The Secrets of the Elements

The Dagger

Maya touched her forehead, closing her eyes as she spoke, "Advika, she was with this guy. I've never seen him before."

Tej interjected, "What was she doing?"

Maya opened her eyes and continued, "She shook hands with him. He gave her a dagger and disappeared."

Tej looked puzzled and Zarna chimed in, "Dagger? Was he cute?"

Tej gave Zarna a sideways glance and Zarna quickly defended herself, "What? I was just asking."

Maya continued, "Yeah, he was tall, good-looking, wore a black shirt and jeans, spiked hair, blue eyes. That's all I remember."

Tej nodded and said, "That's a lot to remember." 

"Are we going to tell this to Advika?" Zarna asked eagerly, "We will, right?"

Maya hesitated, "No. I don't know how she'll react. Plus, she always overreacts."

Tej reminded Maya, "Well, Maya, if you remember, we had promised each other."

Maya sighed, "I do remember the promise, Tej, but..."

Tej interrupted firmly, "We will tell her. Everyone needs to know this. We're a team."

Advika and Ray entered the room with a tray in their hands. Zarna helped Advika with the coffee mugs, and Tej passed a plate of noodles to Maya. Advika placed a cup on the bed for Maya and said, "Your green tea."

Zarna spoke up, "Advika, we have something to say."

Advika took a sip of her coffee and replied, "Shoot."

Zarna began, "Maya had a vision. You were with this guy we don't know. He gave you a dagger and disappeared."

Ray, who was busy stuffing noodles into his mouth, mumbled with a mouthful, "A vision?"

Zarna continued, "He was tall and had blue eyes, spiked hair. Do you know a guy like that?"

Advika shook her head, "No."

Ray chimed in, "Do you even have any male friends other than me and Tej?"

Advika replied, "No," as she took another bite of noodles.

Maya pressed on, "Then who was that guy you were talking to the other day?"

Advika replied calmly, "He was my classmate from junior college. How was the dagger? How did it look?"

Maya described it in detail, "It looked like it was made from silver, with blue gems embellished in it. It was splendid."

Advika looked at Maya and asked, "So, you guys think I'll betray you?" Her tone was accusatory.

Maya stopped mid-sentence, realizing where this was headed. Ray and Tej exchanged a worried glance, knowing that a fight or feud was the last thing they wanted in their mission.