Virat: Abandoned by Destiny

Narrator

"Darkness..."

"Never arrives..."

"In a single moment."

"It waits..."

"It watches..."

"And little by little..."

"It consumes the light..."

"Until nothing remains."

The evening sun slowly drifted toward the distant horizon.

Golden light blanketed the endless fields surrounding Restart Village.

The gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of blooming wildflowers.

Tall grass swayed peacefully beneath the warm crimson sky.

From far away...

The cheerful laughter of children echoed across the open plains.

It was another ordinary evening.

Or at least...

That was what everyone believed.

There was an old saying...

One whispered by travellers who had crossed countless kingdoms.

"Just before the sun disappears..."

"...it shines the brightest."

Perhaps...

That was why the village looked more beautiful than ever.

Warm light reflected from every wooden rooftop.

Smoke rose peacefully from stone chimneys.

The quiet river shimmered like liquid gold as it flowed beside the village.

Birds returned to their nests.

Farmers smiled as they finished another day's work.

Everything...

Looked alive.

Everything...

Looked safe.

Near the centre of Restart Village...

The ancient banyan tree stretched its enormous branches toward the heavens.

Its roots had witnessed generations come and go.

Children had laughed beneath its shade.

Warriors had rested against its trunk.

Promises had been made there.

Dreams had been born there.

Even now...

The old tree silently watched over the village.

Like an old guardian...

Who never slept.

Beneath those ancient branches...

V sat quietly upon one of the thick roots.

Nethrakar rested across his lap.

Although his hands gently polished the twin blades...

His scarlet eyes weren't focused on the swords.

Instead...

He watched the people around him.

T raced across the grassy field with endless energy.

Her silver laughter filled the evening air.

"Catch me if you can!"

Kai immediately pointed his wooden sword toward her.

"You've challenged the Great Hero Kai!"

"You can't escape now!"

T turned around dramatically.

"Oh really?"

"Then come and catch me first!"

Without another word...

She dashed away.

Her tiny feet barely touched the ground as she laughed.

Kai chased after her with exaggerated determination.

"I'll get you this time!"

"I promise!"

Lyara watched the scene from beneath the banyan tree.

A gentle smile rested upon her face.

The soft evening breeze carried strands of her silver hair across her cheeks.

She quietly tucked them behind one pointed ear.

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Her golden eyes reflected the crimson sunset.

"...They're impossible."

She whispered the words to herself.

Yet...

The warmth in her voice betrayed how happy she truly was.

A few steps away...

The Butler stood silently with both hands folded behind his back.

His posture remained perfectly straight.

His expression remained as calm as ever.

Yet...

Anyone who looked closely...

Would notice the faint smile hidden beneath his dignified appearance.

Watching the children laugh together...

Reminded him of days long gone.

"...Youth."

He murmured quietly.

"What a beautiful thing."

T suddenly looked back.

"Kai Brother!"

"You'll never catch me!"

Kai laughed loudly.

"We'll see about that!"

With a burst of speed...

He lunged forward.

T squealed happily before darting around the enormous trunk of the banyan tree.

Kai followed immediately.

Instead of catching her...

He collided headfirst with one of the hanging roots.

Thump!

"Owww..."

He stumbled backward while rubbing his forehead.

Lyara couldn't hold back her laughter.

Even V chuckled softly.

T proudly placed both hands on her hips.

"Hmph!"

"The mighty hero has been defeated by a tree!"

Kai looked toward the ancient banyan tree with complete seriousness.

"...It cheated."

The Butler slowly cleared his throat.

"I have served this village for many years..."

"But this is the first time..."

"I've witnessed someone lose a duel..."

"Against a tree."

Silence followed.

Then...

Everyone burst into laughter.

The sound echoed across Restart Village.

For a brief moment...

Even the birds seemed to sing a little louder.

Not far away...

Brald slowly walked along the village paths.

Every few steps...

He greeted another villager.

"Good evening."

"How are your crops this season?"

The elderly farmer smiled warmly.

"Better than last year, Chief."

"Thanks to the purified river."

Brald nodded with quiet satisfaction.

"I'm glad."

Further ahead...

Several children waved enthusiastically.

"Chief Brald!"

He raised one hand with a smile.

"Don't stay out too late."

"We won't!"

They answered together before running off laughing.

Seeing their cheerful faces...

Brald's expression softened.

Moments like these...

Reminded him why Restart Village was worth protecting.

Not because of ancient legends.

Not because of sacred rituals.

But because...

Families lived here.

Children laughed here.

People called this place...

Home.

Far beyond the peaceful fields...

Where the warm sunlight could no longer reach...

The atmosphere changed completely.

Ancient trees rose like silent giants.

Their twisted branches blocked the fading light.

Mist drifted silently between moss-covered roots.

The deeper one walked...

The quieter the forest became.

Until eventually...

Even the wind seemed unwilling to speak.

The Death Forest.

A place where nature itself felt alive.

A place that had watched kingdoms rise...

And kingdoms fall.

And tonight...

It watched once again.

Deep within the Death Forest...

Where even the fading sunlight struggled to reach...

Darkness had already claimed the land.

Towering ancient trees stretched endlessly toward the heavens.

Their twisted branches intertwined like countless hands...

Blocking the last traces of daylight.

Cold mist drifted silently across the forest floor.

The cries of birds had long since vanished.

Even the insects...

Remained silent.

As though the entire forest...

Had sensed unwelcome visitors.

Hidden among the shadows...

Several figures stood motionless.

Black cloaks blended perfectly with the surrounding darkness.

Not a single branch bent beneath their feet.

Not a single leaf rustled.

Their discipline was absolute.

They breathed so quietly...

That even the forest beasts failed to notice them.

One soldier slowly lowered the hood covering his face.

Sweat rolled down his temple.

"This place..."

"It feels wrong."

Another soldier tightened his grip around his spear.

"I've fought monsters before..."

"But this forest..."

"It feels as though..."

"It's watching us."

No one laughed.

No one mocked his words.

Because...

They all felt exactly the same.

Standing at the front...

The commander quietly observed Restart Village through the gaps between the trees.

His face remained expressionless.

Years of war had taught him...

Never to underestimate a silent battlefield.

Especially one protected by legends.

His sharp eyes carefully studied the village.

The children playing beneath the banyan tree.

The villagers returning home.

The smoke rising peacefully from each chimney.

Everything looked...

Ordinary.

Yet...

That was precisely what troubled him.

"...Village Chief."

One of the soldiers whispered.

The commander followed the soldier's gaze.

Walking calmly through the village...

Greeting everyone with a warm smile...

Was Brald White.

The commander watched him for several moments.

Without speaking.

Information gathered before the mission echoed inside his mind.

Brald White.

Chief of Restart Village.

Former A-Rank Adventurer.

Master swordsman.

Highly respected by every villager.

Capable of rallying the entire village within minutes.

The commander slowly exhaled.

"...So that's him."

There was no fear in his voice.

Only careful calculation.

Another spy silently approached.

"We have confirmed it."

"The Dragon's grave lies somewhere inside the Death Forest."

"The villagers continue the purification ritual every morning."

"The sacred river remains active."

The commander nodded.

"Good."

"Our information was accurate."

One younger soldier stepped forward.

"...Commander."

"Shouldn't we attack tonight?"

"The village is completely unprepared."

"We could finish everything before sunrise."

Several soldiers quietly agreed.

From a military perspective...

It seemed like the perfect opportunity.

The commander remained silent.

His eyes never left Brald.

Several long moments passed.

Only then...

Did he finally speak.

"...No."

The single word carried unquestionable authority.

The younger soldier blinked.

"...Why?"

The commander calmly folded his arms.

"Look carefully."

The soldiers followed his gaze.

Children.

Families.

Villagers.

Everyone greeted Brald with genuine smiles.

No one feared him.

No one avoided him.

They trusted him completely.

"...That..."

The commander said quietly.

"...Is not merely a village chief."

"That..."

"Is the heart of this village."

"If we strike carelessly..."

"We won't face one swordsman."

"We'll face an entire village willing to die beside him."

Silence spread among the soldiers.

No one argued.

Because every experienced warrior understood...

He was right.

The commander continued.

"Our orders are clear."

"We are not here..."

"To wage war."

"We are here..."

"To retrieve what was left behind."

"Nothing more."

He slowly turned toward the Death Forest.

"If possible..."

"The villagers should never realise..."

"We were ever here."

The soldiers lowered their heads.

"As you command."

The commander raised one hand.

The signal was given.

Immediately...

Every shadow vanished.

One after another...

The soldiers disappeared between the ancient trees.

Their movements were so smooth...

That within moments...

Nothing remained.

No footprints.

No broken branches.

No sign...

That anyone had been there at all.

Back in Restart Village...

The evening continued peacefully.

Kai finally caught T.

Or rather...

Both of them tripped over the same tree root.

"Ah!"

Thud!

They landed together in the grass.

For a heartbeat...

Silence.

Then...

Both burst into laughter.

Lyara covered her mouth.

Trying not to laugh.

The Butler slowly shook his head.

"...Future heroes..."

He sighed dramatically.

"...Indeed."

Even Brald...

Who had just returned...

Couldn't stop himself from smiling.

V looked toward the crimson sky.

The final rays of sunlight slowly disappeared beyond the mountains.

For reasons he couldn't explain...

His heart suddenly felt uneasy.

He quietly glanced toward the distant outline of the Death Forest.

"..."

Nothing.

Only silence.

After a few moments...

He looked away.

Perhaps...

He was simply imagining things.

Above the village...

The first evening star appeared.

Soon...

The peaceful sky would surrender completely...

To the coming night.

And hidden somewhere...

Beyond the sight of everyone in Restart Village...

A promise had already been made.

A promise...

That would one day return...

With the darkness.

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