Chapter 77: Training Begins Again
The golden evening light bathed Nalanda Academy as Aamir and his friends returned from the Royal Palace. Despite the long journey and the weight of the day’s events, Aamir’s pace didn’t slow. His boots echoed sharply against the marble hallway as he and Seenu made their way toward Master Haider Ali’s office.
Outside the door, Seenu glanced at him. "You sure he’s in the mood?"
Aamir nodded. "Doesn’t matter. We can’t afford to wait."
He knocked once, firmly, and the door creaked open.
Inside, Haider Ali sat at his desk, flipping through a thick manual filled with diagrams. His silver-rimmed glasses rested low on his nose, and the room was dim except for a single desk lamp casting long shadows across the books and scrolls.
Aamir stepped forward, chin high. "Master," he said, voice steady. "From tomorrow, can we resume our training?"
As they stood outside Haider Ali’s office, Aamir felt a strange pressure in the air. Even after all this time, facing Master Haider made him instinctively straighten his posture. The door was slightly ajar. Inside, the legendary instructor sat behind a mountain of scrolls, sipping tea in silence.
Haider Ali looked up slowly, his eyes narrowing—not in irritation, but deep thought. The silence stretched for a few seconds before he leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
"The World Tournament is only thirteen days away," he said at last. "You’ll have just ten days of uninterrupted training."
His gaze sharpened. "Make each of them matter."
He leaned forward, his voice low and deliberate. "And remember — the World Tournament is not just about strength. You’ll be up against people trained to kill, deceive, and manipulate. You’ll need more than brute force."