At the top of the academy's main building, the Third Elder stood tall outside his office, looking down at the training grounds. He was a man in his sixties, but his stature still radiated strength. His long, graying hair was tied back in a loose knot, and his thick beard flowed down his chest. His eyes sharp, serious and watchful had a permanent crease in them, like he was always mildly irritated, as if the world never quite lived up to his expectations as if he had been wronged all his life.
"What's the commotion about?" he asked, his voice like cracked stone.
"The children are finally becoming youth" replied his subordinate with a respectful bow. The academy didn't supported rivalry between students openly but they were not against it too because it helped students grow, faster and better.
The old man grunted, not impressed on the surface, but deep inside, there was a flicker of amusement, maybe even pride. Because once he was just like them, to him it was just like yesterday but it had been more then 40 years.
The rivalry between him and the Second Elder was carved deep into the very foundations of the academy's history though very few truly understood how far back it went. They had grown up side by side as neighbors and became best friends. He could still vividly recall how small his friend had been in his early years so small and pale like a sheep, in fact he often became the target of bullies. He remembered the day he had enough and unable to watch anymore, he stood up for him and fought back against the bullies. They both got beaten, but a bond was forged that day. From that moment on, their bond grew stronger, evolving from strangers to friendship into brotherhood.
When they joined the academy as young trainees, their friendship shifted into a spirited rivalry. At first, it was healthy rivalry driven by shared dreams and the desire to achieve something no one else had, to win the Annual Competition. But in their first year, they both failed, suffering defeat and humiliation together. That loss, instead of breaking them, only fueled them with determination.
By the following year, they had climbed their way to the finals. This time, only one of them would win and he was the one who lost.
"HE LOST"
Determined to reclaim his pride, he tried to become a Hunter before his friend could, and again, he failed.
Then came love, Both of them fell for the same woman. And yet again… he lost.
The final blow was the Elder selection. He was chosen as the Third Elder and his dear old friend became Second Elder, one step higher then him always one step ahead.
He bore no grudge openly. But deep within, there was a silent war, still burning. And now, all his hopes rested on Aspen, his grandson, his legacy .Let him win what I couldn't. Let him stand taller than I ever did.
He turned towards the window, arms folded behind him, staring down at the field with fire in his eyes.
"Not again" Vayu said.
While the others sparred under the mountain , Vayu sat cross legged in a shaded corner of the training grounds, eyes closed, sweat slowly beading down his brow. But it wasn't rest, his battle was elsewhere.
In his mind, the same scene played over and over, that thing… the monster behind the boundary. Whenever he imagined it, he imagined something out of his league, a wild beast with bloodlust in its eyes ready to ponce on him, ready to tear him apart limb to limb. What can a 15 year old do in front of a beast, so he tried every technique he knew in his mind, he practiced harder then anyone in the last month but one month is nothing compared to a beast who spent all his life in wilderness.
He had fought it more then 50 times, maybe more. He'd tested every strike, every stance he knew daggers, bare hands, even hiding. Still, every time, the result was the same, whenever he fought it he felt a soul crushing blood lust and next second
HE DIED.
No warning, No footsteps, No rustle of leaves, Just darkness.
Sometimes it pierced his chest, other times his throat, but always faster than his eyes could follow. Sometimes he'd hear a whisper before it struck, other times nothing at all. He would react, move, attack but it didn't matter. It was like fighting the wind.
He opened his eyes in frustration and stared at his trembling hands.
"Why can't I kill it…?" he muttered under his breath, jaw clenched. "Where is it even attacking from?"
Vayu dug his fingers into the dirt beneath him. No matter how much he trained his body, his mind couldn't keep up, and he realized one thing he have to work harder, harder then everyone else, he had to find new ways.
If he couldn't see it how could he ever hope to kill it?
Nope, forget killing. At this point, Vayu wasn't even sure if he could land a single blow. And that was not even the most terrifying part. It wasn't real thing just a shadow in his mind but even then, it defeated him every time with ease. What would happen when he faced the real thing? he chill ran down in his body.
He was tired, his thoughts were a mess with failures and half-formed strategies. He had tried every technique he knew, played through countless scenarios.
Still he lost, a complete defeat. He let out a deep breathe and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Enough for today," he whispered to himself.
As the evening came the sky began to melt into soft hues of orange and violet, Vayu made his way home. He dropped his bag inside, still lost in thought, and sat at the dining table.
"Is the food ready?" he asked.
"You're back early," his mother replied with a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Yeah… I've got guard duty tonight," he said. Dinner was simple and warm, and after packing a flask of water, he slipped into his uniform and left again this time headed for the northern watch post, the one nearest to the boundary.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
His heart pounded like a drum inside his chest, it was calling him again that pull… calling him, drawing him in.
Without even realizing it, his legs began to move slow, measured steps toward the boundary. But this time, he wasn't trembling, he wasn't afraid, he was calm.
His breathing was calm, slow and deep breaths.
He crossed the boundary again.
But this time, he didn't run blindly into the trees. This time, he crouched low and slipped into the cover of a thick bush, masking his scent, silencing his breath, becoming one with the forest.
He waited.....
One minute…
Two minutes…
Five…
Ten minutes...
Stillness, nothing, but then he heard it.
A sound.
A faint but deep growl, a very angry growl, like it was telling him to leave its territory, but today he will not run. Vayu's body moved toward the source. He crawled forward slowly, bit by bit , his body tense but he kept moving without making any sound, and then he saw it.
A shape in the darkness. A wolf but unlike anything he had ever seen, its body was monstrous, as tall as a horse, its dark brown fur with pale longitudinal stripes . Muscles rippled beneath its frame with every subtle movement. As he had imagined how he will attack the moment he saw it but his body froze, he just stood there.
The beast's head slowly turned, its eyes locked with his, and in that instant he felt it, a pressure so immense it crushed every thought in his head. A wave of pure, primal bloodlust, suffocating him .
Before he could move before he could even think
Darkness.
Vayu collapsed.
Unconscious.