Last lord of the 3rd eye

[The wrong door]

Jilpa and Rivaan confidently approached the door Aiyana had gestured toward, fully expecting it to lead to some secret room where they could regroup. Instead, as they swung the door open, they found themselves staring into an opulent bathroom. The air smelled faintly of cologne, and the mirror reflected the figure of a man washing his hands.

The man turned around, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. It was Rivaan's cousin, Aditya—a tall, sharply dressed individual with an air of smugness that made Rivaan's stomach churn 

Aditya:"Well, well. If it isn't the prodigal grandson. You couldn't even find the right door, huh?"

Rivaan shot Jilpa a glare, who was stifling a laugh at their predicament.

Rivaan: "Wrong door. Don't get too excited, Aditya."

Aditya smirked, drying his hands leisurely.

Aditya: "You know, Grandpa's been waiting to see you. You're late. Again. Typical."

Jilpa: "We'll be sure to let him know you were so helpful, Aditya. Now, if you'll excuse us."

Without waiting for a response, Rivaan and Jilpa backed out of the bathroom and closed the door firmly behind them.

Grandpa's Call

Just as they turned to head back to the main hall, a booming voice echoed across the room, stopping them in their tracks.

Grandpa: "Rivaan!"

The guests parted like the Red Sea, revealing Rivaan's grandfather standing at the center of the grand hall. Dressed in a pristine white sherwani embroidered with gold, his commanding presence silenced the entire room. His sharp eyes locked onto Rivaan, and a smile—half pleased, half calculating—spread across his face.

Grandpa: "Come here, boy. Let me look at you."

Rivaan sighed, tugging at his suit jacket.

Rivaan (muttering to Jilpa): "Here we go."

Jilpa gave him a pat on the back.

Jilpa: "You've got this. Just remember, we're here to crash the party, not join it."

Rivaan took a deep breath and stepped forward, the eyes of the entire room following him.

[The reunion]

As Rivaan approached, his grandfather extended his arms wide in an exaggerated gesture of welcome.

Grandpa: "Ah, my grandson returns! After so many years!"

The embrace that followed was stiff, more for show than affection. Rivaan could feel the weight of his grandfather's scrutiny as he pulled back to inspect him.

Grandpa: "You've grown into a fine young man. Though I must say, your choice of company is... interesting."

He glanced at Jilpa, who gave a small, sarcastic wave from the sidelines.

Rivaan: "Thanks, Grandpa. Nice party. Really… over the top, but that's your style."

The crowd chuckled politely, sensing the subtle tension. Rivaan's grandfather's smile didn't waver.

Grandpa: "Always the witty one, aren't you? Now, why don't you join me for a drink? We have much to discuss about the future—your future."

Rivaan hesitated, his jaw tightening. He glanced at Jilpa, who gave him a slight nod of encouragement.

Rivaan (thinking): Fine. Let's play this game, old man. But only on my terms.

With that, Rivaan followed his grandfather, the weight of everyone's expectations pressing down on him. But little did they know, t

his was just the beginning of their disruption.

[Jilpa, the Unexpected Socialite]

While Rivaan was led away by his grandfather, Jilpa found himself surrounded by a sea of curious relatives. Each one seemed eager to know more about the mysterious friend Rivaan had brought along. 

Aunt Rina: "So, Jilpa, how do you know Rivaan? Are you from the same school?" 

Jilpa: "Yeah, he's technically a brother from a different mother ." 

His easygoing tone earned him a warm smile from Aunt Rina, who patted him on the shoulder. 

Uncle Dev: "Brother, eh? And here we were thinking Rivaan didn't have any close friends. He's always been a bit… distant." 

Jilpa: "Well, he's not exactly the social butterfly type, but once you get to know him, he's a great guy." 

[The Gossip Circle]

As the evening went on, Jilpa moved from one group to another, unintentionally becoming the center of attention. 

Cousin Priya: "So, Jilpa, what do you do? You seem… interesting." 

Jilpa: "Interesting? That's a new one. Well, I'm a student, like Rivaan. But, uh, I guess you could say I'm his partner in crime." 

The group burst into laughter, and Jilpa couldn't help but grin. 

Cousin Priya: "Partner in crime? Now you've got to spill. What kind of trouble do you two get into?" 

Jilpa (smirking): "Let's just say, if Rivaan's life were a movie, I'd be the comic relief and the backup plan all rolled into one." 

[A Deeper Connection]

As the evening wore on, Jilpa found himself in a quiet corner, talking to an elderly relative—Rivaan's great-uncle, Arvind. 

Arvind: "You're a good friend to Rivaan. I can see that. He's always been a strong-willed boy, but even the strongest need someone to lean on." 

Jilpa: "Yeah, he's been through a lot. I just try to be there for him, you know?" 

Arvind nodded, his eyes glinting with wisdom. 

Arvind: "And he for you, I imagine. Friendship is a two-way street. Hold onto that bond—it's rare." 

[Rivaan Returns]

Just as Jilpa was starting to feel at ease, Rivaan appeared at his side, looking exasperated but relieved. 

Rivaan: "You've been busy, huh?" 

Jilpa: "What can I say? Your family loves me." 

Rivaan (rolling his eyes): "Of course they do. They're probably planning to adopt you at this point." 

The two shared a laugh, the tension of the evening momentarily forgotten. But Jilpa couldn't shake the feeling that something big was brewing—something that would test their bond in ways they couldn't yet imagine. 

[A Disturbing Sensation]

As the lively party continued, Jilpa suddenly froze. A strange, almost overwhelming feeling washed over him—a pulse of energy, dark and malicious, emanating from somewhere far away. He instinctively closed his eyes and focused, his Slave Chains faintly glowing beneath his tailored suit. 

Jilpa (murmuring to himself): "Forty kilometers... northwest. What is that?" 

His chest tightened, his instincts screaming danger. Whatever it was, it wasn't ordinary. 

Harnessing the Spirits

Jilpa discreetly walked to a quieter part of the mansion, away from the crowd. He concentrated, activating his chains. The spirits still lingering within the mansion—the ones he'd been capturing without drawing attention—were now his eyes and ears. 

He whispered a command to the captured spirits. 

Jilpa: "Show me what's there. Forty kilometers away. Let me see." 

The chains responded, glowing faintly as they slithered through the ether. The spirits obeyed, their essence traveling toward the unknown source of power. Jilpa felt his consciousness split, his vision pulled far away from the mansion. 

[The Vision]

Through the eyes of the spirits, Jilpa saw a desolate, remote area cloaked in darkness. The air shimmered unnaturally, as though reality itself was warping. At the center of it all stood a towering figure shrouded in black mist. 

The entity turned, its glowing, piercing red eyes staring straight at the spirits. A twisted grin spread across its shadowy face. 

Entity: "So... the chain wielder is watching. How bold of you." 

The spirits recoiled, their connection severed instantly as the entity waved its hand. Jilpa staggered back, clutching his head. 

[A Warning Unspoken]

Rivaan, who had been looking for Jilpa, found him leaning against a wall, his face pale and drenched in sweat. 

Rivaan: "Jilpa! What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost." 

Jilpa (catching his breath): "Not a ghost. Something... worse. Something powerful. It's close, Rivaan. Forty kilometers northwest. And it knows I'm here." 

Rivaan (frowning): "What do you mean 'it'? You're not making sense." 

Jilpa hesitated. He didn't want to cause unnecessary panic, especially with Rivaan's family around. 

Jilpa: "I'll explain later. Just... we need to prepare. Something big is coming, and I'm not sure we're ready." 

Rivaan placed a hand on his shoulder, his expression hardening. 

Rivaan: "Whatever it is, we'll face it together. But don't keep this to yourself, Jilpa. If you're in danger, I need to know." 

Jilpa nodded silently, but inside, he couldn't shake the image of that entity. It wasn't just a threat—it felt like an omen of things to come.