Cold dread settled in Krishna’s stomach. Anya’s fragile sleep, her soft whimpers in the night, echoed in his mind. The medical college fees loomed. He needed money, fast. Back in his cramped room, the textbooks felt heavier than usual. Tomorrow, exams began. His sister’s future depended on him clearing these, on him having the time and resources to secure her path. Flipping open the first physics chapter, Krishna activated the Primordial Tides System. "X-ray Vision," he commanded silently. The words on the page dissolved, revealing intricate diagrams, formulas, and concepts etched directly into his mind. He didn't just see them; he understood them, absorbed them. Moments later, he closed the book. Every detail was imprinted. He repeated the process for Chemistry, then Biology. It felt almost like cheating, but desperation pushed him. Anya deserved this. --- Pressure hung heavy in the examination hall. Pens scratched across paper, the air thick with nervous energy. Krishna moved through the questions with calm precision. The X-ray Vision had delivered. Every answer flowed, perfectly recalled. Exiting the hall, a wave of relief washed over him. He spotted Arjun, his best friend, leaning against a pillar, a casual smile gracing his handsome features. Rajesh, the college's star basketball player, joined them, his powerful build unmistakable even in the crowd. "Finished?" Arjun asked, stretching. "That physics paper was brutal." "You always say that," Rajesh chuckled, playfully punching Arjun’s arm. "But you always ace it." Krishna shrugged, a small smile touching his lips. "It was okay." He didn't elaborate on his new study method. Some secrets were better kept. "Celebration time?" Rajesh suggested, eyes gleaming. "My treat tonight, boys. Scored a bonus from the coach." Arjun clapped his hands. "Finally! I'm starving. That street food stall near the old market? The one with the amazing samosas?" "Lead the way," Krishna agreed, the thought of hot, spicy street food momentarily displacing his worries. He knew Rajesh's "treat" would still be simple, but the camaraderie was worth more than gold. Laughter and the sizzle of oil filled the evening air. They devoured samosas, chole bhature, and sweet jalebis, their conversations light and easy. For a few precious hours, Krishna allowed himself to forget the burden of his sister’s fees, the looming threat of the Shadowed Elders, and the cryptic messages from the System. He watched Arjun animatedly describing a new girl in their class, his eyes sparkling. Rajesh, ever the athlete, talked about strategy for the upcoming inter-college tournament. Krishna, usually reserved, found himself joining in, sharing a rare, genuine laugh. Later, as dusk deepened into night, they parted ways. Krishna walked the familiar route home, his earlier joy now tinged with the familiar weight of reality. The streetlights flickered, casting long, shifting shadows. A strangled cry pierced the quiet. Krishna’s head snapped up. Down a dimly lit alley, he saw it. A young woman, her back pressed against a grimy wall, struggling against two burly men. Her sari was torn, her hair disheveled. Fear painted her face. --- Rage, cold and swift, surged through Krishna. He didn’t hesitate. "Leave her alone!" he roared, his voice echoing with an unfamiliar authority. The men turned, surprised. One of them, a hulking figure with a crude tattoo on his arm, sneered. "Mind your own business, kid. This ain't got nothing to do with you." "It does now," Krishna growled, his hands clenching into fists. His Qi stirred, a nascent warmth spreading through his limbs. He wasn't strong enough yet for a full-blown fight, not against two seasoned thugs, but he had to try. Anya’s face flashed in his mind. He couldn’t stand by while someone else suffered. One thug lunged. Krishna dodged, a blur of movement. He aimed a swift kick at the man's knee, a move he’d seen in old action movies, refined by the System's innate combat knowledge. The man yelped, stumbling back. The other thug, holding the girl, released her to join the fray. "You're asking for trouble, boy!" He swung a heavy fist. Krishna ducked, the wind of the blow ruffling his hair. He countered with a jab to the solar plexus. The man wheezed. They were uncoordinated, relying on brute force. Krishna, despite his limited combat experience, was faster, more precise. He was using the basic martial arts he'd absorbed from the System, movements flowing instinctively. The girl, trembling, huddled against the wall, watching with wide, terrified eyes. Krishna landed another kick, this time to the second man's shin. The thug howled, hopping on one foot. "Get out of here!" Krishna commanded, his voice raw. "Now!" Seeing their advantage gone, and a surprising tenacity in the skinny student, the two men exchanged a frustrated glance. "This ain't over!" the tattooed one spat, before they scrambled away into the darkness. Krishna watched them go, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He turned to the girl. "Are you alright?" She slowly pushed herself off the wall, her eyes still wide with shock. Her sari was indeed torn, a bruise blooming on her cheek. "Y-yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Thank you. You... you saved me." He nodded, a sense of weary victory settling over him. "Go home. Be careful." He didn't press for details. He just wanted her safe. She nodded again, offering him a fleeting, grateful look before hurrying out of the alley. --- The encounter left Krishna shaken but resolved. He couldn't rely on luck. He needed real power, real resources. The thought of forging, of creating something valuable, returned with renewed urgency. But forging required materials, and materials cost money. He had none left. His hand went to his chest, where the silver locket rested beneath his shirt. His only family heirloom. The last tangible link to his parents, the only thing he had from them. Pawning it felt like tearing a piece of his soul away. But Anya… Anya’s future. It was a sacrifice he had to make. --- Dust motes danced in the single beam of light piercing the gloom of 'Gupta Ji's Gold & Goods.' The air hung thick with the scent of old metal and desperation. A wizened old man peered at Krishna over spectacles perched on his nose. "What do you have, boy?" Gupta Ji rasped, his eyes narrow and assessing. Krishna swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He pulled the silver locket from his neck. It was tarnished, its intricate carvings dulled by time and neglect, but to him, it held the weight of a thousand memories. The faint imprint of his mother’s touch, his father’s laugh. He placed it gently on the worn counter. "It's silver. Pure." Gupta Ji picked it up, weighing it in his palm, then held it to a magnifying glass. He grunted. "Old. Not much weight. Maybe fifty rupees." Krishna’s jaw tightened. Fifty rupees wouldn't even buy a decent meal. "It's an antique. Family heirloom." He tried to keep his voice steady, betraying none of the internal turmoil. "Heirloom don't pay the bills, boy. Fifty rupees. Take it or leave it." Gupta Ji set it down with a dismissive clatter. Krishna closed his eyes for a brief moment, picturing Anya's hopeful face, her dreams of becoming a doctor. This wasn't just metal; it was a piece of him. But she was more important. "One hundred," Krishna bargained, pushing past the ache in his chest. "For basic forging materials. I need to start somewhere." He hated the vulnerability in his voice. Gupta Ji scoffed, but a flicker of something, perhaps curiosity, crossed his face. "Forging? A young pup like you? Fine. Seventy-five. Not a paisa more." He reached under the counter for a crumpled wad of notes. The deal was done. Krishna felt a profound emptiness where the locket had been, replaced by a fierce, burning resolve. This seventy-five rupees was the first step. He would turn it into a fortune for Anya. While Gupta Ji counted out the notes, Krishna’s gaze drifted across the cluttered counter. His eyes snagged on a crumpled newspaper, its headlines screaming in bold Hindi. "Mysterious Energy Surge Near Amber Fort!" An amateur photo, grainy and slightly out of focus, accompanied the article. It showed the ancient fort, majestic even in the poor print quality, but from its depths, a shimmering, ethereal blue light pulsed, vibrant and otherworldly. It was unmistakable. This was it. The source of the Qi awakening. His destination. But the intensity of the light, the hushed tone of the article hinting at unexplained phenomena, whispered of dangers far beyond anything he could imagine.

Chapter 8: Desperate Measures