The walls shifted again. The air went still.
As the glowing mark of the Will Key dimmed on Arjun's hand, the corridor ahead opened into a narrow passage, long and silent. A faint wind blew from the other side — cold, and filled with something heavy.
None of them said anything. Not Arjun. Not Vhim. Not even the tiger.
It was as if something in the air told them to be quiet.
The three walked slowly. Each step echoed strangely, as if the space was listening.
At the end of the hallway, they arrived at a black arch. It wasn't made of stone. It looked like shadows frozen into a doorframe. Letters they couldn't read floated across the surface like ripples on water.
Arjun reached out.
The moment his fingers brushed the arch, a message appeared in the air.
> [Burden Key Trial Initiated]
To carry the Will, one must carry the Weight.
Enter, and face what crushes you.
They stepped through together.
And the moment they did — the world split.
---
ARJUN
Arjun opened his eyes and found himself back in the rain.
The ground was muddy. The sky was dark. Water splashed under his bare feet. He looked down and saw his old school uniform. Torn. Dirty. Heavy from the cold rain soaking into the fabric.
He blinked.
And then the voices returned.
"Loser!"
"Go cry to your mommy, freak!"
"Why do you even exist?"
The bullies circled him again. Faces familiar. He remembered their names. Faces from another life. Faces he had long tried to forget. But here they were — smiling. Laughing. Mocking.
He wanted to run. He turned.
But then he froze.
That girl.
She was there. Crying. On the ground. Her uniform torn, her lips trembling. Her eyes locked with his. Pleading. Silent.
Three boys stood over her. Grinning. Unbothered by the rain.
"No," Arjun whispered.
He remembered this. This moment. It happened right before his death.
He had watched. Frozen. Weak. Powerless. He had said nothing. Done nothing.
And then… he had died.
The moment returned like a nightmare. The weight on his chest was unbearable.
"Do something," she mouthed.
But he couldn't move.
His hands trembled. His legs shook.
The laughter grew louder. The bullies circled closer.
He fell to his knees.
His mind screamed: Do something!
His body whispered: You can't.
And then—
A voice spoke inside him. Deep. Calm. Not cruel. Not kind.
"That was who you were. But who are you now?"
He stood.
The rain still poured. The bullies still laughed. But he stood.
He gripped his bamboo staff — no, it wasn't bamboo now. In this illusion, it had become something else. A spear. Simple. Strong.
He stepped forward.
"I don't know if I'm a hero," he said, voice cracking. "But I'm not that boy anymore."
He shouted — and the illusion cracked. The bullies faded. The rain vanished. The girl's face broke into light.
The ground beneath him glowed — and from it, a second mark burned into his palm.
> [Burden Key Acquired: Bearer of Memory]
---
VHIM
Vhim opened his eyes and saw… a table.
A large wooden table.
On it — fruits, meat, cooked rice, curry, cakes, roasted fish, warm bread. The smell filled his nose instantly. He nearly cried.
His stomach growled like a monster.
He hadn't eaten properly in days. Not since they left their home.
He took a step forward, eyes wide, hand stretched.
But before he could touch it — the food vanished.
He blinked.
Now the room was empty. Cold. Bare stone.
His body felt weak. He dropped to his knees. His stomach hurt. His head spun.
He remembered his life before meeting Arjun. Poor village. Not enough food. Always hungry. He remembered stealing once. Just a small bun. But he was caught. Beaten.
People laughed at him for being weak. For crying over bread.
"Why do I always have to suffer?" he whispered.
He looked up.
A loaf of bread floated above him.
He jumped — but it moved higher.
A slice of meat appeared. A fish. A peach. A cake. All floating just above his reach.
He jumped again. Missed.
Again. Missed.
He screamed. "JUST LET ME HAVE IT!"
A voice answered — not angry. Not soft.
"Why do you hunger?"
Vhim panted. "Because I never had enough!"
"Then what will you do when you have more than enough?"
He didn't know the answer.
He stood there, shaking.
And then… the food disappeared. And a mirror appeared before him.
In it — himself. Thinner. Older. Holding food in one hand, and someone else's outstretched hand before him.
Would he share?
He hesitated.
Then he nodded. "I'll give them some too."
The mirror shattered.
The food vanished.
But the hunger inside didn't hurt anymore.
The ground under him glowed.
> [Burden Key Acquired: Bearer of Hunger]
---
THE TIGER
The tiger opened its eyes.
He was standing in a jungle.
Not a dungeon. Not cold stone. But warm, familiar trees. The wind smelled of bark and heat.
And ahead — a female tiger.
She was beautiful. Strong. Golden-eyed. Her fur soft with white streaks.
The tiger took a step forward.
She looked at him.
And turned away.
Another male tiger stepped beside her. Bigger. More powerful. With longer teeth.
She walked with him.
The tiger growled low.
He ran after them.
He tried to impress. He jumped. Roared. Fought trees. Climbed rocks. Brought back prey.
But every time he came near, the others ignored him.
He was different. His fur was darker. His eyes red. His body lean, not bulky.
He wasn't wanted.
Not by them.
Not by her.
He sat under the moonlight, alone.
Other animals laughed at him.
"No mate."
"No pack."
"Just a freak."
He closed his eyes and roared to the moon.
A voice answered.
"Why do you seek a mate?"
He growled. The sound was low, uncertain.
The voice continued.
"To be seen? Or to be accepted?"
The tiger didn't know. But the ache in his chest said both.
The jungle faded.
And now he saw himself — alone, still. But not weak.
Not unwanted.
He stood tall. Red eyes glowing. Dark fur shining in the moonlight.
A different kind of beauty.
And for the first time, he licked his paw… and stopped chasing.
A light glowed beneath his claws.
> [Burden Key Acquired: Bearer of Desire]
---
THE RETURN
The three of them returned at the same time.
They woke up on the dungeon floor. The strange arch stood behind them. The stone was silent.
But on each of their palms — a second mark had appeared. The Burden Key.
Vhim was sweating.
The tiger was lying down, breathing slow.
Arjun sat quietly, staring at his hand.
No one said anything for a while.
Vhim broke the silence. "I saw food. So much food…"
Arjun looked at him. "Did you eat it?"
"No," Vhim said. "But I wanted to. More than anything."
The tiger grunted.
Arjun turned to him. "What did you see?"
The tiger let out a long exhale, then looked away.
Arjun understood.
"We all saw something we didn't want to see," he said quietly. "But maybe… that's the point."
The dungeon hummed again. The corridor opened once more.
> [Final Trial: Blood Key – Available]
But no one stood yet.
They needed a moment.
Because the burden didn't leave when the trial ended.
But somehow — it felt lighter.