Chapter 8 Unanswered Questions and the Gurus Secret
The last blush of sunset had sunk from the sky leaving the Tapobhumi grass painted in cool blue shadow Now a thin white sheet of dew was being laid over it The days cacophony of Tapobhumi the clang of practice swords the drone of chanting the slap of running feet had all drowned in the rising tide of evening quiet All that remained was a deep heavy melancholy thickening in the damp air
In a corner of the now empty training ground Nirag was trying to carve his frustration out of the sky with his sword Sheetapsi His movements were a blur a shadow that leapt spun and slashed with lightning speed But with each strike his breathing grew more ragged The red glow in his eyes wasnt just from anger deep within them black flames of self loathing flickered fed by the civil war inside him
Suddenly with a sharp animal like cry his body gave out He crashed to his knees on the damp grass fists clenched in the soil Sheetapsi lay beside him lifeless metal
Why his voice was a frayed wire vibrating with pain So many years so much training Why wont this power become mine Why cant I make it obey
He thrust a hand out fingers trembling and a jet of flame erupted It was not a controlled exercise It was a detonation It hit a large boulder used for target practice and in a blink the rock was gone transformed into a soft blooming cloud of warm ash The heat of it washed over him And in that heat two distinct tracks carved paths down his ash smeared cheeks not of sweat but of hot silent tears His shoulders shook with ragged sobs he couldnt stifle
Anvay had seen it all He approached now not like a hunter but like someone nearing a wounded dangerous creature He placed a hand on Nirags shoulder The touch was so light it could have been a fallen leaf
Be still Anvays voice was the whisper of a night breeze This is not a battle you fight alone
Nirags head snapped up His face was a mess of ash and tears his eyes those of a cornered animal You Why are you here Come to enjoy the show To watch my failure
Anvay didnt flinch He used the back of his hand to wipe the grime from Nirags cheek His fingers were cool and steady like stone I am not here to watch I am here to stand with you Your pain is my pain
Go away Nirags voice rose to a shout again but it lacked force It was the crack of something already broken
No Anvays voice held no hardness only the immovable humble firmness of a mountain I came to be your friend Not to mock you
Nirag searched his eyes He didnt find the malice he expected He found only a deep still concern like a pond watching a nearby tree burn Yet the Aadi Devansh words echoed Your friend could be your greatest enemy
Lies Nirags voice dropped to a raw whisper You you envy me You want me weak
Anvay gave no verbal answer He simply took Nirags hand and turned it over cradling the scarred palm in his own Trust me Close your eyes
But
Just close them
Nirag shut his eyes Behind his lids images of conflagration still danced Anvay closed his own hand around Nirags wrist
Now repeat after me I call upon the element of fire
I call upon the element of fire
This time there was no explosion A single flame kindled in Nirags palm small steady its very flickers slow and deliberate It was not a weapon it was a prayer
Nirag opened his eyes His breath hitched Seeing that obedient gentle flame his eyes welled up again but these tears were cool with disbelief
See Anvays voice held the faintest hint of a smile You can You always could
Nirag slowly tilted his hand The flame danced obedient serene He bowed his head Im sorry I thought you your intentions
Its nothing Anvay said his hand still on Nirags shoulder Friends sometimes lose their way in the dark What matters is that they find each other again
The corner of Nirags mouth twitched upward It wasnt a smile of victory but of profound relief like a lost traveler finally seeing a familiar light
Dont ever try to hide your pain from me again Anvay said a brothers command in his tone I am here for you Wherever you need me to be
Nirag took a deep shuddering breath as if it were his first true breath in years Do you want to know why the war inside me
Anvay nodded
This power Nirag looked at the flame in his hand is not mine
What do you mean
Closing his eyes Nirag gave words to the old wound Eight years ago I was dying A sickness with no name no cure Father Neer they tried everything Even his water element would enter my body and flow right back out like a door slamming shut
His voice grew quieter Then Tauji Agni came The two of them to save me they poured a piece of their own souls into me Agnis flame and Neers cool essence they forced them to coexist inside my dying body This power is their gift Their sacrifice I am just the vessel carrying it
Anvays breath stilled His eyes showed not disbelief but a deep painful understanding
I remember Nirag whispered when I woke I was ten They had brought me from the banks of the Mandar river My real parents no one knows Probably dead But Neer and Agni they are everything to me And I his voice broke again I cant even hold their gift properly Because of me Fathers own power is diminished I I am their burden
Anvay took Nirags hands in his own You are not a burden You are you are their greatest act of courage They gave a part of themselves to save you And you you have carried this secret this love inside your heart all this time The war inside you isnt yours It is their love two forces separate yet fused together within you
Nirag opened his eyes They were wide with a new staggering wonder No one had ever framed his pain that way
You are not alone Nirag Anvay said planting each word like a seed in firm earth I am here I always will be No matter what the Aadi Devansh say No matter what fate writes
Their eyes held And in that moment the war of fire and water inside Nirag stilled It didnt vanish but it grew calm becoming a deep lake on whose surface Anvays reflection was perfectly peacefully clear
On the other side of Tapobhumi Kalpit stepped out of his room and saw Aksh sitting on the steps below A sharp smirk played on his lips
Whats wrong Aksh Found Tapobhumi air too thin Planning your escape
Aksh looked up His eyes held a cold glint No Im not like you jumping at every shadow out of fear
Fear Kalpits voice rose to a sneer How dare you
Remember swordsmanship class Akshs voice turned to ice When your hands shook so badly you nearly dropped your blade Yes Everyone saw
Kalpits face flushed crimson Without thinking he shoved Aksh hard Aksh tumbled down the stone steps with a sharp cry of pain Kalpit didnt look back disappearing into the gathering dark Below Aksh slowly picked himself up a trickle of blood from his lip The pain in his eyes was now joined by a darker colder spark the first ember of a deep seated hatred
In Vedikas chamber peace reigned She was folding her blankets when her gaze fell on the sword in the corner Meghanshi Akshanshs sword He had forgotten it there that afternoon when he came with Anvay
Without a second thought she picked up the heavy blade and hurried towards Akshanshs quarters He opened the door his hair still disheveled from evening practice
Vedika Is something wrong
Your sword Prince she said offering Meghanshi You left it in my room
Akshanshs eyes lit up Ah Thank you I was wondering where
He glanced back into his room his eyes falling on the empty water pitcher by his bed
Is everything alright Vedika asked
Its nothing Just the water pitcher is empty Ill have to manage till morning
That will not do Vedika said immediately an unexpected firmness in her voice I will fetch some
No I couldnt
Give me the pitcher Vedika extended her hand her eyes holding the same unwavering focus they did when she healed It is my duty
Akshansh looked into her eyes that sincere steadfast gaze and handed her the pitcher Alright But come back quickly
Vedika smiled and left She returned shortly the pitcher full to the brim She placed it carefully on his table as if performing a sacred rite
My thanks Akshansh said
Vedikas face softened into a faint rosy blush like the last light of dusk touching her skin Thanks are not needed Prince It was my wish
Did you say something
Nothing I should go now
She turned and left quickly but her steps carried a new light energy Akshansh stood at the door watching her go a strange warmth settling in his chest
Outside Sheetal sat on a flat rock counting the emerging stars Footsteps sounded behind her
Prince Prakash Youre here
Prakash walked over holding a handkerchief You dropped this I thought you might need it in the cold
Sheetal took it with a small smile At that moment Prakash took the light shawl from his own shoulders Here The breeze is cold Use this until you go inside
He draped it over her shoulders The wool was soft and warm
You are very kind Sheetal said her voice holding a gratitude that went beyond words
Prakash simply nodded with a gentle smile Take care of yourself
He walked away Sheetal watched him go the shawl a light weight on her shoulders but its effect on her heart was immeasurably deep The faint scent of future sorrow was already on the wind
Neers hut was dark Agni pushed the door open silently Neer was asleep on his cot his breathing light and even Agni padded inside and saw that Neer had not pulled his blanket over himself From a hook on the wall Agni took a spare quilt and with immense care laid it over his sleeping friend He then adjusted the pillow under Neers head raising it just slightly for easier breathing He did it all with a silence so profound it didnt stir Neers slumber
For a moment Agni looked at Neers face peaceful weary content and then slipped out as quietly as he had come As he closed the door a smile touched his lips a smile only he could understand
Outside he saw Sheetal sitting alone
Sheetal Why are you out so late
Sheetal jumped up Greetings Margdarshak I was just looking at the stars Ill go in now
She hurried away Agni watched her go then looked up at the sky The stars twinkled as if whispering secrets
Farthest of all in a small secluded hut Margdarshak Vishrayan sat in deep meditation A single oil lamp burned before him its flame perfectly straight untouched by any draft His eyes were closed but a subtle smile played on his lips
He was seeing not feeling The conversation between Nirag and Anvay the new thread tying them The seed of malice sown between Aksh and Kalpit The delicate thread being woven between Vedika and Akshansh The gentle breeze stirring between Sheetal and Prakash
His smile deepened The Aadi Devansh prophecy the secrets of the past the conflicts of the present all were unfolding precisely on the path he had foreseen Nirag now knew the source of his power And when roots are strong the tree can withstand the storm
He opened his eyes The lamps flame flared brightly for a single moment then settled back into perfect stillness
All is well he said to himself his voice so soft only the flame could hear Everything is happening exactly as it must
And the deep knowing silence of the guru's hut descended once more a silence where everything is known and nothing is yet revealed
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