There were only two souls in the Eka station that towered over Keval. Abhay and a girl called Lavi. She had a square jaw and thin hair that was braided and tucked inside her armour. Her nose was too small for her face but her eyes were large and attentive. She was a head taller than he was and didn't use a talwar. Her weapon was a gada. When he met her, he was taken aback- she was so brash and blunt.

The first soul Abhay introduced him to was his brother-in-arms, Shlok. He wasn't what Keval expected at all. The word that described him perfectly was dainty. He was slender and wielded khukuris. Keval thought it was a joke when Shlok told him that daggers were his speciality. Abhay understood Keval's apprehension and laughed along with Shlok.

'There is no one else I trust to have my back,' Abhay had said while patting Shlok's shoulder.

Lavi was next. One look and Keval knew he had to watch out for her. She screamed challenge more than Abhay did.

He met five others after that.

Surprisingly, they were nice to him. Keval had expected a group of souls that were frigid and haughty. The King of Demons was wrong about them. 

The Eka station treated him with respect and empathy.

It boggled his mind.

Keval concluded that it was too soon to judge. There must be a reason why the Daanavraj hated them. 

Hate always had a reason, like he hated his torturers for ruining him.

The Eka station was like much like the Astha station, but bigger and sturdier. The courtyard was huge. It reminded him of the Daanavraj's courtyard where His Royal Highness' guards practised.

Currently, he was sitting in a corner, on the stone path that bordered the sandy courtyard. He watched closely as Thitiksha and Utkarsha fought. They used kasutari, a short javelin. Keval knew how to use that too but he prefered Sakhi. To him, the talwar was the most efficient weapon.

Shlok sat next to him, 'Hey.'

With some trepidation, Keval acknowledged him with a nod. Shlok seemed to have caught onto the reluctance because he smiled, reassuringly, 'You seem a little jittery. I assure you, they won't come here. They can't so don't worry.'

Keval wanted to say, 'They can go wherever they want,' but he knew better. He simply bobbed his head in reply.

'You don't talk much, do you?'

He shook his head but kept his eyes on the fight that was unravelling before of him. Thitiksha was winning. Her opponent was barely dodging her attacks.

'I'm sorry for bothering you but I really think you need something to distract yourself. What happened was tragic. We'll avenge them but for that, we need to keep a steady mind.' When Keval didn't reply, he continued, 'Those two,' he motioned toward the two souls that were still fighting, 'they're very upset. They don't know how to talk it out so they fight it out. Lavi sharpens her arsenal of weapons when she's upset, Abhay sits in the armoury preferably in solace and I recite the holy scriptures when I'm upset,' Shlok paused. He looked Keval and asked, 'What do you do when you're upset?'

Keval didn't reply. He knew Shlok was looking at him, expecting an answer but he couldn't find one. He wasn't upset. He was enraged. He felt scornful toward himself. Playing their emotions was so unlike him. They'd lost their own. He could see it in their eyes, the anger, the pain, the growing hatred toward whoever had done it.

'Do you want to train?'

This time, Keval looked at the dainty boy sitting next to him. He hesitated before agreeing.

'Great,' Shlok said, clapping his hands, his grin extending from ear to ear, 'I'm guessing your choice of weapon is the talwar?'

'Yes,' Keval replied, curtly.

'And he speaks,' the boy joked. Keval gave him an unamused smile but that didn't seem to throw him off. Instead, he got to his feet and extended his hand. Keval ignored the helping hand and got to his feet on his own.

The boy's spirits were unfazed, 'My Yugm is taking you down.' He drew two kukris and spun it skillfully between his fingers, 'If training is what helps you feel better, then we'll do just that.'

Keval tried to appear thankful. He drew Sakhi and Shlok was mesmerized by her. Keval was proud. His talwar was as elegant as it was unconventional. It was double-edged and curvy. The fuller was marked with intricate designs. She had the perfect grip and was weightless in his hands.

'That's a beautiful talwar.'

'Thanks,' he beamed.

Shlok pulled himself out of his dazzled state. His face changed instantly. His smile was gone. His lips were drawn into a line and his eyes reduced to slits. His hold on his weapons was firm. Neither one of them wanted to attack first. They were prodding each other. 

Keval knew what the boy wanted. Losing patience was equivalent to losing the battle.

'Someone attack! C'mon! This is so boring!' Someone yelled but Keval didn't recognize the voice.

'You heard him, Keval, attack,' Shlok challenged him with a grin. 

Keval didn't take the bait. He kept his face firm. Shlok was trying to distract him. He wasn't going to allow the boy to get under his skin.

Finally, Shlok moved. He spun as he swung his kukri. It collided with Sakhi. Shlok landed two blows before reverting back to their previous positions. Keval understood what he was trying to do. 

Keval decided to test the waters too. He dropped on one knee and swept his talwar. Shlok jumped away from harm. He tried to thrust one of his kukris into Keval's head but Keval was fast. He gripped the boy's arm. The boy retaliated by using his free weapon. Keval thrust the back of Sakhi's hilt into Shlok's wrist. The kukri fell. He threw the boy away from him.

He heard whistling and someone talking about what a wicked move it was.

Shlok was down to one kukri. He didn't seem to upset about it... Either that or he was very good at hiding his emotions.

They circled each other.

'You're already feeling better,' Shlok said, still scanning Keval for his weaknesses. 

Keval sniggered in response.

'I knew you were the no-talk-about-emotions type. Most of them over here are. It's so monotonous,' Shlok rolled his eyes, 'I mean, what's wrong with talking about emotions, huh?'

Keval smiled at the boy's antics. Shlok was trying to push him but he wasn't going to fall prey to those shenanigans. He had dealt with so many of those dim-witted creatures back at Daanavlok that he had armed himself with a great deal of patience.

He could endure this. He was looking forward to the edge of the boy's patience.

That would be fun to watch.

***

Echoes of clangs, whooshes and bams reverberated through the Asthadasa station. Laksh and Gomedha along with their Rakshak Guru were witnessing the combat for the Rakshak Nayak of the Asthadasa station. It wasn't something happened on a regular basis.

Anamika skidded avoiding Dhurya's uppercut. The soles of her feet burned. This was taking longer than she had expected. She ducked under his arm and used her inertia to propel her attack. She lunged at him aiming to knock him down with a blow on his chest. He dodged it but left his side exposed. She saw the window and pushed her knee into his chest. He winced and stumbled.

'Yield,' She insisted.

'Never!' he bellowed and attacked again.

This was dragging on forever. Dhurya was enraged and thus, blind to all the mistakes he was making. He was making it easy for her to overpower him. She didn't want to defeat him. 

It would be quite shameful for him.

But her patience was wearing thin and there was only so much she could endure. 

She clenched her teeth as she steadied herself and dug her toes into the sand. She waited till she caught a vulnerable spot. He was aiming for her head again. She spun on the balls of her feet and jabbed her forearm into his stomach. Before he could react to the attack, she swiped her talwar upward till it froze near his the base of his head.

He stilled, flabbergasted by her win.

Rage contorted his face. 

She felt his hatred.

'Yield!' She yelled.

He dropped his weapon but she didn't move away. She looked him in the eye and said, 'I have no interest in your title.'

Her words had shaken him more than her victory. She stepped away and sheathed her talwar. Laksh was grinning widely. He seemed delighted. They waited for Rohini to announce Anamika's victory. The Rakshak Guru didn't seem pleased by the turn of events but that didn't bother Anamika anymore.

'Anamika, you have shown no interest in Dhurya's position. Do wish to change your decision?'

Anamika glanced at Laksh, who encouraged her. She thought for a moment and announced her decision, 'No.'

Rohini turned to Dhurya and glowered at him, 'You still hold the title, Dhurya.' 

He didn't look at her. He was ashamed because of his loss. Her words hit him like a whip. 

She coldly walked away after that.

Dhurya walked into his room with Gomedha at his heels.

'I am proud of you,' Laksh patted her back.

'You're not disappointed?'

'Why would I be disappointed?' He asked, confusion marking his face.

'I chose not to be a leader.'

'I only wanted you to make a statement,' Laksh ruffled her hair, 'and you did a pretty good job at that so no, I'm not disappointed.'

She grinned from ear to ear.

***

'They're so slow!'
Keval heard someone complain. His ears picked up the faint sound of heavy feet crushing the sand. Whoever was approaching them, was agitated. He didn't take his eyes off Shlok. He was waiting for the boy to be distracted by whoever was coming. That would be his window.

It came sooner than expected. For a moment, Shlok's eyes flickered at the impatient soul that was marching toward them and Keval lunged at him without making any noise. He heard the zing of the other person's blade cutting the air. He'd avoided it by a hair's breadth. 

He smirked. 

He'd caught the boy by surprise. He gripped the boy's arm with one hand and twisted it enough to have him drop the kukri. Through his peripheral vision, he saw a shadow raising its weapon at him. He pushed Shlok out of the way and faced his other opponent.

It was Utkarsha.

Keval found it easier to disarm the impatient one. In a few moments, he had him on the ground on his belly with Sakhi's tip touching his back.

He was about to help the fallen soul up when he heard another blade cut through the air.

Shlok was armed with both his kukris and charged at him, swinging the blades ruthlessly back and forth forcing Keval to play defensive.

Keval almost smiled but silently cursed himself for trying to be helpful. He didn't want to lose and certainly not to a small boy. He didn't take up offence until he was close to one of the pillars. He propelled himself upward and spun around it. He attacked Shlok aiming for the boy's frail neck.

Shlok knew that he couldn't hold Keval's weight, so he moved out of the way.

At a distance, Guru Gavishta stood with a Yumdhut watching the newcomer fight. He was impressed with his training but he didn't like the fact that that boy was a harbinger of war.

The Yamdhut spoke first, 'His form is impressive.'

'I would have appreciated his talent under different circumstances,' the old man replied, curtly.

The Yamdhut turned to face the Rakshak Guru, 'It is necessary. The Daanavraj grows stronger and stronger with every moment. We must subdue him as soon as possible.'

'Even if that means losing all those Rakshaks?' There was an edge in the guru's voice, 'We'll never get those souls back, Kasa.'

'Collateral damage, Guru Gavishta.'

The Rakshak Guru opted to keep his mouth shut. Kasa knew he was getting on the old man's nerves and as much as he enjoyed it, he didn't want to hurt the Guru any further. They always took the loss of a soul to their core.

'Is he really from the Astha station?' Guru Gavishta asked.

A ghost of a smile appeared on Kasa's lips, 'He did come from the Astha station.'

The Rakshak Guru of the Eka station glanced at the Yamdhut apprehensively. He knew that the whole truth was being hidden from him. 

He watched the newcomer fight zealously. 

Keval's moves appeared to be directed by some higher being. They were faultless. He was a natural. Despite all of that, the guru was dubious about him. 'Then he will be with us. He will find a place in our ranks.'

Frankly, the Yamdhut was surprised with the man's decision. He hid it well under a laconic reply, 'That is very kind of you, Guru Gavishta.'

'Thank you, Kasa,' the guru said, 'Now if you'll excuse me, I have to inform the other stations of our misfortune.'

'Are you going still going to summon them?'

'Yes.'

Kasa didn't have anything to say. He stayed still for some time, focusing on the fight between the Rakshaks. 

He liked the new boy.

***

'Another message arrived,' Rohini informed the four souls under her command. They sensed her grief. Their Raksahk Guru held a scroll in her hand. She had tears in her eyes. One fat tear rolled down her cheeks. The four of them exchanged looks.

They waited for her to say something.

'The daanavas attacked the Astha station,' she wiped the lone tear on her cheek. Her hands formed a fist, 'Only one survived.' She contained her intense emotions. They needed her strength now more than ever.

Anamika could hear the world collapse around her. Somehow the daanavas had managed to kill the souls? The cold silence screamed at them. It was deafening. She felt their pain, or was it hers? She couldn't tell. She'd expected Gomedha to cry but she was just standing, her eyes shut, dwelling in the loss.

'How could they have known the location?' Laksh's voice was even.

Anamika found herself wondering the same. It was nearly impossible for the daanavas to find the stations. They were protected by the Yamdhuts whose powers were unparalleled in the realm and to even think that the Yamdhuts would've betrayed their sacred oath would be equivalent to an act of wrongdoing.

'I don't know,' the Rakshak Guru spoke, 'We've been asked to shift to the Eka station.'

'Permanently?' Dhurya asked.

'Till we can find a solution to this problem.'

None of them spoke a word. The news weighed heavily on their shoulders.

Rohini sighed, 'Gather as many weapons as you can. We need to abandon this station at the earliest.' She didn't stay after that command.

Anamika looked at Laksh who simply followed Gomedha and Dhurya into the armoury. She did the same. She had no other choice. The prospect of meeting souls other than those three was... scary. What would she tell if they asked her about her life on the Prithvilok? Even if they weren't allowed to discuss it, she couldn't lie. As she put on her armour her core shook with fear. She didn't like to leave her station this way. This place was all she'd known.

What if the daanavas find the Eka station? They surely won't hesitate to kill all of them.

'Don't overthink, Anamika,' Gomedha spoke which took her by surprise. For the first time, Gomedha smiled at her, even if it was a forced one, 'The Eka station is the shielded by the most powerful Yamdhuts. It would be impossible to break through that.'

Anamika wanted to point out that they'd claimed that annihilating a soul was impossible, yet here they were, dealing with the loss of an entire station. She thought otherwise. Gomedha was trying to warm up to her or that was what she'd assumed, so Anamika tried to appear thankful.

Laksh was being cold. He did that when he was unsure of his emotions. It was best to let him be.

They didn't ask for a lot of time. Their only personal belongings were their armours and their weapons. Soon, they were all assembled in the courtyard. Rohini used her vartula to open a passage to the Eka station.

She went in first, she was followed by Laksh and then Gomedha. Anamika stopped one last time her gaze sweeping the desolated station. She didn't know if she would ever come back. Pain clenched her core.

'Anamika,' Dhurya stood near the portal. His eyes were heavy. He extended his hand toward her. She furrowed her brows when she saw his vartula in his palms. She stared at him, 'I can't.'

'I would give it to Laksh but I know he'll never take it,' He gave her a sad smile. He took it from his hand, put it in hers and closed her fist around it, 'You deserve it.' He patted her fist.

Anamika stared at the ring that was shining in her hands. She wanted to protest but when she looked up, Dhurya had already stepped into the portal. Her hand fisted around the ring before she wore it. The vartula adjusted itself around her slender fingers. She turned to look at her home one last time before she walked through the portal. 

She felt it shut behind her.

***