Chapter 3: The First Step into the Unknown

Morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering gold across the village rooftops. Birds chirped as usual, cows mooed near the temple, and the smell of idly batter floated gently through the air. But for Krish, everything felt… quieter.

He stood at the edge of his home, backpack in hand, eyes on the forest line beyond the fields.

How could he leave this place?

How could he leave her?

He turned around and saw his mother dusting the doorway, locking the house behind her with a soft click. She’d tied her saree tighter than usual, packed a small basket with tamarind rice, dried curry leaves, and boiled eggs—food for the road. A long stick leaned on her shoulder. She looked ready to scold a mountain if it got in her way.

“Amma…” Krish began carefully, “you don’t have to come. It’s dangerous. I—I don’t know where this path leads.”

His mother didn’t look up. “You think I’ll let you go wandering into forest temples and ancient prophecies alone? I raised you, boy. I can walk faster than you. Don’t test me.”

Krish sighed. “But Amma, what if something happens—”

“If something happens to me, that’s my fate,” she said, finally facing him. “But if something happens to you and I’m not there?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “That, I can’t bear.”

Krish looked down, defeated—and secretly moved. He never could win an argument with her.

With one final sweep of her broom, she patted the lock on their home like an old friend and turned to her son. “Let’s go find this deity of yours. The one who’s been hiding all these years.”

Krish smiled softly, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. Not from the heat… but from the worry—a silent promise blooming in his heart:

I won’t let anything happen to you, Amma. Even if it costs me everything.

With the village slowly fading behind them, they stepped into the forest—tall trees rising like guardians around them, birds flitting through the canopy, and a deep earthy silence wrapping around their steps.

A journey had begun.

A boy and his mother.

And somewhere deep in the woods…

A deity was waiting.

Whispers in the Forest

The deeper they walked, the quieter the world became.

Birdsong faded.

The air cooled under the thick cover of ancient trees. The path, once clear, was now nothing more than scattered roots and soft earth. Sunlight barely reached the ground, but what did fall came in soft golden rays, dancing like blessings.

Krish walked a little ahead, stick in hand, watching every movement. His mother followed behind, humming a quiet old lullaby she used to sing when he was a child—one about a brave prince and a forest spirit. It comforted her… and maybe, just maybe, it comforted the forest too.

Then it happened.

A soft rustle.

Not wind.

Not bird.

Something… watching.

Krish paused, raising his hand to stop his mother. “Did you hear that?”

She nodded, holding her bag tight.

From behind the trees, glowing eyes blinked open—three of them, to be exact. Tall, feline-shaped creatures, made of mist and golden vines, stepped forward. They weren’t threatening. They bowed.

Krish’s breath caught.

These weren’t wild beasts.

They were guardians.

Then, from the trees above, faint chanting echoed. Melodic. Ancient. Soothing. The air shimmered, and a vision appeared—like mist painted by light.

A tall figure stood before them, clothed in robes of white and gold, eyes deep as stars.

A Deity. Or at least, the echo of one.

"You have entered the path," the vision spoke. Its voice felt like it was inside their minds. "The child of the Golden Flower… walks again."

Krish couldn’t move.

His mother grabbed his arm, wide-eyed.

The vision continued, "In this forest lies your first trial—not of power, but of heart. Walk to the river of reflection. Only those with truth in their soul may pass."

Then—just like that—the guardians faded. The mist cleared. The forest looked normal again.

Krish looked at his mother.

She just shook her head. “I knew raising you was special. But this? Ayyo…”

They both chuckled nervously, but Krish’s chest was tight. This was real. The vision, the eyes, the power humming around him… it wasn’t a dream.

And the river? They had to find it.

With careful steps and fast-beating hearts, they continued deeper into the forest.

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