The next morning, Ashlain sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the pale light slipping through the curtains. His phone buzzed on the nightstand. Half-awake, he picked it up and opened the news.
> "A man has gone missing under mysterious circumstances… last seen near the old street by the town's edge."
Ashlain froze. That was the same place where he'd seen those strange people — the ones dressed oddly, carrying weapons, their presence heavy and unnerving.
Could they be behind this?
The thought refused to leave his mind.
All day, he couldn't focus. Meera tried to talk to him, but her words barely registered. His mind kept wandering back — to the group, to their metallic symbols glinting faintly in the sunlight, to their silent steps and the strange chill that followed them.
A feeling stirred deep inside him ——— faint at first, then stronger. A slow warmth spread through his chest, like something ancient was waking up inside him.
He didn't understand it.
He just knew it wasn't normal.
That night, he fell asleep without any answers… only questions.
---
The next day at college, something felt off.
He greeted Meera as usual, tried to act normal, but even his smile felt forced.
"Ashlain… are you okay? You seem different today," she asked softly.
I'm fine, he replied, avoiding her eyes.
But he wasn't.
Something inside him was changing. He could feel it — a pulse of energy, a strange pull toward something he couldn't explain.
-----
Later that evening, while walking home, it happened.
A faint glow flickered across his skin. Then brighter — brighter still ——— until his entire body shone like it was made of living light. The glow wrapped around him, warm and alive, flowing like threads of silk in the air.
The world faded into silence.
Ashlain's heartbeat thundered in his ears as the energy coursed through him. His breath trembled. He could feel it — the power, the life, the awakening.
---
deep down, something had changed — he could feel it.
At college the next day, Meera's voice broke through his daze.
"Ashlain… where have you been lately???? You're quiet. Lost in your own world."
Ashlain forced a small smile. "It's nothing, Meera. Just tired, I guess."
But it wasn't nothing.
It was everything.
---
That night, unable to sleep, Ashlain went for a walk. The streets were quiet, bathed in pale light from the street lamps.
Then he stopped.
Two people were fighting in an alley — not with weapons, but with light.
White energy rippled around them, sparking with every strike. The air shimmered, warping like heat on metal.
Ashlain's chest tightened. He could feel the same energy calling to him.
One of the fighters fell, badly hurt. The other snatched something glowing from his hand — and then vanished into the night sky.
Ashlain ran toward the fallen man.
"You're hurt! My house is nearby — come with me. Please!"
The man hesitated, then nodded weakly. Leaning on Ashlain's shoulder, he limped with him through the empty streets.
Back home, Ashlain cleaned and bandaged his wounds as best he could.
Finally, he asked, "What's your name??????"
The man's voice was rough, strained. ""Aavesh.""
Aavesh looked around the small room, then asked quietly, "You live alone??????"
"My family's out of town. They'll be back in a day or two," Ashlain said.
A silence stretched between them. Then Ashlain asked the question burning inside him.
"Why were you fighting? And… what was that light?"
Aavesh hesitated. "I can't tell you much. Ordinary people aren't supposed to see that. Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe it."
Ashlain met his eyes. "Try me. That light — it's been happening to me too. It comes from my body. I don't know why, but I can feel it."
Aavesh stared at him for a long moment. Then his expression changed — a mix of surprise and understanding.
"You…" he said slowly, "you are an Awakened One."