The president's bodyguard took a firm stance before them, his gaze sharp and unreadable. "Stand in a queue," he ordered. The recruits quickly obeyed, lining up with disciplined urgency.
His eyes swept over them before he spoke again. "Did anyone experience something unusual while blindfolded?"
A murmur rippled through the group before a chorus of voices responded with a collective, "Yes."
The bodyguard nodded as if expecting this. "What you felt was real." His voice was steady, yet it carried an unshakable weight. "So from this moment onward-what you see, what you hear, what you feel, even what you taste-it's all real."
A wave of confusion spread through the recruits. Rohit glanced at Isha, who looked just as puzzled. Others exchanged uncertain looks, but the bodyguard remained unfazed by their reactions.
"Whether you find yourself standing before a sea of flames or wading through a river of blood... whether you are consumed by hopelessness or burning with resolve-it will all be real."
His voice hardened as he took a step forward, his presence commanding absolute attention. "Some of you are here for revenge. Some seek resolution. And some of you simply want answers."
The words struck like thunder. Rohit's breath caught as a long-buried memory surfaced-the explosion, the chaos, the tragedy of Numn University. His fists clenched involuntarily.
"Is he aware?" The question surfaced in Rohit's mind before he could stop it. "Does the president's bodyguard know who was truly behind that tragedy?"
The bodyguard's voice rose with conviction. "From now on, train well. Burn this into your minds-we are all united here due directly or indirectly connection with a common enemy and the organization that stands behind them."
Silence fell over the recruits. The weight of his words settled deep into their bones.
Then, with a final glance at the assembled crowd, he delivered the words that sealed their fate.
"Congratulations on being selected for Project M-The Unanswered Place of Hope."
----
After some time, the president's bodyguard called for Rohit and Isha to meet him privately. Without hesitation, the two followed, their minds filled with lingering questions.
As they stood before him, the bodyguard's sharp gaze softened slightly. "First, I owe you both an apology for my rudeness earlier," he said. "But understand, everything I did was necessary."
Then, his expression turned serious. "I have three messages from the mr.president."
He raised his fingers, counting them off one by one.
"First-Rohit, Isha, I apologize for not accompanying you due to an internal matter."
"Second-from this moment forward, you will begin to witness a hidden side of life, one that most people never see."
"Third-under Project M, your training will be tailored to your skills. Train well."
Rohit and Isha exchanged glances, absorbing the weight of these words. But before they could process further, the bodyguard's expression darkened.
"Now, I need to add something of my own." His voice carried a warning edge.
"Even though this place is a symbol of hope, do not under any circumstances speak of the tragedy at Numn University or the survivors. Forget it. Erase it. From now on, you are just victims. Nothing more."
Isha instinctively parted her lips to question him, but before a single word could escape, the bodyguard's gaze sharpened like a blade. He lifted his index finger to his lips in a silencing gesture.
"Shh. Just listen to my words."
The weight in his voice sent a shiver down Isha's spine. She lowered her head, disappointment flashing across her face.
The bodyguard exhaled and, in a quieter tone, said, "I know what you want to ask. But you are not ready for the answers. Not yet."
Then, his tone hardened again. "This is not just my warning-it's also a personal request from Captain Rathore."
At the mention of Rathore, a flicker of confidence returned to Isha's eyes.
The bodyguard pressed on. "One more thing. under any circumstances, do not mention Ayaan especially his family name in this place."
Rohit and Isha froze, their minds racing.
"Why Ayaan?" Rohit whispered, his brows furrowing. "Is he connected to Project M?"
The bodyguard's face remained unreadable. "My next warning-no, my personal request."
He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "If the time comes when you feel like all doors have closed... when you are drowning in final, absolute hopelessness... seek out the sage teaching swordsmanship here. Reach out to him."
The president's bodyguard, Rohit, and Isha all turned their gazes toward the old sage in white robes, effortlessly guiding his disciples through intricate sword techniques. His movements were fluid yet precise, radiating an air of wisdom and mastery. Among his students, a young man with a perfectly built physique wielded a flame sword, his strikes sharp and unwavering. The sight was mesmerizing-almost surreal.
The bodyguard clenched his fists, his expression unreadable. "That sage..." he started, then hesitated. His grip tightened before he finally continued, "He will definitely help you."
Rohit frowned, sensing something deeper behind his words. "Why him?" he asked.
The bodyguard's eyes flickered with something unspoken. "Because he is my mas..." He abruptly stopped, exhaling sharply. Then, as if correcting himself, he said, "No... He is one of the four founders of Project M."
As Rohit continued watching the old sage, his gaze drifted to the others training under him-the young man with the flame sword, the disciplined students who moved in perfect harmony. A quiet thought settled in his mind, lingering like an unanswered question.
"Is this truly the my Unanswered Place of Hope?"
The bodyguard broke the silence with a final remark, his tone unusually soft. "Rohit, Isha-take care of each other. And... don't forget what I just said."
--------
The once-lively training grounds now stood nearly empty, the echo of countless drills and commands fading into the past. The training groups that had shaped their days were now disbanded, their members sent on different paths-some to new missions, some to uncertain futures.
Ayaan glanced around, his fingers unconsciously tightening on the strap of his half-packed bag. The absence of familiar voices weighed on him more than he expected. It was strange-how quickly everything could change, how one chapter could close without warning.
Behind him, Dev's voice broke the silence, laced with teasing amusement. "Is your luggage packed yet, or should I do it for you?"
Ayaan exhaled, forcing a smirk. "I'm not that helpless." But beneath his words, an uneasy feeling lingered-a sense that something had shifted beyond his control, something he couldn't quite name.
With one last glance at the now-empty training grounds, he slung the bag over his shoulder and stepped forward.
No matter what awaited him-
It was time to return home.