After being delayed for a while, the search operation for Akasa finally resumed.
At first, everything seemed normal. But a few hours in, Mr. Wandra—who was leading Team C—began to notice something was wrong. Subtle at first. Then increasingly impossible to ignore.
Based on his years of experience as a forest ranger, the signs did not add up. Something was off.
The first anomaly
They encountered a stretch of forest that clearly did not belong to the known terrain of Mount Vamana—especially not along the early hiking route.
Ancient trees dominated the area, their trunks and branches completely blanketed in thick green moss. The moss did not merely cling to the bark—it draped downward like soft curtains, absorbing sunlight and casting the forest into a dim, damp twilight.
In isolation, such scenery would not have been strange. That was the nature of tropical rainforests.
What made it unsettling was where—and when—they encountered it.
This type of forest should only exist deep within the Moss Forest, far across the other side of Mount Vamana.
Yet they had not even left the vicinity of Water Spring Post 1.
From Rohan Base Camp, reaching that area should have taken at least three to four days.
The second anomaly
Mount Vamana was known for its pristine ecosystem. Birds, insects, and wildlife thrived throughout its slopes.
But since the search began, there had been no birdsong, or rustling of insects, or signs of life at all.
The forest was silent. Unnaturally so. Like a graveyard.
The third anomaly
As a highland region, Mount Vamana should have been breezy—even on calm days. At the very least, there should have been occasional gusts stirring the leaves.
Yet now…
There was no wind. Not even the smallest leaf trembled. The forest stood frozen, as though time itself had paused.
The fourth anomaly
Electronic devices failed without warning. Phones lost all signal. The handheld radios carried by Mr. Wandra and Mr. Kumar went dead.
Even Mr. Wandra’s flashlight—fully charged earlier—now flickered weakly, its beam dimming as if it might die at any moment.
The fifth anomaly
Mr. Wandra glanced at his analog wristwatch. The hands were ticking. But the second hand… was not moving forward.
It vibrated slightly—like a stretched rubber band held at its limit—yet never advanced.