NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37: Ch 36
Chapter 36: The Road to Valabhi
The journey to the Valabhi had been long and treacherous, stretching over two months, and the road seemed to stretch endlessly before them. The group had traveled through dense forests, across vast plains, and over jagged mountain ranges. Every step was a reminder of the distance they had covered—and the dangers they had escaped.
The sun dipped low as they finally approached the town, the silhouette of the distant buildings just beginning to emerge from the horizon. But the journey had not been without its hardships. Tara could still feel the exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders from the past weeks, though she tried not to show it. Her mind, always vigilant, kept her alert even as her body longed for rest.
The most recent trial had come when they crossed the river—a massive, winding waterway that had been swollen with the rains. Their horses had struggled against the current, and more than once, Tara had feared they would be swept away. Yet, somehow, they had made it across, though Aryan had nearly lost his footing when the water surged unexpectedly.
As they traveled on, Tara couldn't help but notice the strain in Aryan's usual playful demeanor. Though he tried to mask it, his movements were slower, more deliberate. He had been acting strangely ever since the ambush that had almost cost him his life.
Aryan, in his Aria guise, had been cornered by the remnants of the Sect's followers in the town they passed through. He had been poisoned with a rare toxin that attacked the body's vital functions, rendering him weak and unable to defend himself effectively.
The others had found him barely conscious, the poison already working its way through his veins. Tara had used what little magic she could to stabilize him, but it had been a close call.
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The memory still lingered in the back of Tara's mind as she glanced at Aryan now, his white hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, his eyes carefully scanning their surroundings. The faint lines of exhaustion beneath his eyes were the only signs of his ordeal, but Tara knew better than to underestimate the toll it had taken on him.
"How are you holding up?" Tara asked, her voice low but concerned.
Aryan flashed her a grin, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm fine," he said, his voice lacking its usual mirth. "Just a bit tired, is all."
Tara didn't believe him, but she didn't press further. Instead, she focused on the path ahead. She could feel the weight of the journey in her bones, the weariness of long days without rest, and the constant tension of knowing that they were being hunted.
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In the evenings, when the group made camp, the silence was often broken only by the sounds of crackling firewood and the soft whispers of the wind. There were times when Tara would catch Samudra's amber eyes watching her, his gaze intense yet unreadable. She had become accustomed to his presence, but there was still something unsettling about his silence, as though he carried an unspoken burden that he refused to share.
Azeus, in his now frequent small, cat-like form, would curl up beside Tara during the nights, his body warm against hers. His presence, though silent, was comforting, and it gave her a small sense of solace in the midst of the chaos that surrounded them.
But it was Aryan's quiet moments of reflection that often caught her attention. He had a way of retreating into himself when things grew too heavy, and Tara had noticed that he was more distant than usual. His usual teasing had been replaced with long bouts of silence, and his eyes often seemed distant, as though lost in thought.
She knew that the poison still affected him, that it had left its mark on him in ways that even his lighthearted demeanor couldn't mask. But as they neared the town, there was something else on his mind, something more pressing than just his recovery.
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The mountains they had crossed were unforgiving, their jagged peaks looming overhead like silent sentinels. The paths were narrow, winding, and treacherous, and it was only by sheer determination that the group had made it through. But it was the night they had spent on the mountainside that truly tested their limits.
The wind howled through the mountain pass, its icy fingers biting into their skin, leaving them chilled to the bone. Their tents had been set up haphazardly, and Samudra, despite his injuries, had insisted on keeping watch. Tara had offered to take his place, but he had refused, his stubbornness still as strong as ever.
The night air was thick with the scent of pine and snow, and the distant sound of wolves howling echoed through the valley below. Tara couldn't sleep. Her mind kept racing, replaying the events of the past few weeks—the battles, the close calls, and the ever-present threat of the Sect.
She hadn't realized she had drifted toward Samudra until he spoke. His voice was low, rough with exhaustion. "You should get some rest," he said, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "We'll be in the town soon enough."
Tara hesitated, the words she wanted to say caught in her throat. Instead, she simply nodded and sat beside him, her back against the cold stone of the mountain.
"During the battle...I...I'm sorry for not acting fast. I almost got all of us killed. It'sall my fault. If i ued my powers even a little bit earlier you and others wouldn't have got hurt," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Samudra turned to her, his amber eyes glowing softly in the moonlight. "It's alright, I've been there. Sometimes, it gets hard to choose between two paths. You just have to keep moving forward."
Tara didn't respond, her mind still swirling with guilt. But for a moment, she let the silence settle between them, the weight of her thoughts eased by his presence.
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As the group descended the final stretch of the mountains, the terrain began to level out, and the town of Valabhi came into view. It was a strange sight—on one hand, the town looked almost serene, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. But Tara knew better. She could feel the tension in the air, the undercurrent of unrest that had built up since their arrival.
It would only be a matter of time before the Sect would retaliate.
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As they approached the town's gates, the distant sound of drums reached their ears. The celebration of Ram Navami was already underway, the town's people gathered in the streets, their faces glowing with a mixture of joy and relief. But Tara couldn't shake the feeling that something was off—too much had happened, and the celebrations felt like a fleeting moment of normalcy before the storm.
The weight of their journey was clear in their eyes, but the townspeople were too caught up in the festivities to notice. It was a strange contrast—the calm before the storm.
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