After crossing the platforms and escaping the maze, they found themselves in a dense section of the forest, where the trees seemed to come alive. Vines moved of their own accord, reaching out to ensnare them. This part of the trial required them to work as a team—Shyama used her blades to cut through the vines, while Bhadra used his wind to blow them away. Dhruva, with his agility, moved ahead, scouting for the safest path, his eyes sharp as he avoided the grasping vines.
The vines seemed almost sentient, reacting to their movements with alarming speed. At one point, Bhadra was caught by a thick vine that wrapped around his leg, pulling him off balance. Shyama quickly intervened, her blades slicing through the vine before it could drag Bhadra away. They exchanged a quick nod, their teamwork seamless.
As they pushed forward, the forest grew darker, the canopy above blocking out most of the sunlight. The air was thick with tension, and every rustle of leaves seemed to carry an ominous whisper. The group moved cautiously, their senses on high alert.
The next challenge they faced was an illusion—one that preyed on their deepest fears. As they stepped into a clearing, the world around them shifted, and each of them was confronted by a vision that seemed all too real. Dhruva saw himself back in his village, surrounded by his family, but they were disappointed in him—telling him that he had failed, that he wasn't strong enough, that he didn't belong at the academy.
Bhadra saw his family in danger, with him unable to protect them despite his strength. Shyama saw herself alone, her siblings lost, and her efforts to find them in vain.
The illusions were overwhelming, each of them struggling to break free from the visions that held them. It was Dhruva, without a divine blessing to distract him, who managed to focus his mind, recognizing that what he was seeing wasn't real. He called out to Shyama and Bhadra, his voice breaking through the illusions.
"It's not real! None of this is real! We have to keep moving!"
His words reached Shyama, who closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she forced herself to see beyond the illusion. The vision around her began to fade, replaced by the dark forest. She grabbed Bhadra's arm, helping him to snap out of his own nightmare.
Together, they pushed forward, the illusions fading as they regained their focus. The clearing seemed to resist their departure, the air thick with a lingering sense of dread, but they pressed on, refusing to be held back.
As they continued, they encountered Viraaj, who had used his strategic mind and the blessing of Brihaspati to navigate the illusions with ease. He was impressed by Dhruva's ability to resist the illusions despite lacking a divine gift. He gave Dhruva an acknowledging nod, recognizing his strength of will.
Further into the forest, they heard a scream—Esha, a fellow participant, was caught in a trap, her leg ensnared by thorny vines that were slowly tightening around her. Without hesitation, Dhruva rushed to her side, using his wooden sword to cut through the vines. Shyama joined in, her blades flashing as they freed Esha.
"Thank you," Esha said, her voice trembling. She looked at Dhruva with gratitude, her eyes reflecting the fear she had felt. "I don't know what I would have done without you."
Dhruva smiled, helping her to her feet. "We're all in this together. Just stay close."
The group continued through the forest, the challenges growing more intense with each step. They faced sections where the ground turned to quicksand, forcing them to move quickly and stay light on their feet. They encountered areas filled with thick fog that disoriented them, making it difficult to tell which way they were going. Through it all, they worked together, their bond growing stronger with each challenge they overcame.
At one point, they reached a series of stone pillars that jutted out from a bubbling swamp. The pillars were spaced unevenly, some rotating while others sank into the swamp only to rise again moments later. The group had to time their jumps perfectly to avoid falling into the murky depths below. Shyama used her perception to guide them, her eyes scanning the movement of the pillars as she called out instructions.
Bhadra leaped from pillar to pillar with ease, his connection to Vayu allowing him to propel himself further. Dhruva, once again relying on his agility, followed closely, his heart pounding as he focused on every jump. One misstep could mean being swallowed by the swamp, and he refused to let that happen.
When they finally reached the other side, they were greeted by another section of the forest, this one filled with strange, glowing flowers. The flowers emitted a soft, ethereal light, but as they moved closer, the flowers began to release a thick, sweet-smelling pollen. The pollen made their heads feel heavy, their vision blurring as the world around them seemed to spin.
Dhruva shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He could see Shyama and Bhadra struggling, their movements sluggish as the pollen took effect. He knew they couldn't stay there—they had to keep moving. He reached for Shyama, pulling her forward, while Bhadra used his wind to create a small gust, blowing the pollen away from their faces.
With great effort, they managed to push through the field of flowers, their heads clearing as they left the pollen behind. They were exhausted, their bodies and minds pushed to their limits, but they refused to give up.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Rudra moved with confidence, his mark from Surya glowing brightly as he used his flames to clear a path. He showed no hesitation, his eyes cold and focused. Keshava, with his blessing from Nandi, was by his side, using his strength to break through obstacles with ease. They moved with an air of superiority, the challenges seeming almost trivial to them.
Alaka moved silently in the shadows, her Moon blessing allowing her to manipulate the darkness around her. She watched Rudra closely, her fascination with him growing as she saw the raw power he wielded without fear or hesitation. There was something about his ruthlessness that drew her in, something that made her want to be by his side, no matter the cost.
As the group reached the heart of the forest, they found a large, ancient tree with glowing symbols etched into its bark—the finish line of the trial. They noticed that only a handful of participants had made it this far, each one showing signs of exhaustion but also determination. The trial had proven to be a harsh test, with many failing to navigate the treacherous obstacles and falling behind. Dhruva, Shyama, and Bhadra arrived together, exhausted but proud. They had faced the challenges of the forest and come out stronger for it.
The instructors stood waiting, their expressions neutral as they took note of the participants who arrived. The trial had tested their strength, their courage, and their unity. For Dhruva, it had been an opportunity to prove that, even without a blessing, he could still fight alongside his friends.
As they stood together, the instructor announced the end of the trial, commending those who had shown not just strength but also resilience and teamwork. Viraaj approached Dhruva, giving him a nod of approval, while Esha smiled at him gratefully.
The Veil of Echoes had tested them in ways they hadn't expected, and it was only the beginning. The academy had more in store for them, and they would need every bit of strength, wit, and courage they had to face what lay ahead.