Arc 1;Chapter 5: The Slatemate and The Safe Game Part 1

Ayaan sat with Dev and a few other colleagues, replaying the day’s events in his mind. The memory of the shadow figure with the crimson radiating axe haunted him, its sudden appearance so vivid it felt undeniably real. Gathering his courage, he asked, “Did any of you see something strange during the ceremony? Maybe... a figure on stage with an axe?”

Dev immediately chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “An axe? What, like some medieval knight stormed the stage?” He smirked, adding, “Or maybe it’s the stress finally getting to you, Mr. Perfect Aim.”

Before Ayaan could respond, Rohit’s voice cut through, laced with mockery. “Perfect Aim? More like a Perfect Daydreamer.” He leaned back with a smirk. “First the axe, now this? What’s next, Ayaan? A demon crashing the ceremony?”

Ayaan shot both of them a glare but ignored their jabs. “I’m serious. It felt real.”

Rohit scoffed. “Real? If you weren’t so stiff, I’d say you were sneaking drinks during the ceremony. But no, it’s just classic Ayaan, finding imaginary enemies because he’s bored of real ones.”

Dev joined in, grinning. “Or maybe it’s a sign, Ayaan. Next time, instead of sniping targets, you’ll be taking down shadowy demon figures.”

Ayaan clenched his fists, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling inside him. But before he could respond, the back-and-forth continued.

“Come on, Rohit,” Dev said, rolling his eyes. “Cut him some slack. You’re the one acting like you’re the only one with a brain here.”

Rohit sneered. “Oh, I’m sorry, Dev. Was I supposed to be impressed by your great sense of humor? Last I checked, we’re not here for a comedy show. Let Ayaan play detective with his hallucinations all he wants.”

Dev shot back, narrowing his eyes. “You know, sometimes I wonder how you don’t suffocate from all that arrogance.”

Rohit’s smirk widened as he turned his attention to Dev. “And I wonder how you suffocate from all that mediocrity.” He let out a mocking laugh, before adding, “But hey, it’s okay. Not everyone gets to be honored with a reward.” He glanced at Dev with a raised eyebrow. “Some of us just stand in the crowd and cheer for the real winners.”

Dev’s face reddened at the jab, his jaw tightening. “I didn’t get a reward because I wasn’t chasing after one like you.”

“Oh, is that what you tell yourself to sleep at night?” Rohit taunted. “Maybe you’ll find your reward in your next fantasy. Until then, enjoy your seat while Ayaan and I take the spotlight.”

Ayaan watched the two go back and forth, barely holding his tongue. The teasing and tension between the two had always been a fixture, but today, it felt different. He wanted to shut it all out, but the image of that shadowy figure lingered, pulling him deeper into his thoughts.

Another colleague chimed in, their tone more neutral. “Maybe you’ve been training too hard, Ayaan. Seeing things isn’t exactly normal.”

Ayaan hesitated before responding. A chilling thought crossed his mind: could his memory of the shadow figure have been influenced by the articles he’d read about the Tragedy of Numn University? Those articles mentioned the eerie marks of an axe found amidst the devastation. The haunting imagery had lingered in his mind ever since.

“Maybe it’s nothing,” Ayaan muttered, though the connection gnawed at him. Could his mind have conjured the figure because of that? Or was there something more to it?

As the conversation veered into lighter topics, a voice interrupted them. “Ayaan, Rohit,” someone called. “Captain Rathore wants to see you in his office after the ceremony.”

The announcement silenced the group, the shift in tone leaving Ayaan with an unsettling feeling.

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