Scene 1: The Forest Road
The morning had slowly given way to late morning as the carriage continued along the road leading eastward from Pskov. The open countryside surrounding the fortress city had gradually disappeared behind them, replaced by increasingly dense woodland. Tall trees stood on either side of the road, their branches intertwining above the path and allowing only scattered shafts of sunlight to reach the ground.
The road itself remained wide enough for the carriage, but beyond it the forest seemed almost untouched. Moss covered the roots of ancient trees, while bushes and smaller plants grew thickly beneath the canopy. The distant mountains they had seen earlier were now partially concealed behind the woodland, their silhouettes occasionally appearing between gaps in the trees.
Inside the carriage, the conversation that had accompanied their journey from Pskov had gradually become quieter.
Varun, however, remained fascinated by everything outside.
He had spent much of the journey leaning toward the window, watching the unfamiliar landscape pass by. The rhythmic movement of the carriage, the occasional sound of the Grivorns pulling it forward, and the distant calls of unseen creatures had become strangely soothing.
Then something caught his attention.
Varun narrowed his eyes.
For a brief moment, between two enormous trees, he thought he saw a figure standing deep within the forest.
It was tall.
Far too tall to be an ordinary human.
A pair of enormous antlers rose above its head, while moss and vines seemed to cover parts of its body. Its form appeared almost intertwined with the trees themselves, as though the forest had taken a humanoid shape and was standing silently among the trunks.
Varun immediately turned away from the window.
"Hey, Avi."
Avi looked toward him.
"What?"
"I think I just saw something."
Yudhir glanced over. "Something?"
Varun pointed toward the window. "There. In the forest."
Avi moved closer and looked outside.
Nothing.
Only trees.
The figure was gone.
Varun frowned and looked again, pressing closer to the glass.
"That's strange. It was right there."
Yudhir leaned over to look as well, but there was nothing unusual to be seen. A thin layer of mist had begun drifting between the trees, making the distant portions of the forest increasingly difficult to distinguish.
"Probably just the mist," Yudhir said. "The light is changing as well."
Varun remained unconvinced.
"I know what I saw."
Ruslan glanced toward the window from his seat. "Perhaps one of the creatures living in these forests?"
"Maybe," Avi replied calmly. "We don't know enough about the wildlife around here."
Varun looked back outside, still trying to locate the strange figure.
Boris, who had been keeping an eye on the road from the front, heard their conversation and chuckled.
"Perhaps one of the Circle's children is trying to frighten travelers."
Varun turned toward him.
"Why would a child be standing in the middle of the forest looking like some giant tree monster?"
Boris laughed.
"Perhaps you have already discovered their sense of humor."
Varun rolled his eyes and turned back toward the window.
But before he could say anything else—
A small figure suddenly emerged from the forest.
"Look out!"
Boris reacted immediately.
He pulled sharply on the reins.
The three Grivorns let out startled cries as they were forced to change direction. Their powerful bodies shifted against the harnesses, claws scraping against the road as the carriage swerved away from the figure.
The sudden movement sent the carriage jolting violently.
Everyone inside was thrown forward.
Varun grabbed the side of the carriage while Yudhir braced himself against the seat. Ruslan and Andry were nearly thrown from their places, while Taras immediately steadied himself against the wooden frame.
The Grivorns continued neighing anxiously until Boris managed to bring them to a complete stop.
"What happened?" Taras asked.
Boris looked toward the road.
"A child."
He climbed down from the driver's position and hurried toward the figure.
"He appeared right in front of us."
The others quickly followed.
The child was lying on the road, breathing heavily.
His clothes immediately caught Ruslan's attention.
Ruslan's expression changed.
"I know those clothes."
Andry looked at his brother.
"From the Circle?"
Ruslan nodded slowly.
"They belong to one of the communities of the Three River Circle."
The boy looked extremely young. His clothing was torn and stained, while several injuries could be seen across his body. He appeared exhausted beyond the point of being able to stand properly.
Ruslan crouched beside him.
"Hey. Can you hear me?"
The boy's frightened eyes moved between the unfamiliar faces surrounding him.
He tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
Andry knelt beside his brother and gently supported the boy's other side.
"Easy. You're safe."
The child trembled.
His breathing became increasingly unsteady.
Ruslan tried again.
"What happened? Who hurt you?"
The boy's lips moved.
This time, a word escaped them.
"...Karachun."
Ruslan froze.
Andry stared at him.
"What did he say?"
The boy's eyes widened with terror.
"Karachun…"
And then his body went limp.
Ruslan and Andry caught him before he could fall completely to the ground.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
The word meant nothing to any of them.
But the fear in the child's voice had been unmistakable.
Whatever Karachun meant, it was clearly something terrible.
Avi suddenly looked around.
Something felt wrong.
The mist that had previously been drifting lightly between the trees was becoming noticeably thicker. It crawled across the road and between the trunks, slowly swallowing the distant forest.
Avi felt a faint chill against his skin.
He frowned.
The temperature had dropped.
Only slightly.
But enough for him to notice.
Varun rubbed his arms.
"Okay... is this one of your pranks, Avi?"
Avi looked at him in confusion.
"What?"
"The mist. The cold. The whole creepy forest thing." Varun glanced around nervously. "You aren't doing something, are you?"
"No."
Yudhir gave Varun an unimpressed look.
"Avi isn't the one who pulls pranks."
Varun stared at him.
Yudhir continued.
"That would be you."
"Hey!"
Despite the tension, the exchange briefly broke the silence.
Taras, however, remained focused on the unconscious child.
"We should get him inside the carriage."
Ruslan nodded immediately.
Andry carefully lifted the boy while Ruslan supported him from the other side.
"Let's move."
Boris looked toward the increasingly obscured forest.
"I agree. Everyone get inside."
He glanced toward the trees.
"Something about this place has changed."
Varun looked at him.
"What about you?"
"I'll stay outside and keep watch."
Boris took his position beside the carriage, keeping one hand near his weapon as he surveyed the road and the surrounding forest.
One by one, everyone climbed back inside.
Taras entered first, followed by Ruslan and Andry as they carefully placed the wounded child inside. Yudhir and Varun followed, still glancing nervously toward the mist.
Avi remained outside for a moment.
He turned toward the forest.
The mist had become thicker now.
The sunlight barely reached the deeper portions of the trees.
Avi's eyes slowly moved upward.
Something was hidden among the branches.
He stopped.
Two sharp, intelligent eyes gleamed from the gloom high above.
As the light shifted through the canopy, it revealed a slender yet muscular creature crouched low against the bark. Its body was covered in rich, chestnut-brown fur, and its razor-sharp claws dug silently into the wood.
The creature tilted its head.
It was watching them.
Studying them.
A distinctive cream-colored patch of fur spread across its throat, shaped almost like a crescent moon stitched against the darkness.
Avi's eyes narrowed.
He had never seen such a creature before.
But Ruslan had.
From inside the carriage, Ruslan happened to glance toward the window.
His eyes widened.
"That's a..."
He leaned closer.
"A Mystic Kuna."
Avi looked back toward him.
"A Mystic Kuna?"
Ruslan nodded slowly.
"Yes."
His expression became uneasy.
"They normally aren't that large."
The creature above them was noticeably bigger than the ones Ruslan had seen described before. Its muscular frame and predatory posture made it look considerably more ferocious than an ordinary Mystic Kuna.
It remained perfectly still.
Watching.
The forest around them had become strangely quiet.
And somewhere beyond the thickening mist, something unseen seemed to be moving.
Avi slowly looked toward the road ahead.
Then toward the trees.
The word spoken by the wounded child returned to his mind.
Karachun.
For the first time since leaving Pskov, Avi felt that their journey to Novgorod had truly entered unfamiliar territory.
Scene 2: An Icy Bond
The Mystic Kuna remained crouched upon the branch, its eyes fixed upon Avi.
For a moment, neither the creature nor Avi moved.
Then Avi felt something he had never been able to perceive before.
A strange energy was flowing from the creature.
It was cold.
Not merely the chill of the forest, but something deeper—a peculiar, icy force that seemed to move through the Kuna's body and spill faintly into the surrounding air.
Zhivava.
Avi's eyes narrowed.
Before coming to this world, neither he, Varun, nor Yudhir had possessed the ability to sense Zhivava. Their understanding of the energy had initially been limited to what they had encountered through others.
But everything had changed after their battle with Simargl during the memory trial.
When they had defeated him in the trial, Simargl had granted them something they had never realized they had received—a gift that allowed them to sense Zhivava.
At first, they had only been able to perceive traces of the energy around them, much like how they could sense Prana within one another or within things from their own world.
Yet now, after everything they had experienced, their senses had become considerably sharper.
The Zhivava surrounding the Mystic Kuna was no longer an indistinct presence.
Avi could actually feel it.
And strangely, it did not feel entirely unfamiliar.
It reminded him of Prana in some ways.
Different in nature, yet similar enough that his instincts could understand it.
He still had much to learn about this new energy, and he knew that properly utilizing it would require practice. But somehow, his body seemed to accept its presence naturally.
Perhaps that was another consequence of everything that had happened since they entered this world.
Their battle with Simargl had changed them.
Their senses had become sharper.
Their bodies responded faster.
And now they could perceive something that had once been completely invisible to them.
Avi continued watching the Mystic Kuna.
Then—
The creature suddenly moved.
Without the slightest warning, it launched itself from the branch.
Its claws extended as it descended directly toward Avi.
"Avi!"
Before anyone could react, Avi instinctively raised his hand.
A flash of pale blue light appeared in the air.
A small icy sword materialized within his grasp.
The weapon was far smaller than his usual great sword, but the technique itself was something he had learned during the battle when he had desperately tried to free Simargl from Moraena's clutches.
Back then, he had created the blade almost instinctively.
Now, he could reproduce it.
The Mystic Kuna struck.
Avi swung.
BOOM!
The impact sent the creature flying sideways.
The Kuna crashed onto the ground several meters away, rolling across the damp forest floor before coming to a stop.
Ruslan immediately looked toward Avi.
"Don't kill it!"
Avi glanced at him.
Ruslan quickly continued.
"If it belongs to the Circle's territory, killing it could cause problems. We don't know how important these creatures are to them."
Avi understood.
"Alright."
He lowered the icy blade slightly.
The Mystic Kuna struggled to rise.
Its movements were erratic, almost frantic.
Something was clearly wrong with it.
Avi tightened his grip.
Then, with a swift movement, he advanced.
The blade flashed.
He struck the creature carefully, avoiding a fatal blow.
The icy edge left a wound across its body.
At the same instant, frost spread outward from the wound.
The Mystic Kuna froze completely in place.
Avi lowered his sword.
Boris watched the entire exchange from his position beside the carriage.
He remained seated near the front, keeping the agitated Grivorns under control. The three creatures continued shifting restlessly, their breath visible in the increasingly cold air.
But Boris did not interfere.
He trusted Avi to handle the situation.
Avi approached the frozen Mystic Kuna.
He crouched beside it.
The strange Zhivava he had sensed earlier was still present.
Curiosity overcame caution.
Avi reached out and touched the creature.
The moment his hand made contact—
Something erupted from the wound.
A stream of icy Zhivava suddenly surged toward him.
Avi's eyes widened.
The energy moved like a living thing, twisting around his arm and attempting to force its way into his body.
For an instant, Avi felt the strange energy trying to overwhelm him.
Then something within him reacted.
He instinctively understood what to do.
Instead of resisting—
He absorbed it.
The icy Zhivava surged into his body.
Avi opened his mouth instinctively and drew the energy inward as though drinking from an invisible stream.
The entire mass of icy Zhivava disappeared into him.
Silence followed.
Everyone stared.
Varun's mouth hung open.
Yudhir looked completely stunned.
Ruslan couldn't even find the words to speak.
Even Boris turned his attention fully toward Avi.
"What... just happened?" Taras asked.
Avi himself looked down at his hands.
He could feel the Zhivava moving within him.
It was cold.
But it wasn't hurting him.
Yudhir was the first to recover.
"Wait."
He looked at Avi thoughtfully.
"Could you have absorbed it because it was the same element as your own power?"
Avi looked toward him.
Yudhir's mind was already working.
"If that's the case... then perhaps Varun could do the same with water-based Zhivava. And I might be able to absorb Zhivava associated with my own element."
He paused.
"Maybe the other four could do it too."
Varun's expression changed from shock to excitement.
"So you're saying we might be able to absorb Zhivava from creatures connected to our own elements?"
"Perhaps," Yudhir replied. "We don't know enough yet to say for certain."
Avi remained silent.
He could still feel the strange energy inside him.
It had not disappeared.
It had become part of him.
Then something unexpected happened.
The frost covering the Mystic Kuna began to melt.
The creature slowly moved again.
It shook itself.
The wildness that had filled its eyes was gone.
The Mystic Kuna looked around in confusion before its gaze settled upon Avi.
Avi prepared himself for another attack.
Instead—
The creature approached him.
It climbed up his body and settled upon his shoulder.
Avi froze.
The Kuna wrapped its small forelimbs around his head and pressed itself against him.
Varun blinked.
"Uh..."
Yudhir stared.
"I don't think that's how wild animals normally react after being attacked."
The Mystic Kuna began making a soft, almost contented sound.
Avi carefully reached up and touched its fur.
The creature responded by rubbing its head against him.
Boris finally spoke.
"I have never encountered a Kuna before."
He glanced at the others.
"I'm guessing none of you have either."
Nobody disagreed.
Andry looked toward the forest.
His expression remained serious.
"If this is what we're encountering before even reaching the Circle's settlement..."
He glanced at his brother.
"Things are probably going to become much harder from here until we leave this forest."
Avi gently removed a strand of hair from the Kuna's claws.
The creature immediately grabbed another.
Avi sighed.
"Apparently it likes me."
Varun laughed.
"Looks more like it has already claimed you."
Avi gave him a tired look.
"That's not helping."
With the strange new companion comfortably perched upon him, Avi finally stepped back into the carriage.
But just as he crossed the entrance—
He heard something.
A faint voice.
Almost no louder than the rustling of leaves.
Avi stopped.
He turned toward the mist.
"Come to me..."
His expression hardened.
Then the whisper came again.
"...and release me."
Avi stared into the forest.
Nobody else reacted.
"Did you hear that?" he asked.
Varun looked at him.
"Hear what?"
Avi remained silent for a moment.
Yudhir shook his head.
"I didn't hear anything."
Neither had Ruslan, Andry, Taras, or Boris.
Avi looked once more toward the mist.
There was nothing there.
Only the forest.
Only the cold.
And that strange whisper that seemed to have come from somewhere deep within it.
Taras finally broke the silence.
"We should keep moving."
Boris nodded.
"There is a base camp maintained by the Circle further along the forest road. Travelers use it when crossing this route."
He looked toward the mist-covered road ahead.
"We should reach it before nightfall."
Taras agreed.
"We'll stay there tonight."
Boris returned to the front of the carriage and took hold of the reins.
The Grivorns were still agitated, but after some effort they settled enough for the journey to resume.
The carriage began moving again.
Boris kept his eyes fixed firmly on the road.
The mist continued to interfere with his vision, but he refused to leave the established path.
Inside, Taras examined the wounded child.
The boy looked no older than ten.
Ruslan stayed beside his father, helping him treat the injuries.
Andry explained the medicines to Yudhir as they worked, making sure they understood what each one was meant for.
Varun once again settled near the window.
His expression carried two emotions at once.
Caution.
And excitement.
The forest was frightening.
But it was also unlike anything he had ever seen.
He kept watching the trees, occasionally catching glimpses of strange creatures moving through the undergrowth or hearing distant calls from somewhere beyond the road.
Avi sat quietly.
The Mystic Kuna had made itself comfortable on his shoulder.
Every so often, it tugged at his hair, played with it, or shifted around until it found a more comfortable position.
Avi barely reacted anymore.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
He looked toward the mist beyond the window.
The wounded child's final word echoed in his mind.
Karachun.
Then he remembered the icy Zhivava.
And finally—
The whisper.
Come to me and release me.
Avi looked down at the strange creature resting against him.
Something had awakened in this forest.
And somehow, he had a feeling that their arrival was not a coincidence.
Scene 3: Sanctuary in the fog
By the time the carriage finally reached the travelers' base camp, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon.
Yet within the forest, it was difficult to tell.
The thick mist had grown heavier throughout the afternoon, spreading between the trees and hanging low over the road. The fading daylight barely penetrated the canopy. Only the faint orange glow filtering through the mist told them that evening had arrived.
Boris slowed the Grivorns as they entered the clearing.
"This is it," he said. "The Circle maintains this place for travelers crossing the forest road."
The three Grivorns gave tired sounds as they came to a stop. Their long journey had clearly taken its toll, and they lowered their heads, breathing heavily as Boris climbed down from the driver's seat.
Everyone began preparing for the night.
Andry and Ruslan took Avi and Varun toward the designated camping area while Yudhir stayed with Taras to look after the injured boy. Boris went to tend to the Grivorns, preparing their feed and making sure they were properly settled beside the carriage.
"First thing," Andry said, pointing toward a stack of prepared logs beside the camp.
"We need one of these."
Varun picked up one of the thicker logs and examined it.
"So this is how people here make their camps?"
Ruslan nodded.
"These logs are kept here by the Circle specifically for travelers. You're allowed to use them, provided you don't waste them."
Avi helped carry another log toward the center of the clearing.
Together, the four of them placed the first large log upright.
Andry steadied it while Ruslan adjusted its position.
Once it was secure, they brought out the canvas.
"Now we put this over it," Ruslan explained.
The canvas was considerably larger than ordinary travel cloth, and when they spread it over the central support, it gradually formed the shape of a broad conical hut. The edges were secured around the ground, creating enough room inside for everyone to sit and sleep.
Varun looked around the structure with growing interest.
"Not bad."
Ruslan smiled.
"There is something else you should know."
He pointed toward the canvas.
"Look closely."
Avi examined the material.
Faint patterns could be seen along its edges.
Runes.
"They're protection runes," Ruslan explained. "I placed them myself."
Varun looked impressed.
"You did?"
"With Ludmilla's help," Ruslan clarified. "She's much more experienced with runic-based Zhivava than I am. I only know enough to maintain and place the simpler protections."
Yudhir, who had returned briefly from checking on the boy, examined the markings.
"So these are meant to protect the camp?"
"Mostly from the dangers of the forest," Ruslan replied. "They're not invincible, but they'll provide us some protection during the night."
Once the canvas had been properly secured, the temporary shelter finally stood ready.
Everyone began moving inside.
The Grivorns remained outside near the carriage, resting after the long journey.
Inside, Andry and Ruslan began preparing the fire.
Rather than building an ordinary campfire, they arranged two or three thick, dry logs horizontally on top of one another. Wooden pegs were driven into the ground at their sides to keep the logs from rolling apart.
Ruslan pointed toward the arrangement.
"This is called a Nodya."
Andry adjusted one of the logs.
"It burns slowly, so it can keep the tent warm for most of the night without needing constant attention."
Once the fire was lit, a steady warmth gradually spread through the shelter.
The difference was immediate.
The cold that had followed them through the forest began retreating from the tent.
Yudhir and Varun went back outside and returned with the supplies from the carriage.
Medicine.
Food.
Blankets.
Cooking utensils.
Everything they would need for the night was gradually brought inside and arranged around the shelter.
Throughout all of this, Avi remained remarkably patient.
The Mystic Kuna had not left his shoulder.
Instead, it seemed to have decided that Avi's hair was its personal source of entertainment.
It tugged at strands of his hair, occasionally wrapped its tiny paws around them, and shifted around his shoulder whenever Avi moved.
Avi finally glanced sideways at it.
"You're enjoying this far too much."
The Kuna responded by pulling another strand.
Varun burst out laughing.
"It's definitely decided you're its new owner."
"I never agreed to that."
Yudhir smirked.
"You don't seem to have much say in the matter."
The group gradually settled into the shelter.
Taras continued tending to the wounded boy, while Ruslan and Andry assisted their father with preparing dinner.
The scent of food slowly began filling the tent.
Varun, meanwhile, looked entirely too pleased with himself.
He sat near the warmth of the Nodya fire, looking around at the canvas walls, the wooden supports, and the flickering firelight.
"This is actually pretty fun."
Yudhir looked at him.
"Fun?"
"Yeah. We're camping in the middle of an unfamiliar forest, surrounded by mysterious tribes, strange creatures, and probably things that want to kill us."
Yudhir stared at him.
"Those are the exact reasons normal people wouldn't call this fun."
Varun grinned.
"That's why normal people aren't us."
Yudhir shook his head.
"You're impossible."
Nearby, Boris sat outside near the carriage.
The Grivorns had finally calmed down after being fed, their earlier agitation replaced by exhaustion. Boris kept watch over them while also checking his Iron Gauntlets, inspecting their mechanisms, and making sure everything remained in proper condition after the day's journey.
Inside the tent, the fire continued to burn steadily.
For the first time since entering the forest, everyone had a moment to breathe.
Avi leaned back slightly while the Mystic Kuna continued playing with his hair.
Around him, the others were occupied with their own tasks.
Ruslan and Andry helped their father prepare dinner.
Yudhir continued teasing Varun.
Varun enjoyed the unfamiliar experience of camping.
Taras watched over the wounded child.
And outside, Boris remained vigilant beside the exhausted Grivorns.
Yet beyond the thin walls of their temporary shelter, the forest remained covered in mist.
The trees stood motionless.
The road had disappeared into the darkness.
And somewhere beyond the veil of fog, the Three River Circle watched over its territory.
Avi quietly looked toward the canvas wall.
He could still remember the whisper he had heard earlier.
Come to me... and release me.
His eyes narrowed.
Whatever had spoken those words was still somewhere in this forest.
And now, with night beginning to settle over the Three River Circle's territory, Avi couldn't help but wonder what they would encounter when morning came.