Sunlight dappled the dense foliage of Neel-Padmavan Forest, and the air vibrated with the murmurs of the trees. Through the undergrowth, three figures moved with quiet caution, their boots crunching softly on the moss-covered earth as they navigated gnarled trunks and rope-like vines.
"Zahir..." The tall, lean boy in front, clearly frustrated, turned back over his shoulder. "Do you even know where we're going?"
Zahir, trailing behind with a casual swagger and half-eaten fruit in hand, shrugged dramatically. "How would I know, Sunil? You're the one with the map! I'm here for the adventure, not to babysit your sense of direction." He grinned mischievously, brushing a dangling leaf from his spiky hair.
"Will you two stop bickering?" said the third boy, Ravin, his voice calm but firm. He adjusted the strap of the small satchel slung across his chest. "Don't forget why we're here. This mission is bigger than any of us."
Sunil sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah, yeah. I know. If Miss Olivia hadn't given us this task, we wouldn't even be walking through this forest." He cast a glance around, eyeing a tree with bark that seemed to shift like breathing skin.
Zahir's ears perked up. "Hey, did you know she's from Malaysia? I overheard someone who works with Boss Deva saying so."
Sunil raised an eyebrow. "Yes, she is. Deva's secretary. Smart, loyal, and definitely hiding more secret than she shows."
Zahir's grin twisted. "Tch. I don't like her."
Ravin narrowed his eyes. "And why not?"
Zahir lifted his hands dramatically as if delivering a royal decree. "Because — and hear me out — my sister would make the perfect assistant or secretary to our boss. She's faster, louder, and bossier. What more could a villain ask for?"
Sunil rolled his eyes. "Your sister's eleven."
Zahir shrugged lazily. "Wisdom isn't bound by age. Besides, she has more attitude than both of you combined."
Ravin stepped between them, his gaze scanning the dense tree ahead. "Enough with the jokes. Has anyone actually been to came here in this forest before?"
Zahir shook his head quickly. "No, first time for me."
Sunil lifted his hand, fingers brushing the hilt of the small blade at his waist. "I've been here. More than once." His voice lowered as the memories stirred. "Not just me — others too. We used to come here for our boss work... delivering things, retrieving things from the forest elves' territory. Always quick. Always quiet."
Zahir raised a brow, a crooked smile forming on his lips. "Oh, so you were the forest delivery boy? Dropping packages .
Instead of getting flustered, Sunil's eyes gleamed with a strange pride. "No, it wasn't like that. I want to do something big. Something legendary—like our boss, Deva."
Zahir chuckled, twirling a stick between his fingers. "Big dreams, huh?"
"I'm serious," Sunil said, his voice suddenly grave. "You weren't there, but I saw Deva once—back when I worked room service at that private hotel residence. I saw him step out of the main hall... his shirt torn, the wet cloth stained red, dripping with blood as if he'd bathed in it."
Zahir blinked, his grin faltering. "Wait... real blood?"
"Yes," Sunil nodded. "When I got curious and peeked inside I get really scared and shocked... there were many Interpol officers, all lying on the floor. No sound, no breath. And when I checked, they were all dead, with blood spread across the ground. Our boss walked out calmly, as if it were just another day. His level that we can't match. That's when I knew—I want to become someone like him."
"You're insane," Zahir muttered, but there was something like admiration in his tone.
Ravin, quiet until now, glanced at them both. "So why did you join this madness, Zahir?"
Zahir grinned again. "Simple. Money. I need it. A lot of it. And this job pays better than other types of job.
They turned to Ravin. He walked a few steps in silence before speaking. "I'm only here because my teacher ordered me to assist you with this task, ensuring everything goes smoothly."
Sunil said, "Oh yeah, I know your teacher sent you to make sure we're using his weapons right." Zahir, with a grin, said, "Hey, you're spot on. Even his teacher knows not to underestimate this boy.
Ravin possesses similar skills to his teacher, capable of crafting any type of weapon." Ravin replied, "That's not true. I'm not a professional. I'm still a student."
Sunil snapped his fingers and exclaimed a loud "Aha!" that echoed faintly through the trees.
Zahir raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. "What now? Did you see a squirrel with a sword?"
"No, idiot, I just remembered—I got a message earlier and forgot to check it." Sunil pulled out his device.
Zahir leaned closer, trying to peek. "Oh, a phone. What does it say?"
Sunil's eyes scanned the glowing text, and then he grinned. "We have the location. Finally. We need to head toward the Black Shadow Elf village."
Ravin's gaze sharpened. "That's Shadow Elf village territory. We'll need to be careful. It's fortunate we're near the village. Did the message specify who we're looking for?"
Sunil nodded. "Yes. There's a Centaur. Half human and half horse, he goes by the name Beni or something similar. He's not alone—he's traveling with some humans."
Zahir with attitude smile said " A Centaur... traveling with humans? In this forest? That's odd. They rarely stray from their herds."
Sunil shrugged. "I don't know about that. Either way, we have more to do now." His tone turned slightly more focused.
Ravin glanced at Zahir and then at Sunil. "Then we need to move quickly. If they've already entered the village, it will become more difficult for us. These elves do not trust easily."
Meanwhile in village hut , As Madhav's eyes fluttered open, the soft flicker of sunlight filtered through the leafy gaps in the hut's woven ceiling. He bolted upright with a sudden gasp, his voice cracking through the morning stillness.
"Mohit!"
The door flap rustled, and Mohit stepped in with a relieved smile. "Well, well, Madhav, you're finally awake. You gave us quite a scare."
Madhav rubbed his temples, confusion clouding his gaze. "Why am I here? The last thing I remember... I was fighting that elf—Ankur. What happened?"
Before Mohit could answer, more figures entered the hut. Meera was the first to rush to his side, worry etched across her face.
"Madhav, you're awake! Are you feeling better now?" she asked gently, resting a hand on his shoulder.
Madhav gave a weak nod. "Yes... I think so. My body feels as if it's been trampled by a mountain lion, but I'm alive. Where is Uncle Beni?"
Meera chuckled lightly. "He's outside. He said he wouldn't come in—he might accidentally break the hut with those hooves of his."
Madhav managed a faint smile, but his gaze shifted toward the others entering behind Meera—Ketaki, quiet and watchful, and Chief Arvell of the Shadow Elf village, his expression calm and composed.
"What happened during the fight?" Madhav asked, looking from one face to the next. "I blacked out… Did I—did I lose control?"
Ketaki stepped forward, her voice soft but steady. "You fainted during the fight. Exhaustion caught up to you. Ankur didn't land the final blow… You collapsed before it could happen."
The Chief Arvell nodded solemnly. "Rest easy, young one. You've shown courage. We of the Black Shadow Elf village do not punish the innocent. The sins of your great-grandfather are not yours to bear. We understand your feelings… and your heart."
Madhav's throat tightened as he asked, "So... you forgive me?"
There was a brief pause before the Chief spoke, his voice kind. "We do. Mohit then asked, softly, 'And Ankur? Does he forgive me?'"
The Chief continued, "Forgiveness is a path, not a moment. Ankur... he is still walking that path. Give him time. The wounds of the past are deep, but not beyond healing."
Madhav sank back against the bedding, overwhelmed by the relief and the strange warmth that filled the small hut. "Thank you... truly."
The Chief Arvell gave a small nod. "For now, rest. I have other work to do." And he left the hut.
The silence that followed was peaceful, but curiosity still lingered.
Mohit, ever the one to break tension, leaned closer and asked, "So... where did Ankur go? I haven't seen him anywhere in the village since the fight."
Ketaki glanced out the small window cut into the side of the hut, the breeze lifting strands of her dark hair. " He's probably gone somewhere, don't worry he will come back soon."
Madhav sighed, guilt tightening in his chest. "He's still angry with me... because of the White Lotus."
Ketaki looked back at him, her gaze calm but firm. "If the Chief believes in you and grants forgiveness, then Ankur will too—sooner or later."
Mohit, eager to lighten the mood, suddenly leaned forward with sparkling eyes. "Okay, okay—enough of the sad faces. I heard the White Lotus is some kind of magical, pure energy or something. Why is it so important to your people, anyway? I mean, it's just a flower, right?"
Ketaki turned to him, her tone growing reverent, almost melodic. "Not just a flower, Mohit. The White Lotus carries divine magic. Because of that White Lotus, we elves and other creatures living in this forest were created."
After listening to Ketaki's words, Madhav replied, "So, where is that magical Lotus? Where did your people find it?"
Ketaki continued, "It is the gift of life, a blessing from Goddess Aranyani herself."
She smiled faintly and began, "Long ago, our Goddess, Mata Aranyani, walked this very forest. She found that this forest is beautiful, yet lacking. The British, in their greed, had slaughtered many creatures, diminishing the vital essence of this place. She sought to restore balance. Thus, with her divine power, she created the White Lotus. From that Lotus, magical creatures were born, including our Black Shadow Elf tribe and the Forest Elf tribe. And for the safety of all, our goddess decreed: no normal human shall enter this forest."
Mohit replied, "Your Goddess Aranyani... I've seen her temple. It is indeed hers."
Ketaki responded, "Yes. Our Goddess protects this forest and its magical creatures. You saw a small temple of hers within our village, but the grand temple, where the White Lotus is kept, resides within the Forest Elf territory."
Meanwhile, Beneath the thick canopy, where golden rays of sunlight barely pierced the tangled leaves, the three figures concealed themselves behind a dense wall of underbrush and trees. Just beyond them, the winding roots gave way to a clearing where the outer gate of the Shadow Elf village stood tall—woven from living vines and branches.
Two elven soldiers stood at the entryway , wearing proper armor and holding spears. Their eyes, sharp and unblinking, scanned the borders like falcons watching prey.
Zahir whispered, barely moving his lips, "So... what now?"
Sunil exhaled slowly, a small grin curling the edge of his lips. "Now... we prepare." He held out his right palm, fingers splayed, and whispered a command under his breath as he activated his skill. "Open—Vault of the Hollow Wind."
A soft hum pulsed through the air as a translucent spiral appeared before him—an arcane ring swirling with soft blue and violet light. From this miniature dimensional rift, Sunil reached in and began pulling out a collection of curious items: a compact crossbow with mechanical runes carved along its limbs, throwing knives shaped like leaves but sharp as obsidian, and a pair of orbs glowing with a soft internal flicker—likely enchanted smoke bombs—and many other items.
Zahir said, "Thanks to you sunil, I don't have to worry about carrying any weapons or other items for now ."
Ravin then said, "Yes, you have a truly useful skill. If I had this skill, I could carry any type of item my teacher made. what you call it ?"
" Storage Space " Sunil replied, tapping the side of his head smugly.
Zahir leaned in, eyes wide. "Okay, cool. Listen, are we really planning to fight our way in? Those guards don't look like they'll be fooled by a knock-knock joke."
Sunil smirked and began strapping the gear to his belt. "Who said anything about fighting? The three of us will silently enter the village. We'll find the Centaur and those humans—and then we'll leave before they even know we were there."
Zahir said, "I don't like your idea. Silently going inside the village feels boring. Let's do some fighting and capture the person who is with the Centaur. If necessary, we'll capture the Centaur also."
Ravin, with excitement, said, "Okay, why not? We follow both plan's of your."
As Zahir and Sunil both agreed, they said, "Let'stry."