Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Tempest’s ShadowMumbai,

2025.The city barely resembled the Mumbai of old. Great walls of steel and stone encircled its heart, dotted with watchtowers where Awokened kept vigilant guard day and night. Beyond these defenses stretched broken skyscrapers, ruined highways, and the ever-present threat of lurking monsters.Within the walls, life persisted under the dominion of guilds. Among them, Tempest was the strongest—its emblem, a swirling storm, emblazoned on banners and carved into massive gates. To ordinary survivors, Tempest meant protection, food, and a fragile sense of order. To others, it was power and fear.At the center of Tempest stood the Roy family.The training grounds echoed with the clash of steel and bursts of energy. Dust swirled as a young man skidded across the dirt, sparks of power flickering around his fists."Again," Veer Roy muttered, wiping blood from his lip. His sharp eyes never left the towering opponent before him."Don't rush, Veer," Jiya Roy said, stepping forward. Her blade crackled faintly with arcs of lightning. "You won't win by charging blindly. Watch, feel the flow. The enemy never fights fair."Veer gritted his teeth. His sister, six years older and a Tier Four Awokened like him, fought with calm precision. Where his strikes were fire and fury, hers were controlled and calculated."Stop lecturing!" Veer snapped. He lunged once more, fists glowing. Jiya slipped past effortlessly, her sword stopping millimeters from his throat."Dead," she stated flatly.Veer slammed his fist into the dirt. "Always the same."Jiya sheathed her blade and softened her gaze. "You've got more raw power than me. But without control, power only gets you killed."From the edge of the grounds came a soft giggle."You two sound like Father," Riya Roy called, perched cross-legged on the fence. At fifteen, she hadn't awakened yet, but her eyes shone with sharp intelligence. "He says the exact same things when he watches you train."Veer scowled up at her. "Don't laugh. When you awaken, you'll be sparring with me.""Mm. I'll win," Riya replied, grinning.For a moment, the chaos of the world faded, replaced by the warmth of family banter. But reality waited just beyond the walls.Later that evening, the Roy siblings gathered around the long dining table in Tempest's hall. Their father, Aditya Roy, entered—the air seeming to stir with his presence, a faint wind whispering in his wake."You're improving," Aditya said, his gaze sharp on Veer. "But reckless. If Jiya hadn't been your opponent, you'd be dead."Veer clenched his jaw but said nothing.Turning to Jiya, Aditya continued, "You've grown sharper. Patience like a commander. Tempest needs more than strength—it needs leadership."Finally, his eyes settled on Riya. Though nervous, she met his gaze steadily."You will awaken soon," he said softly. "Until then, watch and learn. The world outside these walls shows no mercy just because you're my daughter."Riya nodded. "I'll be ready."A heavy silence lingered before Aditya's expression darkened."A new rift opened this morning," he announced. "A Tier Four. Too close to the city. Tempest will lead the raid tomorrow."The siblings exchanged looks: Veer's eyes flared with determination, Jiya's gleamed with calm resolve, and Riya's reflected quiet unease."This is no ordinary raid," Aditya warned. "Reports say the monsters inside are organized… they think. We face more than beasts—we face an enemy capable of strategy."His words hung like a gathering storm."Prepare yourselves," he said. "Tomorrow will test us all."That night, the Roy siblings returned to their rooms, each wrapped in their own thoughts.Jiya sharpened her blade, already running through strategies and contingencies. To her, survival meant control and clarity.Veer stood before the mirror, fists glowing faintly as he whispered, "I won't lose again."Riya sat by the window, watching storm clouds coil over Mumbai's skyline. Though powerless, her heart burned with the same fire as her family.Beyond the walls, the rift pulsed with ominous light—a silent promise of bloodshed.The storm was coming.