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Soon, I was ready.
And when I say ready, I mean ready-ready. Wig on. Outfit on point. Cottagecore aesthetic activated. The second I stepped outside, the cold wind hit me like a slap, but in a refreshing way, not a "why did I come here" way. After being stuck in training and isolation for what felt like forever, that breeze felt like freedom. And also like, wow, my dress was thinner than I thought.
Miss Kaur had given me enough money to last a month, maybe more if I budgeted like a responsible adult (I wasn't making any promises though). She also gave me a phone and practically downloaded the entire map into my brain. I could probably walk blindfolded and still get there. Not that I was planning to try.
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The subway ride was long, three hours of sitting still and pretending to scroll my phone like a normal, calm human being. But eventually, I arrived.
Mountains. So many mountains.
They were everywhere. Tall, silent, ancient-looking. The greenery was unreal. Like, picture-perfect. If someone painted this and posted it online, people would be like "too saturated." But it was real. It was… peaceful. Cold, but peaceful.
I kind of wanted to sit there and just breathe it all in, but I knew better. It was getting late, and cold evenings turned into freezing nights up here. I made my way to the nearest village with my cottagecore fit fluttering slightly in the wind, and my fake earrings jingling a bit every time I moved. Yes, I noticed.
Oh, and I just realized, I never told you my "fem" name. It's Ojaswi. I didn't have to think too hard. It just worked. "Ojasi" sounded too close to my actual name and honestly sounded like I got lazy halfway through naming myself. Ojaswi felt elegant. A little mysterious. Easy to remember. Perfect for this mission.
The moment I walked into the village, I got looks.
Not rude ones just… curious. People stared. I kept walking like I didn't notice, but yeah, I noticed. And wow, is this what women deal with? The random stares? Some guys were definitely checking me out, which was kind of flattering and kind of uncomfortable at the same time. I just smiled politely and made my way to a nearby motel.
I walked in, cleared my throat to prepare my "Ojaswi" voice, and went to the front desk.
"Good evening, uncle," I said, trying to sound cheerful and soft but not too fake.
The man behind the desk looked up and smiled. "Oh, good evening, pretty child. Are you new here? You're dressed quite nicely for being this far out. Are you visiting someone?"
"Not really," I said, adding a little giggle. "I'm a blogger. I wanted to do a post about the mountain trails up here." I pointed to the tallest one outside the window. "That one looks amazing, but I think it's too late to start now. Do you know if there's a group I could maybe join tomorrow?"
"Oh yes, yes," he nodded quickly. "I'll ask around for you. There are a few strong boys in the area who like hiking. They'll be more than happy to help a young lady like you." He chuckled. "But still, I can't believe you came all this way by yourself. Don't worry, we take good care of women here. Let me give you the best room."
I smiled, trying not to blush, not because I was flattered, but because I was just relieved I wasn't getting caught. "Thank you, uncle. I'll pay accordingly."
"No need to worry too much," he said. "Women get fifty percent off everything here. It's the rule."
Honestly, Miss Kaur wasn't lying. This place really did treat women well. The stares weren't great, but otherwise? People were kind. I found out later that this village was super matriarchal, after marriage, men move in with the woman's family. Women ran most of the shops and businesses. Girls were trained in survival skills from a young age. I was genuinely impressed.
My room was warm and simple, but cozy. I had a soft bed, wooden walls, and a little oil lamp on the nightstand. And the dinner? Spicy, flavorful, and probably the best thing I'd eaten in weeks. I even got a fruity drink on the side. Life wasn't bad here.
After I finished eating, I sat by the open window, watching the full moon. The mountains glowed under the pale light. It was quiet. I could hear the wind rustling through the trees, and for the first time in a while, I felt calm.
I fell asleep to the sound of distant howling, probably just wolves. Hopefully.
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The next morning, I woke up to birds chirping and sunlight pouring in through the window. For a second, I forgot where I was. Then I saw my wig on the desk and remembered.
Right. Ojaswi mode.
I got dressed quickly, put on some light makeup (my skills were really improving), tied my hair back with a ribbon, and went downstairs.
Uncle receptionist was already waiting.
"There's a group heading out around noon," he said, handing me a warm breakfast in a little paper box. "Three boys, all from nearby villages. They go up often. You can join them if you're ready."
"Thank you so much," I said, bowing slightly. "Are they okay with me coming?"
"They were excited. Be careful, though. The mountain's strange. Even the boys get nervous sometimes."
I nodded. "I'll be careful."
Around noon, I met the group outside the village gate.
Three guys, probably in their early twenties. One was tall with messy hair and a constant smile. Another was serious-looking, wearing glasses and checking some notes. The last one was a bit shorter but built like a tank, and he was carrying most of the supplies.
They all looked at me and waved.
"You're the girl who wants to hike the northern trail?" the tall one asked.
"That's me," I said, adjusting my scarf.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Harshad. This is Vihaan," he pointed to the guy with the glasses, "and that's Manu."
Manu just gave me a small nod.
"We don't usually bring new people," Harshad continued, "but you seemed confident. Ever hiked before?"
"Once or twice," I said. Technically not a lie. Miss Kaur made me train on some fake trails with backpacks full of rocks.
Vihaan looked me up and down, then adjusted his glasses. "Are you sure about this? It's not an easy route. There's some weird stuff up there."
I shrugged. "Weird is kind of my thing."
That made Harshad laugh. "Okay then, Ojaswi. Let's see if you can keep up."
And with that, we headed into the forest path at the foot of the mountain. Trees loomed tall around us. Shadows danced under the leaves. The higher we went, the colder the wind got.
I walked behind them, trying to stay quiet, but also staying alert. I wasn't just hiking. I was searching. For the place my family hid the thread. For the place where Sallos fought my ancestor.
And somewhere deep in those mountains…
I knew something was waiting.
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