Ka… Karan…
A soft voice echoed, delicate and almost divine — as if listening to it could grant liberation itself.
"Karan… we will become heroes together. Together, we will save the world."
A faint, hazy face appeared before Karan's eyes, speaking with a certainty he could almost touch.
"Wh… what… am I dreaming?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes, trying to shake off the surreal vision.
"Hey… wait… don't run, Ayra! Please, or you'll fall!"
"Huh… this… this is me… when I was little," he realized, gently pinching his own cheeks to confirm it wasn't some illusion.
"Dummy. We'll become superheroes. This little scrape won't stop me," she whispered, a mix of defiance and nostalgia in her voice.
Ayra, running, suddenly stopped and turned toward him, dashing closer with a radiant smile.
"Huh… why… why are you coming toward me?" Karan asked, confusion and awe intertwining in his tone.
Ayra grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
"Hey… you need to take little Karan with you. Leave me!" he protested.
But as Ayra ran, her grin widened, lighting her whole face with determination and joy. Karan stared, a strange numbness creeping into his eyes.
Halt.
They both froze. Ayra reached into her pocket, pulling out a handkerchief, and gently wiped Karan's face.
"Hey, you idiot. Did you forget your promise? You said we'd become superheroes together and save this world!"
"B… but… I'm powerless. How can I defeat any creature without powers?" His eyes dropped to the ground, filled with doubt.
Slap.
"Oww… he… hey! You're mad!" Karan rubbed his cheek, startled.
"No. You're mad," Ayra shot back, unwavering.
"Karan, you don't need a superpower to become a hero. I know you're strong," she said softly.
Karan looked up at her, and slowly, like morning mist, Ayra began to fade.
"You promise me… that you'll become strong and stand by my side? Then hurry. I'm waiting for you," she whispered, almost disappearing into the light.
"Ye… yes. I'll try," Karan said, a broad smile spreading across his face — determination finally lighting his eyes.
*****
A white wall appeared, hazy and distant. Karan blinked his eyes open, reality slowly sinking in.
"Huh… where am I?"
He felt someone holding his hand. Turning his head, he saw Priya sitting beside him in a hospital room, concern etched on her face.
"Hello… sister. Now wake up. How long do you plan to sleep like Kumbhkaran (the sleeping beast)?" Karan mumbled with a groggy smile.
Priya's eyes widened as she saw him. She pulled him into a tight embrace, sobbing quietly.
"You idiot. What were you doing by the Yamuna at night? Did you want to die? Have you given up on life?"
"What are you saying?" he asked, confusion twisting his features.
"You were found lying by the Yamuna. Mom, Dad, Aarush… everyone was worried sick!" Tears streamed down her face, her hands shaking as she tried to hold herself together.
"Hey, stop crying. I just fainted while sitting on the boat," Karan said softly, gently wiping her tears.
"While Karan recovered in the hospital, far away in mumbai, another meeting was taking place…"
*****
IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HEROES (UOH)
The ticking of a clock echoed across the empty office. A breeze slipped in through the cracked window, brushing against the papers scattered on the desk. BlazeFury and Crimson Blade stood rigidly before the head of UOH.
The head remained seated, his gaze fixed on the wall instead of the heroes before him.
"Good work, Crimson Blade. But you should have finished them all," he said, tapping his fingers repeatedly against the armrest, his legs shifting with impatience.
"I'm sorry, sir… there were too many of them. If we had fought, innocent people might have been caught in the crossfire," she replied softly, her voice low, almost submissive.
"Hmm. I trust you'll find out who they really are," he said.
"Yes, sir. We're conducting a full investigation," Crimson Blade nodded before stepping back.
"Good. You may leave."
Rihan, also known as BlazeFury, frowned, thinking silently, "Won't the old man ask me anything?"
The two heroes turned to leave.
"You fireball! Who told you to leave? I only said Crimson Blade could go," the head snapped, his voice sharp as a whip.
Crimson Blade exited, leaving Rihan frozen. The chair swiveled, and the head's gaze locked onto him. Rihan stood tense and walked toward the head.
"How many terrorists have you killed, Rihan… or should I say BlazeFury?" the head asked, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Ha… I think our head is getting old. Maybe you didn't hear what Crimson Blade said," Rihan replied sarcastically.
"Rihan, you are a hero, not a bag full of ego. Control your arrogance, or people will start disliking you," the head said, placing a hand gently on Rihan's shoulder, concern etched in his eyes.
Snap.
Rihan jerked his shoulder, forcefully removing the hand.
"Sir, just because I'm the most powerful doesn't mean I'm egoistic!"
"Who am I, Rihan?" the head asked.
"You are the head of UOH," Rihan answered sharply.
"No… before being the head of UOH, what was I?"
"You were a hero too, sir," Rihan said cautiously.
The head touched Rihan's chest with a finger.
Thud.
Rihan crashed through the office wall, blood trickling from his mouth as he hit the floor.
The head followed him, breaking through the debris to lift him up.
"Now tell me, Rihan. Who am I? Tell me my name."
"Your name… Veer Pratap Singh," Rihan coughed out, blood flecking the floor.
"And… what else is special about me?" Veer asked, his eyes piercing.
Cough… cough… blood trickled with every breath Rihan tried to stifle.
"You are the world's number one hero," Rihan said through gritted teeth.
"Listen, little boy," Veer mumbled, dabbing the blood from Rihan's mouth with his handkerchief. "You didn't ask for this power. But if you have it, you must make it mean something. Put your power first… not your ego."
"I am number one. I am the strongest. When you defeat me, you can shout to the world that you are the most powerful," Veer continued, his voice steady despite his own strength.
Rihan sank to his knees, gasping. Doctors arrived with a stretcher, gently lifting him onto it.
"When will you tell me who I really am to you?"
He says this while looking at the handkerchief stained with the rihaan's blood.
"Little rascal, you don't understand. Your power isn't about what you can destroy… it's about what you can protect," Veer murmured, watching him carefully.
*****
"This world is waiting for a hero who will wield this power."
An unknown voice murmured in Veer's ear.