A strange calm filled the hospital room the moment Veer walked in.
The tension, the quiet hum of the machines, even the faint smell of antiseptic — all seemed to settle under his presence.
It wasn't just his reputation that carried weight. It was something deeper, something that made even the walls feel steady.
Rihan moved away from the bed, standing by the window. His reflection shimmered faintly on the glass as the city lights blinked outside. He said nothing, just folded his arms and stared out, his thoughts locked away behind his usual glare.
Anaya stood near the doctor, politely insisting that she could leave. Her tone was calm, measured — but her eyes betrayed fatigue. She hadn't truly rested since the incident.
"It's good that all three of you are here together," Veer said finally, his deep voice filling the quiet space.
He sat down on the sofa in the center of the room, every movement deliberate, composed. Then he gestured toward them.
"Come. Sit in front of me, all three of you."
"Tch," Rihan muttered, clicking his tongue under his breath. "Now what does he want again?".he thought.
Still, the three of them took their seats opposite him. The faint rustle of clothes was the only sound as they settled down.
Rihan's sharp eyes never left Veer's face. Anaya sat still and silent, her expression as unreadable as ever.
But Karan — Karan looked like someone who'd just been invited to stand in front of a god. His pulse quickened. His hands felt cold, but his chest was burning with awe.
He couldn't believe it.
The world's Number One Hero — the man who made him dream, who made millions believe that heroes could change the world — was sitting right there.
"I suppose I don't need to introduce myself," Veer said with a soft smile. His gaze shifted toward Karan, a quiet kindness in his eyes.
Karan swallowed hard. "N-no, sir. The whole world knows you. You're… my idol."
Rihan groaned quietly and shot him a look. "Seriously?".
"I can't believe I'm sitting this close to you," Karan continued, voice trembling with nervous excitement. "I'm really… lucky."
"Eww, stop," Rihan interrupted. "You sound like you're proposing to him."
Anaya sighed, rubbing her temple. "Don't be nervous, Karan."
Rihan leaned back, smirking. "He wants to be a hero? More like someone's bride, man. Haha."
"Pfffft…"
Anaya's lips twitched. She tried to hold it back, but a small laugh escaped.
Veer noticed. And for the first time that day, a faint smile crossed his face.
"That's the first time she's laughed since that day… he thought. Maybe she's healing, even if slowly". He thought.
As Veer's thoughts lingered, Rihan and Karan were already back to bickering.
Then —
THUD.
Anaya's hand slammed down on the table. Both boys flinched.
"Enough, you two! You're not kids anymore," she snapped.
They froze, then mumbled in unison, "O-okay…"
The silence that followed was broken by Veer's quiet chuckle. "Seems like you three have become good friends already."
All three went still. Karan looked down; Rihan looked away.
Anaya blinked, unsure how to react.
"But that's not why I'm here," Veer continued, the air in the room shifting as his tone hardened slightly. "The UOH Academy has completed its admissions. Training begins soon."
Anaya nodded. "I saw the update on their site. But… what about us?"
Veer's gaze sharpened. "You'll all join UOH — together."
"What?!" Rihan's chair screeched against the floor as he shot up. "You can't be serious!"
Anaya turned sharply. "But, Dad—"
The word slipped out before she could stop herself.
Karan blinked. "D-Dad…?" He looked between them, his eyes wide. Then he quietly shuffled a little farther away from Anaya on the sofa.
Veer gave an awkward smile. "Oh… I see he didn't know."
Karan's head was still spinning. They're his kids? Rihan and Anaya… Veer Pratap Singh's children?
For a moment, he couldn't decide whether to be impressed or terrified.
Veer folded his hands and leaned forward. "Listen carefully, Karan."
His voice turned low, almost testing. "If a time comes when you must sacrifice your life to save others… what will you do?"
The question hung in the air like a blade.
The quiet hum of the machines felt louder now.
Rihan looked down, his usual arrogance dimmed. Anaya's eyes shifted toward Karan, curious — waiting to see how he'd answer.
Karan's chest felt tight. His mind flashed through memories — of pain, of failure, of that one smile he could never forget.
He took a breath.
"I won't lie, sir," he said softly. "I am afraid of dying. Anyone would be. But I made a promise… to someone. She wanted me to become a hero — one who saves others no matter what it costs."
His voice trembled. There was sadness in it, but also steel.
"I'll keep that promise. Even if it kills me."
Anaya looked at him. A strange ache stirred in her chest. Someone? A girl?
She quickly turned her face away, hiding the faint discomfort that crossed her eyes.
Veer studied him in silence for several long seconds. His expression unreadable, his gaze piercing — as if seeing through Karan's soul.
Finally, the old hero smiled faintly.
"This kid…" he thought, "He's just like me. Reckless. Foolish. Brave".
He leaned back. "Very well. From now on, all three of you will train under UOH's guidance. Get ready — you're about to start your journey as real heroes."
_______
Far away from the hospital's calm lights, deep within a dense forest, darkness pulsed underground.
A hidden laboratory thrummed with energy. Enormous glass tanks lined the walls, filled with eerie glowing liquids — green, crimson, and violet. The faint bubbles rising inside made the air hum with unease.
Thick cables crawled across the floor like serpents, connecting machines that hissed and blinked with data. The smell of metal and burning circuits filled the air.
And on a large screen —
endless lines of code rolled down like rain.
Then —
"Bwahahahahahahaha!"
A man's laughter tore through the silence, echoing off the metal walls. It was manic, high, and sharp enough to make the machinery shiver.
"Humans killed their humanity long ago!" he shouted, arms outstretched toward the ceiling. "Now devils will kill the humans — and from the ashes, I'll build a beautiful new world!"
His voice cracked with madness. The glass tanks vibrated under his laughter.
Bats, disturbed by the noise, burst from a dark corner of the lab, flying out through narrow vents into the night sky.
The man — pale, wild-haired, with eyes that glowed faintly red — stared at the glowing screen in front of him. His grin was stretched too wide, his reflection twisted in the glass like a ghost.
Behind him, on the giant display, a single logo blinked:
"DELHI PROJECT: PHASE ONE — ACTIVE."
The humming grew louder. Machines began to pulse in rhythm, like a heartbeat coming to life.
_______
Outside, the world remained peaceful — unaware of the storm forming in the shadows.
And somewhere, inside the hospital, Karan sat quietly by the window, gazing at the faint lights of the city. Veer's voice echoed in his mind:
"Get ready… to become a real hero."
Karan closed his eyes.
The night outside was calm — but his heart was already racing toward the storm.