Recap
This place always reminds me of him…
After all, this is where I met him for the first time.
Sai (quietly): "Just wait… I'll find Aarvan and bring him back."
Suddenly—
A rustling sound comes from the bushes behind him.
Sai stiffens.
Voice: "So… you're here."
Sai turns quickly, startled.
Sai: "Who's there?!"
Zixu (walking out): "What, scared already? It's just me."
Sai exhales, trying to act normal.
Sai: "Scared? Me? No… I was just—uh…"
Zixu: "Yeah, sure. Stop lying. You're late. We need to move."
Sai scratches his head awkwardly.
Sai: "Alright, alright… sorry. Let's go."
They start walking toward the village.
After a few moments—
Zixu: "By the way… your power. It's strange. What exactly is it?"
Sai: "It's nothing special… I'll tell you later."
Zixu: "Oh, right—I almost forgot. I found something about Aarvan."
Sai instantly lights up.
Sai: "Seriously? Then tell me! Why are you wasting time?"
Zixu (smirking): "First—you tell me about your power."
Sai sighs.
Sai: "Fine… watch this."
Sai walks to the river and dips his hand into the water.
He slowly lifts it—
His hand transforms… turning completely liquid, like flowing water.
Zixu (shocked): "Whoa… it's literally water… how is that even possible?"
Sai: "That's not all."
Sai touches a nearby rock—
His hand instantly hardens, becoming solid like stone.
Zixu: "This is… weird. Powers like this usually come with a weakness."
Sai: "So far, nothing like that. I even went to a doctor."
He pauses.
Sai: "He said it might be related to Avtaran powers. And… my DNA showed something called four 'shifts.'"
Zixu: "Shifts? What's that?"
Sai: "Think of it like upgrades. Each shift makes me stronger."
Zixu looks at him, still confused—but impressed.
By the time they finish talking, they reach the village.
Sai: "We're here. It's getting late. I should head home—Mom must be waiting."
Zixu: "Alright. Let's meet after packing."
Sai walks home, lost in thought.
(What's so special about that pendant…? Could it really be protecting me?)
He reaches home.
Mika: "Sai! You're back. Where were you?"
Sai: "Nowhere, Mom. Just went out for a bit."
Mika: "By the way… that pendant has been glowing since you left."
Sai freezes.
Sai: "What? Where is it?!"
Mika: "Top shelf."
Sai rushes upstairs.
(Could it be…? I hope it's what I think it is…)
The pendant is still glowing faintly.
Sai picks it up.
Sai (whispering): "Madhav… is that you?"
Suddenly—
The glow disappears.
Sai puts it on… tries to activate it—
Nothing happens.
He stands there, disappointed.
Mika (calling): "Sai! Lunch is ready!"
Sai: "Yeah… coming."
A few minutes later—
Sai: "Mom, hurry. I can't be late. Zixu is waiting."
Mika: "You were the one making everyone wait earlier…"
Sai (smiling): "Sorry, Devi Ji. Now please give me food fast."
After eating, Sai runs toward the village gate.
Sai (shouting): "Zixu! Sorry, I'm late!"
Mika follows behind with a bag.
Mika: "Sai! You forgot this!"
Sai turns and looks at the heavy bag.
Sai: "How am I supposed to carry all this?!"
Mika: "That's two months' worth of food. Eat properly."
Sai looks at Zixu.
Sai: "Run."
Zixu: "Agreed."
Both: "Bye! We'll take it later!"
They sprint away before Mika can stop them 😂
They take the forest path.
After a while—
Sai slows down.
Sai: "Zixu… don't you feel like someone's following us?"
Zixu: "Yeah… I felt it too."
Sai suddenly raises his hand.
Sai: "Water Cannon!"
A figure jumps out of the bushes—
Jai: "WAIT! It's me!"
Sai: "Jai?! Since when were you following us?!"
Zixu: "Can someone explain what's happening here?"
Sai: "Zixu, wait—Jai, why are you here?"
Jai (pigeon): "You called me."
Sai: "When did I do that?!"
Zixu: "Should I just leave at this point?"
Jai: "Relax. Sit. I'll explain."
They sit down.
Jai: "Yesterday, I was eating fruit on a tree… then I got caught in a hunter's trap."
He pauses.
Jai: "Sai saved me. He said I could come with him."
Zixu: "So this is your doing."
Sai: "I only told him to go to the hospital!"
Jai: "Yeah, but if I went with you, you'd eat my fruit. So I ate first… then followed you."
Zixu grabs Sai's shoulder.
Sai: "Let go! I'm not sparing this pigeon today—"
Jai: "Wait! Take me with you! I can help!"
Zixu: "Actually… that's not a bad idea."
Sai: "Yeah… and if we get hungry, we can eat him too."
Jai: "HELP! I'm going to die!"
Zixu sighs.
Zixu: "Relax. You can come."
They all laugh.
(Now, Sai has gained two companions on his journey…
but what challenges await them ahead?)
Jai: "Help! He's definitely going to eat me one day!"
To be continued…