Against The Eternity Chapter 51: [50] Chapter - 26: The Day Peace Died

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[50] Chapter - 26: The Day Peace Died The path leading back to Rudra Clan was unusually quiet beneath the pale daylight of the sun. It was not the peaceful kind of silence that settled softly over a waking world—it felt tense, suspended, as though even the wind refused to breathe too loudly. Eklavya walked beside Ashish with measured steps, neither hurried nor slow, but thoughtful, as if each step pressed deeper into the earth than the last. The earlier incident near Marwah walls lingered like a shadow behind them; neither spoke of it, yet its presence traveled with them like a silent third companion. Gravel crunched beneath their boots as they walked forward. The wind stirred dry leaves into soft, swirling patterns. Sparrows scattered through tree branches, but even nature felt subdued, as if watching them carefully. After a long stretch of quiet, Eklavya finally asked, voice even but with a question threaded beneath it, “Is Anshvi back? Mother said she hasn’t returned from the Auction House since yesterday.” He didn’t turn to look at Ashish, didn’t change any tone or expression, but his brother noticed the slight tension in his voice—the subtle pause before he spoke her name. Ashish’s lips curled into a smirk almost instantly. His eyes warmed with mischief, amusement rising like sparks from a flint. “Oh? Now that is interesting.” He leaned close enough that his shoulder brushed Eklavya’s. “First time I’m hearing you ask about a girl that you are worried about, little brother?” Eklavya’s expression remained cool, untouched by teasing. “No, I only asked for information. She got in trouble because of me with the Falling Leaf Sect. If anything happened, responsibility would fall on me too.” “That isn’t what I asked,” Ashish said, his grin never fading. Eklavya ignored it for a few steps, his gaze fixed ahead on the familiar stone path leading to his home. “I am not interested in such things. The only thing which matters to me is strength. Nothing else.” Ashish shook his head slowly, amusement still present but no longer sharp. “You say that, yet you were the one who pulled her out of danger that day. You were restless when she didn’t appear today. I have never seen you worried like that, and trust me—I watch you more closely than you think.” Eklavya didn’t respond immediately. He exhaled, almost in thought. His brows did not furrow, but there was a shift—something faint and unspoken beneath his calm. “She was dragged into conflict because of me,” he murmured. “Anyone would feel responsible. That is all.” But Ashish wasn’t convinced. He glanced at his brother with knowing eyes, the kind that had watched Eklavya grow since childhood. “You don’t even understand your own feelings. That is fine. But remember this, Eklavya—people do not wait forever. If you ignore what your heart wants for too long, one day you may realize it stood at your side only to turn and walk away.” His words landed softly yet heavily, like a stone sinking into still water. The Rudra Clan gates came into view—tall, carved with history, guarded by warriors who nodded respectfully as they entered. The courtyard inside was alive with motion: disciples sparred with wooden swords, elders observed with discerning eyes, young children chased each other between pillars, and servants hurried across pathways carrying scrolls and tea. Everything was happening as usual on a normal day. Unaware it was about to break like shattered glass. As they walked deeper into the clan grounds, Ashish spoke again, voice quieter and more thoughtful. “You always say you want strength. You live for it… breathe for it. But someday you must know why. Strength without direction is like a river without banks—it flows yet reaches nowhere.” Eklavya looked toward the Clan Leader Hall, where their father spent most of his time overseeing affairs. He searched his mind for an answer, but like always, he found none. Strength was the only thing he ever recognized—no beginning, no reason, just a force