The golden light grew closer.
Slowly at first—
Then faster.
What had once looked like a distant glow now became clear.
They were not just lights.
They were butterflies.
Large.
Almost one foot in size.
Their wings shimmered with a deep blue color, while golden light flowed from their bodies like a soft aura.
They moved together.
Not scattered.
Not random.
A group.
A path.
A guide.
Suriya stood up instantly.
Her eyes fixed on them.
"That's them," she said quietly.
No one questioned her now.
Because everyone could see it.
This wasn't imagination.
This was real.
The butterflies flew closer—
Approaching the trees.
Approaching them.
The golden light spread wider as they neared.
And something unbelievable happened.
The moment the light touched the edge of the swarm—
The insects moved away.
Not slowly.
Not hesitantly.
They scattered.
As if they were afraid.
A ripple passed through the group.
"They're… avoiding it…"
"They're scared…"
Whispers spread among nearby people.
Some noticed.
Some didn't.
Some were too afraid to even look outside.
But Suriya's group—
Was already ready.
She turned slightly.
"Once they reach above us… we run."
Her voice was calm.
But firm.
"No stopping."
"No turning back."
"If we step out of the light… we won't survive."
All ten nodded.
No hesitation.
No fear shown outwardly.
Only focus.
The butterflies moved directly above the trees.
Golden light spread like a moving shield.
Suriya didn't wait.
"Now."
And she ran.
Without looking back.
The ten boys followed instantly.
They crossed the invisible boundary of the trees—
And stepped into the open.
For a split second—
Everyone watching felt their hearts stop.
Because they expected the swarm to attack.
But it didn't.
The golden light surrounded them.
Covered them.
Protected them.
The insects avoided them completely.
They ran.
Fast.
Faster than they thought they could.
The cold air cut against their skin.
The ground shifted under their feet.
Snow.
Ice.
Uneven surfaces.
But none of it slowed them.
Because fear pushed them forward.
Because hope pulled them ahead.
Behind them—
Voices erupted.
"Look!"
"They're running!"
"Follow them!"
Some people tried to move.
But most hesitated.
Because stepping outside—
Still meant risking death.
And hesitation—
Cost time.
Time—
They didn't have.
Suriya didn't look back.
Her eyes remained fixed ahead.
The butterflies moved forward.
She followed.
Every step felt lighter.
Faster.
Stronger.
Then—
Something changed.
The ground beneath her feet no longer felt solid.
It felt… lighter.
She looked down briefly.
And her breath caught.
They weren't fully touching the ground anymore.
They were running—
Above it.
Not flying.
But not grounded either.
As if the golden light itself—
Was carrying them.
"Don't slow down!" Yuze shouted.
No one planned to.
The wind rushed past them.
The swarm surrounded them from all sides—
But never touched them.
The sound grew louder.
Closer.
More aggressive.
But still—
Held back.
By the light.
Time lost meaning.
Seconds felt longer.
Distance felt unclear.
All that mattered—
Was staying inside the light.
Then—
Ahead—
Something appeared.
A dark opening in the mountain.
A cave.
Its entrance shimmered faintly.
A blue barrier.
Exactly as Suriya had seen.
Her heartbeat increased.
"That's it!" she shouted.
"Run!"
They pushed forward.
The butterflies moved faster.
And so did they.
The cave grew closer.
Closer—
Closer—
The sound of the swarm intensified behind them.
As if trying one last time to reach them.
The pressure increased.
The air felt heavier.
Danger—
Right behind them.
Then—
They reached it.
Suriya didn't slow down.
She stepped directly into the blue barrier.
No resistance.
No pain.
No force pushing her back.
She passed through it—
As if it wasn't even there.
One by one—
All eleven followed.
The moment they crossed—
Everything changed.
The sound—
Stopped.
Completely.
The pressure—
Gone.
The darkness—
Disappeared.
Silence.
Deep.
Absolute.
They stumbled forward a few steps—
Then stopped.
Breathing heavily.
Their bodies still reacting to what they had just escaped.
Slowly—
They looked up.
And froze.
There was no cave.
No walls.
No ground.
No sky.
Only—
Golden Lotus flowers.
Countless.
Endless.
Floating in every direction.
Different sizes.
Some as small as a foot.
Some so large they couldn't measure them.
All glowing.
All alive.
Golden light filled the entire space.
Soft.
Warm.
Calm.
It didn't hurt the eyes.
It didn't overwhelm.
It embraced.
The butterflies—
Were gone.
Completely.
As if they had never existed.
The entrance—
Also gone.
No way back.
No visible path.
Only this space.
This world.
This unknown place.
Suriya slowly turned.
The others stood behind her.
Silent.
No one spoke.
Because no one knew what to say.
They had escaped death.
But where had they come?
What was this place?
A safe place?
Or something else?
Their breathing slowly calmed.
Their bodies relaxed slightly.
But their minds—
Remained alert.
Then—
A voice spoke.
Calm.
Young.
Gentle.
Yet—
Carrying something deeper.
Something ancient.
"I called only you…"
The voice echoed through the space.
Not from one direction.
But from everywhere.
Suriya's body went still.
"…Why did you bring the other ten?"
Silence followed.
No one answered.
Because no one knew—
Who it was.
What it was.
Or what it wanted.
But one thing was clear—
This place…
Was not random.
And whatever had brought them here—
Had been waiting.
For her.
The voice didn't speak again.
Silence filled the entire Golden Lotus field—
Not empty… but waiting.
As if every lotus… every petal…
Was waiting for her answer.
Suriya didn't know where to look.
Still, she spoke softly,
"Please… save us all."
The reply came immediately.
"I can only save you."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"No… save us all."
A brief pause.
"I don't mean I don't want to…" the voice said calmly.
"It's just… I can't."
The words made everything feel heavier.
No one spoke.
Then—
"I can save you… and your husband."
At that exact moment,
Suriya felt something warm on her hand.
She looked down—
A red thread…
Glowing softly on her left ring finger.
Her breath stilled.
"That is a marriage thread," the voice said gently.
"You may choose… or not."
Suriya stood there…
Silent.
Thinking.