Dhanvi ran without thinking-without direction-without caring where her feet were taking her. Her chest burned, her breath uneven, until she finally staggered to a halt near a towering tree. She placed her hand against its rough bark, bending forward as she struggled to breathe.

The moment her palm touched the tree-something inside her shifted.

Her insticts sharpened as something strange irked inside her.

Dhanvi turned sharply.

The hyena stood there again, facing her. But this time, something was different.

Her eyes blazed with determination.

Was it the tree?

Had it done something to her?

Until now, she had felt shaken, frightened-but never this.

Something had awakened, something sudden and powerful, surging through her veins.

"Back away!" Dhanvi screamed.

The hyena answered with a loud growl.

Her hand remained pressed against the tree, her eyes blazing. And in that moment-everything around her seemed to pause. The forest stilled. Even the air felt suspended.

The hyena's eyes widened.

The gaze.

The presence.

It was familiar.

Something old stirred within the creature as it lowered itself, bowing before her. Dhanvi stood unmoving, unaffected by the gesture, her hand still resting against the tree.

"Go from here before I kill you right here!" she said.

The hyena bowed deeply once more.

Then, without another sound, it turned and disappeared into the forest.

Dhanvi pulled her hand away from the tree as the fire vanished from her eyes. Confusion washed over her as awareness returned-of where she was, of the silence around her.

And then the realization struck.

She was alone.

She didn't remember what had just happened. One moment she had been running from the hyena-

and the next, it was gone.

And Prem?

"Prem...?" she whispered.

She looked around, then started moving, searching desperately-but there was no sign of him anywhere.

"PREM!! PREM!!" she called out.

No reply.

No footsteps.

No voice.

Only her-and the distant sounds of the forest.

And from that moment onward, the journey truly began.

A journey toward buried truths.

Toward a fate that had been sealed long before she ever stepped into the forest.

Toward the wilderness that had finally chosen her.

Dhanvi stumbled back to the tree, her breath uneven, her chest rising and falling as if the air itself had grown heavier. Her fingers brushed against the rough bark as tears slipped free-silent, unstoppable. Somewhere in her heart, a fragile hope still waited for Prem to appear, to call her name, to prove she wasn't alone.

But he didn't come.

Her legs gave up, and she sank to the ground beneath the tree, curling in on herself. For a few moments, she did nothing-just breathed. The forest stood unmoving around her, vast and watchful, as though it had accepted her solitude without question. If this path had to be walked, she would have to walk it alone.

Time passed-how much, she couldn't tell.

When her breathing finally steadied, Dhanvi lifted her gaze. First to the sky, barely visible through the dense canopy, and then slowly around her. That was when realization struck. Her breath caught sharply.

She reached into her bag with sudden urgency and pulled out the map, her eyes scanning it again and again. Then she looked up-at the tree.

The same tree.

The one she had clung to while fleeing the hyena. The one that had stirred something unfamiliar within her, something deeper than fear.

Understanding settled in her chest like a quiet flame.

This was the tree she and Prem had been searching for all along-the marker, the sign. The proof that they had chosen the right path.

The right direction.

Dhanvi pressed her forehead briefly against the bark, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"It's okay... just please let Prem be safe."She straightened slowly, wiping her tears away. A question echoed in her mind-should she go back? Return to the place she had run from?

After a long pause, she made her choice.

Turning away from the tree, Dhanvi stepped forward, retracing her path toward the place where she and Prem had been together not long ago-hoping that destiny had not yet pulled them too far apart.

But as she took steps in the opposite direction, she made sure to leave marks behind, so she would not forget the way back to this place.

She kept walking, searching here and there for him. Yet what she did not realize for a long time was—

Wherever she passed, the flowers that had shrunk began to bloom again. The leaves that were dry turned alive. And the shining colors of nature seemed to recognize their owner.

Her steps were light, yet they awakened something forbidden once more.

At last, she reached the place where she had been with Prem.

She found the dagger there… and the signs of a struggle. But she did not find him.

Prem was nowhere to be seen.

She moved through the nearby areas, looking for him, until she suddenly stepped into another place.

She looked ahead and noticed a dark, dense region. Pulling out the LiDAR from her bag, she directed it toward that shadowed space and tried to see what lay within. Through a small gap, she noticed something.

There was a hidden passage once again—large branches twisted tightly together, completely blocking the path. Some flowers were clutched within those branches.

She could glimpse it only from where she stood, because in front of her there were only trees and a narrow space to pass through.

But when she tried to observe it more closely, the LiDAR failed.

Curiosity filled her mind, and without realizing it, she slipped through the narrow space. She came face to face with this ceiling of branches.

Looking closely, she felt as though someone had deliberately sealed this path—to keep it unseen. And from the place where she had noticed it, it was rare for anyone else to do so.

But she did.

The route itself was so dense that it scratched her arms as she moved through. When she finally stood before the thick branches, it stilled her—dangerous, yet beautiful.

Dhanvi still carried the dagger she had picked up earlier. She raised it and began to cut through the twisted resistance that separated her from the place beyond.

She struggled, and it seemed unwilling to yield. But after some time, she managed to open enough space to pass through.

She cut only the minimum, careful not to harm it more than necessary.

Then she crouched and entered the place.

Behind her, the branches fell back into position—once again sealing this place away from the rest of the forest.

The moment she entered this place -- she gasped because this place is no normal but divine.

It felt as though this place had stored divinity within itself, as if every god had once blessed it.

A land glowing with countless flowers—vivid and colorful. A space shaped by many great trees, wrapped in an evergreen embrace. Fireflies floated everywhere, for this hidden hollow lay untouched by the light above.

In one corner, she saw them—fireflies like drifting gold. Yet even their glow could not distract her from how breathtaking the place was.

The trees stood heavy with leaves—green, yellow, red, and more—every shade of life gathered together, as if every kind of tree had been carved into this one sacred ground.

“Wow… what place is this?”she murmured to herself.

Suddenly, flowers fell upon her.

She jerked in surprise and looked up to see a bird perched above her, showering petals down like a blessing. She smiled softly, then turned her gaze forward once more.

After walking a little farther, she saw it—A lake.

Its surface shone beneath the light slipping through small gaps between the trees, glowing like a mirror of heaven hidden within the forest.

As Dhanvi turned and began walking in the opposite direction, she made sure to leave subtle marks behind- scratches on bark, disturbed stones- anything that would guide her back if she needed to return. This place was too important to lose.

She moved forward, her eyes constantly searching the forest, hoping-desperately-to catch even a glimpse of Prem. She didn't realize what had been happening for quite some time.

Her footsteps were light, almost soundless. Yet with every step, something ancient-something forbidden-stirred awake once more.

Eventually, she reached the place where she and Prem had been together before.

Her heart sank.

The ground bore marks of struggle. A broken branch. Disturbed soil. Signs of a fight. Her gaze darted around wildly, searching for him-but Prem was nowhere to be found. No footprints, no voice, no trace.

Fear tightened around her chest.

She searched nearby paths, moving from one clearing to another, until she unknowingly crossed into unfamiliar territory.

Here, thick branches twisted together overhead, woven so tightly that they completely concealed the way forward. Clutched within their grasp were clusters of flowers, glowing faintly as if trapped.

Dhanvi tightened her grip around the dagger she had picked up earlier. With careful precision, she began cutting through the tangled barrier-not recklessly, but just enough to make space. She refused to harm the forest more than necessary.

Once there was room, she crouched low and slipped inside.

The branches fell back into place behind her, sealing the entrance-as if the forest itself had decided to hide this place once more.

The moment she stepped in, Dhanvi gasped.

This was no ordinary place.

Divinity seemed to breathe within it, as though countless gods had laid their blessings here and never taken them back. The air shimmered. Flowers of every color glowed softly, scattered across an evergreen expanse shaped by towering ancient trees. Fireflies drifted lazily through the shadows, their golden light possible only because this sanctuary lay hidden from the sky above.

In one corner, the fireflies gathered more densely, glowing like fragments of fallen stars. Yet even that couldn't distract her from the overwhelming beauty surrounding her.

The trees stood tall, their branches heavy with leaves of every shade-green, yellow, crimson-each one different, yet perfectly placed, as if carved by design rather than chance.

Dhanvi's voice emerged in a hushed whisper, filled with awe.

"Where... am I?"She moved forward slowly, reverently.

And then she saw it.

A lake.

Its surface shimmered softly beneath the pale light slipping through narrow gaps between the trees, as though the water itself was holding onto the glow.

Dhanvi stood still, breathless-unaware that she had stepped into a place meant only for those the forest had chosen.

(Assume that Dhanvi is standing.)

The waterfall and the lake-everything around her felt unreal in its beauty. Light danced on the water, and the air hummed softly, as if the forest itself were breathing.

Dhanvi was still absorbing it all when a strange sound sliced through the calm.

In an instant, admiration turned into alertness. Her fingers tightened around the dagger as her body stilled. The silence no longer felt peaceful-it felt watchful.

Her gaze caught a narrow passage veering away from the clearing, half-hidden behind roots and shadow. Slowly, carefully, she stepped toward it.

"Who's there?" she called out.

No answer.Her heartbeat quickened. A fragile hope flickered inside her.

"Prem?" Her voice wavered slightly. "Is that you?"

Again-nothing.

Then pain exploded across her arm.

A sharp cry escaped her as she stumbled and fell to the ground. The divine clearing was gone. This place, though still part of the forest, felt colder... unfamiliar.

Breathing hard, she looked down at her arm. A fresh wound burned sharply. Her eyes scanned the surroundings until she noticed it-an arrow lying nearby.

She picked it up.

Carved into its shaft was a symbol.

The sun.

Her grip on the dagger tightened as fear and resolve mixed within her. She knew she couldn't panic. She was alone, armed with little more than her blade and the knowledge in her bag. Carelessness would cost her dearly.

She forced herself upright, eyes sweeping the shadows.

"Whoever you are," she said firmly, "show yourself."

The air shifted.

Another arrow flew-this one striking dangerously close, grazing her near the side of her neck. She staggered back, instinctively pressing her hand there. When she looked at her fingers, they trembled.

This was no warning anymore.

Someone was watching her.

And they were not afraid to strike.

Arrows came again-one after another-but this time she was ready.

Dhanvi twisted, ducked, and shielded herself just enough to avoid further harm. The moment an opening appeared, she didn't hesitate. She turned and ran.

She didn't look back.

The arrows didn't stop. Neither did she.

Her feet pounded against the forest floor as branches whipped past her. Behind her rose the sounds of pursuit-rustling grass, hurried footsteps, strained breathing growing closer with every second. That was when realization struck her with chilling clarity.

She had crossed into tribal territory.

Fear of getting caught surged through her veins, pushing her faster, yet the distance between her and her pursuers kept shrinking. Panic clawed at her chest.

Then she saw it-a narrow gap hidden between rocks and roots. Barely wide enough. Her instincts screamed at her to take it.

Without thinking, she dropped low, slid through the opening, scraping past stone and earth. The forest swallowed her as she slipped through.

She lay still for a moment on the other side, listening.

The footsteps rushed past.

She stayed there, crouched and trembling, one hand pressed against her chest as she struggled to calm her racing breath. Slowly, painfully, her heartbeat began to steady.

When she finally looked around, she realized she was somewhere else entirely.

The trees here weren't radiant with colors-only deep, endless green. Yet the forest was alive, thick with untouched greenery, as if time itself moved differently here.

She took one careful step forward-

And the ground vanished beneath her feet.

A scream tore from her throat as she plunged downward, sliding uncontrollably until she crashed hard onto solid ground below.

For a moment, all she could do was lie there, stunned.

Then she looked up.

High above, the opening she had fallen through was barely visible. The walls around her were steep, unforgiving. Climbing back up was impossible.

She let out a shaky breath, frustration spilling from her lips.

"What is wrong with you, Dhanvi?" she muttered. "How are you supposed to get out now?"

She tried moving, searching for a way-but each step only made the place feel more like a trap than an escape.

Slowly, she turned.

That was when she saw it.

Ahead of her stood the mouth of a cave-dark, ancient, and unmoving. It rose from the earth like it had always been there, waiting.

Dhanvi stared at it, her breath shallow.

Whatever this place was... it wasn't meant to be found by accident.

"A cave... or a den?"Realization struck Dhanvi all at once. Her eyes widened as fear settled deep in her chest. This wasn't just a cave.

It was a den.

She instinctively stepped back, her gaze darting around in frantic search of an escape. But there was nothing-only silence pressing in from every side, thick and merciless.

"Where will I go now...?" she whispered, her hands trembling despite herself.

Panic finally broke through. She clasped her hands tightly, eyes shutting for a brief second.

"I don't want to die like this," she murmured. "Not at the claws of a lion... Please, God, help me."

The answer came in the form of a roar.

Deep. Powerful. Echoing through stone and bone alike.

Her body froze, eyes flying open as terror rooted her to the spot.

From the darkness within the den, something began to move.

A figure emerged slowly-unhurried, confident-walking as though the land itself belonged to it. Each step was heavy, deliberate, carrying the unmistakable rhythm of a predator closing in on its prey.

"Oh no..." Dhanvi breathed, panic surging as she stumbled backward.

As she retreated, the figure stepped forward-and light finally revealed it.

A lion.

Massive and fearsome, with a mane shaded in deep brown and muted gold, framing his face like a crown. His body was built with raw power, his claws sharp, his presence overwhelming. Strength and dominance radiated from him effortlessly.

He drew back his lips slightly, teeth showing as his eyes locked onto her. Golden eyes-darkened at the edges- narrowed with interest. A faint curl touched the corner of his mouth, almost like amusement.

What luck, that look seemed to say.

The prey walked in on her own.

Then he bared his teeth fully and advanced.

Each step stirred the air, his mane rustling as he moved closer.

"No... please," Dhanvi pleaded, her voice shaking. "Spare me."

Her foot struck a stone.

She lost balance and fell hard to the ground.

Scrambling backward in panic, her palms slid across the earth, her eyes never leaving him. He didn't rush. He simply walked.

Soon, her back hit solid stone-a wall. Trapped.

Before she could search for another way out, the lion closed the remaining distance.

He stood just inches away.

His warm breath brushed her face, his eyes gleam

ing-not only with hunger, but with satisfaction. Yet within her terror, he seemed to notice something unexpected.

Defiance.

A low growl rumbled from his chest as he prepared to strike-

And then-without warning-the lion was hurled sideways with tremendous force.

The blow did not come from Dhanvi.

It came from another presence.

A lioness.

She sprang from the shadows and crashed into him, pinning his massive body to the ground. The den echoed with his furious growl-a sound filled with disbelief and rage, as though he could not accept that someone had dared to challenge him.

Because he was no ordinary lion.

He was the beast of this forest.

Raka.

The lioness struck without hesitation, her strength fierce and precise. Raka struggled beneath her, attempting to shake her off, but she did not relent. Before her, even the terror of the forest faltered.

A lion might be called king-but a lioness was never less than queen.

Raka's fury burned bright in his narrowed eyes as he glared up at her. She met his gaze head-on, unflinching, her stance unwavering.

Then-suddenly-the lioness turned her head.

Her eyes met Dhanvi's.

Dhanvi gasped.

She knew those eyes.

She had seen them before... long ago. A memory from childhood stirred painfully within her. And when her gaze fell upon the faint scar tracing the lioness's back, realization struck her fully.

"Mriguli...?" she whispered.

The lioness seemed to recognize her name. For a brief, impossible moment, something soft flickered across her expression-almost like a smile.

But the moment shattered.

Raka surged forward, forcing the lioness down, pinning her beneath his weight. He snarled, teeth bared, fury rolling off him in waves.

Mriguli refused to yield.

With a sudden burst of strength, she shoved him away, sending him crashing aside. Rising instantly, she stepped in front of Dhanvi-placing herself between the girl and the beast.

Her message was unmistakable.

You will not touch her.

Raka roared, a thunderous sound that echoed through the forest beyond the den. Birds burst from the trees in frantic flight.

Mriguli roared back-matching him, refusing to be overshadowed.

Dhanvi swayed, the world spinning. Fear, shock, disbelief-it all blurred together. She felt dizzy, close to losing consciousness.

Raka gathered himself and charged once more, power coiled in every movement-

But before he could reach them-

An arrow struck the ground before him.

Straight. Firm. Unmistakable.

A warning.

Raka froze. Slowly, he turned toward the source.

At the edge above stood a man astride a horse, long hair flowing, bow still raised. His presence was commanding, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

The protector of the forest.

With a low growl, Raka backed away. Casting one last dangerous glance at Mriguli, he retreated into the darkness of his den.

Dhanvi watched in stunned silence.

Confusion clouded her thoughts. Slowly, she lifted her gaze upward-

And her breath caught.

There stood the man, bow in hand, eyes locked onto her. Grey eyes-cold, unreadable, and dangerous.

The world tilted.

Darkness rushed in.

She collapsed.

Aadityanath stood still at the edge, having witnessed everything-the clash of beasts, the courage of the lioness, and finally the girl.

His gaze settled on Dhanvi's unconscious form, hardening with guarded intensity.

Only one word surfaced in his mind.

Invader.

Another outsider.

Another soul drawn here in search of forbidden treasure.

.

.

.

.

.

Night had descended, and with it came a darkness that slowly wrapped itself around the tribe. Yet the forest still breathed in its familiar rhythm. Leaves whispered softly as they brushed against one another, and the creatures who never slept continued their restless calls, echoing through the trees.

But tonight was different.

Tonight was not like the nights before-when darkness itself became a deadly snare.

No.

This was not about the night.

This was about an invader.

This was about protection... and about a greed that the people of the cities had never truly abandoned.

And they never would.

Because greed is not something one is born with-it takes root when everything around you feels granted. When the world is mistaken for a possession. When care is replaced by hunger, and respect by the urge to claim what was never meant to be yours.

Greed makes a person forget the very purpose for which they were sent. It erases the reason they were created, the dreams they once carried before desire hollowed them out. Slowly, silently, it rewrites them.

And when that happens-A human becomes nothing more than a canvas of darkness, painted with the stolen colors of innocence.

And for what?

Greed.

Atop one of the towering trees stood a wooden structure—a house built not for shelter, but for capture. A prison in disguise. Its front was reinforced like the bars of a jail, locked firmly from the outside, perched high upon the thick branches where escape was nothing but a distant dream.

And inside it lay a girl.

She had not regained consciousness yet. Her head rested against the rough wooden wall, eyes shut tight, her face drawn into a faint scowl as if even in sleep her body resisted what had been done to her.

Slowly… she stirred.

Her eyelids fluttered open, heavy and reluctant. The moment awareness began to seep in, her hand flew to her head, fingers digging into her scalp as dizziness crashed over her—sharp, sudden, unforgiving. Pain throbbed behind her eyes.

She inhaled sharply.

And then—her eyes opened fully.

Her gaze moved, unsteady at first, taking in the unfamiliar space around her. The wooden walls. The iron bars. The height. The stillness that felt too controlled to be natural.

She straightened abruptly as memory returned like a storm breaking loose.

The encounter with the hyena.

Being torn away from Prem.

The attack—faces she didn’t recognize.

The fall into the deep pit.

The wild lion.

Mriguli.

The clash of lion and lioness, claws and roars tearing the night apart.

And finally—That figure.

Those eyes.

Grey.

Eyes that had pierced straight through her, as if they could see beneath her skin, beneath her fear.

Her breath hitched.

She scanned the space around her frantically—and realization struck.

She was caged.

Her eyes widened as she lunged forward, fingers wrapping tightly around the wooden frame and cold steel bars, knuckles whitening as she peered outside.

And then—The sight before her hit her like a blow to the gut.

She was here.

Below her stretched a gathering of people—a tribe. A massive fire blazed at the center, flames licking the sky as wood crackled loudly. Some danced around it, their movements wild yet rhythmic. Others sat nearby, laughing, sharing moments of ease and celebration.

Their voices rose together in song—melodious, ancient, and haunting.

For a moment, Dhanvi forgot to breathe.

The music held her still, wrapping around her senses like a spell—beautiful… and terrifying.

After a moment, realization struck her again, sharp and unforgiving, and she murmured under her breath,

“Don’t, Dhanvi. This is not the time to admire anything. Think. You need to find a way out of here.”

She bit down on her lower lip, her brows knitting together in a deep frown as panic slowly crept back in.

“But how the hell am I supposed to get free from here?” she whispered helplessly.

Taking a step back from the front, she tangled her fingers into her hair and tugged at it in frustration. They were never going to understand her—of course they wouldn’t. They were tribal people, and every tribe followed its own language, its own rules.

“What should I do?” she muttered again and again, rubbing her temples as if that could silence the chaos in her mind.

And then—suddenly—an idea sparked inside her head. An idea wild enough. Loud enough. Dangerous enough.

“AAAAAAAAA!!!”Her scream tore through the air.Instantly, every movement around her froze. All eyes snapped in her direction, sharp and alert, their gazes pinning her in place as they stared at her in silence.

For a few heartbeats, nothing happened.

Then, as if she were nothing more than an irritating sound, they turned away and resumed whatever they were doing.

Dhanvi’s breath hitched.

And then she screamed again.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"This time, there was no hesitation.

The tribal people did not merely look at her—they reacted. Several of them tightened their grips around their weapons and marched straight toward her, their faces hard and unreadable, metal and sharpened wood glinting as they pointed their weapons directly at her.

And just like that, Dhanvi knew—

she had their attention now.

Dhanvi jerked away suddenly when she noticed their glares and the weapons. Her eyes widened as she gulped in fear.

“What is wrong with you?” the tribal people asked, but Dhanvi narrowed her eyes a little at them, as she did not understand a single word. However, one sharp tug toward her made her quickly widen her eyes again.

“Speak, or otherwise we are going to burn you alive!” a young girl said as she moved toward Dhanvi. Her eyes were sharper than any other, as if she did not consider even a little mercy for Dhanvi.

But again, Dhanvi did not understand anything. She was about to narrow her eyes again when suddenly that young woman dug her weapon into the small hut.

Dhanvi got cornered in an instant, because she surely did not want to die.

Seems like they don’t like it when I narrow my eyes, Dhanvi thought.

Dhanvi slowly brought her hands in front of her and tried to motion a no. She shook her hands in denial, but it seemed like they did not want to understand anything, because that very same young girl had forwarded the weapon just beside her head.

Making Dhanvi freeze at her place.

“Don’t give excuses. Speak,” that girl said. But again, Dhanvi looked devastated, as if she was about to disappear from there. And yet, this was what she had dreamed of since the beginning of her journey as an archaeologist.

Dhanvi closed her eyes for a moment. Then she opened them instantly and looked at her hand. And yes, there was the mark of arrows, and blood was smeared around it. So she did what came to her mind.

She motioned toward her wounds and made a crying face, her eyes clearly showing the pain caused by them.

The young woman looked at Dhanvi suspiciously and then shifted her gaze to the wound.

The wound was really deep. The young woman’s eyes softened for a moment before she masked it again. Her gaze met Dhanvi’s as she raised her eyebrows at her. But when she didn’t sense any kind of danger, she decided to lower her weapon—for now.

The young woman stepped back and nodded at the others in acknowledgement, and slowly, they lowered their weapons as well.

“Where is Pratham Rakshak Arunev?” the young woman asked.

“He is with Majhi Hoṛ,” one of the tribal men replied.

The young woman nodded in acknowledgement.

Then she looked at Dhanvi again, her eyes calm yet accusing, as she whispered, “I am taking her to the Naeke. She needs treatment.”

“Why are we even taking her to the Naeke? She should be killed because she is an invader,” one of the tribal man argued.

The young woman spoke while keeping her gaze fixed only on Dhanvi.

“No. We can’t. Invader or not, she needs to be treated first, because we still haven’t found the purpose of her coming here. Until then, we need to act carefully.”

Her eyes had remained cold till now, but then she remembered something she had once heard from her elders and whispered, “And also, we can’t do something that will make history repeat itself. What if she is innocent? We haven’t found out yet.”

Dhanvi looked at everyone in confusion. Her mind echoed only one mocking thought—क्या लगा था, इतना आसान होगा आदिवासी क्षेत्र में घुसकर वहाँ का सच जानना? भाषा तो आती ही नहीं।

(What did you think, that it would be this easy to enter a tribal area and uncover the truth there? You don’t even know the language.)

And with that, the young woman climbed up the tree using the loosely hanging stairs, her steps careful and measured. When she reached the top, she looked at Dhanvi one last time before unlocking the gate—but not before fully opening it.

She pointed her weapon at Dhanvi again, stripping away any remaining sense of safety. But Dhanvi had no intention of doing anything. With a loud gulp, she stepped outside.

The young woman immediately clutched Dhanvi’s arm and forced her to stand straight.

Dhanvi hissed softly at the tight grip but didn’t protest. She glanced at the wounds on her hand and gently rubbed them, only for the pain to make her hiss again.

The young woman then began walking toward the Naeke, and the others instinctively stepped aside, giving her space.

She was walking when suddenly someone called out from behind.

“Paranik Ravani!”

(Here Paranik means -- The assistant of the Majhi (Chief) -- The one who works as right hand man of the Chief and take decisions in his behalf sometimes.)

The young woman—Paranik Ravani—turned around and saw a man walking toward her. Her gaze fixed on the approaching figure, while Dhanvi looked around in confusion, her eyes darting over the faces surrounding her.

“Varyon? What are you doing here?” Ravani asked.

Varyon’s gaze shifted to the figure standing beside Ravani. His eyes were accusing as he questioned her, his voice cold and sharp.“Where are you taking this invader?”His tone was deadly.

Dhanvi stiffened for a moment before looking away from him. Obviously, she didn’t understand a single word, but from his voice alone, she could tell he wasn’t welcoming her with kindness. He was yet another man who saw her as nothing more than an invader.

Ravani looked at Dhanvi and then met Varyon’s eyes again as she whispered, “To the Naeke, Varyon. She has wounds, and she needs treatment.” Varyon was not convinced, but in the end, he nodded. His jaw clenched as he took a deep breath and moved away from there.

Ravani glanced at Dhanvi. Her eyes softened for a brief second before she led her toward the Naeke.

Soon, Ravani and Dhanvi stood in front of the Naeke’s house. From inside, a dim light spilled out—a soft golden hue. They made their way inside, and there, sitting in the corner, was the ojha, lost in his thoughts. His hands were busy, working steadily as he prepared medicines.

The place was lit by a mashal placed in the corner, its flickering flame casting shifting shadows across the walls.

“Naeke, can you treat her?” Ravani asked as she guided Dhanvi toward him.

They sat down near the mat as the ojha finally looked up. His gaze first settled on Ravani as he asked, “Whom?”

Then his eyes shifted to Dhanvi.

He studied her with an unreadable expression. Meanwhile, Dhanvi avoided his gaze, pretending as if he wasn’t there. Instead, she looked around her, observing everything as if it were the most beautifully carved place in the world.

Ravani noticed the way the Naeke tried to recognize her but failed to place her. So she spoke again.“Naeke… she is the one. Remember—from the city?”

The Naeke’s eyes finally steadied as recognition dawned on him. He now knew who Dhanvi was, yet something about her still unsettled him—as if he had seen her somewhere before, as if she resembled someone from a distant memory.

But setting those thoughts aside, the Naeke decided to treat her.

He took a handful of herbs and a few small plants and crushed them in his palm. The drops from the leaves gathered onto another leaf, and he carefully applied the mixture to Dhanvi’s wounds. As he did so, he murmured something under his breath, his voice low and rhythmic.

Dhanvi winced and closed her eyes, her lips pressing tightly together as the medicine was applied to her wounds.

After some time, the Naeke was done. Looking at Ravani, he said, “Take her somewhere and let her rest. The wounds are deep—they will take time to heal. Make sure she gets proper rest.”

Ravani nodded and helped Dhanvi stand. Dhanvi followed silently because, without understanding anything, this was the best thing she could do.

Ravani led her to a nearby house meant for the people who got injured. This house was used to keep them so they could rest and recover.

“Don’t you dare do anything stupid,” Ravani warned Dhanvi in a steady voice.

Dhanvi looked at Ravani in confusion, making sure not to narrow her eyes this time. Ravani, understanding the reason behind her confusion—since she had been observing her for quite some time—used gestures instead.

She pointed inside the house and glared at Dhanvi. Then she pointed at Dhanvi herself, motioning a clear warning.

Dhanvi understood a little. Obviously, they were not going to let her go. She nodded and slowly made her way inside.

Ravani, still not fully convinced, took a deep breath. She locked the door from outside and then, with a small amount of trust, left Dhanvi alone inside, because until now, Ravani hadn’t found anything suspicious about her.

Dhanvi stood inside the room, her gaze taking in everything around her.

It wasn’t fancy or luxurious—just a simple, ancient-type house. The walls were made of wood, with a small window in one corner. There was a mat in the center—not just one, but two or three. Further ahead, she noticed another room leading to a separate compartment meant for people to rest. It was hidden behind a curtain, yet it looked calm and perfectly arranged.

Dhanvi sank onto the mat and tried to relax, but restlessness clung to her. She couldn’t shake the thought that Prem was still somewhere in the forest—lost, alone, and vulnerable.

Her gaze drifted toward the window.

The moon hung behind drifting clouds, its silver light barely s

pilling into the room. As she studied the frame, she realized just how large it was—large enough for a person to slip through.

And with that realization came a wild, unsettling thought…

Should she escape?

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