CHAPTER 10, THE SEALED POWER WITHIN
The hallway felt quieter than usual.
Not empty—but distant.
As if the sounds of the outside world had been pushed far away.
Jay stood there, facing Mr. Arvind, his heart beating just a little faster than normal.
"You won't have a choice."
Those words echoed in his mind.
Jay's fists tightened slightly.
"I don't understand," he said.
Mr. Arvind watched him calmly.
"Of course you don't," he replied. "That's why you're dangerous right now."
Jay frowned.
"Dangerous?"
"To yourself," Mr. Arvind added.
A brief silence followed.
Jay took a slow breath.
"Then explain it," he said. "Stop speaking in riddles."
Mr. Arvind's expression didn't change.
But for a moment—
He looked… thoughtful.
"Asking directly," he murmured. "Good."
He turned slightly and walked a few steps down the hallway.
"Come with me."
Jay hesitated.
But only for a second.
Then he followed.
—
They walked through the quieter parts of the school.
Past empty classrooms.
Down a staircase that wasn't used often.
Until finally—
They reached a door at the far end of a corridor.
It looked old.
Almost forgotten.
Mr. Arvind stopped in front of it.
"This place isn't used anymore," he said.
Then he opened the door.
Inside—
It was a training room.
Large.
Open.
With worn-out mats on the floor and cracked walls that showed signs of age.
Dust floated in the air.
The atmosphere felt… still.
Jay stepped inside slowly.
"Why are we here?" he asked.
Mr. Arvind closed the door behind them.
Then turned.
"To confirm something."
Jay's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Confirm what?"
Mr. Arvind didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He walked to the center of the room.
Then he faced Jay.
"Come here."
Jay stepped forward.
There was a strange tension in the air now.
Like something was about to happen.
Mr. Arvind raised his hand slightly.
"Don't think," he said.
Jay frowned.
"What?"
"Don't think," Mr. Arvind repeated. "Just react."
Before Jay could ask anything—
Mr. Arvind moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
This time—
It wasn't just a simple motion.
It was an attack.
His hand aimed straight toward Jay's shoulder with enough force to knock him off balance.
And again—
Jay's body moved on its own.
He stepped aside.
Turned.
Caught the arm.
And pushed.
Mr. Arvind slid back slightly.
Stopping himself with ease.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
Jay blinked.
He hadn't thought.
Not even for a second.
His body had simply… acted.
"What was that…?" Jay whispered.
Mr. Arvind stepped forward again.
"This time," he said, "don't hold back."
Jay's eyes widened slightly.
"I'm not—"
Before he could finish—
Another attack came.
Faster.
Sharper.
Jay reacted again.
Blocking.
Dodging.
Stepping back.
Each movement smooth.
Natural.
Like he had done it a thousand times before.
But he hadn't.
At least—
Not that he remembered.
The room filled with the sound of movement.
Footsteps.
Air cutting.
Impact.
Jay's breathing remained steady.
Too steady.
His eyes focused.
Too focused.
And then—
Something changed.
For a split second—
That familiar flicker appeared.
Red.
His vision sharpened.
Everything slowed down.
Mr. Arvind's movement—
Clear.
Predictable.
Jay moved.
And this time—
He didn't just defend.
He countered.
His hand shot forward—
Stopping just inches from Mr. Arvind's chest.
The room went still.
Jay froze.
His hand trembling slightly.
"…I almost—"
Mr. Arvind didn't move.
His eyes were fixed on Jay.
On his eyes.
"Say it," Jay said quietly. "What did you see?"
Mr. Arvind exhaled slowly.
Then—
"It's real."
Jay's chest tightened.
"What is?"
Mr. Arvind stepped closer.
"The awakening."
Silence filled the room.
Jay slowly lowered his hand.
"I don't understand any of this."
"You will," Mr. Arvind said. "But first—"
He looked directly into Jay's eyes.
"Tell me what you felt just now."
Jay hesitated.
Then answered honestly.
"…Everything slowed down."
Mr. Arvind nodded.
"And?"
"I knew what you were going to do," Jay continued. "Before you did it."
A faint smile appeared.
"Prediction," Mr. Arvind said. "Not by thought… but by instinct."
Jay's fists tightened.
"And the red eyes?"
Mr. Arvind's expression became serious again.
"That," he said quietly, "is the problem."
Jay's heart skipped a beat.
"Problem?"
Mr. Arvind didn't look away.
"That power doesn't belong to someone like you."
The words hit harder than expected.
"What does that mean?" Jay asked.
"It means," Mr. Arvind said slowly, "you're not just awakening."
A pause.
"You're unlocking something that was sealed."
Jay's breath grew heavier.
"The shadow…" he said.
Mr. Arvind didn't deny it.
Instead—
He nodded.
"Yes."
For the first time—
There was no doubt.
No confusion.
The shadow was real.
Jay's voice dropped.
"…What is it?"
Mr. Arvind looked at him for a long moment.
Then finally spoke.
"It's not just a shadow."
The room felt colder.
"It's something that was buried inside you."
Jay's pulse quickened.
"Why?"
Mr. Arvind's answer was simple.
"To protect the world."
Those words froze Jay completely.
"…What?"
Mr. Arvind turned slightly, walking past him.
"Or to protect the world from you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
Jay stood there, unable to respond.
His thoughts clashed violently.
"This doesn't make any sense," he said finally.
Mr. Arvind stopped near the door.
"It will."
He looked back one last time.
"But not yet."
Jay clenched his fist.
"You keep saying that!"
His voice rose slightly.
"Not yet. Soon. Later—when?"
For the first time—
Mr. Arvind's expression changed.
Slightly more serious.
"Soon," he said.
"And when that moment comes…"
His eyes locked onto Jay's.
"You won't be asking questions anymore."
A pause.
"You'll be fighting for control."
Jay's breath stopped.
Control…?
Before he could respond—
Mr. Arvind opened the door.
"Go home," he said. "And don't try to force it."
Jay stood still for a few seconds.
Then slowly—
He walked out.
—
That night—
Jay stood in front of the mirror again.
His eyes stared back at him.
Normal.
Calm.
But now—
He knew the truth.
This wasn't just power.
This wasn't just instinct.
This was something dangerous.
Something sealed.
Something that could either protect…
Or destroy.
Jay closed his eyes slowly.
"…What are you?"
And deep inside his mind—
The shadow stood silently.
But this time—
Its red glow burned brighter than before. 🔥👁️