The stranger wasted no time. As the remaining elves saw their comrade fall, rage twisted their faces. "Kill him!" one of them snarled, lunging forward with his sword raised . But the stranger moved with an Assassin's grace.
With an effortless dodge, he sidestepped the first elf's attack. In a single, fluid motion, his dagger slashed across the elf's throat—a clean, merciless cut.
The elf gasped, clutching his bleeding neck before collapsing lifelessly.
Three left.
The second elf charged, swinging his blade wildly, aiming to cut the stranger down.
The stranger didn't flinch.
With lightning-fast reflexes, he leaped—spinning mid-air over the elf's attack.
Landing behind him, the stranger struck.
A dagger plunged into the elf's spine.
The elf let out a strangled scream before his body went limp, crashing face-first into the dirt.
Two left.
The third elf hesitated. He had just watched two of his comrades die in seconds. His grip on his bow weapon tightened as fear flickered in his eyes and try to fire arrow .
Too slow.
The stranger was already moving.
With a sudden dash, he vanished into the shadows—only to reappear behind the elf.
A cold whisper of steel—and the dagger was already buried deep into the elf's ribs.
The elf gasped, eyes wide in shock. Blood spilled from his lips as he collapsed.
One left.
The last surviving elf was locked in combat with Mohit.
Mohit was breathing heavily, struggling to keep up with the elf's relentless attacks.
His movements slowed.
His foot slipped.
The elf seized the moment—swinging his blade down.
Mohit fell backward, hitting the ground hard.
His vision blurred, the elf's weapon glinting in the moonlight as it came down for the killing blow—
SHHK!
The elf froze.
A dagger had pierced straight through his chest.
Blood poured from the wound.
The elf's body trembled before going completely still.
As his corpse slumped forward, the stranger pulled the dagger free. A thin stream of crimson splattered across Mohit's face.
Silence.
The battle was over.
The stranger turned his head slightly, eyes hidden beneath the dark hood, and spoke for the first time—his voice low and unreadable.
"You're lucky I got here in time."
As the last elf's lifeless body hit the ground, the eerie silence of the battlefield settled around them.
The moment the enemy was dead, the tree branches and vines loosened their grip on Centaur Beni and Meera. With a gasp of relief, they both staggered free.
"Madhav!" Meera cried, immediately sprinting toward him. She dropped to her knees, gently shaking his unconscious form.
Meanwhile, Mohit pushed himself up, wiping the streak of blood from his face. He turned to their mysterious savior and gave a small, exhausted chuckle. "Thanks for saving my life. I owe you one."
The stranger remained silent, standing still as if observing them.
Centaur Beni, however, was staring at her with narrowed eyes. "Who are you?" he asked cautiously.
The stranger exhaled, then reached up—pulling back the hood of her cloak.
Long obsidian-black hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her pointed ears, sharp golden eyes, and dark complexion immediately revealed the truth.
She was an elf.
But not just any elf.
Centaur Beni's eyes widened in disbelief. "A... Black Shadow Elf?" he whispered, stunned.
Meera, still tending to Madhav, looked up in confusion. "A what?"
Beni took a slow step forward, studying the girl carefully. "Black Shadow Elves are one of the rarest and most dangerous elf clans. They are assassins—silent and unseen.
Generally they don't come this part of forest.
He glanced at the fallen enemies—Forest Elves, now lying in pools of their own blood. Turning back to the girl, he said, "So, that explains it. They were hunting you."
The Black Shadow Elf hissed, "Yes, they were hunting me. It would have been simple if you all hadn't crossed my path. But look around... it doesn't matter now. They are all dead." Here after listening this words from Black shadow elf girl mouth, here Centaur give a crispy face reaction.
Suddenly Meera's voice pierced through the night as she screamed, "Help! Look at Madhav! There's so much blood!"
Mohit rushed to Madhav's side, his hands shaking as he saw the deep wound on his friend's head. Blood trickled down, staining the grass beneath him.
The centaur, rushed to Madhav's side and knelt, his large palm covering the injury.
His magical circle flared, but then something went wrong. The glow of his healing spell flickered weakly before extinguishing completely. His expression darkened.
"My magic isn't working," he muttered, disbelief coloring his tone. "His condition is far too severe."
Mohit, his face pale with panic, looked around desperately. "What do we do now?"
Just then, the Black Shadow Elf stepped forward. "I can help him," she said in a calm, steady voice.
Meera's eyes, already glistening with tears, locked onto her. "Please… do something!" she begged, her voice breaking.
The elf looked down at Madhav, then turned toward the dense forest. "A few steps ahead, there is a lake. Bring him there. Quickly."
Centaur Beni hesitated, his eyes narrowing. "We barely know this elf. What if she has some other motive? How can we trust her?"
Meera, still clutching Madhav, snapped back, "We don't have time for your suspicions! If she can save him, that's all that matters! And do you have another choice?"
The elf glanced at Beni with an unreadable expression, then turned and sprinted toward the trees.
Meera and Mohit lifted Madhav carefully, his blood staining their hands.
Centaur Beni sighed, his suspicion still lingering, but in the end, he followed.
The group rushed through the forest, the hurried crunch of leaves echoing beneath their feet. A soft mist began to curl and rise around them as they neared their destination.
And then, it came into view:
A lake shimmering under the moonlight with an ethereal blue glow, its surface dotted with shining blue lotuses.
The air around it thrummed with a strange energy—
Meera and Mohit gasped, their surprise evident as they took in the breathtaking view. In unison, they breathed, "What... is this place?"
The Black Shadow Elf stepped forward, her gaze calm yet determined.
"Lay him down by the lake," she instructed.
Meera and Mohit, still trembling with fear, carefully placed Madhav near the shimmering water. His face was pale, and his breathing was faint.
The elf nodded. "Now, step back."
Meera hesitated. "What are you going to do?"
The elf didn't answer immediately. Instead, she reached into a hidden pouch and pulled out a small, delicate flute.
She lifted it to her lips and played.
A hauntingly beautiful melody filled the air, drifting over the still waters of the lake.
Then—the surface rippled.
From the depths of the lake, small, glowing figures began to emerge.
Their translucent bodies shimmered like liquid moonlight, their wings barely visible as they hovered gracefully above the water.
"Nymphs…" Centaur breathed in awe. Here Mohit said " nymphs, can one give me any information of this creature."
Meera's eyes widened. "Forest guardians. They protect the lakes , tree and rivers… I've read about them, but I never thought I'd see one in real life , many people don't capture nymph also."
Centaur Beni, however, remained skeptical. "Nymphs rarely interact with other creatures. What makes you think they'll help us?"
The elf finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "Your knowledge is incomplete, Centaur. Nymphs may avoid others creature, but when they see an injury is severe… they always come to for help."
Everyone looking at madhav from far , Suddenly the nymphs glided closer, their delicate hands hovering over Madhav's wounds.
One of them plucked a glowing a blue normal lotus from the lake.
Another helped guide the flower to Madhav's chest.
A third nymph raised her hands, summoning a soft golden energy.
Suddenly The magic flowed from the lotus turn into golden sparkle dust , swirling in the air before descending onto Madhav's body.
A soft hum resonated in the air, and tiny sparkles of light danced over his wounds.
The blood vanished.
The deep gash on his head sealed itself as if time were reversing.
Meera and Mohit watched in stunned silence as the last remnants of the spell faded into the night.
The nymphs floated back toward the water, their duty fulfilled.
As they disappeared beneath the surface, the lake returned to stillness.
Mohit finally moved, rushing to check Madhav. "His wounds… they're gone! Not a single scratch!"
Meera pressed a hand to Madhav's forehead. "He's still unconscious.
Centaur Beni exhaled in amazement. "Incredible…"
The Black Shadow Elf smiled faintly, tucking away her flute. After few minutes madhav wake up from unconscious.
In unconscious time he dream, Madhav found himself seated at a small restaurant. The warm aroma of freshly made dosa filled the air. The place buzzed with quiet chatter, and the soft clinking of plates and cups added to the familiar comfort of the moment.
Across from him, Raj and Mohit sat, relaxed and carefree.
Raj grinned. "Hey, Madhav, I ordered three dosas. Anything else you want?"
Mohit leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, why don't you order something to drink too?"
Raj waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, when the waiter comes, I'll order. No rush."
Madhav stared at them, something in his chest tightening.
Raj looked… fine.
Healthy. Smiling. Laughing like he always did.
Madhav swallowed hard. "Raj… you're okay?"
Raj raised an eyebrow before flashing his usual carefree smile. "Of course, bro. I'm perfectly fine."
His voice was steady, reassuring. Yet something about the moment felt fragile, like a dream that could shatter at any second.
Madhav watched his two best friends, their laughter echoing around him. A strange warmth, a deep longing, stirred within him. He almost convinced himself it was real. A sad, fleeting smile touched his lips. And then, the dream shattered.
Madhav gasped as his eyes fluttered open. His body felt heavy, but the first thing he saw was a vast, shimmering blue Lotus lake. Its water glowed softly under the moonlight, the air cool and crisp around him.
He turned his head and saw them—Meera and Mohit, sitting beside him.
Their faces were filled with relief as they saw him wake up.
Meera let out a deep breath. "Madhav! Thank god… You're awake."
Mohit grinned, trying to hide the worry in his eyes. "Man, you scared us for a second."
As Madhav's eyes fluttered open, he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. His body still felt weak, but instinct pushed him to move. With a small grunt, he forced himself to stand.
His gaze swept the area, landing on Centaur Beni and a mysterious elf girl. His muscles tensed instinctively, his body shifting into a defensive stance.
"Who is she?" His voice was sharp, edged with caution.
Before he could take another step, Mohit quickly rushed forward, raising his hands.
"Madhav, stop! She's not our enemy—just relax!"
Madhav narrowed his eyes, his breath still uneven. His heart pounded, adrenaline surging through him. But he saw the urgency in Mohit's eyes, the silent plea to stand down. He exhaled, forcing himself to calm. "Fine." He straightened, rolling his shoulders to ease the lingering tension.
Centaur Beni stepped closer, his deep voice filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
Madhav glanced at him, then stretched his arms experimentally. "Yeah… now I am."
Something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. The lake.
It was beautiful—the water crystal clear, reflecting the moon and stars like a mirror. But what truly stood out were the lotus flowers floating gracefully across its surface.
Madhav's gaze softened as he stared at them, their petals glowing faintly in the night. A strange sense of peace washed over him.
Centaur Beni followed his gaze and spoke, "Lookclosely at the lotus."
Madhav furrowed his brows, his eyes tracing the delicate flowers.
Centaur Beni continued, his voice calm and knowing. "These lotuses bloom throughout this entire forest, which is why it bears the name Neel-Padmavan, the Forest of Blue Lotuses."
Madhav nodded slowly, his mind absorbing the significance. A forest named after flowers.
As the night deepened, the forest bathed in the soft glow of the moon, casting long shadows over the still lake. The cool breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and blooming lotuses.
Suddenly, a Chhaya Mriga—Shadow Deer—emerged from the dense foliage.
Its sleek, midnight-black fur shimmered like liquid darkness, and its antlers seemed to absorb the moonlight rather than reflect it. Silent as a whisper, it stepped towards the lake, lowering its head to drink.
Madhav's breath hitched slightly. He had never seen a creature like this before.
He wasn't the only one captivated.
Mohit, Meera, Centaur Beni, and the mysterious elf girl all turned their attention to the deer.
The elf girl's voice was calm yet filled with quiet wonder. "Shadow Deer are extremely rare to see."
Centaur Beni nodded, his eyes studying the majestic creature. "That's because they possess extraordinary magical abilities. They can move without making a sound and phase through shadows at will. These deer mostly inhabit the southwestern regions of this forest."
Madhav felt a spark of curiosity ignite within him. He wanted to see it up close.
"Can I go near it?" he asked, taking a small step forward.
The elf girl's voice was firm yet gentle. "It's not a good idea to disturb the animals here. They are not meant to be tamed or approached without reason."
Madhav turned to her, his gaze meeting hers in the moonlight. Her golden eyes reflected the flickering light of the lake.
With a small smile, he asked, "Hey, elf girl… what's your name?"
For the first time, she hesitated, as if she wasn't used to being addressed so casually. Then, in a soft but steady voice, she replied—
"Ketaki."
And , She said my clan lives in the southern region of this forest.