LEGACY OF THE FALLEN
Chapter 15
"But if the heritage of our academy is that old, then why isn't it famous after all these years? Surely it must've produced powerful people too," Aksh asked curiously.
"Because the academy was founded just ten years ago." Arihant's answer was sharp, and the look in his eyes made it clear—no more questions. "Now, go back to your dorms. You need to wake up early tomorrow. It's going to be hectic from here on out. Here, take this—it'll help you."
He tossed something toward Aksh. Aksh caught it mid-air and unfolded it.
A map.
The map was meticulously detailed. It showed not just the academy grounds but also the surrounding terrain—training zones, dormitory wings, sealed-off areas, and a vast forest behind the academy named Shantivan. At the center of that was a building named The Dog House.
Aksh followed the map and reached The Dog House. It was quite a different building compared to the academy. It was a bungalow made entirely of black stone, and its roof was sculpted into the shape of a wild dog baring its teeth.
Aksh stepped forward and reached the entrance gate of the bungalow—it was a large double door. He raised his tiny hands and forced it open. The scene inside the bungalow was even weirder than the building itself.
The entire hall was a complete mess. It was total chaos. There were open food packets everywhere, empty bottles with some of the drink spilling out. At the center sat a large black dining table—completely upside down.
Tushar was devouring food with one hand while casually gulping down a drink with the other, like a man who hadn't seen a meal in weeks. Ayesha, clearly unimpressed, had him by the ear, yanking it like a furious mother catching her son red-handed. Avni sat cross-legged atop her bizarre floating cap, cackling like a gremlin at the unfolding spectacle. Meanwhile, Rudra was somehow fast asleep—on the upside-down table—as if chaos were the perfect lullaby. And beside Avni, a face Aksh didn't recognize was giggling just as hard, already a part of the madness.
As the door opened, they stopped and looked at Aksh.
"Our final team member is here! Let's not stop the celebration!" Avni raised her hand and shouted, looking at him.
"What are we celebrating?" Aksh asked.
"It's because Shreya is finally cured and back on her feet!" Avni said, closing her eyes with excitement.
"So he's the team member you all were talking about," Shreya said, giving him an excited look. "Hello, I'm Shreya. I'm a fourth-year here and your senior. If you need help with anything, you can come to me."
"I'm Aksh," Aksh replied nonchalantly. Then, after a brief pause, he asked,
"Where should I sleep?"
"Sleep? We're not sleeping tonight! It's a double celebration—the arrival of a new team member and the return of an old one. No sleep tonight!" Avni shouted, spinning her hat around Aksh in circles.
"I don't like parties," Aksh replied firmly.
"Don't be a party pooper, Aksh. Here, drink this."
A massive hand landed on Aksh's shoulder, and before he could react, a bottle was shoved into his mouth. Aksh struggled to push it away, but after a few seconds, he realized it was pointless—so he just gulped it down.
Tushar laughed and said,
"So you do know when to give up. Good—just like that, drink it whole and don't spill a single drop. This stuff's good for you. It's called Whisperdew. Clears out all your fatigue and makes you feel light—like your soul just took a nap."
As Aksh drank the Whisperdew, he immediately began to feel its effects. The fatigue from the past chaotic days, the deep muscle cramps from all the running, slowly and completely washed away. A wave of refreshment flooded over him—a sensation unlike anything he'd ever felt before. It was as if his entire being had been rebooted, leaving him invigorated and lighter than air.
For a moment, everyone stopped.
"Hey guys, I—I think she's coming," Ayesha muttered, trembling.
In the pitch silence that followed, faint footsteps echoed from outside the Dog House.
"We need to flee. Right now," Shreya said.
Panic erupted. Everyone began scrambling in different directions.
"What about Rudra?! We need to wake him!" Shreya called out.
"We don't have time for that. He was a good teammate. We'll always remember him. Some sacrifices are necessary, don't you think?" Tushar shouted, running while clutching a bag of chips in one hand and dragging a very confused Aksh with the other—without giving him a chance to speak.
"YO—YOU BASTARDS! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE HERE?!"
A furious voice thundered from the entryway.
A shadow emerged—dark, ominous, radiating pure fury. The figure's face twisted in a feral snarl, eyes blazing with wrath.
The entire hall was a disaster zone, and in the center of it all lay Rudra—still sleeping peacefully on the upside-down table.
Jasmine's eyes narrowed into slits as she stalked toward him, each step heavier than the last. Her aura practically cracked the air around her.
Without a word, she slammed a fist into Rudra's gut. His eyes shot open. A choked gasp escaped as saliva splattered everywhere.
"It's a... a devil! A devil from the Nihir army has come here!" Rudra shrieked, staring in horror at the face looming over him.
"So, I'm a devil now, huh?" Jasmine said, cracking her knuckles with a sinister smile.
After that, for a while, the hall echoed with the brutal symphony of fists meeting flesh—and Rudra's bloodcurdling screams.
"At least... t-tell me... why I'm being beaten... before I die?" Rudra gasped out between blows.
"You still dare to ask? Look at the state of this hall! What have you done?!" Jasmine roared, her voice cracking with fury.
Rudra, still dizzy from the assault, glanced around the wreckage. Open food packets, spilled drinks, overturned chairs, and the cursed upside-down table—it was pure chaos.
"I-I did that...? But... I was sleeping," Rudra muttered, utterly baffled.
"Is there anyone else here besides you?" Jasmine growled, eyes blazing.
Rudra looked around. Not a single soul. Just him. It was then he realized the bitter truth—his comrades, who had once promised to live and die together... had already chosen to abandon him as a necessary sacrifice.