Rainwater splashed beneath Dhruv’s shoes as he sprinted through the sleeping streets of East Verdan.
His breathing was uneven.
Not because he was tired.
Because his mind was racing faster than his body.
Who were those people?
Why were they searching Grandpa’s house?
And why did Grandpa hide that map like it was more valuable than treasure itself?
Behind him, distant footsteps echoed through the rain.
Still chasing.
“Split up!”
“Don’t let him escape!”
Dhruv clicked his tongue.
“Seriously?!”
He sharply turned into a narrow alley between buildings.
Messenger birds scattered upward in panic.
The alley smelled like wet wood and seawater.
Dhruv pressed himself against the wall, breathing carefully.
The rolled map remained clutched tightly inside his shirt.
Footsteps passed nearby.
One hunter stopped near the alley entrance.
A tall figure wearing a dark coat.
Only his glowing cigar tip was visible beneath the rain.
“Kid couldn’t have gone far.”
Another voice answered from farther away.
“The old man definitely gave him something before dying.”
Dhruv frowned slightly.
Before dying?
Grandpa never mentioned anyone dangerous chasing him.
Then again…
Harun Mehata rarely explained anything properly.
The hunter near the alley sighed.
“Search the harbor too.”
The footsteps slowly faded.
Dhruv finally exhaled quietly.
Then immediately sneezed.
“…Great.”
He rubbed his wet hair back and stepped deeper into the alley.
At the end sat a tiny noodle shop still open despite the storm.
Warm orange light spilled from inside.
The smell of soup drifted into the rain.
And suddenly…
Dhruv realized something important.
He was starving.
The old shop owner glanced upward as Dhruv entered dripping wet.
“You look dead.”
Dhruv collapsed onto a stool dramatically.
“Close enough.”
The old woman snorted.
“One bowl?”
“Two.”
“Thought so.”
Within minutes, steaming bowls landed in front of him.
Dhruv immediately started eating.
Outside, thunder rumbled softly above the harbor.
Inside the warm little shop, everything suddenly felt quieter.
Safer.
For the first time all night…
Dhruv’s thoughts slowed down.
He pulled Grandpa’s leather notebook from his pocket while eating.
Most pages contained random sketches, strange symbols, and notes about continents.
One page simply read:
«”The Seven Stones are real.
The world government knows it too.”»
Dhruv blinked slowly.
“So Grandpa really was serious…”
Another page contained rough drawings of strange fruits with flames around them.
Below them was written:
«Ember Fruits.»
Dhruv looked confused.
He’d heard rumors before.
Fruits born from nature itself.
Fruits capable of granting unnatural abilities.
Most people considered them myths or exaggerated hunter stories.
But if they were real…
Dhruv’s eyes shifted toward the small cloth bag he’d grabbed from Grandpa’s hidden compartment earlier during the escape.
He hadn’t checked it yet.
Carefully, he opened it beneath the counter.
Inside were:
– old coins
– a compass
– several strange metal keys
– and one oddly glowing fruit
Dhruv froze.
The fruit looked unnatural.
Dark blue patterns swirled across its surface like smoke trapped beneath skin.
Tiny glowing sparks occasionally flickered around it.
“…What the hell is this thing?”
The old shop owner suddenly glanced toward the fruit.
Her expression changed instantly.
“Put that away.”
Dhruv looked up.
“Huh?”
Her voice lowered.
“NOW.”
Dhruv immediately shoved it back into the bag.
The woman stared at him carefully for a moment before speaking quietly.
“Where did you get that?”
Dhruv hesitated.
“Family stuff.”
The woman clearly didn’t believe him.
“That’s an Ember Fruit.”
Dhruv’s heartbeat paused slightly.
So Grandpa’s notes were true.
The woman crossed her arms.
“Those things bring trouble.”
Dhruv tilted his head.
“You know about them?”
“Enough to know smart people stay away.”
Dhruv slowly looked back toward the bag.
An Ember Fruit.
A real one.
Grandpa hid this too?
The old woman suddenly pointed a ladle at him.
“And don’t eat it.”
Dhruv blinked.
“What?”
“Some idiots think all Ember Fruits give amazing powers.”
She scoffed.
“Some kill people instantly.”
Dhruv stared at the bag.
Then slowly zipped it closed.
“…Good to know.”
Outside, lightning flashed across the harbor sky.
The old woman returned to cleaning dishes while muttering.
“Crazy hunters and their cursed fruits.”
Dhruv quietly finished eating.
Eventually, he stood up and stretched.
“How much?”
The old woman waved him off.
“Just don’t die near my shop.”
Dhruv grinned slightly.
“No promises.”
He stepped back outside into the rainy night.
The harbor wind felt colder now.
His shoes splashed through puddles while he walked toward an abandoned storage district near the docks.
He needed somewhere hidden until morning.
Somewhere those hunters wouldn’t immediately search.
After several minutes, he found an old unused warehouse overlooking the ocean cliffs.
Perfect.
Dhruv climbed inside through a broken side window and dropped his bag beside a dusty wooden crate.
The building smelled like rust and sea salt.
Rain tapped softly against broken glass overhead.
For the first time all day… he was alone.
Completely alone.
The silence felt heavier than expected.
Dhruv sat quietly against the crate and stared at Grandpa’s notebook again.
A folded photograph slipped from between the pages.
Dhruv caught it instinctively.
The image showed:
– young Harun Mehata
– a massive hunter ship
– and several blurred people standing beside him
One face had been scratched out completely.
Dhruv frowned.
“Grandpa… what were you involved in?”
No answer.
Only rain.
His eyes drifted toward the cloth bag again.
The Ember Fruit sat inside faintly glowing in darkness.
The old woman’s warning echoed in his mind.
«”Don’t eat it.”»
Dhruv stared at it for a long moment.
Then sighed.
“Relax. I’m not stupid.”
A loud creak suddenly echoed outside the warehouse.
Dhruv immediately stood up.
Voices.
Again.
“They searched the lower docks already!”
“He has to be nearby!”
Dhruv cursed under his breath.
How were these people finding him so fast?!
The warehouse entrance suddenly rattled.
Someone was outside.
Dhruv quickly grabbed the bag and backed away.
Another slam hit the metal door.
BANG.
“Open up!”
Dhruv looked around desperately.
No escape.
No time.
Another impact shook the entrance.
BANG.
Without thinking, Dhruv grabbed the glowing fruit from the bag.
“Okay… maybe a small bite?”
The metal door began bending inward.
Dhruv stared at the fruit nervously.
“This is either genius or incredibly stupid.”
The door was knocking hard, about to break within 5 seconds.
Dhruv immediately bit into the Ember Fruit.
And instantly regretted it.
“THAT IS DISGUSTING!”
The taste was horrifying.
Like burnt metal mixed with spoiled seawater.
Dhruv nearly threw up on the spot.
Dhruv coughed violently while forcing himself to swallow.
“Oh my god that tastes illegal—”
Suddenly… everything went silent.
A strange heat exploded through his body.
Dhruv’s eyes widened.
Blue sparks flickered across his skin.
The warehouse lights burst.
CRACK.
The door opened.
Wind swirled violently around him.
The hunters stepped backward immediately.
“What did he just eat?!”
Dhruv stumbled.
His heartbeat slammed against his chest unnaturally fast.
The room blurred. darkness swallowed everything.
The last thing Dhruv heard before collapsing unconscious was one frightened whisper.
“…An Ember user.”
END OF CHAPTER 2