Eternal Storm: Volume 1 – The Awakening

Aryan jolted awake, his breath ragged, his body damp with sweat. His heart pounded against his ribs as he sat upright, staring at the darkened walls of his room. The dream—no, the vision—had returned.

The battlefield. The chaos. The swirling storm of shadows.

But this time, the figure who wore the necklace wasn't the same as before.

Yesterday, it had been an alien—towering, with dark, armor-like skin and piercing blue eyes, moving with inhuman speed. But tonight, it was a man, a human shrouded in a hood, his face partially hidden. He wielded a blade crackling with raw energy, cutting through monstrous creatures like they were nothing. The war raged around him, countless beings fighting, dying, screaming.

Aryan could feel it. The weight of battle. The suffocating fear.

But more than anything, he felt something else.

A connection.

Even now, awake in his own bed, he could still feel the echoes of the necklace's power coursing through him, linking him to something beyond comprehension.

Why does it keep changing? Why is it always someone different?

Was he supposed to understand something from these visions?

Aryan ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. The morning sun was creeping through his curtains, signaling the start of another school day. He wasn't even sure if he had slept properly, but one thing was clear—his mind was sharper than ever.

And that terrified him.

The entire morning, Aryan found himself lost in thought. Every time he had a moment of silence—while getting dressed, while walking to school, even while standing in the hallway before class—his mind replayed the dream.

Each detail felt burned into his memory, as if he had lived it himself.

As he sat in the classroom, waiting for the first lecture to begin, he absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his notebook. His ears picked up every sound around him—the shuffling of books, the murmured conversations, the subtle creak of chairs. It was overwhelming at times, but he had started getting used to it.

He could hear Aadhya's voice a few seats away, chatting with another student. She was laughing about something, but Aryan wasn't paying attention to the words—his focus was on the way she spoke. Confident, clear, like she didn't care what anyone thought.

Unlike him.

As the teacher walked in and began the lesson, Aryan forced himself to concentrate. But something strange happened.

The moment the teacher wrote the first equation on the board, Aryan already knew the answer.

It wasn't just that he understood it—he saw the entire process unfold in his mind before the teacher even finished writing the question.

It happened again. And again. Every formula, every problem. His brain worked faster than ever, making connections effortlessly, as if he had studied this for years.

And when the teacher asked a question to the class, Aryan didn't even hesitate.

"The answer is 4π/3," he said calmly.

The teacher blinked in surprise. "Correct, Aryan. That was… quick."

Whispers filled the room.

Since when did Aryan Verma start answering questions like this?

Even Aadhya, who had been casually leaning on her desk, raised an eyebrow.

As the lesson continued, Aryan barely even needed to think anymore. The knowledge just came to him. It felt natural, yet completely foreign at the same time.

What's happening to me?

During the break between classes, Aadhya slid into the seat next to Aryan, resting her chin on her hand.

"So, are you going to explain it, or should I just assume you're a time traveler?"

Aryan glanced at her. "What?"

She smirked. "The way you're answering in class. You didn't just get smarter overnight, did you?"

Aryan hesitated. He couldn't tell her the truth—not yet.

"Maybe I just started paying attention," he said, keeping his tone neutral.

Aadhya rolled her eyes. "Right. Because people who suddenly start paying attention can solve complex equations before the teacher even finishes writing them."

Aryan didn't respond.

She studied him for a moment before leaning back. "You know, I don't buy the whole I'm-just-a-normal-guy act, but fine. Keep your secrets, genius."

He expected her to push further, but instead, she just gave him an amused look before standing up.

"See you at lunch."

Aryan watched her walk away, wondering why she was so interested in him.

At lunchtime, Aryan sat at his usual spot in the cafeteria, eating in silence.

That was, until Aadhya casually dropped into the seat across from him.

"You again?" Aryan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Aadhya grinned. "Wow, such a warm welcome."

He shook his head. "Why do you keep sitting with me?"

She shrugged. "Because I want to. You got a problem with that?"

Aryan hesitated. "No, it's just… you could sit anywhere. Why here?"

Aadhya sighed. "Oh, right. Because you're such a loser, right?"

Aryan didn't answer.

She smirked. "Listen, I don't know what everyone else sees, but I see someone who's a whole lot smarter than he lets on. And unlike them, I don't make judgments based on old rumors."

Aryan looked at her, unsure how to respond.

Aadhya suddenly leaned forward. "So, what's your deal?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

She smirked. "You're too smart. Almost like you weren't this way before."

Before Aryan could think of an excuse, a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Well, well. Look who's suddenly feeling important."

Aryan sighed. Of course.

Rishi stood there, arms crossed, his usual arrogant smirk plastered on his face. Anaya stood beside him, looking uncomfortable.

"So, the loser turned into a genius?" Rishi sneered. "What happened? Got some divine blessing?"

Aryan calmly met his gaze.

Then, he smirked.

"You know, Rishi, I always wondered why you keep talking to me when you claim to be so much better. I think I finally figured it out."

Rishi frowned. "What?"

Aryan leaned forward slightly, his voice cutting through the noise of the cafeteria. "It's fear, isn't it? You see me answering in class, and suddenly, I'm not the failure you used to look down on. You see Aadhya sitting here, and suddenly, I'm not as invisible as before."

Rishi scoffed. "That's ridiculous."

Aryan tilted his head. "Is it? You're here, aren't you? Trying to remind me where I belong. But here's the thing, Rishi…" He met Rishi's eyes, his voice deadly quiet. "I don't belong anywhere anymore. And that should scare you."

Rishi clenched his fists, but no words came out.

Aadhya grinned. "That was fun to watch."

Rishi glared at Aryan one last time before turning and storming off. Anaya hesitated, her gaze lingering on Aryan for a moment before following.

Aryan let out a breath.

Aadhya smirked. "That was brutal. You do this often?"

Aryan shook his head. "No. I usually don't say anything."

Aadhya leaned in. "Then why now?"

Aryan glanced down at the necklace hidden beneath his shirt.

Because I'm changing.

And I don't know what I'm becoming.

As the cafeteria buzzed with conversation, Aryan sat in silence, his fingers lightly grazing the hidden necklace beneath his shirt. The weight of everything—the dreams, the changes, the confrontation—settled over him like an invisible storm.

Aadhya was still watching him, her sharp gaze filled with curiosity. "You're really different, you know that?"

Aryan let out a breath, forcing a small smirk. "Yeah. I've been told."

Aadhya leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "Well, whatever this is… I'm sticking around to find out."

Aryan wasn't sure whether that was a promise or a warning.

Just then, the school bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Aadhya stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "See you in class, genius."

She walked off, blending into the crowd, leaving Aryan alone with his thoughts.

He stared down at his hands, flexing his fingers. He felt stronger. Sharper. Faster.

It was like his mind was expanding, pushing past its old limits, evolving into something new. But why? And for what purpose?

His mind flashed back to the dream. The battlefield. The war. The ever-changing figures who wore the same necklace.

A question formed in his mind, one that he couldn't ignore any longer.

Am I just seeing this war? Or am I meant to be a part of it?

As Aryan stood up and made his way to class, he couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was coming.

Something that would change everything.

END OF CHAPTER 7