My footsteps crunched softly over moss-covered roots as I wandered deeper, following no particular direction — only instinct, only quiet. The Astra fog still clung to the trees behind me like a silent warning, but here the forest opened up, breathing wider, calmer.
Then I heard it.
Water.
A soft, rhythmic trickling.
I pushed through a small curtain of silver ferns—
And froze.
In front of me lay a lake so clear it reflected the sky like polished glass. The water shimmered with a faint bluish glow, as if infused with soft moonlight even in daytime. Lilac-colored lotus-like flowers floated silently across its surface, untouched by current or breeze. Small silver fish swirled underneath like ribbons of light. Mist danced harmlessly above the surface, sparkling like stardust.
A single tree arched gracefully over the lake, its leaves a brilliant emerald that seemed to hum faintly with life. The air smelled fresh — not just clean, but pure, like a breath from a world untouched by fear or war.
It didn't just look peaceful.
It looked like somewhere dreams might stop to rest.
Perin relaxed instantly, curling by my feet, tail thumping the grass lightly.
I exhaled slowly.
"...It looks like heaven," I said under my breath.
For a while, I just stood there. I didn't think about the squad. About Astra. About dreams full of Kalkin and blood-red oceans. I just let the silence hold me.
Eventually, I sat near the edge, dipped my fingers slightly into the cool water.
My body relaxed. But my mind? It... stalled. Like it didn't know what to do next.
"What now…?" I murmured.
I wasn't afraid.
But I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.
Rest first. Think later, I decided.
I lay back in the grass, eyes on the sky, mind scrambling to make sense of what happened — the sudden separation, the forest that distorted energy, the quiet.
And slowly, my breathing evened out.
Meanwhile – Outside the Fog The rest of the squads emerged from the Astra mist, dragging in deep breaths.
"Roll call!" Rava ordered sharply.
Names answered back, one after another.
Until…
"Arin?"
Silence.
Goru was the first to notice. His massive shield lowered. "Captain… Arin… he's not here."
Shivani's expression hardened instantly. "What?"
"He was right behind me when we entered the fog," Kavi said nervously. "Then… I didn't sense him."
Riku frowned. "Idiot probably wandered off looking for a snack."
Goru didn't laugh this time. "Not funny."
Shivani clicked her tongue. Damn it.
"Just like I said… Don't wander. But of course…" she muttered under her breath. "…this boy has a talent for getting lost."
She turned to the squads. "We cannot stay idle. We move deeper, but—"
"No," Rava interrupted. "Losing a unit member this early isn't acceptable. Even if he's new."
There was a beat of agreement.
Shivani nodded once and took command.
"Form a temporary camp here. Rava, maintain defensive perimeter. Zeke, scout the surroundings. Tara support from high vantage. We'll leave a signal marker."
She pointed toward Goru, Miran, and Riku.
"You three — with me. We form a search squad."
Riku smirked. "Guess we're babysitting."
"Shut it," Goru grunted.
Miran tightened her gloves. "Hope he didn't get eaten. He looked soft."
A few soldiers muttered prayers.
Kavi clenched his fist silently, looking anxious.
Shivani faced Rava again. "If we're not back in three hours, report to SRO and move with reinforcements."
Rava nodded. "We'll hold."
Shivani exhaled deeply, eyes narrowing toward the fog's direction.
"Let's go. Find him before something else does."
The breeze had grown softer, almost comforting, as fatigue slowly began to pull at my eyelids. I lay back in the grass, trying to calm my breathing, hoping someone would eventually find me… preferably before I started eating weird glowing flowers out of panic.
She's going to be so angry… A faint wince tugged at my face. Shivani would probably yell, hit me with rules again, then call me an idiot in a strangely responsible tone.
I sighed. "She's gonna kill me…"
Perin let out a soft chirr and curled beside me, equally tired.
My gaze drifted back toward the shimmering lake.
That's when it hit.
A sudden pulse.
Like the Astra around me… skipped a beat.
I froze.
A sensation—strange, transient, unnatural—brushed against my skin like ghostly fingers.
Then it vanished.
"Perin…?" I muttered.
The little creature jerked its head up instantly, fur rising, ears twisting in alert. He stared into the treeline beyond the lake, eyes glinting with unease.
Something was there.
I slowly stood.
The trees rustled.
A figure stepped out from between the shadows.
"Arin."
My breath caught.
"…Shivani?"
There she was—standing beneath the arching tree. Armor slightly dusted, expression calm, arms folded. Same posture… same voice.
Relief rushed through me before I could process why she was here alone.
"You got lost," she said with a sigh, sounding mildly annoyed. "Again."
"...Yeah." I scratched my cheek with mild embarrassment. "You found me fast."
She stepped closer.
For a moment, everything seemed normal.
But then…
Perin didn't move toward her.
He backed away, tail puffed out, growling low and dangerous. His body stood between me and… her.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I whispered to him.
He hissed louder.
Shivani's face remained calm.
Too calm.
Her eyes looked… duller. Glossy. Like glass.
Her footsteps made no sound on the grass.
She stopped just a step too close — invading my space in a way Shivani never did.
Then she smiled.
A little too slow.
A little too wide.
"Let's go," she said softly. "Alone. You don't need the others."
Something cold crawled up my spine.
My heart thumped.
"Shivani… where are the others?"
A pause.
Then her tone lowered — voice deeper, hollow.
"Why does it matter… when I already… found you?"
Perin roared — a shocking, feral, explosive sound I'd never heard from him before.
"Back," I muttered, stepping away instinctively.
Her head tilted slightly, as though studying me.
Then… she blinked.
Wrong.
One eye. Then two seconds later, the other.
The illusion cracked.
A faint ripple distorted her features like water on glass.
Her smile… tore wider.
And her neck twitched unnaturally — bending slightly sideways, like a puppet with a loose string.
Her voice lowered into something warped, layered… multiple tones speaking through her.
"Arin… don't run…"
The air pulsed.
Her hand snapped forward—fingers suddenly claw-like, moving unnaturally fast.
Just before it reached my face—
SLASH!
I barely dodged, feeling the wind of it graze past me as Perin leapt, fangs glowing faintly as he intercepted the strike with a furious snarl.
The impact sparked light—
And everything blurred.
The strike missed my face by inches. The air rippled with cold, metallic tension. Perin stood between me and "Shivani," tiny body glowing faintly blue, teeth bared in a snarl that sounded far too deep for something his size.
Then the illusion began to melt.
The figure's outline shivered; her skin turned translucent, her armor dissolving into ripples of water that floated upward and burst into light. Where a soldier had stood now hovered a woman made of liquid radiance. Her hair flowed like a stream, eyes gleaming turquoise, tears and raindrops mixed together on her cheeks.
She whispered, voice trembling. "I failed… Vayushri will take me."
I blinked, chest heaving. "Who are you?"
Her body flickered. "Shweta… spirit of this lake. Bound servant of the Mother. I was ordered to destroy the one who carries the echo. But…" She looked down at her hands, water dripping between her fingers. "I hesitated. Your aura— it frightened me."
The forest went silent except for the ripple of the lake behind her.
She lifted her gaze again, panic blooming in it now. "Please… before she senses my failure. Kill me."
The words hit like a slap. "What?"
"Kill me," she cried, voice breaking into sobs that echoed strangely, half-human, half-water. "If she consumes me, I will not return to the stream. I will cease. Please!"
For a heartbeat I just stared—awkward, confused, completely lost. Perin growled low, tail glowing faintly green, as though warning me not to touch her.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I'm… not killing anyone, okay? Spirits, humans, frogs—doesn't matter. That's not happening."
Her expression twisted between horror and disbelief. "You don't understand. Disobedience to Vayushri is death."
"Then run," I said. "If she's that powerful, she won't expect it. Hide, start over—swim to another lake or whatever you spirits do."
Shweta stared at me as if I'd spoken an impossible language. "Run?"
"Yeah." I crouched a little so we were eye level. "You've been following orders your whole existence. Try not doing that once. You might actually like it."
For a moment, only the sound of the lake answered. Then she began to cry again—but softer now, not in terror but disbelief.
"You… pity me."
I scratched my head. "Maybe. Or maybe I just don't like seeing someone cry when they don't have to."
A faint, broken laugh escaped her—like the sound of rain against glass. She reached out, fingertips brushing my wrist. Where she touched, the water shimmered bright, leaving a tiny glowing mark before fading.
"If she finds me, I will die," she whispered. "But perhaps… if I follow you…"
Her voice trailed off as her form began to dissolve into mist. "The echo in you—it calls to us. To all of us."
And with that, she vanished, the lake rippling outward as if taking a breath.
I stood frozen, Perin hopping onto my shoulder, eyes fixed on the water's surface.
"…She was crying," I muttered. Perin made a soft, almost sympathetic trill.
Meanwhile – Deeper in the Forest The combined squads of Units 3 and 4 pushed through the thinning fog, blades slick with monster ichor. The smell of burnt ozone and crushed leaves filled the air.
"That's the last of the Tier-Fours," Riku said, panting. "They're getting bolder."
"Stay sharp," Shivani ordered, wiping blood from her cheek. "Something's wrong. The readings are too high for this area."
Before anyone could reply, the ground shook. A gust of wind blasted the campfire to embers.
Goru lifted his shield. "Contact—front!"
Trees snapped like twigs. A massive shape stepped into the clearing, black scales reflecting violet light, six burning eyes locked on them.
"T-Tier A," Miran stammered.
No one moved. Even the wind held its breath.
Shivani's knuckles whitened around her weapon. "All units—defensive positions! Don't let it flank!"
The creature roared, and the sound alone shattered branches around them.
Arin, she thought, heart hammering. Where are you?
Back at the Lake I sat by the water's edge again, still staring at the fading ripples.
The forest felt heavier now, colder. Somewhere in my chest a strange ache pulsed where Shweta had touched me, glowing faintly before fading away.
I glanced toward the horizon. No one had come.
"Guess they got lost too, huh?" I said quietly.
Perin looked up at me with wide, alert eyes.
I stood, dusted off my clothes, and sighed. "Come on, partner. Let's find them before they do something stupid."
The little spirit chirped once and leapt to my shoulder.
We turned toward the deep forest. Mist curled around our feet as we stepped forward, unaware that miles away, battle cries and monstrous roars were already shaking the earth.
And from the lake behind us, a faint female voice whispered on the wind— "Run while you still can, Echo-bearer""