Rulers Rule

Chapter 1 : A Heart Without Powers

500 years ago, on a dark night, two glowing objects appeared in the sky at two different places. They were falling rapidly, and two people, at separate locations, saw them. When the objects finally fell to the ground, both individuals went to where they landed and found a shining object. As soon as they picked it up in their palms, the object bonded with them, and they received a strange surge of power and energy.

They believed this power to be a blessing from God and began using it to help others. The villagers started to see them as divine messengers sent by God. Some time later, when these individuals had children, their offspring also exhibited the same powers.

As the child grew, they created a kingdom of their own, and slowly, their name spread across the world. This marked the beginning of a society built around powers. In time, these powers spread throughout the world, but what was once considered a divine blessing became the cause of great suffering. The rulers with powers waged war against nations without them.

This was a war that brought so much pain to innocent, defenseless people that they lost the will to live. They watched as the bodies of their loved ones lay before them, and their cities burned to ashes. There was nothing left to live for.

Then, some people emerged who ended the ones waging war, right in the war itself. The people gave them a name – The Guardian Rulers. It's because of them that peace exists in the world today. Almost everyone in this world now has some form of power...[Pause] Except... for me.

[The Present Day: 21st February 2026]

It was winter. Snow was falling gently in the city. A bird, flying high, perched on the window of a room for a brief moment before flying off again. Inside the room, behind the window, a boy walked away, heading somewhere.

In another room, the boy tossed his t-shirt into a bucket and then walked into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, and warm water poured over him. One hand rested against the wall while the other remained still. Around his neck hung a pendant.

[Flashback]

A city was ablaze, fire spreading everywhere. In the distance, the sound of crying echoed. Not far away, a newborn baby lay under the rubble of a collapsed pillar, crying helplessly. Around the baby's neck was the same pendant.

"Aarav!"

"Aarav!"

"Yes, I'm coming!" 

After finishing his shower, he goes to the dining room for lunch.

In the room, his mother was washing dishes, and his elder sister was seated at the table, having lunch. Aarav sat down on a chair and noticed a poster lying on the table. He picked it up and said, "Huh, power school admissions open!"

His mother told him that his brother was applying to Power School because his powers were very strong, and he needed to go there to gain control over them. He himself had expressed the desire to attend. Aarav stared at the poster and said, "I wish I could go there too." Just then, his mother noticed him looking at the poster. His sister was also watching him, and then she stood up.

"Alright, Mom, I'm leaving; otherwise, I'll miss the train," she said.

"Be careful," Mom replied.

She hung her bag over her shoulder. "Yes," she said, and as she left, she deliberately looked at Aarav. "Aarav said bye to her, and she leaves by closing the door."

Aarav starts eating his lunch, and his mom finishes washing the dishes. She comes over and says, "Hurry up with your lunch; we also have to go to your parents teacher' meeting."