The room was dimly lit, casting an eerie glow over its various contents. Flickering candles and old-school light bulbs, their filaments glowing flamboyantly, provided faint warmth to the otherwise freezing space. Shadows danced on the walls, adding a haunting ambience to the scene. The thick, worn carpet on the floor offered scant insulation from the cold, hard ground beneath, its frayed edges speaking of better days long past.

The boys had gathered once more in this familiar, albeit chilly, sanctuary. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, the kind that only shared hardship and uncertainty could foster. Akash emerged from the bathroom, the creak of the door momentarily louder than the quiet murmurs of conversation. His eyes were moist and dull, carrying a heavy, grieving pain that seemed to weigh down his entire demeanour. The room fell silent as he entered, the others turning to acknowledge his presence with solemn nods.

The cold seemed to seep into their bones, but it was the shared warmth of their camaraderie that kept them from feeling entirely numb. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, yet united by the unspoken bond of shared experiences and mutual reliance.

Breaking the heavy silence, Ishan spoke up, his voice a mixture of determination and reassurance. "We'll figure something out. As far as we know, they all are safe."

Akash gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling over. 'They are safe right now, but that doesn't mean they're out of danger. I've endured all this pain and fear just to be back with my sister...' His voice faltered, the weight of his emotions almost too much to bear.

"She was always there for me, even in the hardest times. When our parents died, she was the one who stayed strong and helped me come out of the grief and move forward. I cannot even count the number of sacrifices she made for me and now when she is in a danger that we cannot even comprehend, all I can do is just sit around and follow people who I don't even trust. I don't even know if she is alive or not."

Avyan lowered his head while Anirudh sat on a chair in the corner of the room, looking out of the window onto the busy city while actively listening to the conversation. Ishan placed his hand on Akash's shoulder, attempting to offer comfort. "I understand, Akash, but we have to stay—

Akash swings Ishan's hand away and shouts, "No you don't. You don't understand what it feels like. There is nothing on the line for you. You do not even know what a family is like."

The room goes silent once again as Avyan and Anirudh look at each other, surprised by Akash's statement. Ishan smiles and gets up slowly, "Yeah, I am sorry Akash"

Ishan looked towards Avyan, who seemed visibly saddened. With a nod, Ishan left the room. Avyan looked towards Anirudh once again, and Anirudh, understanding the signal, stood up and followed Ishan out.

Avyan's mind raced with thoughts of how to deal with this situation but he couldn't come up with anything since he himself was too stressed due to his grandfather. The silence in the room grew heavier, each remaining occupant lost in their thoughts. The flickering candlelight cast long, wavering shadows that seemed to echo the turmoil and uncertainty within each of them.

With no words left to say, Avyan laid back on his bed. A pool of thoughts again surrounded him like always. What did Dauji really wanted? What does Raezi have to do with us? Soon the beautiful ceiling  above turned dark as he slept instantaneously due to exhaustion. 

"Avyan, wake up", Avyan wakes up in a great turmoil as it was still dark outside. 

Anirudh wakes the others up as well along with Avyan, "Wake up, Elara said our training will start from 4 AM"

Ishan also wakes up, "It's time already. I was certain we talked for way more time last night than you said Anirudh. Why does this training have to be this early"

Akash says in a depressed voice, "Do you even want to do this training? We cannot physically reach the level of the Marshalls. Why are these guys wasting their time in training us. Instead they should go out and find Raezi"

Anirudh replies, "We all have our individual reasons to carry out with the plan and train."

Anirudh nods to Ishan. Akash, although without interest but gets up. All of them start to freshen up and carry out their usual routine.

While in the washroom, Akash thinks, "I have never trained in my life. I know my limits, I cannot possibly be useful in any real battle even after years of training. I don't know what to do. I cannot be a burden. I cannot just sit around and do nothing. I need to be useful somehow"

As they emerged out of the room, they saw Elara walking towards them in the corridor. She smiled and said, "You're awake. Marshalls are waiting for you in the training grounds. Feel free to follow me."

Ishan whispers in Anirudh's ears excitedly, "They have a training ground inside the palace. I can't wait to get back to the gym, it's been so long."

As they walk towards the training grounds, Elara explains them their course of training, "Lord Zeesham has devised a training plan for you. Akash, your expertise in the biomedical and bioengineering will be very useful according to Lord Zeesham. Instead of physical training, you are advised to work together with our team of scientists and engineers on various matters that will be explained to you in isolation. Lord Zeesham feels this will be the best for all the parties. "

Akash nods in agreement and is relieved since now he is certain he can be useful in some way.

"The rest of you will be trained by the Marshalls. The three of you will be allotted to a Marshall each and they will train you in their own unique ways."

Avyan raises his eyebrows in astonishment as he didn't expect the Marshalls to train them personally. He is also thinking about which Marshall will he be paired up with. He wishes to be paired up with Vanya. 

The three of them are instructed to enter three different adjacent rooms. Avyan is allotted the third room, Ishan is allotted the second room and Anirudh is allotted the first room. Anirudh enters the room first and finds Lector there in his usual outfit and sunglasses, swinging his swords with elegance. The room is huge, almost a square with sides of about 50 metres. This room had a lot of gym equipment, platforms of different heights, random obstacles and hitting dummies. It is painted in orange and yellow colours.

 Avyan enters his room but it is empty. He looks around to see nothing. The room is dark, cold and misty. It is hard to see the ends of the room due to the mist. There are long wooden cylindrical platforms which can be climbed upon. Each cylindrical platform is made up of a different material. He gets confused and heads out. He holds the doorknob to open the door.

"erm, what?", It is locked.

Ishan entered the room and found Vanya sitting gracefully on a chair, her back to the table. Her legs were elegantly crossed, and one elbow rested on the table while her hand supported her chin. The circular table was beautifully adorned with an arrangement of purple and white flowers, creating a serene contrast to the room's intensity. A delicate tea set was placed beside Vanya, adding an unexpected touch of tranquillity.

To Ishan's astonishment, the room was filled with soldiers, all clad in the same uniform. They stood in a precise formation, starting with a single soldier at the front, followed by rows of two, three, and so on. After the tenth row, the sequence restarted with one soldier, but these held weapons, ready for action. There were five such sets of ten rows, each soldier standing with disciplined poise, creating an imposing yet organized presence.

Vanya, noticing Ishan's arrival, stood up with a smile, her excitement evident in her eyes. The room's atmosphere, charged with a blend of military precision and the delicate beauty of the floral decor, created a striking juxtaposition, leaving Ishan both impressed and intrigued by what was to come.

"Ishan, you're finally here. I was waiting for you for so long. Come let's have some pancakes and tea."

This was Ishan's favourite breakfast. As a connoisseur of fine cuisine, Ishan would go to great lengths for a good meal, his passion for food being one of his defining traits. He smiled and waved eagerly towards Navya, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the delectable spread. His enthusiasm was palpable as he started to run towards her, his mind solely focused on the delightful meal awaiting him.

However, his joyous sprint was abruptly halted. Out of nowhere, the first soldier stepped forward and delivered a powerful punch to Ishan's stomach. The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground. Clutching his abdomen in excruciating pain, he could feel the sharp sting intensifying with each breath. A metallic taste filled his mouth as he spat out blood, the vibrant crimson stark against the cold, unforgiving floor. The room's atmosphere shifted dramatically, from one of eager anticipation to a tense and brutal reality, leaving Ishan gasping and disoriented. 

"Wh-What?", Ishan said in a crackling and wet voice.

Vanya turned gracefully, her movements fluid and elegant as she reached for the delicate teapot. With a serene expression, she poured herself a cup of fragrant tea, the steam rising in delicate tendrils. The soft clinking of porcelain filled the air as she set the teapot down and took a slow, deliberate sip. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, met Ishan's with a hint of challenge.

"Show me what you can do to reach me," she said, her voice calm yet commanding, echoing with the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed.

In the adjacent room, Anirudh stood face-to-face with Lector. A mixture of disappointment and anger churned within him, knowing he had to train with the man he so dearly wanted to kill. Yet, a part of him recognized the invaluable opportunity this presented—not just for the sake of training, but to learn more about Lector's fighting style, tactics, and strength.

Lector greeted him in a manner befitting his eccentric personality. Suddenly, people emerged from behind Anirudh, forming a band that began to play elegantly, their instruments producing a soft and calming melody. The unexpected serenade surrounded Anirudh, creating a surreal atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the tension between the two men.

Lector sheathed his swords with a flourish and shouted, "This marks the beginning of our deal!"

Anirudh, taken aback, responded with confusion, "Deal? I don't understand."

Lector's eyes gleamed as he replied, "You and me, we will battle. We will fight forever."

Anirudh smirked, a hint of defiance in his expression. "Forever? I don't think that's possible."

Lector smirked back, his grin almost predatory. "Well, until you defeat me, which means forever."

The room seemed to pulse with the weight of the challenge, the soft music contrasting sharply with the fierce determination in their eyes. Anirudh's mind raced, knowing that this 'deal' with Lector would test him in ways he had never imagined. The battle lines were drawn, and the stage was set for an epic confrontation.

The band started to leave but before leaving, the last person gave his wooden hammer to Anirudh. Lector also picked two wooden swords kept beside him. 

Lector scratched his head and said, "I heard you are good with hammers"

The training ground was expansive, with high ceilings and walls lined with various training equipment. The room's cold, hard floor contrasted sharply with the warm glow of flickering torches lining the walls, under the various ceiling lights already on. Anirudh wondered why does a room already this bright with lights need flame torches. He also wondered the diversity of technology within the palace, his room had old-school bulbs and lanterns while this room had professional bright LED ceiling lights. He gripped his wooden hammer tightly, his eyes locked on Lector, who stood confidently with two wooden swords in hand. Anirudh took his stance while Lector stood there with no guard.

"Show me what you've got, Anirudh," Lector taunted, his voice dripping with charisma and power. "Impress me."