The Book of Aarav – 0.3

Destined to Be Here

“We have been fighting for the past four months, and I still haven’t been able to beat you even once,” Rudhra said to Yodhika, sitting up in a pool of blood. “You are way tougher than Ashura, even though he can pull things in addition to the powers you people have.”

Yodhika stood there with her hands extended, expecting him to shake them.

“You want to do it today too?” he asked, looking at her.

She did not respond, but her body trembled slightly with excitement.

“You keep doing this every day after the fight, and you don’t say why,” he said with a smile as he stood up. He picked up his sword from the ground and slid it back into its sheath. Slowly, he turned toward Yodhika.

Suddenly, he slipped.

Yodhika’s eyes widened as he fell toward her. He landed on top of her. Both of them gasped in shock.

“I am really sorry, Princess, I—” His voice faded into silence as his eyes met Yodhika’s, only a few inches apart. He stared into her eyes in awe for a moment, then continued softly, “I… am really sorry, Princess.”

He tried to get up.

But Yodhika wrapped her arms tightly around him, not letting him move.

“Princess Yodhika?” he said, embarrassed. “P‑please unwrap your hands… around me, so that I can get… up.”

She did not let go. Tears rolled down her peaceful face. She pressed her face against his chest, holding him there.

“What are you doing, Princess Yodhika?” he said, confused. “This… this is inappropriate. For both of us. But…” He paused, then gently placed his hand above her head. “Somehow, it doesn’t feel so. It… it feels like I should not move from here.”

After a moment, he suddenly shook her hands away and jumped to his feet. He stood there, breathing heavily.

“What… what was that?” he asked.

Yodhika slowly got up from the floor and turned toward him.

“I… I don’t know,” she said. “Whenever I come in contact with you… like that… I feel peaceful. That is why I wanted to shake your hands every day.” Her face slowly changed from peace to sadness as the voices returned in her mind.

Suddenly, she jumped forward and hugged Rudhra again.

Rudhra tried to suppress his feelings and remove himself from her, but his strength was feeble.

“I did not sense anything like that until now,” he said. “But… when our bodies came in contact a moment ago, it felt like I was… born to be there in that moment. I… I don’t know why I felt that.”

Yodhika remained silent.

“But we should not do this, Princess,” he continued. “This may be because we have been spending too much time together. We should not take this any further. I… may not be able to take it.”

Finally, he gathered the strength to separate himself from her and stepped a few paces back.

“This is better, Princess. Now I feel better.”

“You… don’t understand,” she said feebly, then turned away and walked off with a sad face.

---

Sabo was seated in her chair inside the small office room near Site A, which she had taken over after refusing a separate building assigned for her and Devansh. Even though she was the chief trainer of every soldier in the army and the head of the security team guarding the King and his family, she felt she hardly spent any time in the office.

A soft knock on the door made her look up from the file she was reading.

“Come in,” she said.

The door opened slowly, and Rudhra stepped inside.

“Haa! If it isn’t my favourite student,” Sabo said with a grin. “What brings you here this evening?”

Rudhra took a seat across from her desk.

“How long do you want us to fight?” he asked.

Sabo’s expression turned serious. “You mean you and Yodhika?”

“Yes.”

She studied him for a moment. “What happened?”

“N‑nothing,” he replied, looking down. “I just think we should not see each other anymore.”

“You won?” Sabo asked.

“Oh no, no,” he said quickly, widening his eyes. “She kicked my ass every day.”

“Is the immortal guy scared of a fighter?” Sabo teased.

Rudhra looked at her with a hint of anger. “You know me. I am never scared of any fight.”

“Then what’s the problem?” she asked.

“It feels like we are not feeling the same way about each other as we did the first time we saw one another.”

Sabo looked at him questioningly. “What do you mean?”

He paused, then replied, “We… are feeling attracted to each other.”

Sabo threw her hands up and laughed loudly, her chair wobbling beneath her.

“Are you serious?” she asked, trying to control her laughter.

“Yes,” Rudhra said quietly, looking down.

Her laughter slowly faded into a gentle smile. “Oh, and I thought I had seen it all. Why do you think you feel attracted to her?”

“I don’t know. I never felt it until today. I… I think she has been feeling this way for some time.”

“How do you know?” Sabo asked, curious.

“She asked for a handshake every day after we fought for the last three months,” he said. “And she always cried with a face she never usually makes—peace.”

Sabo’s eyes widened. “Peace?”

“Yes. And today, I accidentally fell on her, and… I felt something I have never felt before. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“She cried every day when she shook your hand?”

“Yes,” Rudhra replied. “But please stop our fights. I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

Sabo leaned back against the headrest of her chair and closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them again.

“You both will fight until I or the King says otherwise. There is no changing that,” she said firmly. “Ignore your feelings—yours and hers. You are warriors, not some snot‑nosed brats. Steel your minds and focus on the fight.”

“At least let me take a break for two days,” Rudhra requested.

“No.”

“Please. Just two days, to clear my mind.”

She looked at him for a moment. “One day. Fight again the day after tomorrow.”

“Fine,” he replied quietly.

He stood up slowly, gave a small wave, and said, “Bye,” before leaving the office.

Sabo spun her chair around and closed her eyes.

I think we may have found why your voice has been breaking from time to time while reaching the Princess, she thought.

A voice replied in her mind.

How?

She paused, then answered, It happens whenever she comes in contact with an immortal named Rudhra.

That’s… interesting, the voice responded. I did not think it was ever possible. But don’t do anything now. Let’s see where this is going.

Sabo kept her mind silent.

In the meantime, I have a job for you, the voice continued.

Is it part of one of your games? Sabo asked.

Yes. Your sword and dagger must be rusting from not being used for so long.

She hesitated. Where is the job?

During the weapon test on Shamba Island, there will be an attack from a navy ship. You can unsheathe your sword and dagger there.

Do you really think that’s necessary? she asked. With your powers, you can stop them without moving a single finger.

A small tremor passed through her mind.

Are you hesitating again, or are you questioning my method?

No. I will do it, she replied, fear creeping into her thoughts.

Good. Erase everybody on the ship. Don’t leave a single person alive.

Okay, she answered hesitantly. How are Father and Mother?

Father went on one of his usual trips. I sent Mother to Germany—we missed something last time, and she is correcting it now. Why do you ask? Do you miss your family?

No, she replied immediately.

Good. Do what I said. I will contact you if I need anything, Sister.

The voice faded into silence. Sabo turned her chair back toward the table and covered her face with her palms, her elbows resting on the desk.

(To be continued)