Chapter 13 The Throne of Shadows and a Shattered Family
The deepest part of night was receding like a black curtain slowly rising But inside Agnis hut the silence that follows a nocturnal horror still hung heavy sticky obstructing even breath
Neers body still twitched with subtle tremors as if dreaming in a deep sleep But these tremors were not normal Each time his body shuddered the skin under his eyes would darken for a moment like a drop of ink spreading in water then vanish instantly
Agni rose quietly and went to Neer placing a hand on his head His palm was warm but today it lacked that natural warmth it held an artificial Naad Sutra induced heat
Om Aadisrastaya Namah Agni recited slowly pouring all his power into each word A stream of golden energy flowed from his palm wavering through the air and entering Neers forehead
As the golden energy entered Neer the trembling of his body gradually lessened The dark shadow under his eyes lightened and his breaths grew deeper more regular Within moments he was again submerged in deep sleep
Agni Neer whispered still asleep His voice was so weak it seemed the wind was speaking I what was I doing I did something
Agni hugged him resting his head on his shoulder Nothing Neer Nothing Just a bad dream You are fine Everything is fine
But the reassurance in his tone did not reach his own heart He knew This was no dream
Nearby on his own bed Nirag was watching all this He lay with eyes closed but his eyelids fluttered rapidly His heart fluttered like a trapped bird inside his chest What is this Who is this This is not the man I call Pitashree This this is someone else But that face that voice
He clenched his fists nails digging into his palms The pain kept him anchored to reality
Agni gently laid Neer back on the bed covering him with a blanket Then he turned to Nirag He saw Nirags fluttering eyelids He understood
He went to Nirag and sat on the edge of his bed He took his hand Nirag he said softly Neer is fine I was just I was just checking if his hand was cold He is tired thats all Go to sleep Everything will be alright
Nirag did not open his eyes He only nodded a barely visible gesture
And so the three slept in that hut Agni Neer and Nirag Physically close but the distances between their minds were so vast an ocean could fit A different storm raged within each within Agni the battle between love and truth within Nirag the struggle between fear and devotion and within Neer within Neer two souls were at war
The first rays of morning entered the hut painting dust motes gold Neer was still asleep but his rest was troubled his lips twitched occasionally his brows furrowed
Nirag and Agni were already awake Agni went to Neer and shook his shoulder gently Neer Wake up It is time
Neers eyes opened He sat up immediately without any sleep induced grogginess as if he knew he had to wake His eyes were blue clear calm But today they lacked depth It was a superficial blueness like a thin layer of ice
We must leave Agni said offering a vessel of water to Neer Drink some water first
Neer took the vessel without a word and took a long sip He handed it back Alright I am ready And he got up and walked towards the door without looking back
Agni watched his back A pang pierced his heart This was not Neer Neer was never so brusque He always paused a moment offered a smile a touch But now now he walked like a soldier a soldier who had forgotten everything but his objective
Before Margdarshak Vishrayans hut the three stood Nirag was already there his face holding a strange indifference as if trying to distance himself from his emotions
Agni joined his hands and said Margdarshak it is time for us to take our leave We have come to take your permission and blessings
Nirag also joined his hands and touched the Margdarshaks feet My respects Margdarshak
But Neer Neer stood still He did not join his hands He did not bow He stood straight his gaze fixed on the Margdarshak but it held not reverence but a strange scrutiny as if evaluating an enemy
Margdarshak Vishrayan looked at the three His eyes lingered on Neer and for a moment a sorrowful understanding surfaced on his face Then he grew calm Very well Agni My blessings will always be with you all Remember the door of knowledge never closes This Tapobhumi will always be your home
Agni and Nirag bowed again Our gratitude Margdarshak
They turned and began walking towards the Tapobhumi gates Neer looked back one last time His gaze met the Margdarshaks And in that moment the Margdarshak saw within Neers blue eyes just behind the pupil a black spark flashed and vanished
Margdarshak Vishrayan stood alone his eyes closed I told you didnt he he whispered to himself his voice on the verge of vanishing in the air What is destined will happen Neer you cannot stop it Because this time you are not facing just the dark shadow You are facing the master of shadows The source of darkness
He took a deep painful breath as if centuries of pain filled his chest
Andhak His name is Andhak And he is awakening within you
Outside Tapobhumi a massive golden chariot stood waiting Neer climbed into it without hesitation and sat in a corner like a mere passenger
Nirag paused beside Agni his voice low and serious Tauji dont you feel it Pitashrees behavior this is not his behavior Last night and today before Margdarshak he neither joined his hands nor bowed nor spoke This this is not the Neer we know
Agni placed a hand on Nirags shoulder His fingers trembled but he kept his voice steady Everything will be alright Nirag Perhaps perhaps he is very tired The fatigue of the journey The stress of leaving Tapobhumi He will be fine when we reach Prakashgadh
But his words held no conviction And Nirag felt it
Both boarded the chariot The chariot moved leaving the peace of Tapobhumi behind heading towards Prakashgadh During the journey Neer did not look out the window even once He stared straight ahead his face devoid of any expression
The palace of Prakashgadh was bathed in sunlight White marble walls gleamed in golden light and tall towers seemed to touch the sky But today even in this light there was a strange harshness
As the chariot halted at the main palace gates a line of ministers and servants stood to welcome them The chief minister an elderly dignified man stepped forward
Welcome Maharaj Welcome Prince His voice held joy and relief
The palace was decorated with flowers and flags A festive atmosphere was everywhere But Neer paid no attention to any of this He stepped straight out of the chariot and walked towards the minister
Minister ji Neer said a strange sharpness in his voice How are you Did you did you take any liberties with the kingdom in our absence
The question was asked with such sharpness that a moment of silence gripped the air The ministers face turned pale He immediately joined his hands
Maharaj I I am merely your servant How could I even think such a thing But but if there is any deficiency in my service any error in your welcome please forgive me
Agni stepped forward immediately He took Neers hand and pulled him back gently but firmly Lets go inside Neer Minister ji thank you for your services
Agnis eyes held a warning and Neer saw it He paused for a moment then turned and walked into the palace
Nirag watched all this His heart grew heavy This is not him This is not him Pitashree never insults anyone He is kind He is wise This this is someone else
The opulence inside the palace was breathtaking Halls adorned with gold and jewels high ceilings coloured glass windows from which multicoloured light danced on the floor But Neer did not look at any of it He walked straight to the throne room
There at the heart of the palace was the throne of Prakashgadh golden with flame like patterns carved into it and above it a massive sun symbol
Neer sat on the throne without any hesitation
Agni and Nirag stood at the doorway watching this Agnis face turned to stone Neer did not even look at them He sat on the throne his gaze fixed on the empty wall ahead as if seeing another world
Then Neer looked at the soldiers and servants standing at the throne room door A strange glint came into his eyes He raised his hand
And a wave of water shot from his hand But this was not normal water It was black Deep dense black like a night sea The wave surged straight towards the soldiers
Did you fools not clean the royal throne properly Neer shouted a hint of madness in his voice Useless Incompetent
The black water wave was about to crash upon the soldiers when Agni raised his hand
A golden flame shot from his hand spreading in the air and colliding with the black wave With a hissing sound the black water turned to steam a black poisonous smoke that began to spread in the air
Within the smoke Neers body slipped from the throne and he fell to the floor
Nirag ran He reached Neer and tried to lift him Pitashree Get up Come you need to rest
Neers eyes opened He looked at Nirag and his eyes held no recognition Only anger Black dark anger
Move Neer screamed and he pushed Nirag hard
The push was so forceful that Nirag flew through the air and crashed against the far wall hitting his head He sat dazed
Or you will die Neer growled His eyes were now completely black no white remained He raised his hand again and this time another black wave shot forth smaller but denser more poisonous straight at Nirag
Nirag closed his eyes He accepted death
But death did not come
A golden wall appeared before him Agni had placed himself between Nirag and Neer The black wave crashed against the golden wall and the two energies clashed releasing a terrible shrieking sound
Neer Agnis voice held pain anger and a broken prayer Stop this This is not you
Neer looked at Agni A distorted smile appeared on his blackened face And then suddenly his eyes returned to normal in a blink blue confused He looked at his hands then at Agni then at Nirag who sat slumped against the wall black water stains on his body
I Neers voice trembled What did I
And he collapsed unconscious
Agni immediately looked at Nirag He ran to him Nirag
Nirag lay on the floor Where the drops of black water had touched his chest and arms his skin was growing numb black veins spreading He was breathing but his breaths were ragged
Tauji Nirag whispered his eyes half open He he is not Pitashree Is he
Agni lifted him into his arms Tears streamed from his eyes but these tears were not warm They were cold Icy tears
He looked at Neer who lay unconscious on the floor near the throne Then he looked at the throne itself that golden throne that now stood empty But it was not empty A black shadow hovered over it slowly taking the shape of the throne a black throne
From the palace walls streams of black water suddenly began to flow This water was not falling to the ground but flowing upwards on the walls towards the ceiling as if gravity had reversed A laugh began to echo in the air a deep hollow endless laugh that bounced off every wall of the palace
Agni hugged Nirag to his chest so tightly it seemed they would merge into one His eyes were closed
His family was shattering His love was turning into darkness And before his eyes his kingdom his Prakashgadh was drowning in a black sea
And the most terrible thing was that all of this was happening at the hands of the person he loved most The person without whom his existence was incomplete
Neer
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