Child of Prophecy

Chapter 3

Since that day six months ago—the day Aksh’s hair and eyes transformed—the household had changed. Rajit no longer dared to touch him or anyone in his presence. But whenever Aksh wasn’t around, he would still beat Reena. He avoided her face—still afraid that Aksh might find out—so Reena bore the bruises in silence.

Reena got up and smiled at Aksh. “You’re home early. Didn’t you go to hear Old Grandpa’s story?”

“The story was boring, so I came back early,” Aksh replied as they walked into the house.

Reena struck a match to light the lamp hanging from the ceiling. As she raised her hands, the bruises on her forearms became visible.

“Mother, did that bastard hit you again?”

She immediately lowered her hand and covered her forearm with her saree. “No, son, I got hurt while cooking,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, is that so,” Aksh replied, not pushing the matter. He already knew what his mother was trying to hide and didn’t press further, knowing it would only hurt her feelings.

“Mother, you should be careful while working. Don’t get hurt,” Tejasvi said, giving her a small hug and wrapping her arms around her knees.

“I understand, Tejasvi. I won’t get hurt again,” Reena replied, smiling and gently patting her head.

“Promise me,” Tejasvi said, holding her even tighter.

“Hua, promise?” Reena asked with a soft chuckle.

“Yes, promise me that you won’t get hurt again. Only then will I let you go,” Tejasvi insisted with teary eyes.

“Okay, I—” Before she could finish her sentence, there was a knock at the door.

Everyone stopped and looked toward the door. They never had visitors, and Rajit would never knock. This was the first time someone had ever knocked on their door.

Aksh got up and opened it.

There were three people standing outside. Two of them, positioned slightly behind, wore identical black coats and matching trousers. Their eyes were hidden behind black shades.

But the man in front was different.

He was tall—nearly seven feet—muscular, with short olive-green hair that reached his ears. He wore a loose-fitting T-shirt, half-pants, and… slippers. His clothes were simple, yet there wasn’t a single speck of dust on them. No one in the slums had clothes this clean.

He looked at Aksh scanning him.

“Aren’t you gonna invite me in?” he asked, smiling and folding his arms.

“Who are you?” Aksh asked in a firm voice.

“Let’s exchange our names inside, Aksh,” the man replied, glancing at the crowd gathering outside.

Aksh’s brows narrowed. He knows my name.

“What do you want? How do you know my name?” Aksh asked, his voice even firmer now.

“Hah, you’re a stubborn one. Fine,” the man said, slapping his forehead. “The name’s Dhruva. We came here to evaluate whether you’re an Awakener.”

There wasn’t a single person in Sapta Sindhu who hadn’t heard of Dhruva — the Killer Machine.

At just twenty-five, he had already achieved Five Stars in Tejas — a feat so rare that even seasoned warriors twice his age couldn’t dream of matching it. He was a generational prodigy.

In every war against the Divinity Reaper’s army over the past five years, Dhruva had always been the center of attention. His kill count had already crossed 100 in just five years of military service.

There were even rumors that he was the Child of Prophecy the world had been waiting for.

The crowd began murmuring among themselves.

“Did we hear that right? That’s Dhruva—the Killer Machine!” one man whispered, eyes wide.

“What would someone of his stature be doing here in the slums?” another replied, just as stunned.

“Haha, now you know who I am. Just bow at my feet and start licking my ass like everyone else does,” Dhruva grinned to himself, his thoughts filled with arrogance. He turned to Aksh.

“Huah, why isn’t this kid moved? Didn’t he hear me clearly?” He whispered to the two men beside him, “He definitely heard you loud and clear, sir.” They replied in unison.

Aksh stared back with a blank expression. “And what do I get by letting you evaluate me?”

A silence fell over the gathered villagers. Their eyes widened, and their mouths hung open. Who dared speak to Dhruva like that?

Dhruva stared at him, then quickly pulled himself together. He grinned again and shouted, “You want to know what you get? Fine. If you're really awakened… I’ll take you and your family to Trigarta.”

Another wave of gasps rippled through the crowd. Trigarta. The legendary city where the First Emperor Agnivardhana and the Sword God Divyajit had fought the army of Nihil for the first time. The city from where most of the world’s greatest heroes were awakened.

There was nothing to lose for Aksh. So he nodded, stepped aside, and let them in.

It was darker inside. The only source of light was a small lamp hanging from the ceiling. Reena stood near the kitchen, and little Tejasvi peeked from behind her, clutching her saree.

Dhruva didn’t waste a moment. “Let’s begin.”

He stepped forward, lifted Aksh’s ragged shirt, and placed his hand flat on his lower abdomen. Then he closed his eyes.

A soft green light began to radiate from his hand, spreading slowly across Aksh’s torso.

Reena’s eyes widened and she immediately took a step forward.

“Wait—what are you doing to him?!”

But before she could reach them, the two men in suits immediately appeared in front of her, blocking the way. One of them spoke in a formal tone. “Don’t worry, ma’am. We’re not here to hurt your son. This is only an evaluation. Nothing more.”

Reena stopped and looked towards Aksh, holding her trembling hands. A sudden thought bloomed inside her mind.

“What if… what if he truly is an Awakener? Maybe… just maybe, we could finally leave this hell. Maybe Tejasvi would be able to laugh, to play like the other children her age, and to have toys instead of scars.

 Maybe Aksh, her broken boy who had already forgotten his childhood and carried responsibilities far greater than his age, might be able to live comfortably.

 And maybe — just maybe — I wouldn’t have to endure this torture anymore. Maybe I could finally… breathe.”

It was the first time Reena had ever allowed herself a selfish wish — one where she wanted to not suffer anymore, one where she thought of herself as well, along with her children.

Dhruva opened his eyes and slowly pulled his hand away. The green light vanished from Aksh’s body. His brows furrowed as he looked at Aksh, then turned his gaze toward Reena.

“Did something happen on the day of Aksh’s transformation?” he asked with a serious expression.

Reena replied hesitantly, “At first… his eyes turned red. Then his hair. But after that, he suddenly collapsed and remained unconscious for the entire day.”

Dhruva clicked his tongue in disappointment. “Tch, I should’ve already guessed it.”

Reena asked, worried, “What happened?”

Dhruva replied, “Aksh did awaken his Tejas. But… his body wasn’t strong enough. The strain must have shattered his core during the awakening. He will never be able to use Tejas again.”

The words hit Reena like an explosion. She stood silent. The one selfish thought she dared to have shattered like glass. Maybe it was punishment from the gods for daring to think about herself. Tears unknowingly began to appear in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away. She didn’t want Aksh to see her like that and blame himself.

Dhruva stood up and stepped toward the door. “We were the idiots here, thinking someone from this filth actually managed to become an Awakener. Tch, we just wasted our time,” he muttered, already halfway out.