In her final surrender, she reached for what had led her here—and it did not feel like a fall.To her, it felt like finally touching the power she had always chased….even as it took away the last of who she was.
~~~~~
He studied her for a moment… and then a slow smile curved across his lips.
"Now you are beginning to think as you should" he said softly.
His hands behind his back, assured..…like someone who had already seen the end of this conversation.
"I can give back everything you lost" he continued, his voice smooth.
"And more than you ever had."
"I can make you more powerful than any Aokma that has ever lived."
"I can give you power that spirits were never meant to hold."
His gaze deepened.
"You will not live as someone's instrument anymore."
A faint smirk touched Gyanwati's lips.
"That sounds too little" she said calmly.
"For joining hands with a devil."
For a brief second, silence settled between them.
Then—
He smiled.
"Just as I expected."
His voice carried a quiet approval.
"Tell me, Gyanwati…" he said, watching her closely.
"What is it that you truly want?"
There was no hesitation now.
"Immortality," she said.
"Like you."
For the first time, his expression shifted—slightly.
Not shock, But interest.
"Immortality…" he repeated slowly.
"That is not something I can give." His tone remained calm.
"That is a privilege reserved for the gods."
Gyanwati's expression did not change.
"Then you have nothing to offer me" she said coldly. "You can leave."
The air stilled.
Then he chuckled softly.
"Do you think?" he said
"that you can taste immortality on your own?"
His voice lowered. "You cannot even restore your powers."
He placed his hand lightly on her shoulder gently , almost comforting."You need me."
A pause.
"You simply haven't accepted it yet."
Her jaw tightened… but she did not move away.
He watched her for a moment longer… and then spoke again. "But since you have your faith in me…"
"Since you asked…"
His voice softened, almost generous.
"I will give you something close."
He let the words settle before continuing.
"iccha-mṛtyu-vardāna"
"The power to die only when you choose."
He stepped back, giving space to his own words.
"You may bleed, You may break."
"You may lose everything again."
His gaze locked into hers.
"But you will not die…"
"…until you say the words."
"The moment you say them—I want to die…"
His voice dropped.
"That moment… will be your last."
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?"
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Yes," she said. "Exactly this."
Then he exhaled, as if concluding a long-awaited moment.
"Then let us speak of balance" he said."Of what you will give… in return."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
And this time, his voice carried something darker beneath it. "I want you to destroy the Aokmas."
"Take their energy."
"Strip them of everything they are."
His gaze hardened.
"I want no servant of that god left on this earth."
"Let patallok rise.…as the only power that remains."
The wind stilled.
The forest seemed to listen.
Gyanwati did not answer immediately.
Something shifted across her face.
Not fear. Not doubt.
Something quieter.
A flicker of what once was.
Her eyes moved through the forest she was once queen of.
Her breath slowed.
For a moment… she remembered.
Then—
It passed.
She lifted her gaze.
And whatever remained of that hesitation… was gone.
Her lips parted.
"Deal."