The New Life

The Chief nodded. "I'll check the records for any information about Yash. But before that, we need to focus on your assessment."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone firm yet measured.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions. Based on your answers, I'll decide whether you're ready to leave."

Then, after a brief pause, he asked,

"Are you ready to begin?"

Avasyu swallowed his nerves and nodded.

The Chief wasted no time.

"First question—how did you manage your time?"

Avasyu thought for a moment before responding.

"I didn't focus on managing time itself. Instead, I was occupied with improving myself. The only time I truly kept track of was between 6 PM and 6 AM. But even that wasn't very useful since midnight to 6 AM was my sleeping period."

The Chief smirked slightly at Avasyu's response.

"The clock wasn't there to measure time—it was a distraction. A test. It measured your mental strength and your capacity to think critically under pressure. And it seems you passed the first test."

Avasyu felt a small wave of relief.

The Chief moved on. "Next question—how did you improve your physical health?"

Avasyu answered, "I followed the instructions from the book. It guided me in both physical and mental improvement. I focused on exercises like push-ups, squats, and sit-ups."

"How many push-ups, squats, and sit-ups do you do now?" the Chief inquired.

"I do 150 push-ups, 200 sit-ups, and 300 squats," Avasyu replied.

The Chief's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Avasyu to reach such levels.

"So that's what the gray eyes are capable of?" he thought to himself.

"According to the golden eyes standard , Avasyu's strength is formidable now—enough to take on multiple opponents with ease. And to achieve such progress in just ten months?"

"This is a rare case."

The Chief, now both surprised and intrigued, leaned forward as he asked the final question. "Why did you not eat for seven days?"

Avasyu replied calmly,

"I don't know. I was entirely immersed in meditation. I felt hunger, but I didn't feel the need to eat. I got thirsty, but I didn't drink. Nothing felt more important than my meditation. In fact, I never even noticed when it was time for lunch or dinner."

The Chief's eyes widened slightly. He had expected something unusual from Avasyu—but not to this extent.

As the final question was answered, the Chief silently assessed him. He's stable. No signs of negativity. No confusion.

But one thought lingered in his mind— "He has gray eyes. He will need training… or protection. Otherwise, he might still be vulnerable to mind control."

"But looking at his growth, he has incredible potential. He could be an asset to our military. I need to keep him here."

And so, the Chief made his decision. He handed Avasyu the paper he had been signing earlier—a recommendation letter for a special high school in Bhubaneswar.

However, before attending, Avasyu needed to receive basic education. The Chief placed the letter on the table and looked at him.

"You've come far, Avasyu, but there's still more to learn. Before you can enroll, I suggest you take special classes for one year under the guidance of your assigned guard. He will not only protect you but also ensure you receive the education you need."

Avasyu stared at the letter, processing the Chief's words. A new path was unfolding before him.

After meeting with the Chief and receiving the recommendation letter, Avasyu reunited with his guard. The guard greeted him with a proud smile.

"Congratulations," he said. "You've been recommended to the best school in the city."

Avasyu felt a small sense of happiness, but there was still time before he would actually join the school. Right now, something else demanded his attention—his stomach growled in hunger.

Turning to the guard, he asked, "Can I eat now?"

The guard chuckled. "Of course, you can."

The guard then asked, "Do you want to eat where I usually go? Don't worry, it's on me."

Avasyu's eyes lit up with curiosity. His hunger was unbearable, and he wanted to eat as soon as possible.

The guard led him to a small shop with a single chef behind the counter. The shop had four red tables, all unoccupied, and its exterior was painted the same deep red. When Avasyu glanced up at the name board, he immediately understood the theme.

The name of the shop was "Ice Spice."

The guard gestured for Avasyu to sit at a table near the wall before heading over to place their order. A few minutes later, he returned, carrying two plates of steaming hot biryani.

Setting the plates down, the guard asked, "Do you like chicken?"

Avasyu nodded. "Yeah, it's nice."

The guard grinned. "Then you're going to love this. Come on, let's dig in."

The moment Avasyu took his first bite, an explosion of flavors hit his tongue. The biryani was rich, aromatic, and undeniably spicy. His mouth burned, his eyes watered, and his tongue felt like it was on fire. Yet, he couldn't stop eating—it was too delicious.

Meanwhile, the guard was calmly enjoying his meal, unfazed by the heat. Watching him, Avasyu wondered how anyone could eat something this spicy without flinching.

After finishing their plates, they left the shop and began walking back. The evening air helped cool Avasyu's burning mouth. As they walked, he turned to the guard and asked, "What am I supposed to do here for a whole year? And what exactly are you going to teach me?"

The guard said, "I will tell you tomorrow. You can rest today. From tomorrow onward, I will be both your teacher and your guard. I am not your personal guard, but I will protect you from any possible threats."

Avasyu then returned to his room and went to sleep. The guard, having finished his duty, also went to his room and rested.

The next day, Avasyu woke up and went through his usual morning routine. However, this morning, he felt dizzy.

He ignored it, assuming he was just tired. But today marked the beginning of his training with the guard, so excitement pushed his fatigue aside. He got ready and was about to open the door when a sudden wave of dizziness hit him, causing him to bump into it. Instinctively, he muttered, "Ouch." But—nothing. No pain at all.

That's when reality struck him. Or rather, confusion did.

Was this real? To confirm, he pulled the rubber band around his wrist and let it snap against his vein.

It hit hard—but still, no pain. He did it again and the result was the same again. No pain at all.

That's when he realised,This wasn't reality.

He was dreaming.

Again.