Shiva sat at the edge of a hill overlooking the village of Jedna. The soft rays of the evening sun bathed the entire village in a warm, golden glow. He was lost in deep thought. This village had become his home ever since he had found a new identity here.
But lately, everything had started to feel strange—too quiet, too still.
His friends—Ansh, Kavi, and Tara—had left three weeks ago for the God Trials. They knew what lay ahead for them, but Shiva remained where he was—without any clear purpose. Everyone was moving toward their own destination, while he had been left behind, carrying a growing emptiness in his heart.
He had achieved C-rank—a significant accomplishment in itself. The villagers had celebrated this rare success with great enthusiasm. Yet, even amid the celebrations, there was a weight pressing on Shiva's chest that refused to lighten.
The dungeon they had cleared together had brought honor to the village and raised the ranks of all the adventurers involved. But as the days passed, Shiva kept asking himself the same question again and again—
What now?
He had no answer.
The wind rustled through the trees. Shiva took a deep breath and looked down at the fields below, where the villagers were busy with their evening routines—completely unaware of the storm raging inside him. He was not someone who wallowed in self-pity, but the emptiness left behind by his friends' departure was impossible to ignore.
Ansh, Kavi, and Tara—each of them had left for the God Trials to achieve something greater. And Shiva remained seated there, wondering what his own path was supposed to be.
Just then, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"Shiva, what's wrong, man? You look like you're carrying the weight of the whole world on your shoulders! I searched the entire Jedna village for you."
Shiva looked up. Standing before him was Satya—his old friend and an experienced S-rank adventurer—with the same wide smile on his face as always. Satya had a natural carefree ease about him, an energy that lightened the atmosphere wherever he went.
Shiva forced a small smile.
"Hey, Satya. I'm fine… just thinking."
Satya raised an eyebrow. As he studied Shiva's face, his smile faded slightly.
"Thinking, huh? That's not like you. Be honest—what's going on?"
Shiva hesitated, then sighed.
"It's just… everyone's moving forward. Ansh, Kavi, Tara—they've all gone to the God Trials. Trying to achieve something bigger. And I… I'm still here, wondering what I should do next."
Satya leaned back and lay down on the grass, staring up at the sky.
"Ah… I get it now. You feel like you've been left behind."
Shiva nodded.
"Yeah. I mean… I'm happy for them. But it feels like I'm stuck in the same place."
Satya laughed and nudged him lightly with his elbow.
"Shiva, you're thinking too much. Life isn't about having everything figured out all the time."
"That's easy for you to say," Shiva replied.
"You're an S-rank adventurer."
"Reached already?" Satya laughed.
"Trust me, I don't have everything figured out either. The only difference is—I don't let it ruin the fun."
Shiva smiled.
"I wish I could see things the way you do."
Satya leaned in and whispered conspiratorially—
"The secret is—don't take everything so seriously. We're adventurers! If we worry about the future all the time, the thrill of adventure dies."
Shiva laughed. The weight on his chest felt a little lighter.
"Maybe you're right."
Satya stood up and held out his hand.
"Come on. I've got something that'll fix your mood."
"Where are we going?" Shiva asked.
"Stop asking so many questions. You'll see," Satya said, pulling him along.
They arrived at the Adventurers' Guild. Inside, adventurers of every rank were present—some laughing over drinks, others scanning the quest board.
Satya walked straight to the board and pointed at the notice pinned at the very top.
S-Rank Quest: Exploration of the Drorna Mountains
"Are you kidding me?" Shiva exclaimed.
"S-rank? I'm only C-rank!"
"So?" Satya smiled.
"I'm S-rank. And this isn't a suicide mission—it's just an exploration quest."
The Drorna Mountains—famous for their dangerous paths and unpredictable weather.
"Are you sure about this?" Shiva asked.
"Shiva," Satya said,
"Do you trust me?"
Shiva smiled.
"Yes."
"Then let's go! It'll be fun."
The next morning, the two stood at the village gates. Cold air, blue skies, and an unfamiliar road ahead.
For the first time, Shiva was leaving the village without his old party. There was nervousness in his heart—but Satya was with him.
"Everything will be fine," Satya said.
"We're going on an adventure."
Shiva smiled.
After many weeks, the weight in his heart finally felt lighter.
He didn't know what awaited them in the Drorna Mountains—
but one thing was certain—
This was a new beginning.