Rain slicked streets glimmered under Varsha City's neon lights, but the alley Aarav followed Riya into seemed… alive. Mist twisted unnaturally around the lampposts, silver tendrils brushing his face. He shivered.
"Where… where are we going?" he asked, clutching his bag.
Riya's violet eyes didn't waver. "Some truths can't be explained. They must be seen." She raised her hand, and the mist coiled into a shimmering arch, pulsing like a heartbeat. "This is the Veil."
Aarav stepped through, and the world warped instantly. Buildings floated midair, streets curved impossibly, and creatures—part human, part nightmare—slithered at the edges of perception. Shadows twisted against the laws of physics, watching, waiting.
"These are Wraith-Born," Riya said, voice calm but sharp. "Predators that hunt between worlds. The Seal on your wrist isn't just protection—it's a beacon. They can sense it. And now… they know you exist."
A screech ripped through the distorted cityscape. A hulking Wraith-Born lunged, claws shimmering with dark energy. Aarav stumbled back, fear gripping him.
Riya's hand ignited with silver fire, illuminating the mist. "This is no longer a game. You either learn to fight—or you die. The Veil does not forgive hesitation."
Aarav's heart raced. For the first time, he realized the life he knew—the one filled with school, coaching, and ordinary worries—was gone. Tonight, survival was the only lesson.