When the soft morning sunlight touched the rooftops of the village, turning them golden, Aarya opened his eyes. There was an unusual peace in the air outside. No fights, no threat of beasts. Only the laughter of children, the smoke from cooking fires, and the gentle rustle of trees.
Aarya opened the hut's door, and for the first time, his feet stood on the ground without fear. His heart, always ready for a new battle, felt lighter for the first time.
"Too quiet, isn't it?" Grace said, coming up beside him. She tightened her scarf, as if trying to hide something in that cold.
Aarya nodded slowly. "Yeah… and strange too. Like something's missing."
Village life was simple—children played in the dirt, women rolled rotis by hand, elders sat at the doorsteps soaking in the sun's warmth. For a moment, everything felt right.
A short distance away, Riya was weaving mats with some villagers. An elderly woman told her stories from generations past, and Riya smiled. For the first time, her face looked so light—no weight of a blade, no fear of a zone.
"Do you think this is her village?" Grace asked.
Aarya glanced at Riya. "Maybe. Every step she takes shows a flicker of an old memory."
Riya looked over at them from afar, then called out, "You two, come here. Today we'll meet Elder Varin. Maybe we'll learn something new."
---
The three of them stepped into an old, round stone building at the village's edge. Red vines and small bells hung outside—each producing a soothing chime.
Inside, a weak but calm voice said, "You three have come. Come in."
Elder Varin was a man with a long beard, wrapped in loose robes. In his eyes was a glimmer of light fighting the darkness. His Granthnishaan lay beside him, in the form of an old, dust-covered book.
Riya stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "I've come back."
Varin smiled and placed a hand on her head. "I knew you'd return someday."
Grace looked surprised. "So, Riya… you're from here?"
Riya smiled faintly. "I was. But now, it's just a journey."
Aarya asked, "Elder, has anything strange happened here? Riya said she felt something around the village."
The Elder stared at him. "Beasts no longer come near. But at night, voices come from the forest. Some village children say they dream… of a shadow with red eyes calling to them."
Grace glanced at Aarya. "Could be a signal for another trial?"
Aarya nodded. "Maybe. But for now, these people are safe."
Elder Varin took a deep breath. "Stay for a few days. You all look tired. The village is open to you."
---
In the hours that followed, the three scattered to different places—for the first time, without any purpose.
Riya sat with a little girl named Meera, shaping toys from clay. Meera's mother had died in a fight, and Riya quietly protected her, as if seeing her own past in the child.
Grace trained a group of teens—teaching them basic blade moves. Among them was a boy named Nerin, who stood out—his eyes full of dreams, his hands driven by a hunger for strength.
Aarya sat beside a small river, where some villagers were bringing firewood. An elder asked him to sit, and for the first time, Aarya rested his hands on his knees without a sword in them.
"Battles aren't always fought with swords," the elder said. "Sometimes, choosing not to fight is also a victory."
Aarya looked at him. "How will I know that?"
The elder smiled. "When you change someone's life without lifting a weapon, then you'll know you've won."
---
Evening began to fall. Lamps lit up around the village, and everyone gathered in a large courtyard. A small celebration was being held—not for a victory, not for a hunt. Just because guests had come—different from them, yet connected to their hearts.
Meera held Aarya's hand. "When will you go?"
Aarya smiled slightly. "Not yet. We'll stay until morning."
The little girl tied a small red thread around his hand. "Keep this. It's the village's protection charm."
Grace said from the side, "Looks like Aarya's finally popular."
Riya smiled quietly. "And deserving, too."
That night, when the three sat by a small fire eating jungle fruits, no one spoke. Only the flicker of flames hiding their faces, and peace in their eyes.
Aarya looked at the fire. "Maybe we all needed some rest."
Riya said softly, "This village is not just a place—it's a home for memories. I can't forget it."
Grace, sitting a little aside, spoke just one line: "I like it here. But tomorrow, we'll have to leave."
---
That line of Grace's hung in the air for a while—cutting through the night's silence.
Riya looked at her in the firelight. "Are you ready to go back to fighting?"
Grace spread her hands near the fire. "I'm ready… but maybe I won't go back."
Aarya, a little confused, asked, "What do you mean?"
Grace looked at both of them. "I want to stay here. For some time. Maybe permanently."
Feran gave a telepathic growl—unusually soft:
"This village quiets the noise inside you. Your Granthnishaan is stable now."
Riya stayed silent for a while, then nodded. "It's your decision, Grace. I respect it."
Aarya took a deep breath. "Without you… it'll feel strange."
Grace smiled, but worry lingered in her eyes. "I'm not weak, Aarya. Just… for the first time, a place has made me feel like I belong. These children, their dreams… I want to protect them."
Riya placed a hand on her shoulder. "Then that will be your mission."
---
When the sun peeked through the trees the next morning, the courtyard was calm—but the air carried an emotional weight. Today, Aarya and Riya were to leave.
Grace decided to walk with them to the gate.
Elder Varin handed Riya a small pouch. "These are herbal seeds. The next trial might be in the forest. They could save your life."
Riya bowed respectfully. "Thank you."
Meera ran up to Aarya and tied a new red thread on his hand. "This one's even stronger. For you."
Aarya bent down to her. "You're very strong. It's for people like you that we fight."
At the last moment, Grace stepped in front of Aarya. "I'll miss you… come back if you ever need to."
Aarya looked into her eyes. "We'll come back. When you need us."
Feran said softly, "A team is only complete… when every member finds their own path."
Riya gave Grace one last look, then turned away. "Let's go."
Aarya took one last glance at the village—and then stepped onto the jungle path.
---
With their first step into the jungle, the air changed.
The leaves had turned a deep blue. The ground felt like it was covered in mossy pits. Riya tightened her blade at once. "This zone… feels different from before."
A growl of unease rose inside Feran. "Something is in its awakening stage. The beast signals aren't weak… but passive. As if waiting for something big."
Aarya touched his Granthnishaan—its temperature was normal, but there was a faint static-like sensation.
"Could this be… the Heart Zone?" Aarya asked.
Riya nodded with tension in her eyes. "Yes. In this trial, your inner emotions are used—guilt, love, trauma—everything turns into a beast."
Aarya said quietly, "Then this time… we'll be fighting ourselves."
---
The path had grown narrow and winding. A faint humming sound came from within the trees—like the forest was breathing.
"You ready?" Riya asked directly.
For the first time, Aarya replied without hesitation, "No… but I never was."
Riya smiled. "Good answer."
Feran growled, "There's a node ahead. Shard activity is most concentrated there. Be prepared."
The node was an old, vine-covered temple. From inside, a red glow shone—and within, a new symbol was blazing.
Riya took a slow breath. "This is the next Divine Trial. If this is the Heart Zone… then here, your greatest enemy will be yourself, Aarya."
Aarya gripped his Granthnishaan tightly.
"I'm ready. This time, I won't run from my past."
---
As they stepped inside the temple, a cold wind brushed past. And within, a figure appeared—a boy… looking exactly like Aarya.
But his eyes were completely dark red, and silver energy leaked from his hands—corrupted.
He smiled and said, "I'm what you suppressed. Your true form."
Riya readied her blade, but Feran stopped her. "This trial is personal. Only Aarya can fight."
Aarya stepped forward. "Then come. I want to see… what I'll become if I fall."
---
To be continue ...