving nature?  There was something more here. Something they weren't telling her yet she didn't risk any other question from Arjun in fear of igniting his ire.

"Are you ready to try again?" Arjun asked her gruffly.

She nodded.

Still, it took her two more days to finally locate her magical core. It was somewhere in the epicenter of her mind. A blue disk with white pearls and a whirlwind with lightning and rain in its center. But the roots spouting out it seemed to be consumed by the white fog. She couldn't see the roots of her power and emotions.

Frustrated.

She told this to Arjun.

"Accept your true origins Khushi, let go of your past and you'll conquer the world, "

It was easier said than done and the same story repeated in every sort of training.  Whether it was astronomy with Kanil, anatomy with Arnav, and Sidhant or defense with Aashvi Everything was easier said than done. And none of them had even started the hard phases yet. Aasvhi hadn't started training her with the weapons and she was already tired.

They hadn't yet gone in the depths and yet she was being overwhelmed. She was gasping to hold on when all they asked her to do was stand and stretch her senses.

"Be aware of your surroundings, they'll be your greatest aids, " they all sang the same hymn around her.

"Nature versus Nurture, surrounding greatest aid, always trust your senses and instincts, "

Every one of them repeats the same thing in a different way. And she is starting to trust every one of them. Though Sid and Arnav didn't take as many classes as Arjun, Kanil, and Aashvi did in the last two weeks.

They seemed to always be busy. Someone or other always needed them in the jungle man or animal. It didn't matter.

Everyone in the house seemed busy. In the last two weeks, she realized how rare it was for all of them to be together. Most of them seemed missing almost every day. And it again brought a seed of doubt in her mind. Why were they all present during her first few days around the house? They attended the meals with her when she can now totally see they don't usually.

Why?

Is it was regarding her presence?

But why will her presence warrant all of their presence?

A sudden violent jerk made her aware of her surroundings. Her limbs tightening around the stag's neck afraid she'll fall down.

But she didn't need to struggle much as the stag slowly came to halt under the tree lines surrounding a clearing. These trees we're different from the other trees in the forest. Every instinct and gut of her body screamed so and the clearing did seem divine.

A waterfall and pond-side by side. The grass was purple, no, it was purple grass-like flowers around. The pond was full of water lilies and lotus and ducks and swans playing around. The whole area was emitting a golden glow and smelled like happiness and home.

"You're quite heavy," Arnav's gruff voice stopped her appreciation session of the clearing.

"Well, you're quite weak for a demigod then, " She retorted snappily as she climbed down from his shoulders.

When did he change back into an annoying human?  She liked him better as a stag at least he wasn't being a smartass then.

Well, she might be displeased with Arnav because Sid and he were also using her as a lab rat to know more about her situation.

She didn't like being a lab rat at all.

"Am I, huh?" Arnav asked her with dancing eyebrows.

She just blew a raspberry in his direction and made a beeline for the others. She knew he wasn't angry or hurt by her comment. His eyes were dancing with amusement but she didn't trust him to not toss her in the pond in retribution or a prank.

She knew he was chasing her and she hated that she wasn't a very good runner.

"God, please save me from an impromptu tour of the pond, " she prayed while running.

"Arnav! It's time, " Aashvi's authoritative voice cut in through the chase game of Arnav and Khushi.

"Okay, bhabs, " Arnav conceded stopping in his tracks and walking towards Aashvi along with Khushi.

Khushi passed her fiery mentor a small smile and Aashvi returned it.

"Where are the others?" Arnav asked Aashvi noticing only Arjun, Saesha, and her around.

"On their way, " Aashvi said something else to Arnav but Khushi wasn't paying attention as she had already walked towards Arjun.

"Arjun!!!" She called him trying to gain the attention of the man deep in conversation with an abnormally large white eagle.

"Yes, "

Arjun answered touching the ground easily and looking at Khushi questioningly.

"You said you'll take me to see the air dragon today, " Khushi was well aware that she was sounding like a 3-year-old excited to see her own puppy.

"I know but we have to go somewhere tonight, I'll take you there tomorrow," Arjun said with an apologetic look. Like a parent telling his child that they couldn't go to the fair today but he'll take them there tomorrow. Well, Arjun does call her a child-like thousand times a day. She is about thirteen years younger than him.

"But, " And Khushi pouted like that child who was excited and chattering the whole day about the fair and right now, couldn't fathom the prospect of another day of the wait.

It was unfair.

She wanted to go now.

"It's really important, Khushi but I promise tomorrow I'll take you there, why don't you practice till we return and see if this place help with the fog or not?"  Arjun suggested to her.

She wasn't happy but gave in.

They must have some important work but why weren't they telling her what it was? Why so much secrecy?

She thought as she watched Arjun, Arnav and Aashvi leave for wherever they needed to go.

Once they weren't at all visible to her. She sat down beside the pond her diary open in her hands. The peacock feather pen — stolen from Arnav. It was too beautiful and tempting to not too, twirling between her fingers. As she glared at the open page of her diary.

Aryaman Singh Raizada, written in a perfect calligraphic scrawl on the top corner of the diary. Arjun has suggested
thinking about every person of her past and reducing them to a single emotion and then leaving it just to that until the end of the training.

Everyone else had been easy. It hadn't taken her much time to give a single emotion to everyone else. Even her parents. Well, it was easier when Arjun's power succeeded in tugging memories locked in some corner of her mind. Memories of her parents when she was no more than a few months old.

"Mumma's little star, "

"Aren't you the cutest baby in the whole planet, "

"Dada loves you the most little one, "

"Remember love, Mumma-papa will always love you. Stay safe for us, won't you, "

She still doesn't know how her father looks but she knows both their voices now. How they sound and she wants to keep on playing their voices in her mind forever. Till she memorizes it and never forgets it in her entire life.

But she knows she'll. She'll for Arjun's power can't make the memory permanent and with time every memory fades.

And she doesn't understand if her father is alive why didn't he come for her? He said he loved her then why?
Is he captured by dadi?

No, it can't be.

God, it again made her focus on the name written in her diary. Arjun's made her see the memories of the days she forgot too.

And she doesn't know why didn't Aryaman leave her then?

She was totally mad.
Spitting food on him.
Throwing things.
Screaming like a possessed being.

She did everything that will warrant a stay in a mental hospital yet he didn't leave her side. He was there with her, taking care of her. He didn't leave her side.

And yet it all changed a few days after Sheetal's presence in their life.

She doesn't know what to do? How to deduce him to a single emotion? Whatever they have between them is too toxic now yet she can't just let go. She doesn't know how people let go of first love? It seems impossible for her.

Impossible to let go.

Plus with the memories that Arjun's power ignited made it even more painful to let go.

And it again brought her to the question that's been haunting her for the last few days? All of them especially the Rawte brothers had so much power.

And was it all just for preserving nature?

It didn't make sense at all.

And yesterday, she heard an almost infrasonic conversation between Aashvi and Dhriti. Well, she might not have heard it if she wasn't perceiving the world from the eyes of a sparrow. Well, another power they had they could perceive the world through the eyes of the species of their kingdom.

And though she had made little progress in this craft. She could see through Prithvi but her connection was still weak with the others. But it's not the point, the point is their conversation. Well, actually Aashvi's words.

"I'm fire and I need no man to prove my right to the throne. I bow to no man and he bloody well knows that " Aashvi's words were no less than angry flames licking on things it'll devour.

"Patience, Aashi, "

Dhriti bhabi seemed strangely emotionless. The tone didn't at all match to the motherly woman brushing her hair. It was cold and detached.

"You should have let me behead him Samragyi, " Venom, Aashvi was full of venom.

"She is getting on my nerves and it won't solve anything, " Dhriti reminded Aashvi neutrally

"I'm hurting just to burn, burning to ignite, gotta die to stay alive and I'm going to gift him her head, "

Khushi didn't know what was Dhriti's reply. She didn't know how she reacted to Aashvi statement of gifting heads? She didn't know for her connection with the bird had broken. She wasn't master in the art yet. She could connect to Prithvi all the time but she finds it hard to connect with the other birds, butterflies, and all. Arjun said it'll become easier once the fog clears but she wasn't anywhere near it yet.

This all was hard for her. It wasn't coming naturally and again Arjun said it was because of her half-human origin. But again she felt like they were hiding something from her. They all had their secrets. Secrets she wasn't privy too.

There was something more to them.

Something exceptionally dangerous.

How can they talk about beheading people so easily?

There was something they were keeping from her.

Something vital.

She was sure.

"Hey!!" the gentle voice of Saesha reminded Khushi of her surroundings. Looking up, she found Saesha standing beside her with Snowy taling her as her loyal shadow.

"Hii, " Khushi smiled at Saesha. Her favorite part of the day was always spent with Saesha in the kitchen. Thinking about herself and cooking for herself.

Something she never had done before.

Saesha sat beside Khushi raising a questioning eyebrow in her direction. And Khushi couldn't help but start ranting, after all, she had been doing so after every training.

Saesha was always all ears. She always let her speak her heart out.

She didn't know how can a man change so fast? He was there for her at her worse. How can he live her at her best?  He was there when she was ill yet he left her when she was good? It didn't make any sense to her.

"Did he introduce Sheetal as his girlfriend?" Saesha asked her a thoughtful look on her face.

"No, he said she was his best friend. Anjali di said she was his ex-GF, " Khushi exhaled frowning.

"It clears so many things then, " Saesha mumbled softly.

And Khushi didn't know how it cleared anything? He didn't tell her she was his GF. She was so hurt when she got to know this info from Anjali di.

"How? " Khushi demanded from Saesha. She was supposed to make sense not confuse her more.

"Sheetal was never his girlfriend or even best friend, Khushi, She is pretending to be me, " Saesha said casually not meeting Khushi's eyes.

"WHAT!!!!!"

~To be continued~

So, what do you think guys? Khushi is being curious and curiosity can kill the cat. So, what dangers await her in both the world?
What do you think about Saesha's words? Can Saesha help Khushi give up on her origins and embrace her new reality?
To know keep on reading?