Kairav stood at the entrance of the Royal Security Office.
He had been summoned by Chief Sendrav, the only active Mayarajyaveer—the undefeated.
A guard escorted him inside.
“Good evening, Chief,” Kairav said, bowing.
“Kairav Urvasa…” Sendrav leaned back, observing him.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about you.”
Kairav remained silent.
“Quiet. No nonsense. Good.” Sendrav smiled faintly.
“Tell me, would you mind taking orders from me?”
Kairav narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Apologies… I don’t think I understand what you mean.”
“I want you to join as a royal bounty hunter.”
Kairav paused before replying calmly.
“It would be an honor… if I qualify.”
“You do. Almost.” Sendrav leaned forward.
“One test remains.”
“And that is?” Kairav asked.
Sendrav’s eyes sharpened.
“Fight me.”
A brief pause.
Then Kairav answered steadily.
“I’m ready.”
“Good. Follow me.” Chief Sendrav got up to his feet
At the edge of the forest behind the fortress, they stood facing each other on open ground.
“Last chance,” Sendrav said casually.
“This isn’t your university. I won’t hold back—not even with the tools I use in real battles.”
“I understand.”
Sendrav moved.
The air compressed and struck Kairav before he could react.
Impact hit his guard and pushed him back several steps.
Wind cannon… controlled.
Not raw.
Before he could reset, a streak of fire cut through the air.
Kairav twisted aside.
The flame grazed past him and exploded behind him.
Fire?
Not his element.
“Battlefields don’t follow clan rules,” Sendrav said calmly as he advanced.
A punch followed, carried by wind pressure.
Kairav stepped off-line and redirected the strike, but the force still slipped through and struck his shoulder.
Pain shot through his arm.
Another streak of fire cut through the air toward him.
Layered attacks.
Wind carries force… fire disrupts movement.
Kairav observed.
Sendrav closed in again.
No pause.
No pattern.
This time, Kairav stepped forward.
He struck sharply and precisely at Sendrav’s ribs.
The hit landed.
And did nothing.
Sendrav glanced down.
“…Good placement.”
His arm rose instantly.
Kairav reacted.
He caught the incoming arm, used it as leverage, and jumped.
The impact shifted Sendrav one step.
A small one.
But real.
Sendrav smiled.
“Better.”
He raised his hand.
Wind blades formed—thin, sharp, and controlled.
They came fast.
Kairav moved, narrowly dodging each one and adjusting his steps as he continued to observe.
Not random.
He’s guiding the strikes.
A sudden burst of flame cut across his path.
Kairav halted mid-step.
That was the opening.
Deliberate distractions.
Sendrav was already there.
A strike landed across Kairav’s chest.
He blocked, but the force drove him to the ground.
He rolled, barely avoiding the next impact.
His breathing grew heavier.
No pattern.
No fairness.
Sendrav stood still for a moment.
“Real fights aren’t clean,” he said.
“Remember that.”
Then his back shifted.
Two massive wings burst outward.
The air changed instantly.
A storm formed.
Wind roared across the ground, crushing everything in its path.
Kairav planted his feet, trying to hold his ground.
For a moment—
Then the force overwhelmed him.
He was thrown backward, hitting the ground hard.
The pressure pinned him down.
Flames ignited around him in a circle, closing in.
Sendrav hovered above, his wings steady.
“Now,” he said calmly, “what will you do?”
Kairav inhaled slowly.
No escape.
No advantage.
A faint smile appeared.
Then create one.
He forced himself up against the pressure.
Every movement was heavier.
Slower.
Still—he moved.
He jumped.
Straight into the storm.
The wind resisted.
He pushed harder.
Twisted mid-air—
And drove his fist into the ground.
The impact cracked the earth.
The ring of fire broke.
The ground surged upward, sending fragments of stone toward Sendrav.
The debris was pushed aside effortlessly.
The storm settled.
Silence.
Sendrav landed and looked at the fractured ground.
Then at Kairav.
A smile touched his lips.
“Now that’s quite impressive,” Sendrav said.
He paused.
“Anyways, that’s enough for now.”
Kairav stood, breathing heavily but remaining upright.
Still alert.
“That’s all I needed to see.”
Sendrav gave him a moment to recover.
“Gather yourself and come to the fortress gate,” he instructed calmly.
Around half an hour later,
Sendrav stood watching the giant clock tower positioned between the Royal Administration Building and the royal block.
Kairav walked through the security gate.
Sendrav didn’t move.
His gaze remained fixed on the clock, as though its hands were showing him something from the past.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
His eyes warmed.
“Kairav, you are capable,” Sendrav said.
“But you still need training.”
Kairav nodded.
“I will appoint someone to train you properly,” Sendrav continued.
“Then we can send you on missions.”
He paused briefly before speaking again.
“Come tomorrow after class. Complete the formalities. You’re joining as a royal bounty hunter.”
He turned toward Kairav, his sharp eyes watching him with intent.
Kairav looked at him, surprised.
“Once you receive your badge, you’ll have access across the kingdom. Most doors will open for you.”
Sendrav paused, then added with a faint smile,
“Don’t get overconfident.”
His tone shifted—firm and deliberate.
“May Indra Dev bless you with his might.”
Kairav froze for a fraction of a second.
He understood the weight behind those words.
Then he bowed deeply.
“You may leave.”
Kairav nodded and bowed once more before walking away.
As he disappeared into the distance, Mervil stepped in.
“You’re aware of the consequence of that blessing,” he said.
Sendrav continued watching ahead.
“I am.”
“And still?”
“He deserves it,” Sendrav replied.
Mervil smiled faintly.
“Our beloved hunting dog.”
Sendrav exhaled but said nothing.
Mervil laughed, a hint of dark humor in his voice.
Later, in his apartment, Kairav dropped onto the bed, his body heavy with exhaustion.
His landlady called out,
“Don’t sleep hungry.”
He nodded and slowly got up.
After she left, he lit the oil lamp.
Then he noticed the letter on the table.
It was from his master.