As darkness descended over Levernagar, Safal ventured deeper into the woods. His spear felt light in his hand, and his heartbeat quickened with the thrill of the unknown. The forest was different at night, alive with unseen dangers and mysterious sounds. Safal's ears were attuned to every rustle in the underbrush, every distant cry of a nocturnal creature.
His goal was clear. He had to find Drago. The stories spoke of a massive, terrifying creature that no one had ever faced and lived to tell the tale. Some said it was part dragon, part beast—an unstoppable force hidden deep within the wilderness. Safal didn't care about the danger. If he could bring down Drago, his brother would know, without a doubt, how strong he had become.
The trees around him thickened, their branches weaving together to form an almost impenetrable canopy. Only slivers of moonlight pierced through, illuminating the path ahead in patches. Safal moved silently, his instincts honed by years of hunting under his uncle's watchful eye. But even Ashish had warned him about these parts of the woods. Few ventured this far, and none had ever spoken of returning from a hunt for Drago.
After what felt like hours of creeping through the forest, Safal suddenly froze. There it was—a massive shadow moving between the trees, almost invisible against the darkness. His breath caught in his throat. The ground trembled slightly beneath his feet as the creature moved closer.
Drago.
It was larger than he had imagined, its silhouette monstrous and its eyes glowing a sinister green in the dim light. Scales that seemed as black as the night covered its massive body, and the air around it felt charged, as though the forest itself feared the beast.
Safal's pulse quickened. This was it. His chance to make his brother proud. His hands tightened around the spear, muscles coiling in anticipation of the strike. He was ready.
Just as he prepared to launch his spear, a sound—barely more than a whisper—cut through the silence.
"Safal…"
He froze. His mind raced, the voice unmistakable. His heart leapt in his chest, pounding with a sudden surge of emotion. It was his brother's voice.
He spun around, searching the shadows. "Brother?" he called out, his voice barely louder than a whisper. His eyes scanned the darkness, but there was no one. Just the trees, the shadows, and the night.
Was it his imagination? The sound of the wind? Safal shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. But he couldn't ignore it. The voice had been real—he knew it.
The Drago growled low in its throat, snapping Safal's attention back to the hunt. The beast was closer now, its eyes locked on him. But Safal hesitated, torn between the hunt and the desperate hope that his brother was somewhere near. For the first time that day, uncertainty crept into his heart.
Unable to shake the feeling, Safal made a choice. With one last glance at the towering beast, he turned and ran, his feet carrying him swiftly through the forest. The sounds of the night followed him, but he did not stop until he reached the edge of the village, breathless and confused.
Had his brother truly returned? Or had the loneliness of the night played tricks on his mind?
Safal stood there, staring into the darkness, unsure of what awaited him next. The hunt was over, but the real mystery was just beginning.