Chapter 9-
His POV:
On reaching the college campus, we had to run to our rooms to change our wet clothes. As I was going to unlock my room, I was pulled by my hand towards the staircase. I looked up to see Arindam dragging me. I stopped him & asked-" Where are you pulling me? I need to change my wet clothes."
Arindam-" We all thought to have fun in the pond & I know you can swim. So without any objections you are coming with me now."
Me-" Ok, I am coming with you & also ask Malini to join us."
Arindam-" That's not gonna happen because she can't swim. I think you forgot that." I bit my tongue & smiled nervously. He continued-" But don't wait for too long because your girlfriend can't wait," & my eyes got wider hearing this. He winked at me to tease & ran from there towards the pond. I looked behind for once towards room no. 13 & headed towards the pond. On reaching there, I saw Ayan, Arindam, Neha & Diti enjoying themselves at the bank. I sat beside Ayan & he smirked at me teasingly- " So finally you listened to your heart & proposed to Neha. Congratulations to both of you." I looked at Neha. She was looking down somewhere blushing hard. Diti said- " Ok, stop teasing them & enjoy our day off. Let's enjoy the rain." She pulled Ayan's arms towards the pond & splashed water while giggling. On the other hand, Arindam was already floating in the pond. While they were busy, I secretly went near Neha & pecked her lips. Her eyes widened while her face became red. I smirked & licked my lips in satisfaction & she went towards Diti in embarrassment. I closed my eyes & smelled the fresh air with a smile. I looked up towards the sky & to our entire campus when suddenly I saw Malini, practicing fencing on the rooftop. I was mesmerized to look at all her moves. She was wearing black fencing gear & her long hair was open. As I was admiring her moves, our eyes locked, and again, I saw the same rage in her eyes. I was wondering why she was angry when suddenly I felt a strong pull from the back & I fell into the pond.
Within seconds, I felt something pulling my legs under the water. I can swim, but it seems I forgot how to do so. Bubbles were coming out from my mouth & I was having a panic attack.'I have to go out. I have to swim.' Suddenly I saw the water was turning black & it reminded me about the waters of river Ganga. I tried to search for something underwater to grab & free myself, but all was in vain. I tried to reach my hand on the surface for help but couldn't. Soon, I felt weak & dizzy. I felt defeated & death was coming. My eyes were getting heavy & my body was drowning. But then she spoke in my mind -" Anirban, hang on. You need to focus. Focus on my words Anirban, imagine that you can dive. You can do it, just focus & imagine that you can." Keyuri, yes, it's her voice. I heard her words & started to imagine that I could dive with all the strength that was left. Suddenly, I felt pain in my neck region, as if something was trying to tear it apart & come out. Though it was gone after a few seconds, I still felt the pain for a long time. Again, she spoke- " Now try to imagine that you are breathing underwater & focus." I replied-" How can I breathe underwater through my nose?"
Keyuri-" That's why I told you to imagine & then you will know. Just trust me & do it." I didn't question much & did what I was told to do. As I imagined breathing, I could feel some movements & tickles around my neck. I touched there & felt 3 small long openings at both sides of my neck. I released my last breath from my mouth & again tried to breathe. Now, I felt clearly with my fingers that air exchange was happening through those openings.
- " Gills!!! Keyuri, I have gills. I can breathe underwater now."
-" Yes, those are gills. Your newly acquired power, but those gills are premature because you are a human. So you need hard training to get used to them & also to evolve them in their mature state. Now these gills will appear only when you are underwater so that you don't face any difficulty in breathing", She replied.
- " I am amazed by this power. The change is new to me, but I will get accustomed to it soon," I replied.
- " There will be more changes in your body as time goes by & you will be able to master everything. I will teach you & also help you. Now you need to get out of the water everyone is worried about you. " I came up to the surface & saw Neha was weeping in Diti's arms & Ayan with Arindam were searching for me. I hurriedly swam towards them & was panting while Arindam dragged me to the bank. I was coughing badly & vomited a bit, while Neha was patting my back. After a few mins, I became normal.
-" Where were you? How did you suddenly fall in the water?" Arindam asked.
-" I slipped in the waters while walking through the banks & then my foot got stuck in a hole in between the rocks." I answered them.
-" Are you injured anywhere? Do you need any medical attention?" Neha asked worriedly.
" Don't worry, my love, I am fit & fine, just need some rest." I winked at her & she blushed a bit.
-"Ahem... well if you can, then have a pause in your romance & return to your rooms, change into dry clothes & then take rest for the day. Tomorrow, we have a big day in our field work, "Arindam said. We all agreed with him & went towards our dormitories. But then my eyes fell on the rooftop & saw Malini was aiming at me with her sword with a smirk on her face. I was shocked to see her like that. Then her facial expression changed & she went inside.
I came back to my room & decided to have a shower to prevent myself from getting cold. While I was applying soap, I noticed some changes on my fingers. There was a thin membrane of skin in between my fingers & also toes. My eyes widened & I freaked out, thinking something bad happened to me. I slipped on the soap bar & fell on the floor, hurting my arms -"Ahhhh."
- " Anirban, don't panic, calm down first & let me explain all these."
-"Ok ok Keyuri, I am trying to calm down. It's just all of these changes are occurring rapidly & it is freaking me out. "
- " The thin membranes emerging in your hands & toes are the formation of small webs which will ultimately result in webbed hands & feet. It will appear when you are in contact with water for a long time. Don't worry they will disappear once the water dries out. So be very careful about this unless you want anyone to see them. You have to practice training so that you can swim & dive more efficiently in the water. Now get up & wash yourself, then see yourself in the mirror. There's a surprise for you." After a good shower, I came out wrapping a towel & stood in front of the mirror. I was shocked to see that my abs count increased & and my shoulder length & chest expanded a bit. My hairs, beard grew a bit. I like this new look. "This is indeed a surprise for me, I am amazed by my look," I thought to myself. I dressed up quickly & was getting excited to show this to Neha. As I was about to leave my room, I got a message from Vikash da saying "Urgent meeting in the gym.... Now." I rushed outside, locking my door & found Arindam was already standing there looking here & there. I was going to greet him, but Vikash da cut off my words -" Come fast, I have something interesting for both of you." We followed him in the gym towards the dumbbell rack. There was a specific dumbbell in the middle of the rack with a black button on its back side. Normally, dumbbells are arranged in the rack with a tilt towards the ground, but when Vikash da pressed the button, this particular dumbbell tilted upwards & then he pulled it downwards.
A tile sank down & slided towards its front. Then we saw an iron staircase to form going downwards in the dark. As Vikash da stepped onto the first step, it started to glow, following the rest of the steps. We were amazed by all these. Carefully, we stepped onto each step following the glow & soon we touched the ground. A podium appeared from the below with a glass window & a keypad. Vikash da stepped on the podium & fixed his eyes at the glass window & then pressed some keys. There appeared to be an invisible barrier that transformed into an opaque door. Then he grabbed the handle & the machine spoke -" Accessing permission....permission granted. Welcome, Agent White, all equipments are ready to use." Arindam spoke with a surprise in his tone -" Woah Vikash da, you have your own training gym that too with your personal AI." It was too much for me to process. Vikash da now broke the silence -" So... this is going to be your training ground until you both learn how to use each & every reflex and also become capable of using high tech equipments to fight against shadowmorphs. This place can only be operated by me unless I transfer the authority to anyone else, but there is someone who can control this place if she learns how to. Any questions?" He looked at us. I asked-" When will we start our training?"
Vikash da-" Tonight....2 hours after our dinner. Now let's return & no discussion about this, complete all your studies & then we will return here."
We came back to our rooms, completed our studies & waited till tonight's dinner. After having our dinner, I & Arindam were sitting outside on the campus ,which was surrounded by towering high-powered lights. We chatted for hours & after some time, Vikash da came back to take us in his gym. He led us to the equipment room. Here, every equipments were connected with machines, which was ultimately connected with the AI. Vikash da at first instructed us to start from treadmills. We both stood on the treadmill & the AI spoke-" Hello, good evening, Agent White. How can I help you?"
Vikash da -" SOPHIE, I want you to scan both of them & save it to your memory."
SOPHIE-" On it Agent." Soon a blue ray came out from a hole & then a screen appeared which had all our details, name, age, weight, height, body status, blood pressure, sugar level, heartbeats, pulse rate.
SOPHIE-" Hello Arindam & Anirban, both of your statuses are saved in my memory & now I will be able to record your movements & become well trained to fight against shadowmorphs". We removed our T-shirts & then Vikash da attached some wires on our bare chest connected to the machine.
Vikash da -" For one week, you both will start to train yourself by walking on treadmills. SOPHIE will monitor everything & help you in all possible ways. I am setting the timer. It will stop once it is completed. You both will have only 3 minutes to leave this gym after everything in my absence because if you can't come out, then you will be locked until I return back. Now you both start & I will leave for my work. AI will help you with the rest. Take care."
Chapter 10-
My POV:
After everybody slept, I tiptoed to the terrace for my practice. Every night, Vikash da & I come here to practice on my psychic powers. Tonight, he is late. I started balancing my sword with concentration & purple flames started to light my surroundings. Suddenly, there was a strike by white flames & it broke my concentration.
Vikash da -" Lesson 1, never ever think that you are safe outside even with your powers. There is always someone who is superior to you & you have to fight that power. Lesson 2, always have concentration & believe in yourself & lesson 3 ...." By this time, he came near me with a great speed & binds me tightly with his white flame. I was feeling burnt. I let out a cry & he continued -" Don't show your weakness to your enemies. Now try to free as fast as possible or else you will turn into ashes. " It felt hard to me to concentrate & gather my power as I was burning in his flames. I made a fist & tried to gather my power to fight against him. In no time, I could make a huge purple flame & break through his flame chain & then dodged him to get a grip of my sword. My purple flames transferred on my sword & I took an attempt on him. He was fast enough to strike me back. He created his own sword using his flames & I could feel the heat waves from apart. We had a heated fight among us where I got burnt most of the time by his flame. I could strike him twice & he was satisfied by my achievement. Vikash da kept his hand on my head & said-" I can see that you are trying hard on your practice. Good, keep it up just like this. Now close your eyes & try to heal the burns of your arms." I did what I was told to. It took time for me to heal myself, but I did it.
Vikash da -" Our training session ends tonight & you are dismissed for tonight. Get back to your room & meditate for half an hour, then go to sleep." After saying he went away.
I came back to my room & drank some water, then I called Haru -" Appear Haru, I need your help." It appeared in no time & bowed to me -" Haru at your service Master. I will help you in every possible way." I said -" Bring me the library key carefully from Adrija Mam. I will be near the library." I took out my flashlight, a notepad & a pen & quietly locked my door, then headed towards the library tiptoed. As soon as I reached the library, Haru appeared there with the keys. I took them & opened the door.
Me -" Haru, stay outside & be alert. If I call you then only you will come inside otherwise not." I went inside the library & switched on the light in the last row. Then I went near the last shelf of that rack & pressed the hidden button of the dungeon room. The dark passage opened up in front of me & I lit up my flashlight to walk the path. I reached the room with those big glass tanks filled with fluid containing dead bodies. There were a total of 7 bodies & it took me a lot of time to study each one of them thoroughly from outside the tank. Every dead body had the same pattern, and all were beheaded neatly without any rough struggle. I noted down every detail that I found out by observing them. Most of the information was kept in the computer, which required a password to open. I tried more than 10 times but failed. Then I headed towards the other room, which had books related to spirits. I sat in my meditation position & concentrated to a certain point. A book came floating in the air & I opened my eyes.
Soon, my purple flames appeared & the pages of the book turned one by one. This book was about how to control the powers, how to transfer the power to form a weapon to defend, what to do if the power exceeds & many more. Finally, after completing everything, I took a look at my watch. It was 4:30 am. Now I should head back, thinking about this I stood up but I got a sprain in my leg & I fell on my stomach -" Aahhh, I got a sprain." Then I felt something to move beneath me & there was a pull downwards. It was a slippery surface that led me down. This happened so rapidly that it didn't give me any time to react. Soon, I landed on the ground with a thud sound & my head banged on a solid surface, making me lose consciousness.