Shiv slowly opened his eyes to the smell of antiseptic. He found himself lying in a clean, high-tech infirmary bed. His body still ached, but the sharp pain in his ribs had subsided into a dull throb.
The door creaked open, and Veer stepped inside. He didn't look arrogant this time; his expression was unreadable, almost grim.
"How did you do it?" Veer asked, his voice low.
Shiv looked at him, still slightly dazed. "Do what?"
"Don't play dumb. That Taekwondo move. You've never been trained, yet you mimicked my style perfectly in the middle of a fight," Veer's eyes narrowed. "I didn't come here to ask for your secrets. I came here to tell you one thing... From today onwards, I officially recognize you as my Rival."
Without waiting for a response, Veer turned around and walked out, leaving a stunned Shiv behind.
[Scene: Shiv's Dorm Room - Later that evening]
Shiv eventually managed to limp back to his assigned dormitory. As he pushed the door open, he was greeted by the sight of two boys already settled in. One was Arav, and the other was a energetic-looking boy with messy hair.
"Shiv! You're alive!" Arav cheered, jumping up from his bed. "Man, that fight was legendary! Everyone in the Academy is talking about you."
"You really gave Kavya a run for her money," the other boy added, stepping forward with a grin. "I'm Viru Varma, your other roommate. You're a crafty one, Shiv! Acting like you didn't know anything, and then unleashing a unique 'Z' status like Kavya's? That was a pro move!"
Shiv shook his head as he sat down on his bed. "I wasn't acting, Viru. And I don't have a Z-status. I just... I watched her attacks closely, and my body just moved on its own to counter them. My actual status is 'T'."
Viru froze, his jaw dropping. "'T'? Wait a minute... there's no such thing as a T-status in the martial manuals!"
"Exactly," Arav chimed in, leaning forward. "It's a brand-new, unknown unique category. The teachers are still trying to figure it out."
Before they could discuss it further, the door opened and the Dorm Warden stepped in. "It's late, boys. Lights out. You have a grueling training session at 6:00 AM tomorrow. Sleep now."
The three of them climbed into their beds. As the room went dark, Shiv stared at the ceiling. His mind was a whirlwind of questions. What is this 'T' status? And why does my body feel like it's finally starting to wake up?