Exhausted from the day’s events, everyone made their way back to their dorms, their bodies heavy with fatigue. As they settled in, Vishwa broke the relative silence, his tone thoughtful. “I have to admit, for a Noble's daughter, she’s surprisingly strong,” he remarked, reflecting on the earlier encounters that had left an impression on him.

Gagan, who was busy shutting the door to their room, turned to Vishwa with a curious expression. “Do you think we can team up with the girls tomorrow?” he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Vishwa shook his head slowly, contemplating their options. “Let’s wait and see,” he replied cautiously, then shifted the topic. “By the way, where is Neel? Didn’t he come up with us? I thought he would be here by now.”

Gagan looked around their small room, a puzzled look on his face. “He can make a fortune in the magician business. Honestly, I’m astonished at how many times he vanished right in front of my eyes during our session.”

Vishwa bent down to put his shoes back on, his brow furrowing slightly. With a concerned low voice, he muttered, “He opened up a bit to us, but he still feels a bit distant.”

“Hmm, are you going to eat something?” Gagan asked, changing the subject again.

“Yes, let’s go together. I want to get to bed early tonight.”

The next day dawned bright and sunny, and the remaining hundred students gathered in anticipation. The atmosphere buzzed with energy and nerves alike. Gagan broke the tension, pointing out the familiar figures in the crowd. “Today really feels crowded! Look, there are the robbers too,” he chuckled, gesturing towards Rocky and Gullu. “I think they’ve managed to pass their selection and somehow passed.”

Vishwa shot a quick glance at the duo, then turned his attention back to the stage, where Guru Gopal was ascending. “Be attentive; Guru Gopal is going up on the stage,” he warned, knowing the importance of the moment.

“Good morning, students,” Guru Gopal began, surveying the sea of faces. “Today is a pivotal day as we will determine the final forty students who will advance to Astra Gurukul.” He paused for effect, gauging the tension that filled the air. “I know you’re all anxious about the challenge you’re about to face. So, under everyone’s watchful eyes, I would like to invite Guruma Malika to the stage.”

A hush fell over the crowd as Guruma Malika raised her hand, commanding silence. “Now that you’ve all witnessed the performances yesterday, it’s time for you to form teams of five among yourselves.”

Gagan, always the eager one, raised his voice. “Can we team up with the girls?” he called out, hopeful.

Guruma Malika met his gaze. “You can—if they are willing; the final forty will end up in the same class at Astra Gurukul,” she said, a hint of seriousness in her eyes.

“Kirannnn…” Gagan shouted, catching Kiran's attention with a bright smile. “Do you want to team up with us?”

Kiran looked them over thoughtfully. “So, we will have four people. Who will be our fifth?” she asked, trying to piece together their group.

“Brother, quickly find Neel and bring him here,” Gagan whispered to Vishwa, then turned back to Kiran. “Don’t worry, we’ve got our fifth sorted.” He then glanced at Vishwa, urging him with a nudge. “What’s taking you so long?”

Vishwa hesitated, a frown of concern etched on his face. “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said, feeling the weight of the situation.

“Do you want to get selected or not?” Gagan pressed, his voice blunt yet surprisingly effective.

Those words hit Vishwa hard, reminding him of his initial ambitions that had driven him to Gurukul in the first place. With a reluctant nod, he set off to find Neel, managing to bring him back as they unified into a team of five.

Mina, stepping forward with a pointed look, spoke up, “You are a commoner too, aren’t you?”

Neel shot back, unfiltered, “Look who’s talking?”

Mina took a step back, narrowing her eyes at both Neel and Vishwa. “Keep your distance from Kiran,” she warned.

Neel, not one to be easily intimidated, retorted, “Why? Is she supposed to be some kind of Princess?”

“Why you…” Mina started, but Kiran swiftly cut her off.

“Shut up, Mina. We are here as a team,” she said, taking charge of the situation.

Mina complied, stepping back as Guruma Malika prepared to explain the task ahead. “Now, your final exam is a marathon of five miles. You will run from here to the lake below, but be mindful—you’ll encounter obstacles and challenges along the way.” She brought up a magic screen displaying the challenges they would face. “Plan your team roles quickly; we’ll start in twenty minutes.”

Gagan’s enthusiasm sparkled again. “That challenge looks great to me. But we need to really push ourselves during this marathon; I reckon the last challenge is going to be a tough one.”

“You make a good point, and we’ve got group activities to handle too,” Kiran agreed, fully engaged in the task at hand.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

As the participants prepared for the marathon, they meticulously crafted their strategies, each detail carefully considered to ensure they could tackle the challenges ahead. The atmosphere grew charged with anticipation and anxiety, particularly around the starting line, where Guru Gopal raised his hand as a signal to kick off the event.

With that signal, the runners surged forward, eager to begin. The first obstacle they encountered was twenty towering trees, standing at an impressive ten meters high, which proved to be quite the challenge. Vishwa, full of confidence, turned to his teammates and asked, “This one is me, right?”

“Yeah, go on fast,” Neel encouraged with a nod, firm in his belief that Vishwa could handle it.

With determination, Vishwa, alongside nineteen others from different teams, scrambled up the tree's rough bark. Gagan, who was watching closely, was taken aback by Vishwa’s speed and agility. As Vishwa quickly descended, Gagan shouted in admiration, “Brother, you are amazing! Look at them; some are only halfway up!”

“Let’s run,” Vishwa urged, his team now eager to forge ahead. The five of them sprinted along the predetermined marathon route, soon reaching their second challenge. Mina stood ready, her bow in hand, as she aimed carefully and knocked down five hidden mannequin from the tree with precise shots.

“Woohoo! We are flying through these challenges!” Gagan exclaimed, his excitement infectious as they pressed on.

Arriving at the subsequent challenge, Kiran took charge, instructing the group, “This is an obstacle; let’s work together as planned.” They all nodded in agreement, knowing teamwork was crucial. Vishwa, Neel, and Kiran grabbed their tools and started to saw through thick logs, while Mina and Gagan began digging holes in the earth beside them. They collaborated efficiently, and after a tense ten minutes, they regrouped to assemble their materials, nailing the logs together to create five sturdy boxes.

Gagan's face scrunched up in doubt. “I don’t think it’s a good trap?”

“What do you know, noble boy?” Neel shot back playfully, lifting a wooden box high with the help of some threads. The others followed his lead, carefully covering the holes with sticks and leaves as they had discussed.

“Look now, this thread goes here,” Neel instructed, tying a thread to a stick and balancing it with a stone. “Once any animal walks through, it will break the stick, and without balance, the wooden box will fall and trap it.”

“What if an elephant walks through?” Gagan joked, lightening the mood.

“Then we fail,” Neel replied, rolling his eyes. “Let’s go.”

They continued along the winding path through the woods, but soon Kiran raised a hand, signalling for everyone to halt. “Stop! These trees are not normal. Did we miss instructions in the challenge list?”

“Why? What’s wrong?” Vishwa questioned, genuinely perplexed.

“Didn’t you guys notice?” Kiran looked around at her teammates, clearly worried.

Neel, deep in thought, responded, “Right? We’ve been going in circles for a while now.”

“Are these the famous illusion trees?” Gagan pondered aloud, reaching out to touch the bark. “Aren’t they close to extinction? We could earn so much money with this information!” His eyes sparkled with the thrill of the find.

“Is that what you think is important right now?” Neel retorted sharply, cutting through the excitement.

Kiran’s frown deepened; she was clearly anxious. “If we are the only ones stuck here, we need to find a way out of this illusion fast.”

Vishwa, sensing the gravity of the situation, quietly added, “Or we might get eliminated and lose our chance at Astra Gurukul altogether.” He began scanning their surroundings, a sense of determination fuelling his thoughts. ‘Surely, this can’t be happening only to us,’ he reasoned, hoping that the teachers would be aware of their predicament and this is only a test by them. The weight of his personal goals pressed heavily on his mind. Shaking his head, he attempted to brush aside the creeping negativity.

“Here, I found the way!” Gagan called out, grabbing everyone’s attention as they hurried over to see.

Mina narrowed her eyes at Vishwa. “Keep your distance.”

“What! I can only see trees here,” Neel responded, bewildered.

Gagan pointed to one specific tree. “Look clearly; doesn’t the shape of this tree resemble a woman?”

They all looked closer, scrutinising the tree’s unique form. “Only you can find this type of hint,” Neel teased with a grin. “What do you think we should do?”

Gagan shrugged, perplexed. “How would I know?”

“Once, I read a book where it said we have to pass a mental test by illusion to get free. I don’t know if it’s correct or not, but let’s give it a shot,” Kiran explained, stepping cautiously toward the woman-shaped tree.

“Hold on, mis… Kiran.” Mina stepped in front of her, blocking her progress. “Let me go first. Tell me what I should do.”

Kiran nodded, her expression serious. “I also don’t know much, but I think you have to touch the tree for your test.”

Mina took a deep breath, steeling herself, and reached out to touch the tree. The moment her fingers made contact, her surroundings shifted dramatically. She found herself witnessing Kiran’s wedding from a hidden vantage point within another tree. As she observed, her heart sank; Kiran appeared anything but happy in that moment. Tears welled up in Mina's eyes as she realised the painful truth. Clutching her bow and arrow tightly, she felt an intense ache in her heart. “No, it can’t be. Missy is not happy with this marriage. I always knew his uncle was a bad person, especially after what happened to Missy’s father. She was raised by her grandfather, who dotes on her.”

In a desperate search for her grandfather, Mina scanned the crowd, calling out silently in her mind, “Where are you? You won’t let this happen, will you old man?” But her search yielded nothing. The absence of Kiran's grandfather filled her with dread. “What can I do? I have to save Missy, but there are so many nobles around. If I try to get close to her, I’ll be killed.”

Suddenly, Mina felt something brush against her right hand. Glancing down, she found a note that sent chills down her spine. It read, ‘If you are reading this, I am likely dead now. Please protect Kiran with your life, even if it costs you your own—Kiran’s Grandfather.’ The weight of those words crashed over her like a tidal wave. ‘The old man is dead!’ she thought in anguish.

Her mind raced, and she contemplated her options. “If I shoot my arrow now, I’ll draw attention and could easily be taken down. I have only one shot at this.”

With fierce determination, she adjusted her aim at Kiran’s uncle. “Even if I kill him, nothing will truly change. The Jansi family will be torn apart, and Missy will only end up in more danger.” Shifting her focus, she targeted the groom instead. “Missy, I’m so sorry. I can’t fully resolve your disaster, but maybe I can give you a chance.” With that thought, she released her arrow, watching it find its mark in the groom’s heart, who fell lifeless to the ground.

For a brief moment, shock washed over everyone present. Magic guards, alerted to the commotion, quickly began scanning the area. The instant they spotted Mina, they unleashed their magical attacks on the tree where she had hidden. Mina fell from the branches, a warm smile gracing her lips as her eyes remained fixated on Kiran. In her final moments, as life slipped away, she found peace, knowing she had tried her best to protect her.