Where Shiva's friends were passing their trials and receiving praise from everyone, at Drona Mountain, the inn—a quiet refuge from the tumultuous night outside—was filled with the deep aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread. The warm glow of lanterns cast trembling shadows on the wooden walls, and the laughter of customers, along with the clashing of mugs and plates, created a comforting atmosphere.
Shiva sat at a sturdy wooden table with his friend, Satya. Before them lay the remains of their meal, forgotten in the haze of deep thoughts. Satya's gaze was intense, his brows furrowed in concern.
"Shiva, when those monsters surrounded me… how did you walk straight through them? It felt as if they didn't even see you." His voice held both wonder and confusion—a tone that made Shiva's heart beat faster.
Shiva swirled the remainder of his drink, watching the liquid rotate—exactly like the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind.
"I… I don't know," he finally admitted, the words feeling incomplete as they came out. "It felt as if I had moved into another place—a place where their wrath could not touch me."
Satya leaned forward, trying to read Shiva's face to find an answer. "You're not joking, are you? This can't just be luck. It felt as if… as if someone was giving you a path."
The weight of Satya's words fell upon Shiva. He had felt a presence, a whisper of power pushing him forward, but the thought of accepting it terrified him.
"I can only think about those ruins," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper, as if speaking out loud would break the fragile truth. "It was like a dream, but so vivid. I'm not even sure if it was real or not."
"Ruins?" Satya repeated, his interest piqued. "You never mentioned seeing anything like that. What did they look like?"
Shiva hesitated, trying to catch the fragments of his memories. "They were… different. Like something lost in time, covered in vines and shadows. The air around them had a strange energy, as if echoes of the past were alive."
Satya's expression changed—now filled with both curiosity and concern. "You're hiding things from me, Shiva. We cannot face these challenges without knowing the truth. You have to trust me."
Shiva was about to respond when the innkeeper arrived, his cheerful voice breaking the atmosphere. "Everything alright, gentlemen?" he asked, placing a new vessel of wine on the table.
"Thank you," Shiva said with a forced smile, and the owner moved away. The distraction was good, but as soon as he left, the weight of unspoken truths hung between Shiva and Satya like a thick fog.
"Don't think too much about it right now," Satya said, leaning back in his chair, arms folded. "It's quite late; we need rest. Tomorrow we will return to the mountain, and then we will understand everything."
Shiva nodded, grateful for the distraction, yet the restlessness remained in his chest. The burden of his secret was unbearable, but he had learned long ago that some truths must remain hidden.
"You're right. See you in the morning."
As he rose to leave, Shiva had a strange feeling. The events of the day were not yet over; they were merely the opening notes of a grand symphony. The road ahead was steeped in uncertainty, but he could not ignore the pull of some greater power—something waiting to be revealed.
In the solitude of his room, Shiva sat on the edge of the bed. The dim light cast long shadows on the walls. His thoughts were uncontrollable, tangled in the chaos of the day. The ruins he had hidden were like broken memories—each holding a key to his existence and destiny.
With a heavy sigh, he lay down, the mattress sinking under his weight. He needed answers—not just for himself, but for Satya too. Night surrounded him, but sleep did not come. Behind his closed eyes, images of the ruins began to shimmer, calling him into their depths.
As the hours passed, he decided that tomorrow would not be just another day. It would be a turning point—a moment to reclaim the hidden parts of his past and face the shadows of the future. With new determination, he closed his eyes and welcomed the unknown.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window, golden rays spreading across the room and waking Shiva from restless dreams. He sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes—the images of the ruins were still fresh in his mind. They felt closer than ever, as if the walls of the inn itself had changed, opening paths to hidden secrets.
Shiva dressed quickly, the weight of anticipation on his shoulders. He could feel that answers were coming today—not just for him, but for Satya and the others as well. After a light breakfast, he stepped out into the cool morning air and paused for a moment to steady himself.
Satya was already standing near the entrance, excitement and resolve shining on his face. "Ready to return?" he asked, adventure gleaming in his eyes.
"More than ever," Shiva replied, a spark of firm determination igniting within him. "But first, we must talk about one thing."
As they set off on the winding trail leading toward the mountain, Shiva's breathing grew deeper. The fresh air was breathing life into his soul.
"I was thinking about the ruins," he said, choosing his words carefully. "I think they are the key to understanding our complications."
Satya nodded, his interest growing. "Why do you think so? How do you know?"
"I can feel it," Shiva said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty churning within. (The ruins… they felt alive, as if they were part of a much larger story.)
(Shiva felt that they weren't just ruins; something was hidden in them that was deeply connected to him. Michael also spoke in Shiva's mind: "Since the merger of Earth and Satal, I have been feeling a connection to something great—something beyond our understanding of gods and demons.")
Satya was silent, trying to understand Shiva's words. The path ahead was still winding, with trees on both sides swaying gently in the morning breeze. Birds were chirping above, their tunes creating a peaceful environment—which seemed contrary to the seriousness of their conversation.
As they walked, Shiva sensed a change in Satya's nature. He had always been more practical, grounded, but today there was a glimpse of curiosity and belief in the extraordinary in his eyes.
"So what do we do now?" Satya finally asked, breaking the silence.
"I think we should go back to the place where we encountered the monsters," Shiva suggested, his heart beating faster just at the thought. "If the ruins are making me restless, the answer to my restlessness might be there."
Satya thought for a few moments, then slowly nodded. "Alright. Let's go. But we must be careful—we don't know what else is hidden there."
As they moved toward the mountain, Shiva couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them. It was a restless feeling, a shiver running down the back of his neck, making him look back repeatedly. He tried to ignore it as an illusion—memories of yesterday's terror were still fresh.
Upon reaching the peak, familiar sights appeared—the busy market, merchants, and the warm smiles of adventurers. Shiva and Satya moved forward through the crowd, their goal clear.
"Ready?" Satya asked, as they reached the outskirts where the dense forest met the open fields. A wave of energy and invisible tension hung in the air, sending a shiver down Shiva's spine.
"As ready as I can be," Shiva said, resolve surging within him. "Let's see what lies beyond those trees."
They entered the forest. The canopy of branches above filtered the sunlight, creating scattered patterns on the ground. The air grew cold, and a deep silence surrounded them. Shiva felt the weight of spirits around him—their presence like a faint echo in his mind, silently showing him the way.
"Do you think the ruins will still be there?" Satya asked in a whisper.
"I hope so," Shiva said, his heart beating faster with every step. "I have to see them again."
The path continued to twist and turn. With every turn, the ancient forest opened up further. They walked for hours; the sounds of the village faded away, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the calls of unseen creatures. Shiva's thoughts revolved around his powers and the secrets hidden in the ruins.
Finally, they reached an open space. The air was heavy with anticipation. As they moved forward, Shiva's breath caught. Before them stood the ruins—stone walls covered in moss and vines, bearing witness to a forgotten era.
"These are even more beautiful than I remember," Shiva murmured, moving forward. He could feel the energy radiating from the stones—a heartbeat touching some deep chord within him. Satya stood beside him, his eyes wide with awe