The following morning, Vir awoke with a jolt, heart still racing from the memories of the night before. His bedsheets were soaked in sweat, his fingers clenched tight around the edge of his blanket. At first, he thought it had been a dream.
But then he looked down at his hand.
The ring was still there. Silent. Gleaming softly under the morning light.
It hadn't been a dream.
He stood up and splashed cold water on his face. His reflection stared back from the cracked hostel mirror—haunted eyes, hair like a bird's nest, lips pressed in a grim line.
What do I do now?
He had planned to skip class, stay in bed all day, maybe pretend life was normal. But something deep inside wouldn't let him. Curiosity, maybe. Or fear. Either way, the thought of sitting idle felt like death.
He packed his bag, slid a hoodie over his head, and slipped the ring under the sleeve. No one could see it—not yet.
Aaravgarh University buzzed with the same old noise. Students rushed between buildings, vendors shouted over steaming samosas, and professors marched with overstuffed bags. Everything seemed normal… but it wasn't. Not for Vir.
He couldn't stop looking over his shoulder.
Every security camera, every parked black van, every bird in the sky made him twitch.
In the library, he found a quiet corner and opened his laptop. The page from last night was still up: "Ring of Nayan: The Hidden Warrior's Curse."
He scrolled deeper.
The Ring was created by the Order of the Invisible Flame, a secret sect sworn to protect an artifact capable of rendering its wearer unseen. But when power called, betrayal followed. The Order fell. The Ring vanished. Until now.
At the bottom was a strange line:
If you wear the ring and seek answers, look for the symbol where fire meets sight.
Vir frowned. "Fire meets sight"? What does that mean?
Just then, a shadow passed behind him. He looked up—no one was there.
He closed his laptop.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
He didn't pick up.
Instead, a message popped up:
"They're watching. You're not safe at campus. Get to Sector 9. Warehouse 47. Before sunset."
Then the message vanished.
"What is this? A spy movie?"
He stood up and left the library, glancing around. Something was wrong. He felt it. Like unseen eyes digging into his back.
By afternoon, Vir had skipped all his classes and made his way across the city by bus. Sector 9 was an industrial zone—mostly shut-down factories and abandoned warehouses. A perfect place to hide.
Warehouse 47 stood at the edge of the sector, half-collapsed, rusted doors creaking in the wind.
Vir hesitated, then pushed the door open.
Dust swirled around him. Sunlight filtered through broken ceiling panels. Piles of crates and machines lay scattered across the floor.
He stepped inside.
The door slammed shut behind him.
"Okay, creepy."
Suddenly, the air changed. Heavy. Electric.
Then—a voice echoed from the shadows.
"You came."
Vir spun around.
A man stepped out. Late thirties, sharp features, dark trench coat. His eyes glowed faintly—blue, mechanical.
"Who are you?" Vir asked, backing up.
"I'm the one trying to keep you alive. My name is Arin." He stepped forward. "You activated the Ring of Nayan. That means they've already marked you."
"Who's 'they'?"
Arin glanced up. "The Watchers. Those who control the unseen parts of this city. The drone that attacked you last night? Just a scout."
Vir's fists clenched. "What do they want?"
"The ring," Arin said simply. "And you—dead or controlled."
Vir's breath caught. "Why me? I'm no one."
"That's exactly why," Arin replied. "The ring doesn't choose fame or strength. It chooses balance—someone unnoticed, someone neutral. But once chosen, it can't be undone."
Vir looked down at the ring. "I didn't ask for this."
"No one ever does."
Suddenly, a loud metallic thud shook the warehouse. A red laser danced across the far wall.
"They found us," Arin said grimly.
Vir turned. "Another drone?"
"No," Arin said. "Worse."
The far wall burst open.
A humanoid figure stepped through the debris—tall, armored, helmeted. Its arms crackled with energy, and its voice boomed from hidden speakers.
"Target confirmed. Ring bearer identified. Neutralization protocol active."
Arin pulled out a strange dagger from his coat. "Time to fight."
Vir panicked. "Fight? I just got the damn ring!"
"Then use it!"
The armored enemy lunged.
Arin rolled to the side, slashing the figure's leg. Sparks flew. It barely staggered.
Vir raised his hands. "Come on, work, work—!"
Nothing happened.
The enemy turned toward him.
"NOPE!" Vir shouted and dodged behind a crate.
Arin shouted, "Focus! The ring responds to instinct, not panic!"
Vir closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused on one thought: vanish.
The ring glowed.
Then—he was gone.
The armored figure halted, confused. It scanned, but found nothing.
Vir crept behind it, invisible. Every step felt unreal.
Then he whispered, "Try and hit what you can't see."
He picked up a metal pipe and slammed it into the back of the figure's helmet.
Sparks exploded.
Arin jumped in, slashing a circuit line in its side. The enemy staggered, malfunctioning.
Then—it exploded into a burst of smoke and sparks.
Silence.
Vir became visible again, gasping.
Arin smiled. "Not bad for your first real fight."
Vir fell to his knees. "That was a real fight?! I thought I was going to die!"
"You still might," Arin said grimly. "This was just the beginning."
He helped Vir up.
"You've got a long road ahead, kid. But you're not alone anymore."
Vir looked at him. "What now?"
Arin turned toward the broken doorway. "Now we prepare. Because more are coming."
And far above the city, inside a floating fortress hidden behind cloaking fields, a woman with silver eyes stared at a hologram of Vir.
She smiled coldly.
"So the ring lives. Let the hunt begin."
End of Chapter 2