Arthur and Ram Babu followed the peacock through the mist-laden valley, the Tall Whites’ words echoing in their minds. Each step felt heavier, as though the ground itself tested their resolve. The air thickened with a strange sweetness, and in the distance a glow shimmered across the horizon—the holy lake.
They emerged onto its banks, and Ram gasped aloud. The waters glistened like liquid crystal, every ripple reflecting not just the sky but visions of worlds unseen. Across the surface floated hundreds of lotus blooms, each more radiant than jewels, their petals shining with colors beyond human imagination.
Arthur froze, his heart pounding. He remembered the Tall White’s warning: pluck only one.
Ram shuffled nervously beside him, wiping his brow. “Sahib… how to choose? They all look lik
