(Chapter - 38)

  [His Hypnosis]

  The colorful brothers rush through the school corridor, arriving late after class has already begun and quickly apologizing to the teacher. Mehaki’s face darkens at the sight of Asroy, and she avoids looking at him. A few hours pass, and the bell rings, signaling the lunch break. Students chatter noisily through the halls. Mehaki is sleeping on her desk, unaware of the break. The colorful brothers get up from their seats and notice Mehaki.

  Tushar : Huh? Inufa is sleeping.

  Karu : She probably fell asleep during the last class.

  Tushar : The class was boring tho. It makes sense.

  Tori : *That's so unlike her. Is she unwell?*

  Asroy : Let me wake her up.

  Tori : No need.

  Asroy : It's fine, she'll have to wake up anyway after the break.

  Discarding Tori's words, Asroy walks to Mehaki's desk, gently nudging her with his hand.

  Asroy : Inufa. Hey, Inufa… Wake up, it’s the lunch break already.

  Mehaki’s eyelids flutter before she slowly opens them. She sees Asroy right beside her desk, close to her. Terror grips her as she jerks upright from her desk and hastily moves away from him. This leaves the four of them confused. Mehaki’s face tightens, her sharp gaze silently rejecting him.

  Mehaki : *Why is he near me? Pretending to be all nice in front of others?*

  Asroy : Inufa? What's wrong? Were you having a nightmare—

  Mehaki quickly walks past him and out of the classroom.

  Tushar : What was that…?

  Karu : It almost seemed like Mehaki was scared of Asroy.

  Tushar : What? Haha. No way.

  Asroy : Why would she be scared of me?

  Tushar : She probably got surprised when you woke her up.

  Asroy : Maybe.

  Tori : …

  A while later, Mehaki walks through the corridor, talking with Himika, but her mind drifts elsewhere, her face carrying hidden anxiety.

  Himika : Mehaki, are you listening?

  Mehaki : Y-Yeah! I am.

  She keeps thinking about yesterday — Asroy's sudden change in behavior, his subtle threats, his emotionless glare. The memory makes her shudder. Lunchtime is almost over. Mehaki is walking alone by the classrooms. Asroy steps out of a classroom and their eyes meet. Mehaki turns away instantly, but Asroy catches her wrist before she can walk away.

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  Asroy : Inufa, wait!

  Mehaki shivers. She forcefully pulls her hand free, her voice stern, her eyes burn with resentment.

  Mehaki : Don’t touch me.

  Asroy : Why are you being like this to me?

  Mehaki : Why shouldn’t I? I was right… You are my enemy!

  Asroy : What? But what did I even do?

  Tori, Karu, and Tushar stop in the corridor when they notice them and walk over.

  Mehaki : Oh, after attacking and threatening me just last night, now you pretend as if nothing happened?

  Asroy : I attacked you? When!?

  Tori : *What!?* Mehaki…

  Tori’s concern is immediate. He subtly walks closer to Mehaki.

  Tori : Are you hurt anywhere?

  Mehaki : No. I'm completely okay… I somehow used the Ariya flower's magic and sent him back home. I was so shocked with everything…

  Tori : *She was able to use Ariya flower's magic like that?*

  A flicker of amazement crosses Tori’s face. His relieved gaze lingers on Mehaki.

  Tushar : Huh? Wait, Asroy attacked?

  Karu : What are you saying, Mehaki?

  Mehaki : The truth. Last night Asroy suddenly appeared in my house. He attacked me and said he wanted me weakened so his brother Obhoy could snatch my powers easily. He even said that he was doing his job by making way for Obhoy!

  Asroy : I said what!?

  Tushar : You went to Mehaki's house!?

  Asroy : No way, man! When did I!?

  Mehaki : So now, will you say you don’t remember anything?

  Asroy : I actually don't remember any sort of thing like that. I would never do that!

  Tori : Asroy, what exactly happened?

  Asroy : How would I know? The only thing I know is that I’ve been waking up with terrible headaches for the past few days. And—

  Asroy realizes something as he stops midway.

  Asroy : Wait… I've had this headache ever since I had that dream.

  Tori : What dream?

  Asroy : The day before yesterday, I dreamed that Obhoy came in front of me and threatened me, saying he can make me do whatever he wants… So, that wasn’t a dream!

  Mehaki : What…? *What is he talking about?*

  Tushar : But you look fine the rest of the day!

  Karu : If you have headaches only in the morning, then something must happen between the night and the morning!

  Asroy : I don’t know… I remember nothing.

  Mehaki : You… Really forgot?

  Asroy : Really!

  Karu : Hey. Let's not talk about this here.

  He cuts the conversation short, then turns to Mehaki with a serious expression.

  Karu : Mehaki, please come to Miraz Monjil after school is over. That will be the safest place to discuss this.

  Mehaki hesitates at first, then makes up her mind.

  Mehaki : …Okay.

  Asroy glances at her, hurt. After school, Mehaki returns home, then visits Miraz Monjil as planned. She doesn’t even step inside the house and insists on discussing everything outside. The colorful brothers are out with her. Asroy looks at Mehaki, but seeing her still avoiding him as if she despised him makes his chest tighten.

  Karu : Mehaki, did you notice anything out of the ordinary in Asroy other than his behavior?

  Mehaki : Well, he was calling me Anami instead of Inufa, that was the first and most shocking.

  Asroy : Anami? You know very well I'd never call you that! See?

  Mehaki : *Well, you did when you first found out the name.*

  Karu : Anything else?

  Mehaki : …His eyes were emotionless. Oh, and there was a faint orange glow beneath his pupils. I thought it was simply because he was about to use his powers.

  Tori : !!!

  Asroy : No! My eyes don’t glow orange! They're completely dark red.

  Karu : Then… That only means—

  Tori : Obhoy hypnotized you, Asroy!

  Tushar : Huh!?

  Mehaki : What…?

  Asroy : So, that's what he did… *That's why he looked so confident! And here I am, not remembering a single thing I've done under his influence… Dammit.*

  Asroy clenches his fists. Everyone is restless, internally panicking.

  Karu : Oh no…

  Tushar : This is bad, Inufa! First of all, Obhoy is badly searching for you. Second of all, he's using his brother who happens to know you well!

  Mehaki : !

  Tori : Asroy, do you remember any of the hypnosis words from Obhoy?

  Asroy : Unfortunately not.

  Karu : He wouldn't. People don't remember the words of the hypnosis until it takes effect. They also won't remember what they say or do in the time of the effect.

  Mehaki : *So that's why Asroy forgot everything.*

  Karu : Now we know that, the change of Asroy's eye color and way of talking are the signs of Obhoy's hypnosis activating.

  Tushar : We must keep Inufa safe from Asroy when he's in effect!

  Tori : It starts at night, right?

  Asroy : Yes.

  Karu : Then we'll just keep an eye on him at night and make sure he has no way to escape when that happens.

  Tushar : We can tie him up until morning!

  Karu : Or even lock him in the store room!

  Tori : How about we stay alert and guard Asroy the whole night?

  Tushar : Sleeping pills are also an option!

  Asroy awkwardly smiles hearing their absurd ways of protecting Mehaki. By the expressions of Tori, Karu and Tushar, Mehaki isn’t sure whether they’re serious or joking.

  Asroy : Haha… For real?

  Mehaki : …

  Tushar : Anyways! We're safe during the day. So! We gotta chill~

  Suddenly, Tori walks close to Mehaki and his tone of voice changes within seconds, from serious to warm.

  Tori : By the way, Mehaki. Since you're already here, I want to show you something, I've been wanting to for a long while.

  Mehaki : What is it?

  Tori : Come with me... You guys, too.

  They follow Tori to the side walls of the Miraz Monjil garden in the backyard, which are made of leaves and bushes. Moving the bushes aside reveals a narrow path leading into the Wind Forest. It stretches wide, filled with towering trees, thick bushes, and endless grass.

  Mehaki : Wow! Is this the Wind Forest?

  Tori : Yes.

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