Trust

The food was good in Viaan's opinion. His mother always made him eat vegetables sometimes when he didn't want to, she made up stories and sneakily fed him green vegetables. He smiled ruefully when he finished eating. He picked his plate up and went to wash it. He was perfectly capable of doing his chores. The room was brightly lit with white crystals. He went towards the back of the building which had a small garden. There were only some plants, mainly herbs, and spices for the food. The cook had insisted on this garden. There was a mango tree and a neem tree at the border of the garden. Viaan never showed any interest in gardening but he knew he would work there in the garden because the atmosphere was very soothing there.

He wasn't surprised when he heard footsteps approaching him. He wasn't left alone his whole life.

"It's cool, isn't it?"

"Tell me Vidyut, how did you know where I was?"

Vidyut stood by the edge of the fence and looked at Viaan.

"It's my job to take care of you. You aren't supposed to be alone. "

"Did Adhyay put you up to this? Do you think I'm unreliable?"

"No no no. That's not the reason."

He furiously shook his head. The moonlight highlighted his boyish features. He was frowning at the moment instead of his easygoing smile like always.

"It's not that. I see you as my friend."

"I'm not doubting you. I'm just curious, you see."

"I can't lie but you have to know this. Adhyay wants you to be someone because he doesn't want you to take your life or do something worse."

Viaan blinked hard. They wanted him to be okay. They didn't know that he would never kill himself. He was a fighter, not a quitter.

"I would do no such thing."

"I know but it doesn't hurt to have someone on your side when you feel sad."

"That is true."

They sat in a comfortable silence gazing at the stars. They pointed out various constellations later and stayed there till midnight.

The next morning found Viaan working incessantly on his magical practice. He concentrated and tried to levitate objects. It did not give him any results so he tried letting go of all his doubts and fears. He cleared his mind which wasn't an easy task. He tried and finally accomplished it. He did not foresee him flying in the air. He wished he didn't bump his head on the roof. Magic unsupervised was very dangerous he realized. He stopped concentrating and fell to the floor with a loud thud. His self-learning proved somewhat fatal. He vowed to ask someone for help the next time. He was aching all over from the fall.

He went downstairs for breakfast and was met with many curious glances. He avoided everyone and filled his plate with fruits. He rushed out towards the kitchen garden and ate in silence. He knew it was momentary and would be soon broken by someone nosy enough to wiggle out information about the loud noise from his room. He was surprised when no one came through. He got up and was about to open the door when he got hit by it when someone opened it from the other side. He stepped back with a howl.

The person was Vidyut who was followed by Nairiti. That was a surprising turn of events when both of them invaded his sanctuary. He knew they were worried about his recent injury.

" I'm fine."

They knew he wasn't fine but they left the matter at that.

"Did you get hurt by something in your room? I thoroughly checked, there were no intruders."

Vidyut was in his normal attire covered entirely in blue. Nairiti on the other hand looked very relaxed in her casual clothes. That was the first time he saw her not frowning and looking for danger. She was always wound up ready to spring into action. Given her background, she was correct. Viaan sheepishly answered them.

"I was practicing magic and I fell."

"Did you fall from the ceiling?"

Vidyut looked more concerned when his incredulous question wasn't denied.

"What were you doing up there?"

"Um, practicing. "

Nairiti was quiet. She was no doubt laughing in her mind but was too polite to laugh out loud. Vidyut on the other hand was more concerned, he reminded Viaan of his sister. Viaan normally didn't get hurt but he had his fair share of accidents.

"Thank God, you didn't blow up your room."

Both Viaan and Vidyut turned towards Nairiti.

"What? It could have happened if you panicked. You were testing your magic and it wasn't reliable in an uncontrolled environment. I'd say you are pretty lucky."

"I don't believe in luck. But I wasn't hurt much so I can't debate with you there."

"You need to learn magic and use it safely." Vidyut pointed out.

"I know. Will you teach me?"

"I would be honored. But I can't today."

"Oh. Why?" Viaan was sad that he couldn't practice that day if Vidyut wasn't around. He wasn't friendly with other guys and he didn't even know them. He barely nodded at them when he passed by them. They were friendly but they weren't his friends. Yet.

"I have to go on an errand. It was pre-planned. So we can start tomorrow. Please say yes."

"Sure. Finish your work and then we can start."

"I think you will be an awesome magical fighter when you are done training with your own element in magic. I do good with mine."

Viaan smiled at him.

"I'll be back and we can start."

He turned and left.

"He is going to Mihira."

"What?"

Viaan turned towards Nairiti.

"He is going there to gather Intel. Like what happened after we left and before that. He couldn't tell you."

"And you have no problem telling me this?"

"I know you can handle this. You are so strong than what you give yourself credit for. I was in your situation. I know what you are really going through. You don't have to pretend you are fine or that you are invincible. Anyone with eyes can see the pain you try to hide. It's okay. Some of your friends see that."

"Are you saying you are my friend?"

"I'm saying you don't have to act all tough."

Viaan never saw himself as a tough person. He would be reduced to tears with a single memory. He worked hard to keep all his memories, all his past life at bay so he wouldn't completely break down. He had to work for the truth. He couldn't be strong all the time so he resorted to crying when he was confined to his room.

"Okay. If you say so. You were a kid when the stuff happened to you. Is that why you always talk to me?"

"You are easy to talk to and only two people here know about my real identity. It makes sense that I would trust you."

"Yeah. If you want to talk more someday, you can tell me. I know you aren't a person who would tell your life story."

She smiled ruefully.

"And you shouldn't tell about your special power to anyone else."

Viaan was really confused now. Nairiti was no doubt confused with her vague words and their even more vague meanings.

"Why?"

"Because the thing that makes you special can hurt the people you love in your life. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

She was right. He wouldn't want someone hurting Vidyut to get to him. Nairiti knew already and he trusted her enough to know she would hurt the person who was using her to get to him than the other way around.

"I can teach you some basics today if you want."