Morning light illuminated Room No. 4, glinting off the Hanuman Ji poster. Shiv rubbed his eyes and got out of bed. Open books and neatly arranged training gear sat on the library table.
"Huff," he sighed deeply. "Last night's dream was so bad... everything's okay in reality, right?"
A knock came at the door. Shiv turned to see Vikram standing there, seriousness in his eyes.
"Shiv," Vikram cut straight to it, "get ready. Time to go."
"What are you doing here? I thought it was all a bad dream," Shiv said, confused.
"Forgot? We talked last night," Vikram reminded him. "I'm here to take you with me."
"Oh yeah!" Shiv recalled. "So where are we headed? Did the academy give permission?"
Vikram gestured to the washroom. "Look, the academy's closing for 10 days."
"What? Why?"
"Because the attack was international-level," Vikram explained as he headed to the door. "The organization behind it was completely unknown and new. World leaders are discussing it, and the Indian government ordered Virat Academy shut temporarily. That's why we have 10 days to head somewhere."
"Okay," Shiv rushed to the washroom. "I'm ready to go."
Soon, Vikram and Shiv mounted Vikram's superbike—a sleek, high-end machine—to exit the academy. Suddenly, Kavya, Veeru, and Ritika shouted, "Shiv! Wait!"
Vikram revved the bike. "Shiv, hurry up. Get on, no time."
"But, Vikram..." Shiv started to turn.
"Get on, Shiv!"
Shiv hopped on back. Ahead was a large park-like area with a high wall. A stylish iron two-door gate stood closed.
"Gate's closed," Shiv noted.
"That's why I got this superbike," Vikram smirked.
"What do you mean?"
Vikram floored the accelerator, launching the bike up the slope and over the gate! They soared through the air.
Kavya, Veeru, and Ritika stood frozen in shock and awe.
Vikram sped along at breakneck speed.
"Slow down! Too fast!" Shiv gripped his back.
"Don't worry," Vikram didn't ease off.
Next, they arrived at a small domestic airport. Shiv stumbled off the bike and threw up.
"You're so weak compared to your father," Vikram said, eyeing him. "When I trained with him... if I gave you his workouts, you'd die today."
"Leave it," Shiv wiped his mouth. "Now tell me, what are we doing here?"
Vikram scanned the airport buildings. They entered, then boarded a plane.
"What is this?" Shiv's eyes widened. "Such a huge plane, gold-colored and stylish!"
"Get inside," Vikram called.
"No one else here but us," Shiv noticed.
"Because it's my private plane," Vikram said casually.
Shiv, shocked and thrilled: "You're loaded!"
Vikram laughed. "Won it in a bet."
They buckled in, and the plane took off.
En route, Shiv asked, "Vikram, where are you taking me?"
Vikram gazed out the window. "It's not just Devil Vassel. Four families allied with Divine powers to defeat the Devils. One was from the Chandravanshi Clan."
"What? Which one?"
"No other," Vikram looked at Shiv. "It's my big sister's family."
"What? One second!" Shiv got confused. "They're Chandravanshi—how are you their brother? And it was families from years ago. How is it your sister's family... and your family?"
Vikram shouted, "Quiet! Even my teacher didn't ask so many questions!"
Shiv backed off. "Okay, okay."
Vikram sighed and continued. "Listen, I'm from the Chandravanshi Clan, and my sister—actually my cousin. My aunt's daughter. We're distant relatives, but family."
"Ah," Shiv nodded. "So why are we going there?"
"Because Divine powers gave them special abilities, making them more powerful than normal martial artists," Vikram explained. "The government protects and supports them too, since they're stronger."
"Okay, what's my role?"
"You'll train there. They'll teach you to control or suppress the Devil's power. That's why," Vikram concluded.
"Got it."
The scene shifted to night as the plane landed at an airport. The air was chilly.
"Let's go, Shiv," Vikram said, grabbing his bag.
Outside, Shiv looked around. "We've come so far! This is Jammu & Kashmir!"
"Yeah, they live here," Vikram confirmed.
A woman around Vikram's age (32) stood waiting with a white Toyota Innova Crysta.
Vikram told Shiv, "Be careful."
"What happened?" Shiv went on guard. "Is she dangerous? Here to catch me?"
Vikram hugged the woman!
Shiv, shocked: "What? But you said..."
The woman introduced herself. "I'm Sima Chandravanshi."
Shiv shook her hand. "Namaste, I'm Shiv."
They got in the car. Vikram told Shiv, "She's my cousin."
"Ah," Shiv nodded, then dozed off from exhaustion.
Sima whispered to Vikram, "I sensed it, Vikram. He's a Devil."
Vikram glanced at her while driving. "Yeah, he's a Devil Patra."
Sima, shocked: "I thought he had some Devil energy."
"No," Vikram grew serious. "He's the full Devil Patra. And he's Aryaman Chandravanshi's son."
Sima, even more shocked: "You didn't tell me the full story!"
Vikram laughed. "Yeah, I left out a lot. Now we just train him."