Ayan walked through the glass doors of the company headquarters, a mix of excitement and nervousness swirling within him. It was his first official day as an intern, and he was eager to make a good impression. The lobby was a hive of activity, people rushing to and fro, phones ringing, and the low hum of conversation filling the air.

He made his way to the HR department, where he was greeted by a stern-looking woman with a clipboard. "You're Ayan, right?" she asked, her voice crisp and efficient. "Follow me. The supervisor will be with you shortly."

She led him to a small waiting area, where several other interns were already gathered. They were a mix of ages and backgrounds, all looking equally apprehensive. As Ayan sat down, a couple of the interns glanced at him, their eyes widening slightly.

"Are you… one of the supervisors?" one of them asked hesitantly. "You look… official."

Ayan blinked, surprised. "Uh, no," he replied. "I'm an intern, just like you."

The other intern chuckled. "Really? You could have fooled me. You look like you're ready to lead the tour yourself."

Ayan shrugged, a little embarrassed. "I guess I just dress well," he said, trying to play it off. He couldn't believe they didn't recognize him...

After a few minutes, a tall, imposing man with a booming voice entered the room. "Alright, listen up, you lot!" he announced. "I'm Sarath, your supervisor for the next few weeks. Today, you'll be getting acquainted with the company and its various departments."

Sarath launched into a brief overview of the company's history, its mission, and its values. He emphasized the importance of professionalism, punctuality, and a positive attitude. "Remember," he said, "you're representing this company. Your actions reflect on us all."

Then, he began the tour. They were led through a maze of corridors, past offices, meeting rooms, and laboratories. Sarath explained the function of each department, introducing them to the staff and highlighting the company's achievements.

The stores department was a whirlwind of activity, with forklifts zipping around and workers unloading boxes. The sales floor was bright and cheerful, with displays of the company's products arranged neatly. The accounts department was quiet and focused, with employees hunched over computers, crunching numbers. The hospital section was a different world altogether. The air was sterile and antiseptic, and the atmosphere was hushed and serious. They walked past wards where patients were resting, and Sarath pointed out the various medical equipment and facilities.

At the lobby... Ayan paused for a moment, glancing at the receptionist. She looked vaguely familiar. She was the same girl he'd seen on his first day, but something was different. She didn't seem to recognize him.

The receptionist, engrossed in a magazine, looked up and smiled. "Good afternoon," she said, her eyes widening slightly. She gave him a once-over, taking in his changed physique. "Wow," she murmured, a hint of admiration in her voice. "Are you… are you a fitness model or something? You look familiar."

Ayan grinned, playing along. "You know," he said, striking a mock pose, "I've been told I have 'the look.'" He winked. "But no, I'm not a model. Just a humble intern, trying to learn the ropes."

The receptionist's eyebrows rose, a playful smile touching her lips. "Really? You could have fooled me. You should definitely consider it. You're even more… striking," she added, her eyes lingering on Ayan for a moment longer than necessary.

One of the other interns, who had been walking beside Ayan the entire tour, leaned over and whispered to his companion, "Did you see that guy? He looks like he could be on that poster!"

The other intern nodded. "Yeah, he looks familiar, too. I wonder if he's a new supervisor or something."

Ayan chuckled. "Don't worry," he said to the interns, still keeping his voice low. "I'm not here to boss you around. Just trying to figure out where the coffee machine is."

He turned back to the receptionist. "So," he said, giving her a charming smile, "since I'm clearly not a supervisor, maybe you could point me in the right direction?"

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The receptionist laughed, enjoying the banter. "Sure," she said. "But you might have to buy me a coffee first. After all, you do look like you can afford it."

Ayan raised an eyebrow playfully. "Is that a challenge?"

He gave her another wink and then, with a final nod, rejoined the group. He walked on, a strange mix of amusement and bewilderment swirling within him. He couldn’t believe anyone recognized him. Had he really changed that much? He felt a slight flutter in his chest, a little surprised by his own boldness.....

........

"Alright, everyone," Sarath announced. "That concludes our tour for today. We hope you've gained a good understanding of the company and its operations. You'll be assigned to your respective departments starting Monday. Have a good weekend."

A few hands went up, and Sarath answered them patiently. I didn't have any questions. My mind was already on Saturday, on the camping trip with my father, and the strange things he’d been saying. The receptionist encounter was a distant memory, a fleeting moment of amusement...

.....

I arrived home around three, the setting sun casting long shadows across the lawn. The house was quiet. Father wasn't back yet. I went to my room and found another book on my desk. This one was titled The Art of Capture: A Practical Guide to Restraining Mythical Beasts. Huh, I thought. Guess I'll be needing this for the camping trip. I opened the book and began to skim the introduction. It talked about different types of traps, snares, and containment methods, some of which were surprisingly… ingenious...

The book was surprisingly detailed, covering everything from simple snares to complex mechanical traps. I flipped through the pages, my eyes catching on some of the more interesting designs. There was the Knot of Binding, a series of interconnected loops that tightened around a creature's limbs, immobilizing it. Then there was the Cage of Shadows, a magically reinforced cage that could contain even the most powerful beasts. And the Whispering Net, a net woven with enchanted fibers that could dampen a creature's magical abilities. Some of the traps were based on ancient techniques, while others were clearly the product of more modern ingenuity. One particularly intriguing section described the use of specialized bait, laced with herbs and potions that could attract or repel specific creatures. This could come in handy, I thought, making a mental note to reread this section later.

......

Father arrived around six, just as I was finishing up the last chapter of The Art of Capture. He didn't say much, just nodded and went to change. A few minutes later, he called me into the project room.

"Alright, Ayan," he said, gesturing towards a whiteboard covered in diagrams and symbols. "Tonight, we're going to go over some basic principles of… engagement." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "These creatures… they're not like normal animals. They're often intelligent, cunning, and possess abilities we don't fully understand. You can't just rely on brute force. You need to be smart, adaptable, and resourceful."

The "lecture" wasn't what I expected. It wasn't just dry theory. Father explained the different types of creatures, their behaviors, their strengths, and their weaknesses. He talked about strategy, tactics, and the importance of observation. He showed me diagrams of various traps and explained how they worked. He even demonstrated some basic self-defense techniques, emphasizing the importance of agility and precision over raw power.....

...

"Now," Father said, a glint in his eye, "it's time to put your knowledge to the test." He stood up and walked towards the door. "Come on. I've prepared something for you."

I followed him, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. I had no idea what he had planned, but I knew it wouldn't be easy....

He led me outside to the backyard, which he'd transformed into a makeshift training ground. He'd set up targets, obstacles, and even a few simple traps. For the next few hours, we practiced everything he'd talked about – stealth, evasion, disarming, and even basic hand-to-hand combat. It was intense, physically and mentally demanding. I pushed myself harder than I ever had before, driven by a mixture of fear, excitement, and a growing sense of purpose.....

By midnight, I was exhausted, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. "That's enough for tonight," Father said, clapping me on the shoulder. "You've made good progress."

I lay in bed, exhausted but unable to sleep. My body ached from the training, but my mind was racing. What kind of training is he talking about? I wondered. It was more than just physical exertion. There was something… different about it, something almost… mystical. And those creatures he showed me on the slides… they were real. He'd said so himself. Dragons, shape-shifters, things I'd only read about in books… they existed.

A mix of excitement and apprehension filled me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen. Tomorrow was Saturday. Tomorrow was the day of the… binding… and then, the camping trip. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts. But the images of the creatures, the feel of the traps in my hand, the cryptic words of my father… they kept swirling in my mind, keeping me awake. What am I getting myself into? I wondered. But even as the question formed in my mind, a part of me already knew the answer. I was being drawn into something bigger than myself, something ancient and powerful. And I had a feeling that my life would never be the same again.