Days had passed since Shubhu's encounter with the spirits. He now sat in a dense forest, the towering trees around him whispering secrets through the wind. It was a place untouched by the ruins of cities—at least for now.
He thought back to the spirits. Their presence had been a strange comfort, a glimmer of peace in a world that felt hostile and unforgiving. Yet even with their support, the weight of his guilt remained. He had accepted their contract, but was that enough? Could he truly undo what he had done?
The air here felt charged, alive. There was a different energy in this forest, something that made Shubhu's skin prickle. He had wandered for days, following a path he couldn't see but felt inside. He didn't know where it led, but he kept moving.
As the wind picked up, he saw them again—the spirits. Their soft glow illuminated the shadows beneath the trees. They floated toward him, just as they had in the ruined city, their light like the soft glow of a distant star.
Among them, one spirit stood out, brighter than the rest. It drifted toward him, its presence filling the air with a quiet promise.
"You have accepted our contract," the spirit said, its voice echoing in his mind. "Now, we shall begin."
Shubhu felt a tremor of unease. "What happens now?" he asked.
The spirit's light intensified, casting long shadows around them. "Now, you will change. We will give you the power to protect us—and yourself. But you must be ready for what is to come."
Warmth spread through Shubhu's body. It started slow, then grew, flowing through his veins like liquid light. His skin tingled, his mind fogged. He closed his eyes, letting the energy wash over him.
When he opened them again, the world seemed sharper. The forest felt alive in a way it hadn't before, each leaf and branch humming with quiet power. He touched his face, feeling new contours. His old self was gone.
"You are no longer who you once were," the spirit said, its light softening. "Your face has changed. Your identity is hidden. You can walk freely now, without fear."
Shubhu's heart raced. He wasn't the same man anymore. The spirits had given him a second chance—a new beginning. He wasn't just the scientist who had destroyed worlds. He was someone else now, someone who could perhaps fix the damage he had caused.
"This is your new beginning," the spirit whispered. "Go forward. The journey has just begun."