The Awakening of the Garud

I was shocked, till a day back I was a normal school going child and today I am a general of an army that I had never even heard of. Pawan continued, "Atishay, you possess the essence of Vayuparna within you. He saw the potential in you, and that's why you were chosen as his successor. The wings, the powers you exhibited when you defended yourself against your uncle, it's all part of being a Garud."

I couldn't wrap my head around this revelation. General of an ancient army? It sounded surreal. Pranav, Prakash sir, and the mysterious old man, whose name I still didn't know, were all looking at me with a mix of expectation and support.

"What do I have to do?" I asked, my voice trembling. Pawan smiled, "First, you need to accept your destiny. You are not alone; you have the guidance of the Mystical Society. We are here to help you hone your abilities and fulfil the duty bestowed upon you." With a heavy heart, I nodded. "But I don't even know how to fight or lead an army."

Prakash sir stepped forward. "That's where I come in, Atishay. I'll be your mentor, training you in combat skills and guiding you on how to lead the Garuds. It won't be easy, but I have faith in you."

Days turned into weeks, and I began my training. The park, now transformed into a bustling town, echoed with the sounds of combat training and mystical chants. My wings, initially hard to control, became an extension of myself. I learned to summon them at will and discovered that they granted me incredible agility and speed.

The sunflower-like girl I had glimpsed on my first day, her name was Aayat, she became my partner. She was skilled, agile, and her laughter echoed through the training grounds. As we trained, she taught me the history of the Garuds and shared stories of valor and sacrifice.

Pranav, who had been my anchor in the real world, adjusted to this new reality with surprising ease. He discovered that he too had latent mystical abilities, although not as pronounced as mine. He became my confidante, offering support when the weight of my responsibilities threatened to crush me. One evening, Pawan took me to the heart of the mystical town, a place called the Hall of Prophecy. It was adorned with ancient symbols and paintings depicting battles between Garuds and demons. Pawan explained that the Hall held visions of the future, glimpses into the challenges that awaited me.

As I entered the Hall, a vision unfolded before my eyes. I saw myself leading the Garuds into a battle against a powerful opponent, a resurrected demon seeking revenge. The skies were ablaze with mystical energy as our wings clashed in a fierce aerial combat.

Pawan, seeing the intensity in my eyes, said, "This is your destiny, Atishay. Embrace it, for only you can prevent the soon to come darkness."