Far away, deep inside the Ruins, another Sigil faintly glowed—a new place, a new trial.
Aarya looked at the cold, blue light of the Sigil. His Granthnishaan throbbed in sync with that glow, as if it was calling out to him. His breath was growing heavier, but he kept walking.
Feran walked beside him, his large frame still covered in small shards of ice. His fur was wet with mist, yet his silver eyes remained sharp and alert. Riya followed behind them, her curved blade still in hand, and her expression more serious than before.
The cold air inside the Ruins was slowly changing. With every step, the shards of ice on the ground grew smaller, replaced by soil stained with deep crimson—as if the earth itself was breathing under layers of blood.
"Bloodthorn Valley…" Riya whispered, her tone laced with fear for the first time.
Aarya turned to her. "You know about this place?"
She answered directly, but her voice carried a strange weight. "This valley is alive, Aarya. The trees, the soil, the air… everything here senses you. Whatever is buried inside you—it'll pull it out."
Feran spoke telepathically, his voice sharper than before: "Every inch of your pain will be used against you. Bloodthorn exists only to break you."
Aarya felt his throat go dry. His Granthnishaan began glowing red—faster than ever, like it too feared the zone ahead.
—
As they stepped out of the Ruins, a new path revealed itself.
At first glance, it looked like a forest. But looking closer, every branch of every tree was covered in red thorns. The ground was littered with small crimson petals, fluttering gently in the air—as if they were alive.
A strange scent came from every petal. Sweet, yet dangerous.
Riya knelt and examined the soil. Small markings appeared on her hands, and she whispered, "These petals… they're under Lysara's control. If they're this active, it means she's awake."
Aarya tensed at the name. "Lysara?"
Riya looked at him, her green eyes softening a bit. "The Thorned Queen. Ruler of this zone. They say she was once human, but lost control over her beast and became a trial herself."
Feran's telepathic tone was cold: "If she's here… this isn't just your test. It's your judgment."
Aarya said nothing, but his Granthnishaan glowed brighter.
—
For a while, the three walked in silence. The trees grew thicker, and the air heavier.
Aarya's steps sank into the ground, and with every step, thin red threads curled around his feet—like they were sensing him.
Riya walked beside him. Her face calm, but her green eyes held rare sincerity. "Aarya… there's something I want to tell you."
He glanced at her. "What?"
She spoke softly. "Walking with you… it's a risk. I don't trust anyone during a trial. But you… twice now, even in pain, you've chosen not to kill, but to calm your beasts. You're different. And maybe… you'll survive this valley."
Aarya listened quietly and gave a small smile—a rare one, barely visible. "Thanks, Riya. That's the first time you've said something like that to me."
She gave him a faint smile too, then quickly turned serious again. "But remember… we can die at every step here. If you mess up, I won't be able to save you."
Feran's telepathic voice was softer this time, almost human: "Maybe, for the first time… someone placed their trust in you. Don't waste it."
Aarya simply nodded.
—
As they went deeper, the air grew heavier. The thorns on the trees were now massive, twitching with each heartbeat.
And then the ground began to tremble.
Riya quickly tightened her grip on her blade. "Something's coming. Now."
Feran growled, stepping in front of Aarya, his large body forming a shield. "This is the valley's first guardian. Get ready."
From beneath the ground, a massive red creature emerged. Its form resembled a half-horse, half-beast—its entire body woven from thorns and red threads, its eyes burning with a crimson glow.
It roared, sending petals flying into a storm.
Aarya inhaled sharply, his Granthnishaan glowing fiercely. "What is that?"
Riya looked at him, face serious. "Bloodthorn Sentinel. Just the first guardian. And this is only the beginning."
And the Sentinel lunged at them.
—
The red earth trembled, thorned branches sprouting from every footstep. Trees shook, and swirling crimson petals formed a vortex in the air.
Aarya stepped back. Feran had already leapt forward, colliding with the Sentinel. Thorn shards flew, and a metallic clang echoed—bone against bone.
Feran slashed at the beast's snarling mouth, but a bone-like mask absorbed the blow. The Sentinel whipped a long, thorned tail toward Feran's neck.
He dodged it, but his fur got scraped.
Riya darted to the side. A thorn lunged up from under her feet, but she sliced it mid-air with her blade. Her focus was sharp, though fear flickered in her eyes.
"This isn't a normal guardian. It's reacting to our moves. It's intelligent."
Aarya felt the burning inside his Granthnishaan. His chest pounded, but for once, he wasn't frozen.
"Then let's confuse it."
—
Aarya moved around a tree, trying to flank the Sentinel. The beast sensed him immediately and lashed out with a thorn tail.
Aarya instinctively raised his hand to block—and a faint silvery shield burst from his Granthnishaan. Just for a second. But it shattered the thorn on impact.
He gasped. "What was that?"
Feran growled, "Granthi-reflex. Your body's syncing with your Granthnishaan. First time it's happening."
Riya noticed too, surprise flickering in her eyes. "That wasn't basic. You're unlocking your bond's core strength. Feran… his beast is protecting him, even without being summoned."
Feran stared at the Sentinel. "This beast is scanning our weaknesses. Delay it. Aarya—repeat that instinct."
—
The Sentinel began moving faster. Not just thorns now—red energy strings burst from its body, as if roots of the earth were under its control.
Feran leapt high, landing on its back. He bit into the neck joint, releasing a puff of red smoke.
"He's hurting it!" Aarya shouted.
Riya seized the moment and slashed in a spiral at its back. Thorns scattered as her blade struck deep. The beast screamed—a horrifying mix of metal and agony.
But the Sentinel whipped its thorned tails and summoned three more roots from the ground—separating Feran, Aarya, and Riya.
—
Aarya was alone now. Another root spike rushed toward him.
He tried to block—but this time, his Granthnishaan flared—silver and red together.
Not a shield—this time, a claw emerged.
A silver aura claw merged with his hand—like Feran's paw temporarily lent to him.
Aarya slashed the thorned spike apart in one blow.
"I'm… using a part of Feran's power?"
His voice echoed in Feran's mind. "The trial approved you. Your bond is evolving. But it's unstable. Use it wisely."
Riya, from afar, shouted, "Aarya! Now! Hit its core—right at the center spine!"
Aarya took a deep breath. The Sentinel turned again, its eyes flashing with red lightning.
He leapt. One final jump.
Feran's silver claw still in hand.
"REMEMBER ME," Aarya screamed—not knowing for whom.
And he struck the core.
The claw pierced. Blood sprayed. The Sentinel gave a final cry—and exploded into a storm of crimson petals.
—
The Bloodthorn Sentinel's body collapsed. Thorns turned to smoke. The petals fluttered gently now, no longer wild.
Riya walked to him slowly. Her breathing was heavy, but her eyes held something new.
"You didn't just survive. You shattered the first guardian of this zone. This wasn't just your trial… it was Feran's too."
Aarya said nothing for a moment. His hand trembled, the silver claw slowly dissolving.
He whispered only one line: "Every trial breaks something inside me. But still… I don't fall."
Feran stepped beside him. "That's why you're alive. You're no longer just Beastbound… you're chosen."
—
But as the three moved toward the next gate of the valley… high above in the trees, hidden in the shadows, a man watched.
A burned coat. Half-scorched face. A corrupted Granthnishaan, leaking black essence. And eyes that knew too much.
"So this is the boy… the one who survives with a shard. Interesting."
Kael Veyth was watching. And his smile… was that of a hunter.
TO BE CONTINUED