[Arc 1] The Curiosity

Siddharth sat on the edge of the bleachers, hands tucked in his pockets, watching the bustling crowd around the school’s football field. Normally, he’d be anywhere else on Showcase Day, far from the noise and excitement that only reminded him of how out of place he felt. But this year was different. He hadn’t planned on coming, but his teacher, Miss Dhwani, had convinced his parents to let him attend this year’s Telekinetic Showcase. Now here he was, wondering if he’d made a mistake.

His classmates had talked about these rumours for weeks—that the academy was sending not just any fighters, but those who could control fire, water, maybe even lightning. Siddharth had shrugged it off as exaggerated gossip. Sure, he’d heard stories, whispers about elemental fighters who could bend nature itself, but he’d always dismissed them. He’d thought of it as nothing more than grandiose myth-making, something for the kids who didn’t know better.

The crowd hushed as the first academy fighter entered the field, a young man with a calm, detached expression. He stood motionless for a moment, just scanning the crowd, and Siddharth felt a pang of irritation, “Just as I thought—nothing special,” he muttered under his breath.

But then, the fighter raised a hand, and Siddharth’s eyes widened as he saw the air around the man’s fingertips shimmer, twisting and swirling. A moment later, a thin wisp of smoke appeared, gathering into a ball that sparked to life in a flash of red. Flames coiled around his hand, growing brighter and brighter until he flicked his wrist, sending the fire spiralling into a controlled vortex. Gasps filled the stands, and Siddharth felt his heart pound, could it really be true?

The fighter manipulated the flame effortlessly, as if he were controlling an extension of his own body. When he snapped his fingers, the fire dissipated into thin air, leaving nothing but the stunned silence of the crowd. Siddharth’s mind raced. All his life, he’d heard adults dismiss such stories as fiction, as abilities exaggerated to make the academy seem larger-than-life. But here it was, right in front of him.

Then a woman stepped forward, her posture upright and graceful, her gaze fierce and unwavering. She moved her hands through the air with practiced precision, and Siddharth thought he could see something gathering—a faint shimmer, like water lifting from the very air itself. Slowly, droplets began to coalesce around her, suspended in a perfect orb. The orb hovered as she willed it to float higher, refracting sunlight in sparkling hues across the field. With a delicate motion, she sent the droplets spinning into a gentle, misty arc over the crowd, a faint rainbow shimmering through the droplets. This isn’t just some trick, he thought, barely able to breathe.

He could feel something stirring inside him, a mixture of excitement and fear. It was as if a door he’d never imagined had just swung open. He thought back to his parents' warnings, to the adults who’d always said these powers were for the elite, for those born different. They said it was impossible, he thought, his gaze fixed on the fighters as they left the field. But if they can do it…

Miss Dhwani, who had been watching him closely, leaned over. “It’s quite something, isn’t it, Siddharth? They’ve trained their whole lives for this,” she said softly. “But remember, it takes courage and sacrifice. Powers like these aren’t for the faint of heart.”

Siddharth didn’t respond; he couldn’t tear his eyes from the empty field, his mind racing with possibilities he’d never allowed himself to consider. All his life, he’d been told that his future was ordinary, that the academy and its legends were beyond reach. But now he wasn’t so sure.

For the first time, he wondered: What if I could be one of them?

1.1

The rest of the showcase went on as expected — floating objects, a few light tricks with telekinetic forces, and the usual demonstrations that everyone seemed to enjoy. The crowd clapped and cheered, especially the younger kids, their eyes wide with excitement. To them, this was magic. But to Siddharth, it was all too basic — the same spectacle he had seen countless times before.

Siddharth noticed someone was watching him from behind but chose to ignore it.

He let out a quiet sigh, his gaze drifting across the field, watching the kids squeal over simple telekinetic feats. He could barely bring himself to care. His thoughts were elsewhere, far away from the cheering crowd and the flashy tricks.

Bored, Siddharth decided to slip away. The restroom was the perfect excuse. As he started walking towards the exit, his mind already focused on the solitude of the bathroom, a voice called out from behind him, “Siddharth!”

He paused, a frown tugging at his face. He turned around. Standing there was Aradhya, one of his classmates. She looked hesitant, her face flushed a little, but her eyes were clear and determined. He recognized her, though they didn’t exactly talk much.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” she asked, her voice surprisingly soft.

“Yeah?”, feeling a bit surprised.

She took a quick breath, steadying herself. “I, uh… I wanted to tell you something.” She paused, her cheeks a little pink. “I love you, Siddharth,”

“What?” Siddharth looked at her with a bit of surprise, trying to decipher her reasoning. “Tell me what our age is,” he asked.

“It’s 10!” she answered, her voice carrying a hint of pride, as though she expected this was a question she had gotten right.

“Exactly! We don’t even know what love is, I don’t think either of us really gets what all that means yet, it is just an attraction which will eventually fade, don’t fall for it,”

“Eh?” she looked at him with confusion.

“Was it too complicated? Forget it, just know that this isn’t any age for relationship and I reject your proposal, sorry if it made you feel bad,”

“Uhh no! It’s ok! But…” before she could complete.

“Just go back I am not interested in this kind of stuff, bye!”

“Oh… Ok,”

As he made his way back from the restroom, Siddharth’s mind drifted back to what had just happened. That was… strange. I didn’t even know someone could like me, he thought, a faint hint of confusion crossing his face. I barely even talk. He sat back in his seat with a quiet sigh, dismissing the thought as quickly as it had come.

Just a few hours later, almost evening, as the final applause faded and the showcase ended, Siddharth made his way through the dispersing crowd. Instead of heading straight home, he had one more stop in mind. His teacher, Miss Dhwani, was tidying up, gathering up her materials with her usual calm, focused expression.

Taking a steadying breath, he approached her. He’d never thought he’d actually be asking this question — it had been just a passing thought, an idea he’d pushed to the back of his mind. But now, after seeing the elemental users, he couldn’t stop feeling that maybe he wanted to try for something more.

“Miss Dhwani?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

She looked up, a gentle smile appearing. “Yes, Siddharth?”

His eyes were shining with curiosity, he looked at her and asked, “I was wondering… if I can participate in the academy admission test too,”

She looked at him with smile and replied with and encouraging nod, “Yes of course, the academy encourages anyone within age limit 5-35 years to try this admission test,” she said warmly. “But,” she added with a gentle firmness, “you’ll need to get your parents’ consent to fill out the application form,”

Siddharth’s hopeful expression dimmed a little. His parents were practical people, and he knew they would not allow him to take the academy admission test, seeing it as too risky. They valued stability and saw the academy as an uncertain path — one meant for the exceptionally talented, not for someone who was just… ordinary.

“Oh…” He felt a bit disappointed; his excitement was fading as reality settled in. Still, he managed a nod, though his gaze had turned distant.

Miss Dhwani noticed, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I know you’re hesitant, Siddharth. But sometimes, it’s worth asking, even if it feels like a long shot,”

He offered her a faint smile, finding a small spark of encouragement in her words. He’d try asking his parents — maybe, just maybe, they’d give him the chance.

As he sat alone on the park bench, Siddharth’s mind buzzed with questions, each one colliding with the next. Should I really ask them? Would they even agree? His parents always seemed so fixed in their ideas about what he should do and where he belonged. What if they don’t see it the way I do? What if they think I’m just wasting my time… or worse, theirs? He tapped his fingers on his knee, watching the shadows stretch across the ground as the sun sank lower, making everything feel uncertain. But then he remembered Miss Dhwani’s words — that he should at least try. Maybe she’s right… maybe they’ll listen. They always want the best for me, don’t they? A small flicker of hope rose, but he quickly squashed it, afraid to let himself get carried away. But if they don’t agree, then what? Will they stop me from even trying? What if they think I’m being foolish, dreaming of something so… different? He sighed, frustration and longing churning within him. But I want to take the test. I don’t know if I’ll be able to pass it or not but we never know until we try… right? He asked himself but the frustration continued to grow, “Arghhhh! It’s no use to think over and over again,” I’ll never know until I ask. Afterall, questions are asked in order to find the answers. I will ask them! Gradually, a quiet resolve settled within him. He frowned, still feeling a mix of determination and doubt, torn between his fear of rejection and his stubborn curiosity.

1.2

Siddharth stood at the doorway, his hand lingering on the doorknob, hesitating before entering. With a quiet sigh, he stepped inside. The familiar smell of dinner wafted from the kitchen, but it did little to ease the tightness in his chest. He washed his hands quickly, not wanting to delay the inevitable. As he sat at the dinner table, the clink of the utensils against the plates was louder than usual in the silence between them.

His mother looked up, a soft smile on her face. “How was your day, Siddharth?” she asked, her voice light, but her eyes searching, as if she already knew there was something more.

Siddharth hesitated; his mouth dry. How should I say this? How much should I tell them? But there was no turning back now. He cleared his throat. “Actually... I saw something today. Something that got me curious. I saw two Elemental telekinesis users at the telekinetic showcase,” He glanced at his parents, waiting for their reaction.

Both of their faces froze, the casual conversation halting. His father asked him with little curious tone, “Is it true? I thought they were just myths,”

Siddharth nodded, his excitement building now that he had started. “It’s true! They used fire and water in front of me, I saw it with my eyes. They say only academy is able to teach this, and I want to learn it. The test! I think I should take it,”

His words hung in the air for a moment as his parents exchanged looks. His mother sighed, setting her fork down with a soft clink. “Siddharth, you know how we feel about this kind of thing. That’s not something an ordinary child like you should be pursuing. It’s too risky. Too dangerous. We want you to focus on things that are more... achievable,” His father, quieter, nodded in agreement.

Siddharth’s heart dropped. He wanted to argue, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he stayed silent, feeling the weight of their words settle on him. The rest of the dinner passed in silence; the food tasteless in his mouth. After finishing the dinner, he finally went to bed, his thoughts were a whirlwind of doubt. Why did I even think they would understand?

But as he lay there in the dark, eyes staring at the ceiling, his mother and father were talking about him in the kitchen where he couldn’t hear their talks. They knew Siddharth’s curiosity wasn’t just a passing interest. He was sincere in his desire to learn, but they couldn’t bear the thought of him risking too much at his age.

“How long do you think you want him to stay away from test?” Father asked the mother.

“I don’t know… maybe, till he becomes strong enough to at least survive the test, I don’t want to lose him, he is our only child now,” she replied calmly.

Back in Siddharth’s room, the silence weighed heavily. He closed his eyes, trying to push aside the pang of disappointment. I have to prove them wrong; he thought. I will make them see I’m not just an ordinary child…