The crimson moon hung low over the tower, glowing like molten silver dipped in blood.
The air trembled — alive, pulsing — every breath filled with the hum of divine and cursed power.
Gauri stood at the edge of the Love Tower, her hair fluttering in the wind, eyes glimmering with awe.
The moon's reflection shimmered across her face, and her fingertips trembled as she raised her hand toward it.
"So close…" she whispered. "I can feel its pull."
She took a step forward. The moonlight bent toward her, a silver stream wrapping around her hand like silk threads.
Her fingers were inches away from touching it — from sealing her fate —
When suddenly—
A hand caught her wrist.
The touch was firm, desperate.
She gasped and turned — only to find Vihaan, standing behind her, his eyes glowing a fierce red, his expression shadowed with intensity and fear.
"Gauri!" he rasped, pulling her back sharply.
She stumbled against his chest, her heart slamming into his. For a heartbeat, the world went still —
the storm froze,
the moon dimmed,
and their eyes met.
His breath brushed against her skin, hot and ragged, his grip unrelenting as if he'd been running across lifetimes to reach her.
"Are you mad?" Vihaan whispered, his voice trembling between anger and relief. "Do you even know what you were about to do?"
Gauri's voice faltered. "Vihaan… you—how did you—"
"I told you," he said, his gaze burning into hers. "Our hearts… they'll always lead me to you."
Their eyes locked — his filled with raw determination, hers with unspoken emotion.
The red in his irises flickered like fire meeting moonlight, while the glow of the eclipse reflected in hers like liquid divinity.
For a moment, time folded into stillness — two souls standing at the edge of destiny, caught between life, death, and love.
The Mystic Forest of Answers
Mist drifted low across the Mystic Forest, where ancient trees stood like silent witnesses of forgotten eras. Their stumps — a thousand of them — lay scattered in patterns only the divine could understand. Moonlight filtered weakly through the canopy, bathing the clearing in silver-blue haze.
Pratham Vanshi stood at the center of the forest, her eyes glowing faintly with divine energy. Around her, the other women of the lineage chanted softly, the echoes of their prayers rippling through the still air.
But no vision came. No whisper of guidance.
Pratham Vanshi frowned, frustration shadowing her serene face. "These trees once spoke to our foremothers," she murmured. "Why do they stay silent now?"
She raised her hands, summoning streams of celestial light that scanned the forest — but every chopped trunk remained lifeless, mute.
Finally, she knelt, folding her hands in prayer.
> "O Mahadev… show me the way. Reveal to us the truth hidden in this silence."
Just then, a soft fluttering filled the air. A white butterfly — glowing with silvery radiance — descended slowly from the darkness, circling around her before landing gracefully upon her palm.
Pratham Vanshi's eyes widened. "A sign…" she whispered.
The butterfly shimmered — and in a burst of silver light, it transformed into Charvi, falling weakly into Pratham Vanshi's arms.
"Nani…" Charvi breathed, her voice trembling.
"Charvi!" Pratham Vanshi exclaimed, holding her close. Relief flooded her eyes as she looked upward. "Thank you, Mahadev… you have sent the answer through my granddaughter."
Charvi steadied herself, still dazed. "I—I don't know how it happened," she said softly. "Veer tried to grab me… and suddenly I turned into butterflies. I didn't even think — it just happened."
A faint smile touched Pratham Vanshi's lips. "It has begun," she said knowingly. "Every member of the Pratham Vansh is born with a unique divine gift — one beyond visions. Yours, my child, has finally awakened."
The other women looked on in awe as Pratham Vanshi continued, her voice filled with purpose.
"We are here to uncover the truth — to learn who our new enemy is and what dark power they possess. You can help us, Charvi. You are the light this forest was waiting for."
Charvi took a deep breath, turning toward the endless stumps around her. "Then let me try."
She walked forward slowly, the air humming around her. Closing her eyes, she pressed her hand against one of the ancient trunks.
Her forehead began to glow, and a faint trident symbol—shining silver—appeared beneath her palm.
Charvi opened her eyes. "Nani… the answer lies in a tree that bears this mark."
Pratham Vanshi nodded, awe softening her expression. "Then search we shall."
The women scattered through the forest, their torches flickering as they began checking each chopped tree —
and with every one that bore no mark, the forest grew quieter, as if holding its breath…
waiting for the one that would finally speak the truth.