Chapter 2– The Dream Beyond Reality

The moment the familiar chime of the ice cream freezer echoed in the air, I knew I had made it. I wrapped space around me like a hoodie, using my Time Dock’s warp ability even in my normal form. The transition back to reality was smooth—like a secret only I knew.

I handed the butterscotch cone to my sister, who looked up from her notebook and beamed at me. That single, innocent smile was worth more than a thousand victories.
"Thanks, bhaiya!" she chirped, her eyes shining.

When I stepped inside, the living room TV was blaring with breaking news:

“Mysterious masked hero saves a local high school from destruction. Authorities still investigating…”

I sat beside them, keeping my face blank, calm. Inside, my heart thudded like a drum solo.
My mom turned to me, concern in her eyes.
“You weren’t hurt, were you?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head.
“You sure?”
“Just tired,” I replied. That wasn’t a lie.

After dinner, I showered, did the last bit of homework, and collapsed onto my bed.

That’s when it happened.

The dream.

One moment, I was drifting in sleep. The next—I was standing barefoot on glowing grass under a violet sky. A sage, cloaked in golden robes, stood before me.

“So, you’ve awakened.”
Before I could speak, my body was flung into training—brutal, endless, relentless.
Fusion magic.
Body reinforcement.
Mind discipline.
Every element drilled into my veins like lightning.

Days turned into weeks. Weeks into years. I ran mountains barefoot. Fought shadow beasts in molten caverns. Meditated under waterfalls of time energy.
Every failure became a lesson. Every pain became strength.

And then—

I woke up.

My room. Morning light. Birds chirping.
I gasped and sat up. My shirt clung to a body I didn’t recognize.
Toned muscles. Sharper senses. Energy pulsing beneath my skin.

“Time… what just happened to me?”

“That world was not a dream. It was a parallel reality designed to accelerate your growth. You lived two years there. But here, only hours passed.”
“You are evolving.”

I stared at my reflection, shocked. I couldn’t go to school like this.

“Do you have illusion magic?” I asked.

“Activating Identity Shell.”

In an instant, my body reverted to its familiar, lanky form—visibly weak, deceptively average.

Downstairs, while eating my breakfast, my dad squinted at me.
“You look sharper today. Did you do something?”
I nodded casually.
“Just warmed up a bit this morning.”

At school, the atmosphere was electric.
Posters of the “Crimson Flash Hero” were already taped to notice boards. Students whispered about elemental powers, fan theories, and class rep Deeksha’s emotional interview.

Meanwhile, others were ranting about RCB losing to MI in yesterday’s match.

Life had resumed… but I hadn’t.

As the afternoon sun dipped into golden hues, lunch break began. My body screamed for rest. I rested my head on the desk and drifted off into a light nap, fatigue pressing into my bones.

Until—
Tap. Tap.

Someone touched my shoulder.

I blinked. The classroom buzzed around me. But that tap—it wasn’t random.

I turned slowly.

There she stood.
Deeksha.

Her arms were crossed. Her expression unreadable.

“We need to talk,” she said.

My heart skipped a beat.

“You’re not as invisible as you think… Time Hero.” I  thought my self will my identity get exposed 

[To be continued…]