Chapter 3: The Stirring
[7:13 AM | Aryan’s Bedroom]
Aryan (ML)
(Sits up groggily)
Ugh. My head…
Did I cry myself to sleep again?
inner voice
Not just sleep.
You were drifting closer to what you are.
Aryan (ML)
(Still drowsy)
What…?
[He looks around. Something’s different.]
Aryan (ML)
Where’s the noise?
Where’s Ma yelling for breakfast?
[He walks out of the room. No sounds. No movement. No smell of food.]
[The house is empty. On the dining table, a folded piece of paper.]
[Note - Left by Dr. Arvind & Meera]
"Aryan,
We’re sorry we couldn’t be here when you woke up.
It’s time.
You’ll feel things you don’t understand yet, but you’re strong.
Stay calm. Stay grounded.
Trust yourself.
We love you, always.
Mom & Dad"
Aryan (ML)
So they really left.
Guess none of last night was a dream…
inner voice
It never was.
Your blood remembers.
And today, your body starts to catch up.
[8:52 AM | College Campus]
rohit (Classmate)
Yo Aryan, you alright man? You look... different.
Aryan (ML)
Just... didn’t sleep well.
inner voice
They feel the shift.
Even if they don’t know why.
Aryan (ML)
My chest feels tight.
Skin’s itching.
And the sunlight—it’s burning my eyes?
rohit (Classmate)
You’re sweating, dude. You sure you’re not sick?
Aryan (ML)
I’ll be fine.
(Forces a smile and walks to class)
Aryan (ML)
The sound of the clock is so loud.
Even pens scribbling on paper—it’s like a storm in my ears.
inner voice
Your hearing sharpens.
Your vision strengthens.
The beast inside… stretches.
Aryan (ML)
What’s happening to me?
[He clenches his fists under the table. His nails have grown, pointed. Almost claw-like.]
[His breath catches. The world around him feels slower, every detail too sharp.]
Aryan (ML)
(whispers to himself)
What’s wrong with my eyes?
They’re glowing… yellow?
Is this real?
inner voice
This is only the beginning.
You are awakening.
Aryan (ML)
I don’t want this.
I didn’t ask for any of this.
inner voice
You didn’t ask to be born a king’s son either.
But you were.
[12:15 PM | Alone under a tree at college]
Aryan (ML)
(Thinking, typing in his notes app)
— I’m hearing everything
— My eyes are glowing
— Hands look different
— My parents left
— I don’t feel like myself anymore
Aryan (ML)
(Types)
I’m scared.
I don’t know what I’m becoming.
And I don’t know who I’ll be… when this ends.
[Sudden Vision | Brief flash in his mind]
A moonlit forest. A giant wolf howling into the sky. A silver crest glowing. A child standing in fire but untouched. Then — silence.
Aryan (ML)
(jerks awake from vision)
What was that?!
Is this part of it too?
inner voice
You are remembering fragments.
They will come more often now.
And more violently.
Aryan (ML)
How long do I have before it… takes over?
inner voice
Two nights.
And on the full moon… your old self will burn.
And the heir will rise.
[2:33 PM | Back in his room]
[Aryan sits on the edge of his bed, staring at the blank wall. The silence feels heavier now.]
Aryan (ML)
They left me.
They really left me alone with… this.
inner voice
No.
They left you with truth.
And space—to survive the storm.
Aryan (ML)
What if I hurt someone?
What if I hurt... myself?
[He looks down at his shaking hands. The glow in his eyes is faint now, but it’s there. Always there.]
inner voice
You will break.
And then...
You will become.
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