The road beyond Elden Hollow was nothing like Aarav had imagined.
It wasn't some grand path filled with wonder and excitement.
It was rough.
Uneven.
Lonely.
By the second day, the familiar fields had disappeared, replaced by rocky terrain and scattered trees. The air felt different here—wilder, less forgiving.
Aarav adjusted the strap on his bag and checked the map again.
The faint glowing path was still there, guiding him forward. But it wasn't always clear. Sometimes it flickered, like it wasn't entirely sure of him.
"Not very reassuring," he muttered.
His stomach growled.
He hadn't realized how quickly food would run out.
"This is fine," he said to himself. "Totally fine."
A twig snapped behind him.
Aarav froze.
Slowly, he turned.
Nothing.
Just trees.
Wind.
Silence.
He let out a breath. "You're just imagining things."
He took another step forward.
Thwip!
Something sharp struck the ground inches from his foot.
Aarav jumped back, heart slamming against his chest.
An arrow.
Perfectly embedded in the dirt.
"Don't move."
The voice was calm.
Cold.
And very real.
Aarav raised his hands slowly. "Okay… not moving."
From behind a tree, a figure stepped into view.
A girl.
About his age.
Her bow was already drawn again, another arrow ready to fly at a moment's notice. Her dark hair was tied back, her posture steady, her eyes locked onto him like she was measuring every breath he took.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Aarav," he said quickly. "I'm just passing through."
"People don't 'just pass through' here."
"I didn't know that was a rule," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
Her expression didn't change.
"What are you doing out here?" she pressed.
Aarav hesitated.
The map.
Something told him not to mention it.
"Traveling," he said instead.
The bowstring tightened slightly.
"Try again."
Aarav swallowed.
"Okay—fine. I'm following something."
"What?"
He sighed. "A map."
That got her attention.
Her eyes flickered for just a second.
"Show me."
Aarav didn't move.
"I said," she repeated, "show me."
Slowly, carefully, Aarav reached into his bag and pulled out the scroll.
The moment it was exposed—
It glowed.
Faintly.
The girl's eyes widened.
"Where did you get that?" she demanded.
"Found it," Aarav said. "In some ruins near my village."
She lowered the bow—just a little.
"That's not just any map," she said quietly.
"Yeah, I figured that much."
She stepped closer now, studying it from a distance.
"That symbol," she pointed to a marking near the center. "I've seen it before."
Aarav blinked. "You have?"
She nodded slowly. "In stories."
"What kind of stories?"
"The kind people don't tell unless they want to scare you."
Aarav gave a small, nervous laugh. "Great. That's comforting."
She finally lowered the bow completely.
"I'm Meera," she said.
"Aarav," he replied again, lowering his hands.
"I heard that part," she said.
There was a pause.
"So…" Aarav began, "you're not going to shoot me now, right?"
Meera smirked slightly. "Not unless you give me a reason."
"Good to know."
She looked at the map again.
"You shouldn't be traveling alone," she said.
"I've noticed."
"This path," she added, "it's not normal. It doesn't stay the same."
Aarav frowned. "What do you mean?"
Before she could answer—
A loud crash echoed through the trees.
Both of them turned instantly.
"What was that?" Aarav whispered.
"Stay here," Meera said, already reaching for another arrow.
"Stay here?" Aarav repeated. "That doesn't sound like a good plan."
But Meera was already moving.
With no better option, Aarav followed.
They pushed through the trees toward the sound.
Branches snapped.
Leaves scattered.
And then—
A figure came tumbling down a small slope, crashing straight into a pile of bushes.
"Ow—okay—maybe not my best idea!" the boy groaned.
Aarav blinked.
"What…?"
The boy scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt off his clothes. He looked around wildly before spotting them.
"Oh! Hi!" he said brightly. "Perfect timing."
Behind him, something rolled down the slope—
A strange, metal contraption with spinning parts and loose wires.
It hit a rock.
And exploded into sparks.
Aarav jumped back. "What was that?!"
"Prototype," the boy said casually. "Still working out a few issues."
"A few issues?" Meera repeated, lowering her bow with a sigh. "Rohan, that's the third time this week."
Rohan grinned. "Progress takes failure!"
Aarav looked between them. "You two know each other?"
"Unfortunately," Meera said.
"Hey!" Rohan protested. "I bring excitement."
"You bring chaos," she corrected.
Rohan turned to Aarav, offering a hand. "Rohan. Inventor. Genius. Occasional problem."
Aarav hesitated—then shook his hand.
"Aarav."
Rohan's eyes immediately dropped to the map.
"Ooooh," he said, leaning closer. "That looks important."
Aarav quickly pulled it back. "Yeah. It is."
Meera crossed her arms.
"He's following it," she said.
Rohan's grin widened. "Of course he is."
Aarav frowned. "Why does everyone react like that?"
"Because," Meera said, "people who follow maps like that usually don't know what they're getting into."
"And?" Aarav asked.
Rohan shrugged. "Makes it interesting."
Aarav looked at both of them.
"I'm going to the place it leads to," he said. "The Lost Realm."
The words hung in the air.
For the first time—
Neither of them joked.
Rohan's expression shifted slightly. "You're serious."
"Yeah."
Meera looked at him carefully.
"You don't even know what it is," she said.
"Then I'll find out."
"And if it's dangerous?"
Aarav met her gaze.
"Then I'll deal with it."
There was a long silence.
Then Meera sighed.
"You're not going to turn back, are you?"
"No."
Rohan clapped his hands together. "Great! Then we're coming with you."
Aarav blinked. "Wait—what?"
"You need help," Rohan said. "Clearly."
"I do not—"
"You almost got shot five minutes ago," Meera pointed out.
"That's not the point."
"It kind of is," she replied.
Aarav looked between them.
"You're serious?" he asked.
Meera nodded slightly. "That map… it's not normal. If it's what I think it is, you won't survive alone."
Rohan grinned. "Good thing you found us."
Aarav exhaled slowly.
This wasn't part of the plan.
Then again…
He didn't really have a plan.
He looked down at the map.
The glowing path had changed.
It had split—
And then merged again.
As if adjusting.
Accepting.
Aarav looked back up.
"…Alright," he said.
Rohan pumped his fist. "Adventure!"
Meera shook her head, but there was the faintest hint of a smile.
"Don't slow us down," she said.
Aarav smirked slightly. "Same to you."
And just like that—
The journey was no longer his alone.
Three strangers.
One path.
And a destination none of them truly understood.