The morning sun spilled across the fields of Indravan like liquid gold.
Children's laughter rang through the village. Merchants bartered. Farmers worked the land. For the first time since arriving in this new world, Guhan felt something strange settle over his heart—
Peace.
He stayed.
Longer than he intended.
---
[Days Turn to Weeks]
He mended fences.
Hunted in the forest.
Healed a boy's broken arm after he fell from a tree.
No one asked about his past, and he never offered.
But they noticed the kindness in his hands. The strength in his silence. The way he stood tall when danger even sniffed at their gates.
To them, he became "the quiet warrior".
To one woman… he became something else.
---
[Her Name Was Elira]
She was the elf he had met by the river.
A healer, too.
Not with powers like his—but with herbs, oils, rituals passed down for generations.
Elira moved like wind through leaves—calm, steady, always listening.
At first, she simply brought him food.
Then stories.
Then questions.
> "Your eyes…" she said once, tilting her head. "They carry storms."
> Guhan replied, "I've seen many."
> "And yet... you don't let them fall."
She smiled. He didn't.
But the corner of his mouth curled—just a little.
---
[A Small Festival]
The village prepared for the Blooming Moon Festival, a day of peace honoring the goddess of nature.
Lanterns were hung.
Songs were practiced.
Elira wore ceremonial green silk and placed a white flower behind Guhan's ear as part of a ritual.
He looked confused.
She laughed.
> "It's for those we want to protect."
He froze.
Then gently placed a crimson feather in her hair.
> "For those we'll fight for," he said.
For the first time… Elira was the one left speechless.
---
[That Night – The Festival Begins]
Dancers spun near the fire.
Villagers drank and cheered.
Guhan stood at the edge of the square, watching it all in silence.
He felt… distant. Still not fully part of this world.
But then Elira stood beside him, holding two cups.
> "Even ghosts need to eat," she teased.
He took it.
> "I'm no ghost."
> "Good," she smiled, "because I'd rather fall in love with someone alive."
He blinked. Slowly.
But said nothing.
They drank under the moon.
---
[Far Away – A Shadow Watches]
On a nearby cliff, hidden in the forest, a pair of glowing eyes watched the celebration.
A tall figure, wrapped in black and gray armor, adjusted the longbow on his back.
Abhimanyu, the demon general of archery, stood still as death.
He watched Guhan.
> "So... the outcast lives."
He raised a crystal shard to his lips. A dark message pulsed into it.
> "Target found. Orders?"
A voice responded through the shard:
> "Test him. If he's weak—kill him.
If he's strong… tell Tharak."
The wind shifted.
The celebration below continued.
But dawn would not be peaceful.