DIVINE CHAMPIONS 4: THE SUN'S CHOICE

IT'S HIM!

Hold on. That was no dog. That was a wolf. It was normal wolf size, but its eyes glowed strikingly blue. As Ishaan tried to remember if he had seen wolfs in cities before, the beast spoke. Actually spoke. "So, you are the Sun's champion?" It asked.

"Oh my goodness!" Ishaan cried, "Popped tires, bad test, racial slurs, flame throwing hand, and now a talking wolf? Why doesn't this day end?"

"You are him." The wolf said, "Or you would have seen me as a dog."

"Look, man. I am having a really bad day. I literally am super super confused. So, just, out of my way, whatever you are."

"That is the thing, kid. You still have no idea of what you are. This is the best time to kill you."

Now, in the nineteen years of his life, Ishaan had never been told this. And it was as if everything he hadn't witnessed in these nineteen years, he was witnessing now. The wolf snarled, and was about to attack, when suddenly, the sky got darker with clouds. A little lightning flashed in the sky. Well, that was fast. The clear winter evening sky had suddenly turned stormy. Was that possible? After the day he had witnessed, it might even be.

The wolf started to run at him, as Ishaan prepared for his death, completely forgetting his powers, when the beast was abruptly stopped, as a lightning bolt flashed and struck the road, right in between Ishaan and the beast, making Ishaan take a few steps back, and collapse on the floor. "Stay away from him." A male voice said from behind, "Skoll, is it?"

"And who are you?" the wolf asked.

Ishaan turned, and what he saw suddenly filled his heart with hope, and also with shock. The air shimmered as he turned, revealing a man...flying? Why not? So far, he had seen fire coming out of his own hands, a talking wolf, and a fine clear evening turn stormy in a second. Why could this not be true?

However, the man who was flying, or rather, floating, matched the description of someone so important to the whole city. His hands sparked with lightning. He wore a black keikogi. His face was covered by a mask, and his head, covered by a hood. His black eyes intent on the wolf he called Skoll. If Ishaan knew right, this was him. This was the great saviour of Pankhpur, the man who had not been seen since the death of the Drug Lord. And he had arrived to save him? Was he important enough? And on top of that, the saviour was also supernatural! No wonder he was. Or else, how would he have brought down such a huge man, with so much power and authority, single-handedly?

The saviour came down, and stood beside him. "Do you have any powers?" He asked Ishaan.

"You are..." Ishaan couldn't speak in front of the man who he appreciated, respected so much. 

"Yes, I am." He nodded, "Please tell me if you have anything supernatural."

"I don't have a clue. I did throw some fire out of my hand."

"Fine, then just stay behind me." Then, he addressed to the wolf, "Stay back, Skoll."

If wolf smile was prominent enough to notice, surely that was the expression Skoll had on his face. No, snout. "Oh, kids, it is." he said, "You see, the divine wolf clan has chosen to stand by their brethren."

"Knowing that your own grandfather stands against it?" The saviour asked. Everything was going over Ishaan's head.

"Well, he can stay imprisoned all he wants." Skoll said, "We wolves want out."

"And walk straight into your doom? You know right that it is a fool's errand?"

"It's what the Norns say, divine champion." Skoll said, "They might even be wrong."

And so, he attacked. However, the saviour was too strong. He caught Skoll by the neck, and lightning appeared in his hands. The bolts electrocuted the wolf, and he turned to smoke and blew away. "Huh!" Ishaan was left dumbfounded. He pointed at where Skoll was before, and asked, "Is it dead?"

"Nope. This was just one of his projections. He is only to die at a certain known time."

Just then, the air got slower, and the sky darkened, and a thundering voice boomed around from somewhere, "I will see you again, humans. And when I do..." That was followed by a maniacal laughter.

"See?" The saviour said, "And the way he says it, it is worrying."

"I have a favour to ask." Ishaan said. His heart was beating fast, and his legs felt weak. Suddenly, the world he knew so well seemed like a stranger.

"What is it?" 

"What the hell is going on?"

He gave a very little laugh. Ishaan went on, "I have always wanted to meet you, and thank you for everything. But I didn't expect a situation like this. Will you please tell me what is going on? Who is Skoll? Who are you? Who is that woman who I met a week ago? Who am I now?"

"Woah, woah!" The saviour put his hands on Ishaan's shoulders, and said, "Easy there, junior. Your questions will be answered. You just need to get to the right place."

"Where?"

"Hey, look, someone is coming searching for you." He pointed behind him.

"Dada!" Ishaan turned to find Udi coming running towards him, but abruptly stop at the saviour's presence. "Hi!" She said, her eyes big. She turned to Ishaan, and asked, "Is it him?"

"It is."

"Dang, I feel like a celebrity." He said.

"Dada," Udi asked, "What is going on?"

"Your sister?" He asked. Ishaan only nodded. He replied, "Tell her what happened here. They are always safer if they know. I've learned that in my life. And yeah, when you are ready to hear things that might make you go crazier than now, pay the Sarkar mansion a visit." And saying so, he flew away. Udi's eyes exploded in shock. "He flew away!"

"I know."

"Dada, what happened here? What was with the fire? How are you dealing with this?"

"Let's go home." Ishaan said, calming down, knowing now that he would soon get his answers, "We have stuff to talk about. Are there any sliders left?"