The three were preparing to leave for the forest that morning. With some leftover soup as breakfast, and that stubborn, white cat for occasional scratches, morale was high. Aarin could sense his strength had returned. Just avoiding anything too taxing should do the trick.
Lina and Kian were bickering outside, collecting fruits and preparing flatbreads for a packed lunch. Aarin had grown used to them by now; their voices were just a buzz in the background.
"Mn," he looked down at the cat who kept brushing his leg, "You're not coming. Sit. I said no."
Why did no one ever follow his directions?
He sighed, picking up the feline, and plopped it down on the cot. As it stared at him with its big, manipulative, and evil eyes, he promptly left the hut and let the door shut behind him.
"Shimu isn't coming with us?" Lina said, looking rather disappointed. It took Aarin a moment to realize this 'Shimu' was the cat.
"A name already?" he shook his head, "Getting too attached is not a good idea. And no, it's not going to join us. Aside from the fact that it'd be put in harm's way, it'd also be a nuisance."
"Why Shimu?" Kian interrupted, pouting, "I thought we decided she'll be Chandraanana, the moon-faced beaut- OW OW OW STOP DRAGGING ME!"
And off they went.
Aarin hadn't been in the woods in ages. Despite his hut being right near one, he hadn't had the chance to enjoy it in quite some time. He usually wasn't home, and when he was, he was too tired. Despite the nature of their mission, he couldn't help but feel at peace. The sun shyly filtered through foliage above and painted the ground in splatters of light. Insects and birds alike chirped merrily, a melodious sound without rhyme or reason.
"What are we looking for, exactly?" Lina asked.
"Anything out of the ordinary," Aarin responded with a shrug. "If anything has spiritual energy above the normal, you tell me."
He paused for a moment, considering his words carefully, before speaking once again.
"And a river. We're also looking for a river."
They spent hours scouting the area, only stopping for lunch in the middle. Kian and Lina looked around while Aarin placed detection talismans on trees every few meters, just in case something triggered them. He turned around, dusting his hands, only to realize that Kian had climbed up a tree. Lina stood by and looked up expectantly.
"Do you see it?" she snapped impatiently, banging her fist on the tree.
"Stop shaking me!" Kian cried, his voice muffled by the thick foliage.
Arian crossed his arms, watching them with a raised eyebrow and slight smile. Well, at least they were trying their best, even though they were lucky their squabbling and quacking hadn't attracted unwelcome attention.
"I think I see it!" Kian yelped after a moment of silence. Lina lit up at the news, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Good, good," she jumped a little, as if to reach Kian. "Now come down!"
"Don't rush me," Kian groaned, his legs sticking out of the leaves. The sight reminded Aarin of a bird's tiny legs beneath a round, feathered body. He'd never admit it, but it amused him to no end.
Midway through his descent, Kian lost his balance and crashed right on top of his fellow rookie. They both collapsed on the ground, yelling and grunting to untangle themselves. Aarin shook his head. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Instead, he simply cleared his throat, causing Lina to stand up immediately. Kian remained on the ground, rubbing his back.
"So, what did you see?" Aarin asked.
"A river," Kian said amidst much pained groaning, "just a few steps ahead over there."
Aarin nodded and looked in that direction while Lina helped Kian up.
"Stay here," he said quietly. "Don't follow me unless you hear me call for you. Understood?"
He didn't wait for confirmation or follow-up questions. He didn't know what he'd find there, but something told him it would do well to face it alone. Considering the events of the past day… he didn't need to involve his juniors in mistakes he'd made centuries ago. The sound of the rushing water grew louder and louder until, finally, Aarin saw it.
The sight was beautiful. Iridescent rocks shone on the riverbank, flowers swayed in the breeze, and the water was clear. The dim light of the setting sun only made it look all the more alluring. Aarin frowned. It was perfect, almost too perfect. It was clearly a trap. Hesitantly, he stepped towards the water. With one hand on his weapon, he knelt to dip his other hand into the current.
He felt the cold water on his skin, soothing. Abruptly, the calm was broken by a hand reaching up from the water to grab his. Aarin's eyes widened as the hand held onto him tightly. He remained calm, his grip on his spear tightening. The disembodied hand didn't let go, but it didn't try to pull him in either. Aarin remained frozen, waiting. Another hand rose from the depths, closed in a fist this time. Once it broke the surface, it revealed what lay inside on its palm.
It was a small golden locket, crudely shaped and clearly old. Aarin stopped breathing, letting go of the spear and taking the locket in trembling hands.
There, engraved on the locket, was the symbol of Saila.
"No…"
The hand still holding onto him let go, disappearing into the water. Aarin wanted to remain calm and composed, but he couldn't stop the panic rising in his chest. He didn't know what to think, what to feel, except pure dread.
He scrambled away, hands and feet digging into the dirt. The pristine white of his clothes was now a muddied brown color.
The ground shook under him. Before his eyes, wooden pillars rose from the river. He heard Lina and Kian calling for him, but he didn't have the strength to respond. By the time the juniors reached the riverbank, a grand bridge had risen from the river.
A thick mist rose on the other side of the river, obscuring the bridge halfway. Candles and diyas flickered with haunting green and blue flames on the railings. The way was draped with silk fabrics and decorated with lamps, even though they were all tattered and old.
Figures began to appear on the bridge; first made of smoke but growing more and more solid by the minute. They laughed and danced and fought and stumbled drunkenly, all making their way into the mist. Meanwhile, music and raucous laughter could be heard coming from the other side.
"In the name of Niryati…" Aarin heard Kian gasp above him.
"Is this…?" Lina trailed off.
Aarin took in a deep breath and pushed himself up, not bothering to dust himself off.
"Welcome to the Festival of Ecstasy."