Chapter 25 — The Offer
They stood frozen at the exact distance where their bodies refused to move forward. It was not fear alone that stopped them. It was instinct, deep and ancient, telling them that one more careless step could change everything. The red glow ahead pulsed slowly, steady and calm, spreading through the forest like a living heartbeat.
At the center of that glow stood the massive red crystal tree. Its trunk was enormous, wider than any structure they had seen beyond the Horizon. The surface looked carved rather than grown, sharp-edged and smooth at the same time. Light flowed inside it like blood through veins, moving upward into branches that stretched high and wide, disappearing into the red canopy above. The entire forest seemed to exist because of this tree, not around it.
But the tree was not what shocked them the most.
Beneath it stood four figures.
Three of them were humanoid in shape, tall and upright, their bodies formed from a mix of dark flesh and hardened red crystal. Their limbs were long and powerful, joints clearly visible but not fully human. Their faces were unclear, not damaged, but unfinished, as if identity itself had been intentionally erased. Their eyes reflected the red glow faintly, giving no emotion, no hostility, no curiosity.
The fourth figure was different.
It was massive, nearly twice as wide as the others, standing low on thick limbs. Its body resembled a beast, similar to a gorilla, but covered in layered crystal plates that looked like natural armor. Its chest rose and fell slowly, controlled, disciplined. It did not roar or move. It simply existed, like a guardian shaped by war.
None of them attacked.
None of them moved.
Yet the pressure they gave off was overwhelming.
"These… are not ordinary Vestiges," Gaurav said quietly, his voice barely audible.
No one disagreed. They did not need to. Every sense screamed the same truth. Nobody knew what powers these Vestiges possessed. There were no records, no data, no warnings from previous missions. But whatever their abilities were, everyone understood one thing clearly.
They were dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
Nitya raised her hand slowly, signaling everyone to stay exactly where they were. Vansh felt Avni's fingers tighten around his arm. Her breathing was shallow, controlled with effort. Gaurav forced himself to slow his heart rate, keeping his eyes locked on the figures, searching for any sign of movement.
The Vestiges watched in silence.
Not with aggression.
But with patience.
The red crystal tree pulsed again, slightly brighter this time. The glow spread outward, and then something strange happened. From one of the high branches, a single crystal apple detached itself. It was huge, nearly the size of a watermelon, heavy and solid. But it did not fall.
It floated.
Slowly, smoothly, it descended through the air, guided by something unseen. The apple moved forward, passing through the space between the Vestiges and the group, stopping gently a few steps in front of Nitya.
No impact.
No sound.
Vansh swallowed. "That thing… came to us."
The apple hovered at chest height, glowing steadily. It did not feel threatening. If anything, it felt intentional.
Nitya took a slow step forward. Vansh instinctively moved, but she raised her hand again without looking back, stopping him instantly.
"It's not an attack," she said calmly. "It's an offer."
She reached out carefully and took the apple in both hands. It was heavier than it looked, cold on the surface, but strangely warm inside, like it carried its own life. The moment she touched it, the Vestiges did not react. None of them moved. None of them showed any sign of aggression.
The forest remained silent.
Then one of the humanoid Vestiges stepped forward.
Slowly.
Avni took an unconscious step back. Gaurav's muscles tightened, ready for impact. Vansh's breath caught in his throat. Only Nitya remained still, her grip on the apple firm, her posture steady.
The Vestige stopped a few meters away. It lowered itself slightly and crouched. With one long finger, it drew on the ground. The soil parted easily beneath its touch.
It drew a simple shape.
An apple.
Then, beside it, another drawing. The apple was divided into four equal pieces.
The Vestige pointed to the four pieces, then gestured between them and the group. Then it pointed at itself and drew a single piece near its figure.
Silence stretched.
Understanding slowly settled in.
"It's… communicating," Avni whispered.
"Negotiating," Gaurav corrected softly.
Nitya nodded. She knelt down and drew beside the Vestige's markings. Her lines were careful, clear. She drew the apple again and divided it into four pieces. Then she drew two pieces closer to their group and two closer to the Vestige.
She looked up, meeting the Vestige's unreadable gaze.
The Vestige did not move immediately. It tilted its head slightly, as if considering the offer. The red glow around it pulsed once. Then it reached out and touched the drawing of the two pieces.
Agreement.
Nitya acted without delay. She took out her blade and carefully cut the crystal apple into four equal parts. The sound was sharp and clean, like glass slicing against metal. The apple split perfectly, glowing softly from within.
She slid two pieces forward toward the Vestige.
The Vestige did not touch them immediately. Instead, it stepped back, allowing the pieces to rest on the ground. Only after retreating fully did it return to its original position, remaining still, watching.
Nitya kept the remaining two pieces.
She then cut those two pieces again, dividing them into four smaller portions. Her movements were controlled, precise. She handed one piece to Vansh, one to Avni, and held the remaining two for a moment.
She looked at Gaurav.
"Your body handles stress better," she said quietly. "You eat first."
Gaurav hesitated. His mouth felt dry. Every instinct told him this could be dangerous. But this was not a reckless act. It was a decision. And beyond the Horizon, decisions mattered more than strength.
Everyone watched him.
The Vestiges watched too.
Gaurav took the piece. The surface was smooth and cold, glowing faintly. He looked at Nitya once more.
She nodded.
Gaurav took a bite.
The sound echoed softly through the forest, sharp and clear.
And in that moment, the entire red forest seemed to pause, waiting to see what the choice would become.