Just before the first hint of dawn, when the darkness was at its deepest, he felt a subtle shift in the air. A new scent, faint and sweet, like blooming nightshade, drifted into the camp. It was a pleasant, calming aroma.
Aryan's mind, cross-referencing the scent with his newly acquired compendium, immediately flagged it. Scent identified: Dream-Pollen of the Lunar Moth. A spiritual beast byproduct. Induces drowsiness and mild hallucinations in living creatures. Low-level threat.
He instantly controlled his breathing, slowing his inhalation, and circulated a thin layer of Qi around his face to act as a rudimentary filter. He watched the Rangers.
Dev, who was now resting, stirred in his bedroll, his breathing becoming heavier. Leila, on watch in the tree, shifted her position, a slight, almost perceptible waver in her previously perfect stillness. They had noticed it too.
Leila dropped from the tree, landing silently. She moved to her alchemy kit and produced a small, porcelain vial. She uncorked it, revealing a sharp, minty-smelling paste. She dabbed a small amount under her nose and then on the sleeping Dev's. The effect was immediate. The drowsiness in their postures vanished, their senses clearing.
Leila looked over at Aryan. He had not moved. His eyes were still closed, his breathing still slow and even. She had expected him to be affected, to show some sign of drowsiness. His continued stillness was yet another anomaly.
"The pollen doesn't affect you?" she asked, her voice a low whisper.
Aryan opened his eyes. "I noticed the scent," he replied calmly. "I adjusted my breathing."
It was a simple, logical explanation, but for Leila, it was profoundly unsettling. She had known prodigies before arrogant young masters from great clans, their every step cushioned by pills and powerful guardians. They were strong, but they were also fragile, ignorant of the subtle poisons of the wild. This boy was different. His knowledge was practical, his response immediate and instinctual. He wasn't just strong; he was a survivor. It was a quality that couldn't be bought.
She said nothing more, but the look in her jade eyes changed. The professional suspicion was now tinged with a deep, personal curiosity. Who was this boy?
As the first grey light of dawn filtered through the dense canopy, the Rangers broke camp with a practiced economy of motion. Bedrolls were rolled into tight, waterproof bundles. The heat stone was quenched in a pouch of sand to prevent any lingering thermal signature. They even brushed away their own footprints with a leafy branch, leaving the forest floor looking untouched. It was the work of ghosts. Within minutes, it was as if they had never been there.
"Let's go," Leila commanded, her voice crisp in the morning chill. "We will take you to the edge of the Veil. From there, you are on your own."
Aryan stood up, his body feeling refreshed and brimming with a quiet, consolidated power. The night of "captivity" had been more productive than a week of normal cultivation. He had solidified his realm, analyzed his opponents, and learned invaluable lessons in stealth and environmental awareness.
He fell into step behind Leila, with Dev once again taking up the rear. As they began their journey back, Aryan knew that while they thought they were escorting a prisoner, the reality was different. He was a student following his teachers, and the final lesson how they would part ways was yet to come.