Ash still floated in the air.
The moment Aarya stepped outside the temple, he felt like he had entered an entirely different place — the air was colder, carrying a strange dampness that hadn't been there inside.
In front of him, an old path stretched across the ground, layered with soot.
Far ahead, only a black streak of forest stood — filled with silence.
That was the Whispering Woods.
Aarya asked softly, "Is this what you were talking about?"
Feran's voice echoed in his mind, still deep and steady:
"Yes. Your first Trial Zone.
A hunt of water… and spirit."
Aarya looked at the Granthnishaan on his chest.
It pulsed slowly, as if being drawn toward the forest.
His heartbeat grew faster, and with each step, a strange heaviness settled in his chest.
Feran moved ahead, his large paws disturbing the ash, his silver-shining fur glowing sharply in the dark night.
As they neared the forest, the air shifted.
It was cold and damp before — but now… it was something else.
Aarya noticed it first — a faint hiss, almost like whispers in the air.
Words weren't clear… only soft murmurs.
"Did you hear that?" Aarya asked quietly.
Feran responded without turning:
"That's why it's called Whispering Woods.
These whispers… are leftover spirits of old hunters.
Their only goal is to break you."
Aarya felt his throat dry up.
His steps slowed, but Feran didn't stop — he walked straight into the jungle.
The moment Aarya set foot into the woods, everything changed.
---
The jungle was dense — so thick that despite the darkness, faint green-blue lights glowed all around — from floating insects and strange droplets of water suspended in air.
Every tree looked twisted and ancient, their roots curling above the ground in unnatural shapes — as if they could walk and trap anything.
And then… the voices.
"…why did you return…"
"…your sin… you remember it, don't you…"
Aarya froze for a moment.
His breathing turned sharp, and that crying child flashed in his mind again.
"These… these voices… they know me?"
Feran looked back over his shoulder, his silver eyes now glowing brighter.
"They aren't your memories… but your sins carry a scent.
This forest can feel your hunt."
Aarya stayed silent.
His heart grew heavier, yet his feet kept moving forward on their own.
And then, for the first time —
he sensed something different.
Far ahead, between the trees, a small figure moved — the silhouette of a girl.
She was small, her body light, her clothing blending with the jungle's colors.
Her face wasn't clear, but a small glowing knife was in her hand.
She stood quietly behind a tree, her eyes fixed directly on Aarya.
Aarya paused for a moment and stared at her.
"Feran… someone's there."
Feran turned his head slightly, sniffing the air.
"Yes. Human scent.
But she doesn't seem to be part of the trial.
Maybe… another hunter."
Aarya kept watching her.
She stared for a few seconds longer… then vanished —
Not like she was scared, but as if she meant to disappear.
Yet her presence still lingered.
"Should we follow her?" Aarya asked softly.
Feran stepped forward, voice cold:
"If she's here… she'll either help you…
or become your first enemy."
Aarya took a long breath.
His Granthnishaan throbbed quietly, and in the middle of this eerie forest,
the girl…
was the beginning of a new mystery.
—
Aarya glanced at Feran.
"You said she might help… or become an enemy.
So what do we do?"
Feran's large frame moved ahead through the moist soil.
His silver eyes scanned the shadows between trees.
"Your hunt is yours alone.
But remember… not every human is here to help you."
Aarya slowly stepped deeper into the forest.
With each step, the air grew colder…
and those whispers —
they grew louder:
"…you've returned… your blood…"
"…will you betray us again…?"
Aarya's chest pounded.
His Granthnishaan burned faintly now —
as if those voices knew his name.
And then—
a sharp noise echoed from between the trees.
CRACK!
A shadowy figure leapt out from behind a tree —
and landed right in front of Aarya.
It was the same girl.
---
Her frame was small, but her expression held the calm cold of a trained hunter.
Her clothes were blended with the jungle hues, and in her hand,
a small glowing dagger shimmered.
Half her face was hidden in the dark, but her eyes —
deep green, glowing faintly — locked directly onto Aarya.
"What are you doing here?" she asked quietly.
There was suspicion in her voice,
but no fear.
Aarya looked at her for a moment and replied,
"I… I don't remember.
All I know is I had to come here."
The girl's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't remember?
No one just 'comes' here.
This jungle… doesn't let people go.
You… are you Beastbound?"
Aarya was about to answer when Feran stepped in front of him.
The massive dire-wolf placed himself between the two,
his silver eyes now locked onto the girl.
She stared at Feran —
and for the first time, her face changed —
surprise.
"A dire-wolf… and soul-bound at that.
You… you are Beastbound."
Her voice now held less doubt — and more certainty.
Aarya asked gently, "And you? Who are you?"
The girl paused for a second, then said:
"I'm Riya.
And if you're here…
you're trapped in this trial too."
Aarya looked at Feran.
Feran said nothing,
but a telepathic voice rang in Aarya's mind:
"Don't trust her.
Not everyone is here to help you."
Aarya nodded slowly.
Riya glanced around, then spoke again, her tone calm:
"Did you feel it?
The forest… isn't quiet.
Something's wrong tonight."
Feran lowered his nose to the ground, sniffing deeply —
his body tensed like a predator.
And then —
a low growl rumbled through the distant jungle.
---
Riya quickly turned her head.
"That's… not one of the small beasts.
Something bigger."
Aarya asked softly,
"You know what it is?"
She looked at him,
a flicker of fear in her eyes —
but her voice remained calm.
"If you're here…
and your trial has begun…
then your first hunter is already coming.
The Levi-hound."
Aarya's heart skipped a beat.
"Levi… what?"
Riya sighed quietly.
"A hunt of water… and shadow.
A beast that cries…
but kills when it does.
If it's in the jungle with you…
then you only have two choices —
feel its pain…
or die."
Feran spoke in Aarya's mind:
"We don't have time.
It's coming."
And then —
the ground started shaking.
From afar, beneath the soil,
came the sound of heavy steps.
Streams of jungle water trembled with every vibration.
Aarya looked at Riya.
"Are you… coming with us?"
Riya stayed silent for a moment,
then said:
"I'm not here to help you.
I'm just here to see…
if you survive."
And then —
a large pit opened in the ground.
Water gushed into it.
From its center,
a massive claw emerged —
glowing blue, wrapped in shadow.
The Levi-hound had arrived.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…