Chapter 1

  In the pale golden light of the morning, Malbar City was slowly waking up. The city, surrounded by tall stone walls, iron gates, and guild flags fluttering in the wind—everything reflected strength and discipline.

  In the center of the city stood the grand Adventure Guild building. Old battles were carved into its walls, and a sword and shield emblem gleamed on the main door. From inside, laughter, discussions of mission contracts, and the clanging of steel weapons could be heard.

  In the Guild Square, a large Mission Board was displayed.

  “Rank C Quest!”

  “Escort Mission!”

  “Danger Level — High!”

  Young adventurers eagerly chose their missions. Some were dreaming of earning a new Guild Badge, while others were filled with determination to increase their Rank.

  A short distance from the Guild, Malbar Market bustled. The scent of fresh bread, the sound of the blacksmith’s hammer, merchants shouting, and the faint blue glow of Mana Lamps—the city was alive.

  The Guild Square of Malbar City was bustling as usual. Adventurers lined up in front of the Mission Board. Some argued for a Rank B quest, while others hurried to grab a high-reward mission.

  A little away from the crowd, he stood.

  The C-Rank badge on his jacket glimmered faintly in the morning light. The badge was not new—it was slightly scratched, worn. Just like him… calm but experienced. Kartik.

  A simple sword was strapped to his waist. No royal design, no special enchantment. Just a weapon he trusted.

  The silver locket around his neck was different. Simple-looking… but he held it tightly from time to time, as if it held answers from his past.

  He was standing, looking toward the Guild door.

  He was waiting for someone.

  As the massive doors of the Guild slowly opened, the crowd stirred slightly.

  Two girls came out.

  One of them… was exceptionally beautiful.

  Her soft, well-proportioned face shone in the morning light. Fair, clear complexion. Adventurer’s attire—but of excellent quality, neat, with a royal touch. Her walk exuded confidence, and her face had a calm, refined radiance.

  She was chatting lightly with her friend as they walked.

  But for Kartik… the world stopped at that moment.

  His gaze fixed on her.

  His breath grew heavy.

  His eyes slowly widened—a mixture of surprise, pain, and disbelief.

  She… looked exactly the same.

  As if a memory cherished in the deepest corner of his heart had come alive.

  He saw a unique radiance in her eyes—familiar… yet impossible.

  A word slipped from his lips unconsciously—

  “…Roshni.”

  His voice was so soft it got lost in the crowd.

  Roshni…

  That was the name of his wife from his previous life.

  And the girl standing in front of him—just like her. Face, eyes, walk… exactly the same.

  Tears of joy welled up in Kartik’s eyes.

  For a moment, he felt—had fate given him another chance?

  He hurriedly wiped his eyes. Looked around. Nobody saw him… right?

  He looked up to see her again—

  But… she was gone.

  The crowd was the same.

  Guild Square was as busy as ever.

  But she… had vanished.

  Kartik’s heart raced.

  Was it just an illusion?

  Then his gaze went to the right.

  She was walking through the crowd.

  Without a moment’s delay, he followed her.

  A different kind of joy was on his face—as if something lost was about to be found again.

  Weaving through the bustling market, he reached her.

  He lightly grabbed her hand.

  She turned in surprise.

  For a few moments, their eyes met.

  There was a tremor in Kartik’s voice, but he spoke clearly—

  “Sorry… I just stopped suddenly… I wanted to say a few words to you.”

  A light murmur passed through the surrounding crowd.

  She looked at him for a moment.

  Her gaze was stern… but not completely.

  As if she was evaluating him.

  “Your Rank?” she asked directly.

  “C-Rank.”

  Someone in the crowd chuckled softly.

  Her face remained expressionless.

  “I’m A-Rank.”

  There was coldness in her voice—a distance beyond pride.

  “And you’re holding my hand?”

  Kartik remained calm.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  She was looking into his eyes.

  She expected him to avert his gaze… to falter… to think less of himself.

  But he stood firm.

  No insecurity in his eyes.

  Only a deep, unwavering calm.

  For a moment, confusion arose in her mind.

  “Do you even recognize me?” her voice grew a little harsh.

  “My name? My level? Any information?”

  “No.” Kartik said calmly.

  A moment of silence spread in the air.

  “Then don’t act childish. Know your place.”

  The words were harsh.

  But as she turned, her fingers on his hand loosened slightly.

  Her friend murmured—

  “Arina… did you have to be so harsh?”

  Arina was about to say something… but remained silent.

  Kartik watched them leave.

  No insult on his face.

  No anger.

  Only calm.

  “At least give a reason…” he said.

  Arina paused for a moment.

  Without looking back, she said—

  “You’re C-Rank. That’s enough.”

  She walked on.

  But a question lingered in her mind—

  Why did she feel such familiarity in that boy’s eyes?

  As if they… had known each other from before.

  At that moment, a boy ran through the crowd—Kartik’s friend Luk.

  “Kartik!” he called.

  In an instant, he grabbed Kartik’s ear.

  “What were you doing?”

  Before Kartik could speak, he understood the situation—the A-Rank Adventurer girl, the murmuring crowd, the tense atmosphere.

  He gently pulled Kartik away.

  “Sorry,” he said, looking at the girls.

  The crowd gradually cleared.

  The two walked ahead.

  The girl took a few steps forward…

  Then glanced back slightly.

  Kartik was no longer in sight.

  “Strange…” her friend said softly.

  She didn’t speak further.

  She had never liked anyone approaching her just by seeing her strength.

  And she never accepted anyone reaching her hidden weaknesses.

  But that boy…

  He had not shown any sign of being impressed by her A-Rank status.

  And even with insult, he did not break.

  There was something different in his eyes.

  That unknowingly unsettled her.

  Meanwhile, Luk, walking away from the crowd, was still irritated.

  “Stay within limits,” he muttered.

  “She’s A-Rank. We’re still C-Rank. Understand reality.”

  Kartik walked calmly.

  A slight smile appeared on his lips.

  “Yes,” he said.

  Kartik walked…

  Memories of the past came before his eyes—

  {The orange light of the evening.

  A simple but warm house.

  The door slowly opens.

  He—Kartik of the previous life—returns home, tired but satisfied.

  “You’re here!” a sweet voice echoes through the house.

  She stands at the door.

  Roshni.

  That same gentle smile on her face. Affection in her eyes. Simple saree attire… but her presence lights up the home.

  A small foot runs in.

  “Papa!”

  A little girl clings to his leg.

  He sits down, lifts her, runs his hand through her hair.

  And gives her a doll.

  After a while, the three sit on the ground eating.

  Roshni smiles at him.

  “Come home a little sooner,” she says softly.

  He looks at her and replies—

  “Yes, my lady, anything for you.”

  Laughter in the house. Satisfaction. Love. A complete, happy family.

  And suddenly— The scene begins to blur.}

  Kartik returns to the present.

  Kartik and Luk finally reached their residence.

  As they opened the door, a voice called—

  “Why did it take you two so long?”

  In the middle of the room, Om, their party leader, stood with his hands on his chest. A slight irritation was visible on his face.

  Luk replied angrily—

  “It’s all his fault. He caused a scene in the market. Good thing I arrived on time… who knows what could have happened otherwise.”

  Lucy stepped forward in surprise.

  “Why? What did he do?”

  Luk took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

  “Arina Bold was there. Daughter of the District Security General. A-Rank.”

  He paused and continued—

  “And this idiot stopped her in the middle of the street and started talking.”

  Suddenly, silence spread in the room.

  Kartik’s eyes widened.

  “What?! She was the General’s daughter? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

  Luk gave him an angry look.

  “Because I didn’t know you could be so reckless.”

  Rose asked softly, a little shy—

  “So… what did she say?”

  Kartik’s gaze dropped to the floor.

  His hands unconsciously clenched.

  For a moment, he said nothing.

  Then, in a calm but broken voice, he said—

  “She… refused to talk.”

  No one spoke.

  Only silence filled the room.

  And suddenly—

  Lucy couldn’t hold back her laughter.

  She laughed out loud.

  “You… her hand?!” she said, laughing, “That too in the market!”

  Seeing her, Luk also laughed.

  Om, too, let go of his stern expression and smiled slightly.

  The atmosphere in the room lightened.

  Rose, however, smiled softly with her hand on her lips.

  But for a moment, a faint jealousy flashed in her eyes.

  She didn’t understand why she felt that way.

  Perhaps because Kartik had never looked at her that way.

  Or perhaps… she was paying a little too much attention to him.

  Kartik stood, looking slightly embarrassed.

  Then he took a deep breath.

  And he laughed too.

  “Alright, alright,” he said, “enough now.”

  A few moments passed like this.

  After a while, everyone sat around a large wooden table.

  A detailed map was spread on the table.

  Around it were old reference books, a quill pen, marks made in red ink, and scattered notes.

  The atmosphere had completely changed.

  No laughter.

  No lightness.

  Only seriousness.

  Om pointed at the map and said—

  “Today, we need to survey this area.”

  He tapped on a circled area.

  “Here. I’m sure… something dark is happening here.”

  Lucy, thoughtfully, said—

  “Many travelers have said—while passing through this area, a strange, loud sound is heard. But after that sound… they don’t remember what happened.”

  Luk added firmly—

  “Not just the sound. Many people have disappeared. B-Rank and A-Rank parties went to investigate… but found nothing on return.”

  Rose, calmly but firmly, said—

  “We are an A-Rank party. This is our responsibility. We must go there ourselves to investigate.”

  In an instant, Kartik stood from his chair.

  His voice mixed with fear and anger—

  “What did you say? We’re going there? Absolutely not! People are disappearing… and you think this is a joke? Cancel this plan immediately!”

  Om looked at him sternly.

  “We won’t stop because of what you say,” he said firmly.

  “Tonight we’re going there. And you’re coming with us.”

  Kartik’s mood instantly changed.

  He theatrically went to Rose’s side and rested his head on her lap.

  “What? Nooo!” he pretended to cry.

  “Rose, explain to him… we’re going straight to the Black Forest!”

  Rose smiled lightly.

  She patted his hair.

  “Nothing will happen. We’re all together. Have some courage… I’m here.”

  Kartik slowly calmed down.

  Then—

  Luk shouted,

  “You’re the one spoiling him! Because of you, he’s still acting childish!”

  “Enough,” Lucy intervened.

  “Drama over. Final decision—we leave tonight at twelve.”

  She pointed out the next path on the map.

  “Cross Voltern Valley… we enter the Night Forest.”

  The two names alone made the atmosphere heavy.

  Voltern Valley—where the fog never fully lifts.

  Night Forest—where sunlight is said never to reach the ground.

  Silence spread in the room once again.

  Midnight.

  They crossed Voltern Valley and entered the dark, dense Night Forest.

  Tall trees reached the sky, crooked branches intertwined in the air, mist spread on the ground…

  In the distance, the faint sounds of wild animals could be heard.

  The environment was terrifying, mysterious, and unusually quiet.

  Following the planned strategy, the three—Kartik, Rose, and Luk—moved forward slowly.

  Suddenly—

  A huge shadow of wings passed over them.

  Kartik looked up in fear.

  “Luk! Did you bring me here to get me killed?” he shouted in fear and surprise.

  Luk gritted his teeth and calmly said,

  “Stay quiet, nothing will happen.”

  At that moment, a giant monstrous bird lunged at them.

  Rose immediately raised her hands.

  “When the vapor in the air freezes, taking the form of crystals…

  I summon that icy power!

  Let my words manifest,

  And bind the enemy in ice!

  — Stambhanam!”

  A blue, cold wave spread in the air.

  The bird froze mid-air, its wings flapped, unable to move.

  Luk raised his dual blades.

  A swift strike.

  Then another.

  The frozen bird shattered and fell to the ground.

  For a few moments, silence spread.

  They continued moving forward.

  The path was filled with obstacles—many monsters stood in their way.

  The glint of swords.

  The chanting of magic spells.

  Terrifying battles.

  In a short time, they defeated all.

  The forest grew darker, more mysterious, and uncertain.

  Rose suddenly stopped.

  Her eyes searched behind a bush.

  Luk advanced cautiously.

  And a short distance ahead, the scene appeared—Lucy and Om were already there.

  Luk’s tension slowly eased.

  Everyone sat together in a wooden trap-like area.

  A small campfire burned in the center, around which they stood.

  They began to talk about the previous struggles and experiences, sharing information.

  Rose spoke softly, cautiously—

  “I feel something strange… it seems all these monsters are running from someone… but from whom?”

  Lucy nodded, thinking a bit—

  “Yes… we also faced many monsters on the way. Something unusual is happening.”

  Om spoke seriously—

  “Something strange is definitely going on. This is not easy.”

  Luk narrowed his eyes, voice firm—

  “Whatever it is… we continue forward. Whatever happens—we stay together.”

  Om took a deep breath.

  He looked at the campfire, his face lightly warm in the flickering light.

  “Hmm…” he said.

  Then suddenly—

  The air changed.

  Heavy.

  Suffocating.

  As if some evil force was watching their every move.

  Shadows in the light of the campfire stretched into long, strange shapes.

  A cold gust suddenly passed through the branches.

  Kartik’s feet froze.

  He whispered to himself—

  “What… is happening?”

  Rose looked at him. Her eyes mixed concern and caution.

  Lucy and Om also breathed lightly.

  Luk’s hands tightened slightly on his sword.

  To be continued......