"Who dares to disturb the sanctity of this forest?" boomed Varaha, the divine protector. "We mean no harm! We are travelers seeking passage," Arsh called out, his voice unwavering. "We believe in kindness and protection of all beings."
As Arsh and his friends ventured into the dense forest that connected to Shrunkala village, the atmosphere grew tense. The forest, known as Krishivrigha, was infamous for its demons and cruel animals. Arsh, ever vigilant, couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed.
"Something's not right," Arsh murmured, halting in his tracks. His eyes scanned the surrounding trees and undergrowth.
Ashwin, sensing Arsh's unease, turned as well. "Do you see anything?" he asked, readying himself for a potential threat.
Suddenly, from behind a large tree, a small demon emerged. The demon, barely the height of a young child, had a look of desperation in his eyes. Ashwin, quick to act, prepared to attack, but the demon made no move to defend himself.
"Wait," Arsh commanded, stopping Ashwin's attack. The demon's lack of reaction intrigued him.
The small demon, trembling, spoke in a pleading voice, "Please, I beg your pardon for following you. My parents and I are the lowest of demons. We are starving. Can you spare us some food?"
Arsh's initial suspicion melted into empathy. He could see the desperation in the demon's eyes. "You're just a child," he said softly. "And your family is starving?"
The demon nodded, tears welling up. "Yes, we have nothing to eat. I was hoping... maybe you could share some food with us."
Arsh turned to his friends. "We have enough to share. Let's help them."
Mira, always compassionate, was the first to offer her food. "Here," she said, handing over a portion of her provisions. Raj and Aditya followed suit, each giving half of their food to the demon child.
Ashwin, still cautious but moved by the demon's plight, also contributed. "Take this to your family," he said. "And tell them to stay hidden. This forest is dangerous."
The demon child took the food, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you, thank you all. May you be blessed for your kindness."
Arsh watched as the small demon disappeared back into the forest, his heart heavy with the knowledge of the suffering that even demons endured. "We must be careful," he said to his friends. "This forest holds many secrets and many dangers. But compassion is our greatest strength."
As they resumed their journey, the act of kindness lingered in their minds, reminding them that even in the darkest places, humanity—or in this case, demons—could still shine through. After a few hours of trekking through the dense forest, the group decided to rest for a while. They found a small clearing surrounded by towering trees, providing a semblance of safety. Arsh, feeling particularly weary, lay down on the soft grass and closed his eyes, hoping to recharge his energy.
As he drifted into sleep, a vivid dream took hold of him. In the dream, he found himself standing in a desolate landscape, surrounded by flickering flames. In the center of the inferno stood a man, his figure shadowed by the intense light. The man turned to Arsh, his eyes burning with an otherworldly fire. Just as he was about to speak, Arsh jolted awake, drenched in sweat.
His friends, noticing his abrupt awakening, gathered around him with concern. "Arsh, what happened?" Mira asked, her voice filled with worry.
Arsh shook his head, trying to dispel the lingering images from his mind. "Nothing happened," he said, forcing a smile. "Just a dream."
Ashwin, skeptical, pressed further. "Are you sure? It looked like you were in distress."
Arsh took a deep breath, not wanting to burden his friends with his visions. "I'm fine. Let's keep moving. We need to reach Shrunkala village before nightfall."
Reluctantly, his friends nodded and began to pack up their belongings. Arsh's mind, however, remained on the mysterious man in his dream. Who was he? And why did these visions keep haunting him? He knew he couldn't ignore them forever, but for now, their journey had to continue.
### Chapter 26: The Divine Boar
After their brief rest, the group continued their journey through the forest. The canopy above thickened, allowing only slivers of sunlight to pierce through, casting a mystical glow on the forest floor. Arsh, still preoccupied with his earlier dream, decided he needed a different perspective.
"Aditya," Arsh called out to his dragon companion. "Can you enlarge? I want to fly and clear my mind for a bit."
Aditya, understanding Arsh's need, transformed into his larger form. "Climb on, everyone," he said. "Let's take to the skies."
Arsh, Ashwin, Mira, and Raj clambered onto Aditya's back. With a powerful flap of his wings, Aditya lifted off the ground, soaring above the forest. The view from above was breathtaking, with the lush greenery stretching as far as the eye could see.
As they flew, Arsh began to feel a sense of freedom, the wind rushing past him. However, their flight was abruptly halted by an invisible force. Aditya struggled to move forward, his wings beating against an unseen barrier.
"What's happening?" Mira shouted, clinging tightly to Aditya.
Aditya strained against the force. "I don't know. Something powerful is stopping us."
Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice echoed through the air, like the call of a boar. Arsh's eyes widened in recognition. "Could it be?" he murmured to himself. Louder, he said, "I've heard about a divine boar in this forest that protects nature."
The voice grew louder, and the force holding Aditya back became more intense. "Who dares to disturb the sanctity of this forest?" the voice demanded.
Arsh, realizing they had encountered a guardian spirit, shouted into the wind, "We mean no harm! We are travelers seeking passage through the forest to reach Shrunkala village."
The force seemed to relax slightly, and the voice responded, "I am Varaha, the divine protector of these woods. Why should I allow you to pass?"
Arsh took a deep breath and replied, "We respect nature and seek only safe passage. We have no intention of causing harm. In fact, we aided a demon child and his starving family earlier. We believe in kindness and protection of all beings."
There was a moment of silence, then the force holding Aditya dissipated. A majestic boar, glowing with divine energy, appeared in the sky before them. Varaha, the divine boar, examined them with wise, piercing eyes.
"You speak the truth," Varaha said. "I sense no malice in your hearts. You may pass, but remember to honor and protect the natural world."
Arsh bowed his head in respect. "Thank you, Varaha. We will honor your wisdom and protect nature wherever we go."
With a final nod, Varaha disappeared, and Aditya was free to fly again. The group continued their journey through the skies, the encounter with the divine boar leaving a profound impact on them.
As the divine boar, Varaha, vanished from sight, the group felt a profound sense of awe and relief. Aditya, the dragon, slowly descended to the forest floor, his wings beating softly.
"He is the one who protected us before," Aditya murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Arsh looked at him with curiosity. "What do you mean by that, Aditya?"
Aditya sighed, his massive form shrinking down to a more manageable size as they landed. "The aura we felt was incredibly powerful. It drained my energy almost completely. I need to rest and recover before we can continue. Let me explain."
The group settled down in a small clearing, surrounded by towering trees and the sounds of the forest. Aditya took a deep breath and began his story. by saying sloka
[End of Chapter 24]