Phantom covonent: Spiritbound Ascension

The City Tour Begins

The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the grand Mira Bagh Palace, where Arman and his friends had been staying. The palace stood tall with its intricate carvings and towering gates, a reminder of the city's rich history.

Gathering near the entrance, a group of travelers—students, teachers, and other guests—waited excitedly. They had all come to Jaisagar City for the trip, and today was the day they would explore its wonders.

Arman, Riyan, Ayesha, and Zubair made their way through the crowd, spotting familiar faces among them. Some were chatting in anticipation, while others adjusted their bags, preparing for the day ahead.

As they approached the palace gates, they spotted a familiar figure standing near the entrance.

It was Kabir.

He stood with his arms crossed, deep in conversation with a tall man dressed in a dark brown coat, who quickly walked away as the group approached. Kabir's expression remained unreadable, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. But as soon as he noticed his friends, his demeanor shifted.

"So, is everyone here?" he asked, his voice firm yet casual. "It's time to get going."

Before anyone could respond, Ayesha suddenly felt a small hand grab hers and gently tug.

She turned her head in surprise—

And there she was.

Meera.

The little girl stood beside her, an innocent smile lighting up her face. Her big, round eyes shimmered with happiness as she looked up at Ayesha.

"When we come back from our tour," Meera said sweetly, "we will play together, okay, sis?"

Ayesha's expression softened, and she gently squeezed Meera's hand.

"Okay, we will," she promised, a warm smile spreading across her lips.

But just as she was about to say something else, she noticed Meera's face suddenly change.

The little girl puffed up her cheeks, looking almost angry.

Ayesha frowned slightly. "What happened, Meera? Are you mad at big sis?"

Meera quickly shook her head. "No, not at you," she said, crossing her arms.

Ayesha tilted her head. "Then what's wrong?"

Meera let out a dramatic sigh. "This place is not good."

Ayesha blinked. "What do you mean?"

Meera looked up at her, her eyes filled with frustration.

"I want to eat candy! But I didn't find any shop here. How am I supposed to get candy?!"

Ayesha stared at her for a moment—then suddenly burst into laughter.

"That's what you're upset about?" she asked, amused.

Meera nodded vigorously. "Yes! It's a big problem!"

Ayesha chuckled, reaching out to gently ruffle Meera's hair. "Okay, okay. As soon as we go to the city, I'll buy you some candy. Happy now?"

Meera's face lit up instantly.

"Really?! Yay! I'll get candy! I'll get candy!" she cheered, jumping up and down with excitement.

Arman, Riyan, and Zubair watched the scene with amused smiles, while Kabir simply sighed, shaking his head.

"Alright, enough talk about candy," Kabir said, clapping his hands. "Let's move. We have a whole city to explore."

With that, the group finally stepped through the gates of Mira Bagh Palace, setting off towards the city.

---

As they reached the main city, the streets came alive around them.

Vendors called out to customers, their voices blending into the rhythmic clatter of footsteps and bicycle bells. The air was filled with the scent of freshly fried samosas, spicy chaat, and sweet jalebis. Children ran past, laughing as they weaved through the crowd, while elderly shopkeepers sat on wooden stools, watching the bustling market with knowing smiles.

What stood out the most, however, were the buildings.

Every shop was part of a larger, old haveli, its walls aged to a deep yellow and black, as if standing the test of time. They looked ancient, yet strong and unshaken—a living piece of history.

As Arman and his friends walked through the market, Kabir turned to the group.

"Listen up! We'll be splitting up for now." His voice cut through the noise of the city. "Form groups of seven. You can explore freely, but be back here in one hour."

Arman and his friends exchanged glances.

They were four. They needed three more.

Just then, a man in his early thirties approached them, a little girl holding his hand and a woman standing beside him.

"Excuse me," the man said. "If you don't mind, can me and my family join your group?"

Arman recognized them immediately—Meera's family.

He smiled. "Of course! We needed three more people anyway."

Riyan grinned at Meera and crouched down to her level. "Hey, cutie pie! How are you?"

Meera giggled. "I'm good, big bro! How are you?"

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine!" Riyan laughed.

Zubair stretched his arms. "Alright then, shall we go?"

The group nodded in agreement.

"First things first—let's get you that candy," Ayesha said, winking at Meera.

Meera's eyes sparkled. "Yay!"

Ayesha led the group to a nearby sweet shop, its glass display filled with colorful candies and treats.

She crouched beside Meera. "Alright, which one do you want?"

Before Meera could answer, her father gently spoke. "Oh, you don't have to do that. You'll spoil her."

Ayesha smiled. "Don't worry, it's just a little gift from me."

Meera's tiny hand pointed at a box filled with bright red sweets. "This one!"

Ayesha turned to the shopkeeper. "Can I get one of these, please?"

The shopkeeper nodded, opening the box and handing her a piece of candy. "That'll be five rupees, miss."

Ayesha reached into her purse, but before she could take out the money, a hand appeared from behind her, placing a five-rupee coin on the counter.

She turned in surprise.

It was Arman.

Ayesha blinked. "Arman—"

Arman grinned. "Come on now, my lady. This humble servant is always at your service." He gave a small bow, his voice playful.

Ayesha's face flushed. "Oh, stop it!" she said, flustered.

Arman just laughed. "Alright, let's get moving. We only have an hour!"

Meera happily unwrapped her candy, popping it into her mouth as they set off to explore the city.

---

As they continued walking, the shops around them began to change.

At first, they passed various kinds of stores, but soon, more and more jewelry shops lined the street. Some displayed real gold and silver jewelry, while others sold artificial accessories. The glittering displays instantly caught the attention of some members of the group.

Ayesha grinned. "Hey, why don't we check out these shops?"

Meera's mother, Kajal, nodded excitedly. "I was thinking the same thing!"

Though it sounded like a suggestion, the boys knew they had no choice.

"Fine, do as you wish," Zubair sighed.

Ayesha smiled happily. "Thank you, guys! You're the best!"

Kajal turned to her husband. "And you're the best husband in the world!"

"Yeah, yeah," he chuckled. "Now go quickly."

With that, the girls rushed into a jewelry store named Sagar Jewellers, excited to explore the shimmering accessories inside. As they entered Sagar Jewellers, a chill ran down Ayesha's spine.

For a brief moment, she thought she saw the tall man from earlier—the one talking to Kabir—watching them from across the street.

But when she turned to look again—

He was gone.