Aamir's eyes would often gleam with a fierce determination as he recalled his father's tales of bravery. Karn, his father, had been an exceptional swordsman, renowned for his unwavering courage in the face of danger. Aamir's desire to emulate his father's prowess burned brighter with each passing day.
Even now, as he sat beneath a towering neem tree at the edge of Purushottampuri's southern market, he could hear his father's voice in his mind—calm, steady, full of quiet resolve.
"Courage isn't about being fearless, Aamir. It's about standing tall even when fear claws at your heart."
As a child, Aamir would listen with rapt attention as his father recounted the events of that fateful day fifteen years ago. The day when beasts had descended upon five major cities, leaving destruction and chaos in their wake. Valtania's Wyndham, Kyokai's Katsur, Zhonghua's Shaanxi, and Valkoria's Valois had all been targeted. Aryavrata, too, had been affected, though the specifics of the attack remained shrouded in mystery.
His father never spoke much about what happened in Aryavrata. There was a lingering sadness in Karn's eyes whenever that part of the story approached—as though he carried a burden he could never fully share.
Aamir's family had been living in Vedangiri at the time, but they had been forced to flee during the invasion, settling in Purushottampuri. It was here that Aamir was born and where he would grow up, fueled by a relentless desire to become a great swordsman like his father.
Karn had been a member of the Hunter's Guild—an esteemed organization dedicated to protecting the realm from the ever-present threat of beasts. His father's tales of the guild, of camaraderie and sacrifice, were etched into Aamir's heart.
One memory stood out more vividly than any other.
"Aamir," his father had said one night by the fireside, "strength is not in the blade. It is in the will. The spirit must remain unyielding, even when the body fails."
Karn had been part of a team tasked with eliminating beasts that terrorized travelers on the route between Purushottampuri and Vedic City. The jungles of Vedika were home to numerous threats, including a Specter-level creature that had been wreaking havoc on unsuspecting travelers.
The mission had been a desperate one. Karn and his team devised a plan to distract the Specter-level beast while the others evacuated civilians. Though the plan succeeded, Karn had ultimately succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a grieving family.
That loss forged Aamir's resolve. He spent every spare moment practicing swordplay beneath the same neem tree, the worn hilt of his training blade often slick with sweat. His movements became faster, sharper—every strike an echo of his father's lessons.
Lost in thought, Aamir barely noticed the wind picking up until the rustling of leaves snapped him back to reality. He turned to see Riya emerging from the underbrush, her brow furrowed with concern.
"Aamir, what's wrong?" she asked, noticing the faraway look in his eyes.
Aamir shook his head, clearing the fog of memory. "Nothing, Riya. Just thinking about my father."
Riya's expression softened. "You miss him, don't you?"
Aamir nodded, his throat tightening. "I do. But I know he'd want me to keep moving forward. To become the best swordsman I can be."
Riya offered a gentle smile, her eyes shimmering with encouragement. "You will, Aamir. I have no doubt about it."
Aamir's jaw set, determination flaring in his gaze. "I won't let you down, Riya. Or my father."
Together, the two friends stood beneath the ancient tree, their bond stronger than ever. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the clearing.
But their moment of tranquility shattered in an instant.
A bloodcurdling roar split the air. Branches snapped as a massive figure surged through the trees—a Specter-level beast, its eyes burning with unnatural hunger.
Its gnarled hide shimmered with a dark sheen. Long, sinewy limbs ended in claws sharp enough to rend steel. A maw lined with jagged teeth dripped with venom.
Riya's breath caught in her throat. "Aamir—!"
The beast's gaze locked onto her. Muscles coiled, it lunged with terrifying speed.
Aamir's instincts screamed. Time seemed to slow.
"Move!"
He darted forward, sword half-drawn, but he was a heartbeat too late. The beast's massive paw slammed into Riya's side, hurling her across the clearing.
She hit the ground hard, pain exploding through her ribs. Gasping, she tried to rise, but her left arm throbbed with blinding agony—possibly dislocated.
"Riya!" Aamir's voice was raw with panic.
His heart pounded like a war drum. A strange sensation crawled beneath his skin—fire seeking release. His vision narrowed, the world reduced to the beast and Riya's crumpled form.
"Not again. I won't lose someone again."
Aamir clenched his fists, breathing ragged. Something deep within him cracked open.
A strange, unsettling energy erupted from his body. His aura, once a faint hum, swirled into a tempest. The air vibrated with an unnatural pulse, the ground trembling beneath his feet.
Riya gasped as the atmosphere grew suffocatingly heavy. Aamir's warm brown eyes darkened, swirling with a primal force. She reached out, but a wave of unseen pressure sent her sprawling.
"Aamir…?" her voice was small, laced with dread.
The beast hesitated, instincts screaming that something had changed. But curiosity—and hunger—drove it forward.
Aamir's aura surged. Shadows twisted, the air crackling with invisible force.
With an inhuman roar, Aamir lunged. His sword gleamed with dark energy as it cleaved through the air.
The beast barely had time to react. Aamir struck with blistering speed, blade biting deep into its flank. Black ichor sprayed across the clearing.
But the beast retaliated. Claws raked Aamir's shoulder, tearing through cloth and flesh. He didn't flinch. The pain was distant, drowned beneath the torrent of power coursing through him.
Riya watched, wide-eyed, as Aamir fought like a man possessed—faster, stronger than any human should be.
But the strain was immense.
Aamir's body trembled. Veins bulged beneath his skin. His breath came in ragged gasps.
"Too much... can't... hold it..."
His next strike felled the beast. With a final, guttural howl, it collapsed—lifeless.
The world tilted. Aamir swayed, vision blurring.
And then—darkness.
He crumpled to the ground, unconscious. His power faded like a dying star, leaving only a faint, pulsing glow.
Riya forced herself upright, ribs screaming. She crawled to his side, tears blurring her vision.
"Aamir… please… wake up…"
Before she could gather her thoughts, the sound of rushing footsteps filled the air. A squad of guards burst into the clearing, swords drawn.
The clang of armored boots echoed ominously.
The guards froze at the sight: a colossal beast corpse, blackened and still smoking. And beside it—a young man, radiating an eerie glow.
The captain narrowed his eyes. "What the hell happened here?"
Riya struggled to her feet, wincing. "Wait! Please—he's not a monster!"
The guards hesitated, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.
One guard whispered, "Did he do that… alone?"
The captain frowned. "We can't be sure. But a power like that—if uncontrolled—it's a danger."
Riya's heart pounded. She couldn't let them take Aamir—not after what he'd just done.
She straightened, voice trembling but firm. "A beast attacked us. Aamir defended me. He saved my life!"
The captain's gaze remained hard. "And yet he lies there, radiating power beyond human limits."
One younger guard shifted uneasily. "But Captain… the girl's right. The beast is dead. He might've saved her."
The captain exhaled sharply. "Even so, protocol demands caution. We take him in. For everyone's safety."
Riya's eyes widened in alarm. "No, you can't! He's not dangerous—he's confused! If you take him now, you'll only make things worse."
The captain hesitated, seeing the desperation in her eyes.
Another guard murmured, "Captain… perhaps we should wait. Assess the situation."
But duty warred with caution. The captain signaled. "Prepare to restrain him. Carefully."
Riya's body screamed in protest, but she planted herself between Aamir and the advancing guards.
"If you take him," she said, voice shaking, "you'll turn him into exactly what you fear."
The captain scowled. "Stand aside, girl."
_"No." Riya's voice rose. "You'll have to go through me first."
The guards faltered, taken aback by her resolve.
For a tense moment, no one moved.
Finally, the captain sighed. "Very well. We'll wait—until he wakes. But know this—if he so much as twitches wrong, we act."
Riya sagged with relief. She knelt beside Aamir, clutching his hand.
_"I'm here," she whispered. "You're not alone."
And as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the clearing, the fate of one boy—and perhaps much more—hung in the balance.
Chapter End.