As they approached the cave, a cold, damp breeze began to seep out from within. Rudra, unfazed by the chill, pressed forward without hesitation. Moments later, they arrived at the mouth of the cave. With only a few steps remaining before entering the shadowy interior, Jaipa suddenly halted at the threshold.

"Stay sharp," Jaipa warned, his voice low and steady. "There might be something lurking inside. Creatures like these tend to dwell in darkness—never let your guard down."

His words hung heavy in the air as the group paused, tension rippling through them like an unspoken acknowledgment of the unknown dangers that lay ahead.

Rudra’s expression remained utterly blank as he gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. Jaipa glanced at him, his frustration bubbling to the surface almost instantly.

“You crazy brate! Can you at least try to make some kind of reaction? Just once—just once—can you act like a normal person?!” Jaipa exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

Rudra turned his head slightly, locking eyes with Jaipa for a brief moment. His cold, unyielding stare sent a shiver down Jaipa's spine before he simply looked back toward the dark entrance of the cave.

“Can we head inside now?” Rudra asked flatly, his tone devoid of any emotion, as if nothing had happened.

Jaipa stared at him, mouth agape, completely flabbergasted by the sheer indifference radiating off the man. He threw his arms out wide and let out an exaggerated groan.

“Aaaaaaah! Who did I get myself mixed up with?! Seriously!”

For a moment, there was silence between them—a tense pause filled only by the faint rustle of wind from within the cave.

After his outburst, Jaipa reluctantly followed Rudra, who had already begun walking into the unknown depths of the cave. His face remained as expressionless as ever, an unsettling contrast to the eerie atmosphere surrounding them. Jaipa sighed heavily, his frustration slowly giving way to unease as they ventured deeper into the darkness.

Just as Jaipa took his first step inside the cave, a sudden sound filled the air—a hauntingly beautiful melody that seemed to resonate from the very walls themselves. It was otherworldly, like music crafted by the greatest musician to have ever existed, yet it carried an undertone of mystery and foreboding. The notes danced through the cavern, wrapping around them like a gentle but inescapable embrace.

And then, as abruptly as it began, the melody stopped.

An oppressive silence fell over the cave, so profound that even their breathing seemed too loud. Both Rudra and Jaipa froze, the weight of the stillness pressing down on them. Just as Rudra lifted his foot to take another step forward, a soft glow began to emanate from deep within the cave. At first, it was faint, almost imperceptible, but it quickly grew brighter, casting long shadows across the rocky terrain.

Curious, they both turned their attention toward the source of the light. Upon closer inspection, they realized it wasn’t coming from a single point—it was radiating from countless stones embedded in the cave's jagged walls. Each stone shimmered with a pale blue-white luminescence, pulsing faintly as though alive. The glow resembled moonlight, cold and serene, bathing the entire cavern in its ethereal radiance.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They stood there, awestruck by the surreal beauty before them. The stones seemed to hum softly now, a quiet vibration that resonated in their chests, as if the cave itself were alive and watching them.

Rudra’s eyes carefully looked at the glowing cave with calculated precision, his guard up after the strange melody and the sudden appearance of the luminous stones. His usual stoic demeanor remained intact, but there was a subtle tension in the way he moved—careful, deliberate, cautious. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice low

"Jaipa… how did this light suddenly come on?" Rudra asked, his tone quieter than usual, almost contemplative.

Jaipa glanced around at the shimmering walls, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. He chuckled nervously, trying to mask his own unease. "Actually, I don’t know! Ha… ha…"

Rudra stopped mid-step and turned to look at him, his piercing gaze locking onto Jaipa like a hawk eyeing its prey. There was no anger in his expression—just an unspoken intensity

"What?!" Jaipa snapped defensively, throwing his hands up. "Don’t look at me like that! What do you think, just because I belong from this place , I should magically know everything about this world? Huh? Is that what you're thinking? Hay... hay!"

Rudra didn’t respond. Instead, he simply resumed walking, his focus shifting back to their surroundings. The faint hum of the glowing stones seemed to grow louder as they ventured deeper into the cave, each step echoing softly against the rocky floor.

"Hay... hay! I'm talking to you!" Jaipa called out, his voice rising in frustration as he followed Rudra, who continued walking without so much as a glance back.

Rudra's response came flat and emotionless, almost dismissive. "When did I even say that?"

"You didn't," Jaipa shot back, crossing his arms over his chest. "But your eyes did!"

Rudra ignored the jab entirely, his focus unwavering. Instead, he gave a simple directive, his tone calm "Go ahead and look around a bit. If there’s something dangerous, we need to know."

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Jaipa, still chuckling to himself over his earlier jab at Rudra, flitted ahead with a dramatic sigh. "Fine, fine, let me do the actual work around here while you brood like some silent statue," he muttered under his breath, though there was no real malice in his tone. His wings beat steadily as he soared further into the dimly lit tunnel, scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes.

Despite his constant complaining and sarcastic remarks, Jaipa played a crucial role in their partnership—and both of them knew it. While Rudra relied on his own instincts, reflexes, and occasional bursts of insight, Jaipa acted as an extension of those senses. He could scout areas too dangerous or inaccessible for Rudra, spotting potential threats before they became immediate problems.

And thous Jaipa’s presence was undeniably useful. Even if he spotted danger moments too late, he was fast enough to reach Rudra before the threat closed in. That split-second warning could give a whole difference results allowing Rudra to prepare—or strike first in Every situation they just needed some practice as jaipa moved in distance to look around

Rudra stood still, waiting for Jaipa in the same spot as time slowly passed. Minutes ticked by, and an eerie silence settled over the cave. Growing impatient, he finally looked around, his sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit surroundings.

At that moment, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

"Why don’t I try using my ability on the wall? If this wall contains any information, I might be able to uncover something useful."

Deciding to act on his intuition, Rudra stepped forward, reaching out to touch the rough surface. But just as his fingers were about to make contact, the distinct sound of wings flapping echoed through the cave, drawing closer. He immediately stopped and turned his head.

Jaipa swooped in, stopping just close enough for Rudra to hear his voice.

“Kid, follow me and don’t wander around,” Jaipa warned, his tone firm.

Rudra gave a silent nod, setting aside his curiosity for now. Without wasting any time, he followed Jaipa’s lead. One walked, the other flew, their figures moving deeper into the shadowy depths of the cave. The air grew colder, and the distant sound of dripping water echoed through the tunnels.

Jaipa, who had been flying a little ahead, suddenly halted mid-air. His wings beat once before he turned back toward Rudra, his expression unreadable.

Before them, the cave split into four separate paths, each vanishing into the consuming darkness. The air in this part of the cave felt different—thicker,

Jaipa narrowed his eyes before speaking.

I came across here and then headed back to you," Jaipa said, his voice calm. "So now, let’s decide—where do you want to go?"

Rudra, without much hesitation, walked straight toward the entrance of the third path. He stopped just before stepping inside, raising his hand swiftly and pressing it against the cave wall.

The moment his fingers made contact, he noticed something strange—the surface felt soft, yet oddly sturdy, as if it were both alive and unyielding. Ignoring the unsettling sensation, he closed his eyes, focusing his ability.

A faint glow began to flow from his body, traveling down his arm and into the wall. For a few moments, nothing happened. The silence was thick, pressing in from all sides. Then, without warning, Rudra’s face grew pale. His breath turned shallow, his body trembling slightly as his mind was flooded with unknown images and sensations.

Minutes passed before he finally yanked his hand away, his heart pounding. He exhaled sharply, shaking off the lingering feeling before turning to Jaipa.

“Let’s head in. I don’t think there’s any danger inside,” Rudra stated, his voice steady despite what he had just experienced. “I also caught a glimpse of a lake deeper inside.”

Without waiting for Jaipa’s response, he stepped forward, disappearing into the dark passage. But in his mind, countless thoughts swirled.

Some were clear, like echoes of what he had just seen—distorted visions of the underground lake, shimmering with an eerie glow. Others were more abstract, fragmented memories that didn’t belong to him. They clawed at his consciousness, whispering things he didn’t understand.

Rudra’s mind churned with questions as they moved deeper into the cave. The unsettling sensation from touching the third path’s wall still lingered, leaving him more curious—and cautious—than ever. His thoughts drifted back to Jaipa and the strange abilities he possessed.

What kind of ability is this? It’s far too powerful to be classified as Inlarva, Rudra mused silently, his dead eyes looked around their surroundings. How could someone like Jaipa have such raw potential yet fail to fully utilize it?

The questions gnawed at him, but before he could dwell further, Rudra broke the silence between them with an unexpected question.

"Jaipa," Rudra began, his voice low and steady, "what were you doing before choosing me as your owner?"

Jaipa froze mid-flight, his wings flapping awkwardly as he turned to look at Rudra. Surprise flickered across his face—not because of the question itself, but because of whonwas asking it. This wasn’t like Rudra. The boy who seemed indifferent to everything around him, who rarely showed interest in anything beyond survival or strategy, was suddenly prying into someone else’s life.

After a moment of stunned silence, Jaipa finally responded, his tone unusually subdued. "Ooo... I was captive by someone."

Rudra stumbled slightly, caught off guard by the admission, though he quickly regained his composure. Without missing a beat, he resumed walking, his expression unreadable.

"Oo, I see," Rudra said after a pause, his voice flat as always. Then, after another moment of silence, he pressed further. "But by whom?"

Jaipa hesitated, glancing at Rudra

"What are you going to do about it? Are you going to take revenge on them?"

And he burst into loud, mocking laughter, his wings beating harder as he hovered above Rudra. "What?! Are you, a selfish brute, really going to get revenge for me? Without any gains for yourself? Ha! That’s quite funny!"

After hearing what jaipa just said to him he kept walking after hearing it in silent ,......

Jaipa knew one thing rudra,

rudra had always been one of those kinds of people , the kind who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. He belonged to a rare breed, not because of any inherent talent or virtue, but because of his unyielding pragmatism. There were no moral boundaries too sacred for him to cross, no line he wouldn’t blur if it meant securing his survival or advancing his goals. Even now, in this strange new world where everything felt unfamiliar and dangerous, Rudra could have easily stood up to Jaipa. After all, rudra was his master —a figure of authority, someone who should command respect. But Rudra wasn’t interested in pride or principles; he didn’t care about the difference between a master and servant when power dynamics shifted like sand beneath their feet.

For now, he moved forward, driven by a singular focus: survival. Survival at any cost. Because in the end, Rudra believed that the universe owed him nothing—and if he wanted something, he would take it. No apologies. No regrets. Just the endless pursuit of power, knowledge, and control. That was his truth. His philosophy. His way of life

But at the end of it all, what Rudra lacked—what he could never quite grasp or confront—was one haunting uncertainty. A single question that lingered in the shadows of his mind, whispering to him when silence pressed too heavily on the world around him:

What was he to begin with?

As they continued walking, the faint sound of dripping water grew louder, and soon enough, they arrived at the lake Rudra had mentioned earlier. The surface of the water was eerily still, reflecting the pale luminescence of the glowing stones scattered along the walls. Mist curled above it, giving the scene an almost dreamlike quality.

"Kid, stop here. I'll go and look ahead first," Jaipa said, his voice unusually serious as he flapped his wings and flew toward the lake. He circled the area cautiously, scanning for anything unusual. After a few moments, he signaled for Rudra to join him.

Rudra moved forward, closing the distance between them. He was just a few meters away from Jaipa when a low, rumbling vibration began to emanate from the left side of the cave's wall. Rudra froze for a split second before reacting instantly. Without hesitation, he stepped back, putting more space between himself and the source of the sound.

The vibration grew louder and more intense with each passing moment, reverberating through the cavern like a heartbeat pounding in the darkness. Just as suddenly as it had started, the noise ceased entirely. An oppressive silence settled over the cave once again, thick and suffocating.

But the quiet didn't last long. A sharp, cracking sound pierced the air—different from the earlier vibrations. Rudra's sharp eyes darted toward the wall, and with deliberate, careful steps, he moved further away from it. His instincts screamed danger, and he trusted them implicitly.

Just as he cleared the area, the left side of the wall collapsed with a thunderous crash Thaddddd! ....... Dust and debris filled the air, momentarily obscuring their vision. When the dust began to settle, something massive emerged from the newly created hole.

A colossal serpentine creature slithered into view, seemingly composed entirely of intertwined branches, vines, and moss. Its form resembled a dragon or a snake a massive organic serpent, looping gracefully despite its sheer size. The creature’s head came into full view, its scales—or perhaps plates—resembling those of a reptile, with hints of teal or blue adorning its face. Its body was densely covered in various shades of green, mimicking a lush, overgrown landscape. Small plants and shrubs sprouted from its massive frame, giving the illusion that it wasn’t merely alive but was itself a living, breathing ecosystem.

As the snake-like being turned its gaze toward Rudra, Jaipa's panicked voice shattered the stunned silence.

"RUNNNNNN!!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, his wings beating furiously as he hovered nearby. "GET OUT OF THERE NOW!"