Chapter 4: The Girl Who Wasn't Supposed to Be Seen

After hours of walking, the forest began to open.

The thick trees gave way to sunlight, and soon the sound of water trickling over smooth rocks led Krish and his mother to a small, hidden river. It glowed faintly with a silvery hue, as if moonlight lived in its waters—even under the bright sun.

Krish knelt by the bank, touching the water. It was warm.

But before he could say anything—

SPLASH!

A wave of water flew straight at his face.

“Hey!” Krish blinked, soaked.

From behind a curtain of hanging vines and blooming wildflowers, a girl emerged—laughing.

She looked to be around Krish’s age, her skin sun-kissed, her hair flowing like dark silk, adorned with little silver bells. Her attire shimmered like stars stitched into forest leaves, clearly not from any village nearby. She wore no footwear, and a thin glow danced around her like the mist of dawn.

“You should’ve seen your face!” she giggled, holding her stomach.

Krish stood there, dripping. He couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, that was a good shot.”

His mother raised an eyebrow. “And who are you, throwing water at my boy like it’s some kind of Holi festival?”

The girl froze mid-laugh.

“Oh no…” she whispered, stepping back. “No no no no! I—I wasn’t supposed to be seen! Not by mortals!”

Her eyes went wide in panic.

Krish stifled a laugh behind his hand.

“You what?” his mother asked, putting her hands on her hips. “You break the rules and soak my son? At least apologize before you run.”

The girl looked like a squirrel caught stealing mangoes.

“I—I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—I was just excited! I’ve never seen a Chosen One in person before and—oh stars—I’m in so much trouble…”

She turned in circles, clearly spiralling into panic. Tiny bells in her hair jingled with every move.

Krish finally let out a snort of laughter.

The girl turned sharply toward him. “You’re laughing?! I might get sealed inside a tree for a hundred years!”

Krish wiped a tear from his eye. “It’s just… you’re the most chaotic ‘divine vision’ I’ve met so far.”

His mother added dryly, “And the loudest.”

The girl slumped dramatically. “I’m Nira, spirit of the river. I was supposed to watch your trial from afar, not join it. But then you touched the water and your presence… it called to me.”

Krish tilted his head. “Called to you?”

Nira nodded. “The Golden Flower’s soul is awake. You shimmer like the sun. I couldn’t resist.”

His mother looked at the river, then at Nira. “Well then, since you're here, why don’t you tell us what this 'trial of heart' is?”

Nira’s eyes widened again. “Oh stars, I really shouldn’t—” Then she sighed. “Oh well. Might as well get sealed for a good reason.”

She grinned. “Follow me. The river will show your truth.”

Krish looked at his mother, who just shrugged. “She already drenched you, might as well see where this goes.”

And with that, the three of them—boy, mother, and the chaotic river spirit—walked along the shimmering water… toward the next mystery.

The River That Refused

Nira stood at the edge of the river, her hands glowing faintly as she spoke the ancient words again.

"வாரண துளிர், வேத விஸ்வம், காற்றும் கானம்... அவருக்கு உண்மையைக் காட்டுங்கள்."

"The spring of the varana, the world of the Vedas, the wind and the sky...… show him the truth."

But the waters remained calm.

Still.

Blank.

No swirling light, no forgotten visions, no whispered voices from the past.

Just silence.

Krish stepped back from the river, hands in his pockets. “I knew it.”

Nira blinked, her silver bells trembling slightly. “Wait… what? You knew it wouldn’t work?”

Krish gave her a half-smile and sat beneath a large neem tree nearby. “Nothing in my life has ever come easy, Nira. Why should the truth?”

His mother joined him, unwrapping a cloth bundle filled with lemon rice and offering him a handful.

Nira frowned and stepped closer, crouching down in front of him. “You’re not mad?”

“Disappointed, sure. But not surprised,” Krish replied, chewing thoughtfully. “Maybe the truth isn’t something I’m ready for. Or maybe the river can’t show something even it doesn't understand.”

She tilted her head, watching him. “You’re different.”

Krish looked up. “I’m just a village boy.”

“No.” Nira smiled. “You’re the only one I’ve seen who didn’t get greedy when offered a shortcut to truth.”

Krish chuckled. “Is that a compliment or a test?”

Nira laughed too, sitting cross-legged beside him. “Maybe both.”

His mother glanced at them. “You two becoming friends now?”

“I think we are,” Nira said, glancing at Krish. “He’s a decent mortal.”

Krish grinned. “And you’re a weird river ghost.”

“Spirit,” she corrected with mock offense. “Ghosts don’t sparkle.”

They all laughed together, and for a moment, the forest felt warmer.

Then, just as the wind passed through the trees like a soft whisper, the river let out a quiet ripple—one only Nira noticed.

She didn’t say anything yet.