A strange smell crept into the air—sharp, and unsettling. Kartik felt it first, a faint warning that made his breath grow shallow. Beside him, Dort walked beside him as they moved deeper into the narrow street, their footsteps swallowed by an unnatural silence. They reached the end.
The road stopped abruptly, swallowed by darkness. No turn No way forward.
They stopped.
Almost instinctively, both turned around, searching for the presence they could feel pressing against their backs. The street behind them was empty—no movement, no sound—only darkness stretching into nothingness. Kartik frowned and lifted his gaze upward, his eyes drawn to the edge of a nearby building. In the poor light, something—or someone—sat there, barely visible, as if carved out of shadow itself.
Before Kartik could warn Dort, the figure leapt down.
No sound. No warning.
The person landed lightly and began walking toward them. His face was completely covered, except for his eyes—cold, watchful, and unnervingly calm.
"Why are you following us?" Dort demanded.
There was no reply.
Dort's posture changed instantly. "Stay alert," he murmured to Kartik. Slowly, he raised his hand. A faint yellow light flickered in his palm, growing brighter with every heartbeat. The glow spread, wrapping around his hand, then his arm, and finally his entire body. The air around him bent and twisted,
Kartik stared in shock. He had never seen power like this.
The masked person turned his gaze toward Dort. Panic surged through Kartik. Spotting a broken chair beside him, he grabbed it and hurled it forward with all his strength. The chair flew—but the man sidestepped effortlessly, as if he had already seen the attack coming.
Suddenly, Kartik's vision blurred. His head spun violently. The smell—he understood it now.
He gets fainted.
The world tilted, darkness rushed in, and Kartik collapsed.
Few hours later..
When he opened his eyes, pain and confusion greeted him. His hands and legs were tied tightly with rope. He lay inside an abandoned building, its walls cracked and decaying. A single flickering light hung above him, buzzing faintly. Across from him, someone sat in a chair, watching. Nearby, Dort lay unconscious on the floor.
The covered face person stepped closer.
"What did the dragon give you?" he asked.
Kartik blinked, stunned. "Nothing," he said weakly. "The dragon gave me nothing."
The man didn't believe him.
"When the dragon disappeared," he said coldly, "something fell onto the mansion roof. I arrived moments later and saw you and your friends coming downstairs. But when I reached the roof—there was nothing."
Kartik insisted. "There was nothing that fell,"
The man leaned in. "Then show me who you really are."
Before Kartik could respond, Dort stirred. His eyes opened slowly, taking in the ropes binding him and the scene before him. Without hesitation, Dort spoke.
Dort said calmly. "He's my friend," "He came from another continent to attend the function."
The masked man turned toward him.
"Why are we tied?" Dort continued. "What do you want? Kartik has nothing to do with whatever you're searching for. We're innocent. And if Mr. James finds out what you're doing here, it will cause serious trouble for you."
The man hesitated. His face expression changed Then he gestured to his subordinates. "Untie him."
As the ropes loosened, Kartik whispered, "You know him?"
Dort nodded slightly. "He used to work in the police. See the symbol on his shirt."
The man stepped back. "You can go. But if you know anything—tell me now."
They said nothing.
He ordered his men to take them home, but Dort refused. "We'll go ourselves."
As they turned to leave, the man stepped into the light. For the first time, they saw his face. He was young—no older than twenty-one. His eyes held exhaustion… and obsession. He tell them his name was edric
"One last question," he said, looking directly at Kartik. "Which continent are you from?"
Before Kartik could answer, Dort spoke. "He comes from the Land of Magic."
Without waiting for a response, they left.
On the way, Kartik finally broke the silence and asked about his power, about what had happened after he fainted. Dort shook his head slowly. "I'm too tired. I'll explain everything in the morning."
They reached Dort's house just as exhaustion claimed them fully. The doorbell rang. Dort's mother opened the door, concern softening into relief when she saw them.
"This is Kartik," Dort said. "My friend. He needs a place to stay for a few days." Dort's mom welcome him to his house
Seeing how tired they were, she smiled gently. "Go upstairs. Get some rest."
They walked upstairto the room . The moment they lay down on the bed, sleep pulled them under—deep, heavy,—while unanswered questions waited silently for the morning.
In the morning..
Light brushed across Kartik's face, gentle and warm, slipping in through the window like a quiet invitation to wake. His eyes opened slowly, the comfort of sleep still clinging to him—until a sudden sound shattered the calm.
Knock. Knock.
The noise pulled him fully awake.
He sat up, blinked once, then moved toward the door. The moment he opened it, Dort's mother stood before him, smiling warmly, a plate of delicious food balanced in her hands.
"You've slept too long," she said kindly. "Go take a bath. Your breakfast is waiting."
She stepped inside the room and glanced at Dort, who was still buried in sleep. Handing the plate to Kartik, she walked straight to the bed and tugged Dort's ear.
"Ow—Mom!" Dort protested, finally opening his eyes. "Let go!"
Kartik couldn't help but smile.
Once Dort was awake, he told Kartik to get ready. "Come with me," he said. "There's a public hot tub nearby. We'll bathe there."
They walked through the streets and reached the bathing area, choosing a corner tub where no one else was around. Warm water eased the weight of the night from their bodies. As steam rose around them, Dort finally spoke.
"After breakfast," "we're going to the backyard of the city. Eisha and Aemma will be there too. From there, we're going somewhere… special."
"A surprise?" Kartik asked.
Dort smiled, but said nothing.
Steam curled upward from the surface of the hot tub, wrapping the air in warmth and silence. Kartik leaned back against the stone edge, letting the heat seep into his aching muscles. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The night still clung to them, heavy and unspoken.
It was Kartik who finally broke the silence.
"What happened last night," he asked softly, "after I fainted?"
The question hung between them.
Dort took a long, steady breath, as if preparing himself to relive something he wished he could forget.
"I couldn't match Edrik's power," he said quietly.
Kartik turned toward him,
"I tried," Dort continued. "But whatever strength I showed… it wasn't enough. After some time, my body gave up. I lost consciousness too."
He opened his eyes and stared at the steam drifting above them. "When I woke up, my hands were tied with rope. He was standing there, asking you questions. Watching every word you spoke."
Dort's jaw tightened. "I tried to handle the situation. I tried to keep him calm. But…" He hesitated. "I think he became suspicious of us."
The water lapped softly against the stone.
Kartik looked down at his hands beneath the surface, remembering the ropes, the cold stare behind the mask. Edrik's name echoed in his mind, heavier now that it had a face.
"So… he doesn't believe us," Kartik murmured.
"No," Dort replied. "Not completely."
Steam rose higher, blurring the world around them—but neither of them could escape the feeling.
After bathing, they changed their clothes. Kartik wore Dort's new clothes—clean, comfortable, and unfamiliar in a strangely comforting way. Together, they returned to the house.
Breakfast was already waiting.
Dort's mother had prepared a meal so inviting that Kartik didn't know where to begin. They sat at the table, and as Kartik took his first bite, something deep inside him stirred.
It tasted like home.
Like his mother's cooking.
He ate until he could eat no more, words failing him completely. Dort laughed at the sight.
Before leaving, Dort told his mother they had work in the backyard of the city. She nodded, trusting him. Dort handed Kartik a bag, shouldering one himself, and together they said goodbye.
They took the train.
When Kartik asked why they took the train, Dort answered simply, "The route is long and confusing. Walking won't get us there."
The floating train glided smoothly through the air, revealing breathtaking views of the city below—towers gleaming, paths glowing, life moving far beneath them. Soon, they reached the backyard of the city and stepped off at the station.
Eisha, Aemma, and Sword were already there.
Dort waved, and they hurried over.
Kartik asked "where we are going".
Eisha smiled and replied. "To a place where people can see their dreams—in real."
Kartik was stunned. Yet after everything he had witnessed in the past few days, the words didn't feel impossible.
Sword leapt into Kartik's hands, smilling faintly. I missed you, it seemed to say.
"I missed you too," Kartik whispered.
When Kartik asked where this place was, Eisha pointed ahead. "Beyond the mountain."
Kartik followed her gaze. The mountain stood massive and silent, dominating the horizon. Fear flickered in his chest—but so did excitement.
If his dreams truly waited beyond it…
Then no distance was too far.
Without another word, they began their journey.