NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: Ch 6
Chapter 6: The Scholar in the Shadows
The sun had barely risen, and the village was still waking up. The soft chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves in the morning breeze mingled with the distant sounds of children playing. Tara sat on the cool stone steps of the small inn, her fingers drumming absentmindedly on the edge of a piece of parchment. She stared at the ancient script. The symbols, once foreign and confusing, now seemed a little more familiar. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she traced the characters, each one a puzzle she was slowly piecing together.
The day before had been a blur of new faces, strange customs, and unfamiliar sights. But now, as she focused on the task at hand, the world around her faded. She could almost hear her uncle's voice, soft but insistent, as if he were standing beside her. "Find the key, Tara. It's in the symbols."
Her fingers moved across the parchment slowly, carefully, as she tried to connect the dots. Despite the growing frustration in her chest, there was something in her gut telling her that this was the moment. I can do this. Her fingers brushed over one of the characters again, her thoughts drifting back to the previous day, when Aria had come to her room and suggested something that might make all the difference.
---
Flashback, Second Day in the Gupta Empire
The morning air was thick with the scent of incense and the distant sound of temple bells. Tara sat at her small, simple table, staring at the strange script her uncle had left behind, frustration creeping into her thoughts. The symbols seemed to mock her, slipping just out of reach no matter how hard she tried.
The door to her room creaked open, and Aria stepped in, her usual mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Good morning, Tara!" she greeted cheerfully, crossing the room and plopping down beside her. "I've got a great idea."
Tara looked up from the parchment, surprised by Aria's sudden appearance. She opened her mouth to speak, but Aria waved a hand in front of her face, silencing her before she could utter a word.
"Save your breath," Aria teased, her grin wide. "You don't need to talk anymore. I know just the person who can help you."
Tara blinked, confused, but before she could ask anything, Aria grabbed her wrist with surprising strength and pulled her to her feet.
"Come on. We're going."
Tara stumbled slightly as Aria's grip tightened, but she didn't resist. Her curiosity was piqued. As they made their way through the village, the unfamiliar world buzzed around her: children playing, merchants setting up their stalls, the scent of spices and fresh bread in the air. Tara observed it all quietly, feeling like an outsider in this strange and vibrant place.
They walked for a while until they reached the outskirts of the village, where a small, modest house stood. Aria knocked once, entering without waiting for a response.
Inside, a figure sat at a wooden table, his face obscured by a hooded cloak. The air around him was calm, almost unnervingly so, and there was an undeniable presence to him — a sense of quiet authority. He didn't move as Aria led Tara to stand in front of him, but there was something about him that made Tara feel both cautious and intrigued.
Aria grinned, gesturing to the figure. "Meet Samudra. He's the one who can teach you how to read and write. You'll understand your uncle's notes in no time."
Tara's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. Samudra. She'd heard whispers about him, but to see him in person was something entirely different. She hesitated, but then nodded, feeling the weight of the situation settle on her shoulders. I need to learn quickly. For my uncle.
---
Back to the Present
Tara blinked, pulling herself out of the memory. Her fingers continued to trace the symbols on the parchment, her mind more focused now, the weight of the past conversation pressing down on her. The sounds of children laughing echoed in the distance, but her attention was fixed entirely on the task at hand. Just a little longer... she thought. I'm close. I can feel it.
She briefly glanced at Samudra, who was standing across the village, his posture as relaxed as ever. He was watching the children practice swordplay, his casual stance betraying none of the alertness she'd come to associate with him. Aria stood beside him, her gaze sweeping the area with the sharpness of someone attuned to danger.
Tara couldn't help but notice the contrast between them. Samudra's effortless calm, the way he seemed to see everything without even trying, while Aria... Aria was different. Today, her usual playfulness was replaced by something sharper, more focused. Her eyes flicked over the village, scanning the horizon as if searching for something.
Tara turned back to her work, pushing away the growing discomfort. She was so absorbed in her study that she didn't notice the shadow slipping through the village, blending seamlessly with the surroundings. The assassin who had escaped the day before was still lurking, his presence barely a whisper on the wind. But Samudra knew. His sharp eyes never missed a detail, and though his demeanor remained unaffected, his hand brushed the hilt of his sword with subtle tension.
Aria's expression shifted too, from playful to vigilant. She, too, noticed the disturbance in the air. Her eyes narrowed, her posture stiffening as she scanned the surroundings. "Something's off," she muttered under her breath, though her voice remained low and controlled.
Samudra's lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "Don't worry. There's nothing to fear... for now."
He said it with such calm certainty that it almost seemed as though he were trying to reassure himself as much as Aria. But even as he spoke, his gaze never left Tara. She was still engrossed in her work, oblivious to the danger lurking just beyond the village's peaceful facade. She's getting closer, he thought, a flicker of something darker crossing his mind. But at what cost?
Aria's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't respond. She knew better than to argue with Samudra when he was in one of these moods. Instead, she turned her attention back to the village, her mind already calculating the next move. The assassin's shadow was still out there, waiting for the right moment.
---
Meanwhile, Tara was making progress. The symbols she had struggled to understand just days ago were beginning to make sense, their meanings slowly unraveling before her eyes. She pointed to one of the characters, her finger tracing the fluid curves of the script. She whispered the translation to herself, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Gate... this is the key."
It was only a fragment, but it was enough. The realization washed over her in a wave of excitement. She could feel the pieces falling into place. Her fingers moved faster now, flipping through the notes with renewed energy. She wasn't just decoding her uncle's cryptic messages anymore; she was beginning to understand them.
"It means 'gate'... but what does it mean here?" Tara thought, her eyes narrowing in concentration. Her mind raced with possibilities, and despite the growing ache in her muscles from sitting so long, she couldn't stop now. I'm so close.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, blocking the sun. Tara looked up, startled, but relaxed when she saw Samudra standing in front of her. His golden-embroidered tunic gleamed in the morning light, his expression as casual as ever. Aria was a few steps behind him, her expression unreadable.
"What are you working on?" Samudra asked, his voice low and steady.
Tara hesitated, then pointed to the parchment. She began to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she gestured at the symbols, miming a question to Samudra.
His eyebrow arched slightly, amused by her silence. "You're learning quickly," he said, his tone approving but with an undercurrent of something more. "What have you figured out?"
Tara pointed at the word she had been focusing on, her finger tracing the characters with newfound confidence. She mouthed the word, repeating it softly. "Gate."
Samudra's eyes sharpened as he crouched beside her, his focus now entirely on the parchment. "A gate, huh?" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Could be a metaphor. Or something more literal."
The moment lingered between them, the weight of unspoken thoughts passing like a breeze. Tara watched him, unsure of what to make of his cryptic words. She opened her mouth to ask, but before she could, Samudra was already standing up, his attention shifting to the children practicing swordplay. He began to teach them proper posture, his patience with them a stark contrast to his earlier intensity.
Aria, standing behind Tara, watched the exchange with a knowing glint in her eyes. "Like what you see?" she teased, her voice light but with an edge that made Tara blush all the way to her ears.
Tara gestured at Aria, acting angry, though it was clear she was embarrassed. She returned to her work, ignoring the teasing and trying to focus once more.
Aria chuckled but walked back to Samudra, who was now guiding the children with a gentle but firm hand. The conversation had shifted again, but the tension remained, unspoken yet palpable.
As Aria approached Samudra, she observed Tara, an amused smirk on her lips. "She's not just a pretty face, is she?"
Samudra didn't respond immediately. His eyes remained fixed on Tara, his expression unreadable. "No, she's not."
Aria sighed, her voice quieter now. "Just don't get hurt in the process like you did last time. I can't be always there to save your face."
Samudra's eyes remained focused on Tara for a moment longer before he finally glanced at Aria, his expression unreadable. His lips curled into a small, knowing smile, but there was something darker behind his gaze.
"I know," he replied softly, his tone carrying a weight that Aria didn't need to question. "I'm not blind, Aria. I see what's happening here."
Aria didn't push him further. She knew better than to press when Samudra's mood was like this. Instead, she turned her attention back to Tara, who was engrossed in her work. The sense of urgency in the air had only grown stronger. It wasn't just about the past anymore, or even the gate. It was about the future — a future that seemed increasingly unstable, with every step Tara took pulling her deeper into something she wasn't fully prepared for.
But that was the way it always worked with Samudra. Nothing was ever straightforward. And as much as Aria
wanted to protect Tara from the mess she was stepping into, she knew it was already too late.