"Why?"
"Why is all this happening?"
"Why do I have to do this?"
---
6 weeks after operation Vaghnakh
24 January 2115
(Sumedh's training school)
The sun was barely up, and Sumedh was already regretting his life choices.
Mr. Trinetra stood in front of him, arms folded like always, expression unreadable behind dark sunglasses that somehow made him more judgemental.
"We are not leaving until you stop turning your swar into emotional confetti," Trinetra said.
Sumedh blinked.
"You say that like it's not my entire personality."
Trinetra didn't respond. Just gestured towards the scorched spot on the grass where Sumedh had—ten minutes ago—accidentally created what he called "an emotionally unstable hydrogen spiral."
Sumedh: Technically it worked.
Trinetra: Technically it almost ignited the water supply.
Sumedh (grinning): Science is about risk.
Trinetra: That wasn't science. That was your mood swing in 3D.
Sumedh sighed and sat cross-legged trying to "feel his swar."
"You know I am trying, right?"
Trinetra sat next to him. Not because he needed to. Just so Sumedh would shut up.
"I know. That's the problem. You're trying too hard. Swar doesn't obey effort.
It reacts to emotions—controlled emotions."
Sumedh raised an eyebrow.
"So what—you want me to have feelings, but… politely?"
Trinetra: No. I want you to stop emotionally panicking every time you form a molecule.
A moment passed. Sumedh lifted a hand, and a neat arc of glowing atoms formed between his fingers—oxygen, carbon, something else he didn't care to name right now. It was cleaner than before. Sharper.
Trinetra noticed.
He didn't say something, but he nodded once.
Sumedh looked pleased. Then smug.
"Hey! That looked controlled."
Trinetra: Yes. Because you finally shut up for 12 seconds.
Sumedh watched the structure floated, then fade gently into nothing.
He exhaled.
"So you're saying… swar doesn't respond to what I want. It responds to what I feel—but only if I'm stable."
Trinetra: Exactly. It's chemistry. But with a personality.
Sumedh: Like me.
Trinetra: No! Yours is messier.
Another pause
Sumedh: So if I am sad, my atoms which I create get emo?
Trinetra:
If you're sad, they destabilize.
If you're angry, they combust.
If you're in love——
Sumedh (cutting in): I am 12. Relax
Trinetra (without missing a beat):
Then why do you keep checking your hairs before training?
Sumedh froze.
He directly stared straight into Mr. Trinetra's soul for 2 full seconds—unblinking, unshaken.
"…That's not swar-related."
Trinetra: Okay then, let's talk about swar-related.
Sumedh tried to not show but his eyes were saying that he doesn't want to talk about swar-related which Mr. Trinetra observes.
(Here we go again)
Trinetra: Ahem, pay attention. You can create atoms and by combining them you can attack offensively and defensively both. For that you need swar energy.
More swar energy, more heavier atom you create.
Sumedh: Okayyy… So now I have to create more heavier atoms whose names I don't know?
Trinetra: Yes. But before that, close your eyes, focus on the swar energy inside you, inside your veins, inside your blood and release it gently. Don't think about anything, don't listen to your inner voice. Just focus on the swar energy.
Sumedh: That sounds like something a yoga teacher would say before charging 800 per hour.
Trinetra: So be grateful that I'm not charging 800 per hour and just do what I say!
Sumedh closed his eyes. He was trying to focus on his suar energy. He was thinking of not thinking anything.
Then suddenly—
He hears a familiar voice.
He tries to ignore it but that voice gets louder and louder.
It was Sumedh's voice, or it was his inner voice echoing in an empty room.
"Why?"
"Why is all this happening?"
"Why do I have to do this?"
"I never wanted to train or wanted to become a military soldier."
"So why?"
"... Sumedh?"
The voice of Sumedh started to fade.
Sumedh!?
Sumedh started to hear another voice, again a familiar voice.
"Sumedhhh!!"
This voice... This voice is of—
"Why?"
Sumedh could still hear his inner voice but faintly.
"Sumedhhhhhhh!!!"
Mr. Trinetra shouted.
Sumedh snaps out.
He had released large amount of swar energy which he never released before which was not easy to release for normal swar users. His swar energy was glowing across his body.
Mr. Trinetra: "Sumedh, what were you doing? It was like you were lost." Mr. Trinetra said with care for Sumedh in his voice.
Sumedh: "I don't know. I was just..."
Sumedh tries to concentrate on the atoms with his large amount of swar energy.
And then— snap—
Sumedh: Did I just...
Trinetra: You teleported?!
From Sumedh's original position he teleported 32 cm away to his left. Both teacher and student were shocked.
Trinetra: Did you try to make atoms with this energy?
Sumedh: Ahh... yes, why?
Trinetra: So this is what I think. You tried to create atoms without calculating the large amount of swar energy and maybe you released your swar energy around you and switched places with atoms left to you. So technically your powers is not to create atoms only. You can control atoms.
Right?
Sumedh: I... I don't know. Maybe yes... it's kind of sounds cool.
Trinetra: So our training was worth it. I think we should stop for today. We have to think about your powers and study it. We should...
Sumedh: Wait-wait! Don't you think I should worry about my powers more than you. Why don't we both take a break. I mean that's why you told to stop, don't you?
Trinetra: You are correct but...
Sumedh:Hey, why don't we go to watch movie?
Mr. Trinetra stopped for a moment.
Sumedh: What!? Now don't act like how can a student talk to his teacher like that. I've got no one beside you who can take me to theatres and can watch movies with me. Don't refuse.
Mr. Trinetra was shocked. He was happy and quite sad for Sumedh at the same time.
Trinetra: Okay let me think... Would you tell your father about movie?
The happiness on Sumedh's face can be seen clearly.
Sumedh: Definitely not!
Trinetra: Then we are good to go. Do you know about any good movie which we can watch?
Sumedh: Worry not! Leave that thing to me.
Suddenly Mr. Trinetra had this weird feeling. Like someone is watching them. He saw around. He found nothing.
Sumedh: What happened?
Trinetra: Nothing, let's go.
Somewhere far away in a secret base, Ishaan and Vikram Tansir watching Sumedh on the monitor.
Vikram Tansir:
So this is that boy.
Ishaan:I hope so.
Vikram noticed seriousness in eyes of Ishaan who always stays chill, carefree and sarcastic.
But this time it was different.
Ishaan: There's no room for mistake. Kaalsura is the biggest threat to the whole world in the days to come.
He is that kid!
End of chapter 5: The empty room inside me.
End of 1st arc of the story
© 2025 Parth Bhelekar. All rights reserved.
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Kaalvigraha™ — When gods bleed, chaos begins.