As they walked through the city of Indraprastha, Aaryan started to understand why it was called the Divine Capital.
Flashy lights reflected off the glass buildings. Big billboards floated in the sky, flashing heroic faces, enchanted weapons and equipment, and tourist spots. Massive crowds flooded like a river between skyscrapers and ancient temples. From training camps to train, to game zones to play. From boutiques to style, to equipment to survive. From music to feel, to riding a hoverbike—everything was there.
The aroma of freshly made food lightened the hearts of many. Some people's stomachs grumbled, while others left satisfied. Some were there to enjoy, some to survive. Some were there to start, some to end. Some came to pray, others to train. Some wanted to devote themselves to destiny—but one was there to defy.
Every place was so lively, full of crowds. People held hands to avoid getting separated from their loved ones. Those who didn't were greeted by anxiety and despair. Lost children cried for their parents, while others looked at them with kindness in their eyes—eyes that held humanity, but hands that did nothing. No one helped. They only talked.
Those who tried to help were labeled kidnappers. People only judge. They don't listen to the other side, because the thoughts of others hold no value. Only their own are absolute.
In a corner of the city, beggars begged to feed their families. Some people tossed their leftovers, which beggars quickly grabbed to quiet their hunger, imagining themselves having a feast. Everything was here—whether happiness or sorrow, everything could be found in the Divine Capital.
Buildings and stores towered around them. Echoes of laughter and crying filled the air. Some were having the time of their lives, like they were in heaven. Others were going through hell. This was the Divine Capital at night.
"Woah... everything looks so beautiful," he breathed, almost in disbelief. "The city is so lively, even at night. Everything feels so pleasant and peaceful—it's like I'm standing in heaven."
His voice was soft and genuine—surprisingly so, for someone who had just endured a mind-shattering ordeal.
He shifted his gaze to a small shop. It wasn't too big, nor too small. Nestled between two glowing storefronts, it was modest—nothing exceptional. The same lights as everywhere else, yet it pulled his attention with its quiet charm. His eyes lit up—not from shock, but something gentler. Like a child recognizing something they've never seen before. Curiosity. Joy.
Above the shop, a drone flew by, projecting a hologram. Some words appeared on the projection in the global language: Lipi.
He couldn't read it at first. Then, his eyes blurred. In the next instant, his head started to ache, and the words began to shift—strange turned to alien, alien to familiar—until the text became readable. As always, he had no idea what was going on.
"'Baler', huh?" he read aloud. "What is that place for?" asked Aaryan, curiosity clear on his face.
"That's a café. Do you want to try it, Aaryan?" Aureya answered. "They serve tons of delicious food. I've gone there plenty of times. The hygiene and customer service are pretty good. If you want, we can go."
"Ah, huh, Miss Critic. So this is the place you ran off to after your teaching sessions, huh? A meeting place, is it? Nice choice," Krul said, a smirk already forming on her face. "And who was the one you were meeting with?"
"Shut up! Idiot," said Aureya, her cheeks glowing red.
Aaryan chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "No, I was just curious about the place. Besides, wouldn't it be a waste of your time and money?"
Aureya gave him a stare—not a cold one. She crossed her arms, looking at him half-serious. Her eyes shone—not with anger, but a gentle warmth and quiet pride.
"Why would you say that? And did you forget the reason why we're out here in the city?"
She paused, softened her voice, and uncrossed her arms. "We came here for you to enjoy. If you didn't, then the whole reason for coming here would be buried in sand. So don't think about anything else and have fun."
It seemed like her words touched his soul. But... did they truly reach that void-like soul? Were words like those enough?
Aureya was still staring at him.
Then, slowly, he nodded. "Alright then."
"Also... thanks. For giving me a place to live."
Aureya opened her mouth, likely to brush it off—but he gently cut her off.
"I know, I know. You're going to tell me to stop thinking about other stuff and just enjoy. But I needed to say it. No, I wanted to say it to you. And from now on, I'll have fun and enjoy this new life. And last of all, thank you. You two."
He looked at both of them—first Aureya, then Krul. He tilted his head slightly, lips curving into a smile. But not just any smile—it came from somewhere deeper. The kind that pushes up through the weight in one's chest.
"Let's go!"
And for just a moment, his dead eyes shimmered—not with awe or wonder, but something else entirely.
Something real. Something heartfelt.
Everything felt wholesome and peaceful to the boy—or… did it?
Had he forgotten the earlier incident—the burning walls, the pain, the feeling of skin turning into ash? Had he forgotten the vision?
As soon as they stepped in, they were met with a bustling crowd. The place buzzed with energy. Tables were packed, laughter echoed off the warm wooden walls, and the scent of roasted spices and fresh food filled the air. The place felt alive. Everyone was having the time of their life—young couples spoon-feeding each other, families scolding their children.
"Is this place always this packed?" Krul asked, eyes wide.
"Unfortunately, yes. This is the usual crowd—and the peak hours are even worse," said Aureya.
Krul's jaw dropped. "What?!! This is the usual crowd, and the peak is even worse? They only serve food and sweets, right?"
Luckily, a few seats were still available. A waitress guided them to their table and left.
Their table was by the window. All of them sat down and picked up the menus. Aaryan also grabbed one, but didn't understand the names of the dishes. Then suddenly, his eyes blurred—and each food name appeared in his mind as an image.
Tired of it, he picked something at random and ordered. The same waitress came to take their orders.
"Have you decided your orders, sir and ma'am? If not, allow me to recommend some…" She listed some of their popular dishes. As always, Krul took the bait and ordered all of them.
"It'll be a feast tonight," Krul smirked. The waitress left.
Moments later, she returned with the food on a trolley. She served them one by one, but as she placed a dish before Aaryan, an empty glass slipped. He reacted instantly and caught it before it hit the floor.
"Thank you, sir," the waitress said with a smile—but something felt... off.
She moved perfectly like a human. Her tone sounded like that of a young maiden. Her posture was relaxed. She even mimicked expressions with eerie precision.
But she wasn't alive. She wasn't breathing.
She wasn't human.
She was a robot.
Somehow, that made his chest tighten.
The machine mimicked humanity flawlessly—its tone, its mannerisms, even its eye contact. The smile a human gives when happy, the sorrow a human hides behind a smile—everything. It imitated it all. Perfectly.
But it was only a performance. It didn't feel. It only executed.
"A perfect imitation with no will of its own… Just a slave doing what it was told."
Then the waitress left.
Tons of dishes were placed before them. The aroma made everyone's mouths water.
Krul, wasting no time, tied a handkerchief around her neck, picked up her fork and knife, and dug straight in.
"Can you really eat that much alone, Krul?" Aureya asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah. I definitely can. In fact, I could eat even more if the food's this tasty," Krul replied, chewing happily.
Aureya was still in shock. "Are you really human?"
Watching the scene, Aaryan also tied his handkerchief, picked up his utensils, and began to eat.
After the first bite, his hands started trembling. He went silent—not because the food was bad, but because it was overwhelmingly delicious. Sparks lit up in his eyes. He ate with surprising vigor, almost matching the infamous glutton, Krul.
"Woah! Looks like another glutton has appeared. Fine then—I accept your challenge," Krul said, grinning.
And so began their duel.
After a while, Aaryan gave up and took a break. Krul laughed menacingly at her victory—until her stomach began to ache.
"I won… but at what cost…" she muttered.
Aaryan picked up a glass of water and drank. Then he rotated it in his hand and stared.
"Why am I so pathetic? They're doing their best for me to enjoy, but here I am… lost in my thoughts. Was that incident real—or just a vision? All this time, I've been lying—whether in that smile or every other. I chose this café not out of curiosity, but because I knew our glutton was hungry. Am I really this pathetic?" He chuckled bitterly.
"I don't know. I don't know what to do. I just can't stop thinking about that incident. That pain… that feeling of being burnt alive… my body turning to ash… and the vision I saw—an empty soul, crying alone, crying for freedom, for warmth… If that wasn't real, then I no longer know what's real and what's fake. Ugh… it feels like I'm in hell."
Aaryan sighed and looked outside the window. But the outside wasn't that beautiful either—beggars pleading to survive, children crying for their parents' warmth, people fighting over the smallest things.
Trying to ignore all that, Aaryan shifted his gaze.
Then he saw something that truly took his attention.
It wasn't grand—no fancy lights, no billboards—just a small building on the corner of the road. Bland compared to the rest, yet it caught his eyes.
At its top hung a board. "A board? That's strange," he murmured.
Something was written on it in the Lipi language: Swar.
He read it aloud—not by choice, but the word flowed from his lips. "Swar, huh? I wonder what they sell?" Curiosity lit his face.
Krul chuckled. "Another demand, huh?" She explained, "Swar is a shop that sells musical instruments. Not very popular—obvious reasons, like lack of charm or whatever. Just know it's an old music shop."
"I don't think it lacks charm. In fact, I find it unique. I don't know why," Aaryan said, eyes sparkling.
Krul stared at him. "You just have odd taste. But this night's yours to enjoy. So, let's check it out."
His eyes shone more intensely—wide and lustrous like a diamond, full of curiosity and joy. "Thank you, Krul."
Krul smiled. "Don't sweat it. Let's go check it out."
Then they paid the bill and walked toward the shop.
"What?!! 8,000 karsha? I didn't think it'd be this expensive!" Krul screamed, staring at the bill after Aureya paid.
"Well, the food wasn't expensive—but you ordered so much that it became expensive. And keep your voice down, idiot. There are people here," Aureya said, clearly angry and embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Aaryan laughed and thought about what the future might hold.
After walking a bit, the trio arrived at Swar.
"Hello! Sir and ma'am, welcome to our shop—Swar," a gentle manly voice greeted them as they entered.
Is this shop really a normal one? Or something more...?
To be continued—