The Emerald Guardian — The Forest of Living Beasts

Rudra stepped out of the icy cave, and the sunlight hit his eyes. After the cold blue glow of Himra’s world, the warm light felt almost too bright. He blinked a few times, trying to adjust.

The wind outside was fresh and cool.
The snow sparkled like silver dust.
But his heart felt lighter now.

He whispered to himself,

“Guardian of Beasts… in the emerald forest.”

The golden bracelet on his wrist pulsed softly, as if agreeing.

Rudra looked down at it.

“Thanks, Himra. I’ll use your power well.”

With a deep breath, he began walking down the mountain.

After hours of climbing downhill, the snowy path slowly changed.

The cold stone became soft soil.
The white snow turned into green grass.
And the barren mountain air became thick with the smell of leaves, flowers, and earth.

Rudra stepped into a completely new world.

A massive forest spread out before him.
Trees taller than houses.
Leaves so green they looked like emerald stones.
Vines hanging like long ropes from branches high above.

Birds sang everywhere.
Small glowing insects danced around.
Strange animal sounds echoed through the forest.

Rudra smiled.

“It’s beautiful… but also scary.”

He took one step inside.

And instantly—

The ground shook.

A deep roar boomed from somewhere far away.

Rudra froze.

“…Okay. Mostly scary.”

The bracelet pulsed again, pushing him forward gently.

“All right, all right, I get it,” Rudra muttered. “Let’s go.”

He entered the forest.

The deeper Rudra walked, the stranger things felt.

Leaves rustled even though there was no wind.
Bushes shifted on their own.
Tree branches bowed slightly as if acknowledging his presence.

Rudra looked around nervously.

“Um… hello? Anyone there?”

No answer.

But he felt it.

Something wasn’t just watching him…

Something was examining him.

Testing him.

The bracelet whispered in his mind:

“This forest is alive.”

Rudra whispered back, “Yeah, I figured that.”

Up ahead, he saw a giant pawprint on the ground.

Bigger than his whole body.

Rudra gulped.

“…That’s comforting.”

Without warning—

A blur shot out from the bushes.

Rudra barely dodged as a giant wolf made of vines and leaves pounced at him. Its eyes glowed bright green, and its teeth were sharp wooden spikes.

Rudra stumbled back.

“What the—!? A plant wolf!?”

The wolf roared and lunged again.

This time Rudra rolled to the side.

“Hey! I didn’t even do anything to you!”

Another roar answered him.

The wolf attacked nonstop—wild, fast, and furious.

Rudra raised his glowing bracelet.

“Himra… lend me strength!”

A thin layer of ice formed around Rudra’s arm.

He blocked the wolf’s wooden claws.

CRACK!

The impact pushed him back several steps.

“O-okay, you’re strong,” Rudra groaned.

The wolf circled him, growling.

Rudra took a deep breath.

“Please calm down! I just came to meet your guardian!”

But the wolf didn’t care.

It leaped high—

Rudra thrust his palm upward.

A burst of cold energy shot out.

BOOM!

Snow exploded from his hand, hitting the wolf mid-air. The creature crashed into a tree and dissolved into leaves.

Rudra stood there panting.

“…I didn’t want to fight.”

He looked down sadly.

The leaves on the ground shimmered…

Then floated into the air, glowing green.

They danced around him like a gentle breeze before drifting away.

Rudra blinked.

“Was… that a test?”

The bracelet pulsed:

“Yes.”

Rudra continued walking.

Every step felt like someone was watching him carefully.

Judging him.

Approving him.

At one point, the trees parted on their own to make a path.

Rudra whispered, “Thank you,” as he walked through.

Finally, he reached a massive clearing.

In the center was a gigantic tree.

So tall it disappeared into the clouds.
Its trunk was wider than a castle.
Its roots glowed with emerald-green light.

Rudra just stared in awe.

“Is that… the Guardian’s home?”

A gentle voice echoed through the clearing.

“Indeed.”

Rudra jumped and turned around.

A figure stood before him.

The figure looked half-human, half-beast.

Tall like a warrior.
Muscular like a giant animal.
His skin was covered with patterns that looked like leaves.
His hair was long vines tied back like a tail.
His eyes glowed deep green, warm but wild.

Around him walked animals made of wood and plants:

A tiger with oak-tree stripes.
A deer with glowing antlers.
A bear made entirely of roots.

The guardian smiled.

“Welcome, Rudra. I am Arvion, the Guardian of Beasts.”

Rudra bowed quickly.

“H-Hello! I’m Rudra. I came because—”

“I know why,” Arvion said softly. “Himra already sent word.”

Rudra blinked.

“You two can talk?”

Arvion chuckled, voice deep like a drum.

“All guardians can speak through the spirit currents of the world.”

“Oh… that’s cool.”

Arvion stepped closer.

His aura felt huge, wild, and powerful—yet strangely comforting.

“But before I help you,” Arvion continued, “you must face the Trial of Heart.”

Rudra groaned.

“Another trial…? Why can’t anything be simple?”

Arvion smiled gently.

“Because a hero’s heart must be tested.”

The animals around Arvion suddenly stepped back.

Arvion raised his hand.

The forest floor glowed bright green.

Vines wrapped around Rudra’s legs—not to hurt him, but to hold him gently in place.

Rudra gulped.

“What do I have to do this time…?”

Arvion touched Rudra’s chest with one finger.

A warm energy flowed inside him.

And suddenly—

Rudra was no longer in the forest.

He was in his village.

Children crying.
Houses burning.
People running in panic.

A demon army surrounded them.

Rudra stood helplessly among the flames.

He whispered, trembling:

“No… this isn’t real…”

But it felt real.

A demon pointed its spear at a small child.

Rudra screamed,

“STOP!”

He ran forward…

But his feet wouldn’t move.

Something invisible held him in place.

His fear.

His guilt.

His memories.

Arvion’s voice echoed in the burning world:

“Your heart freezes in fear when others depend on you. Why?”

Rudra clenched his fists.

“Because… I’m scared I’ll fail again.”

The flames roared louder.

Demons marched closer.

Rudra shook.

“I don’t want to see this… I don’t want to fail…”

Arvion’s voice was calm.

“Then why do you keep fighting?”

Rudra looked at the child in danger.

He felt something swell inside him—

Not fear.

Something stronger.

“I fight… because people need me.”

The invisible pressure around him began to crack.

“I fight… because I want to protect them!”

A golden light burst from his bracelet.

The burning world shattered like glass—

And Rudra was back in the forest.

Breathing hard.

Sweating.

But standing strong.

Arvion watched him proudly.

“You have a truly brave heart, Rudra.”

Rudra wiped his eyes.

“That… was horrible.”

Arvion chuckled softly.

“But you passed.”

Arvion lifted his hand.

A glowing green crystal formed in the air.

It looked like a piece of the forest’s heart.

“This is my blessing,” Arvion said. “The Beast Spirit.”

He pressed the crystal into Rudra’s bracelet.

The bracelet glowed emerald.

Rudra felt a new kind of strength inside him—wild, powerful, and loyal.

Arvion spoke:

“The Beast Spirit will give you courage when you protect those you care about.”

Rudra smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Arvion. I won’t forget this.”

Arvion nodded.

“Your next guardian waits far to the south… in the Desert of Whispers.”

Rudra groaned.

“A desert!? Seriously!? I just came from snow!”

Arvion laughed loudly.

“The path of a hero is never comfortable.”

Rudra sighed dramatically.

“Fine… desert it is.”

The vine animals bowed to him respectfully.

Arvion raised a hand in blessing.

“Go, Rudra. The world needs your light.”

Rudra took a deep breath…

And stepped out of the emerald forest.

His journey continued.

And a new trial awaited in the endless sands.