The Hidden Fortress

The dense wilderness of Komodo Island stretches out under the shroud of night. The air is heavy with humidity, carrying the salt of the sea and the scent of wild vegetation. Jagged cliffs rise like ancient sentinels, their shadows merging with the darkness. Hidden caves echo with the distant crash of waves against the rugged shore. The land is alive, breathing with the whispers of legends long forgotten.

A crescent moon hung low in the sky, its pale light weaving through the thick canopy as the boat glided through narrow channels, its engine silenced to avoid detection. The water was eerily calm, reflecting fragmented shards of moonlight, shimmering like shattered glass.

David stood at the bow, his eyes locked on the shoreline. His chest tightened as the island's silhouette grew clearer, the jagged cliffs and ancient trees etched against the night sky. He had always known he would return, drawn by a bond he could never fully understand. Komodo Island—his birthplace, his curse.