Chapter 14 The Cold Embrace and Agnis Lonely Battle
The echo of Nirags scream still rang in Agnis ears as he ran towards Neers chamber He pushed the door open and the scene stole his breath
Neer was on his knees on the floor his blue robes torn and dust streaked His back was hunched his shoulders heaving violently as if he were a fish gasping for air Beside him Nirag sat slumped a deep black wound on his arm oozing not blood but a dark viscous liquid
Neer Agnis voice echoed through the hall hard firm yet underneath that hardness lay a broken softness This is not you Neer look into your own eyes Look at your hands What are you doing
Neer lifted his head His eyes were still half black half blue as if two opposing forces warred within them The black color spread receded fought Then slowly like a heavy curtain being lifted the black began to retreat The blue expanded Within moments Neers eyes returned to their familiar blue the blue Agni loved so dearly
Agni Neer whispered his voice so weak it seemed choked
Yes Neer Its me Agni Agni immediately knelt beside him supporting him His fingers gripped Neers shoulders tightly as if afraid he would disappear again
Agni glanced at Nirag Nirags eyes were wide not with fear but with a deep painful concern the kind a child feels watching a parent break
Nirag beta Agni said his voice gentle now You go go to your chamber I am here
Nirag bowed his head As you command Tauji He stood and as he left he looked back once His gaze lingered on Neer who now sat supported by Agni his head bowed shoulders trembling
As soon as Nirag was gone Neer asked in a trembling voice Agni did did I hurt Nirag Did I do something
His voice was broken filled with a terrible self loathing Agni wiped the sweat from his forehead The sweat was cold icy
No Neer Agni said choosing each word carefully You did nothing Nirag there was an accident Ive healed him You just rest now I I must meet the minister You sleep
Neer closed his eyes but his eyelids fluttered Agni covered him with a blanket and felt it then an unusual deep cold emanating from Neers body It wasnt the normal coolness of the water element It was a dead hollow cold like that of a deep grave Agni unconsciously increased his own fire element warming his body to withstand the chill
Agni went straight to Nirags chamber Nirag stood by the window looking outside but his gaze was distant elsewhere
Nirag Agni said
Nirag turned His face held the sadness of a child forced to grow up too fast
Tauji
Listen Agni said placing a hand on his shoulder What happened today forget it Never speak of it to your Pitashree He he is unwell And unwell people sometimes do things they dont mean
Nirag nodded but his eyes held questions But Tauji that wound it wasnt normal It was black Not burning but numbing
Agni didnt answer He took Nirags hand in his and placed his palm over the wound A soft golden flame emerged touching the wound and beginning to lighten its black color The black liquid evaporated and the skin slowly returned to its normal shade
Tauji Nirag asked again his voice almost a whisper Will Pitashree will he really recover Will he be himself again
Agni hugged him so tightly Nirag struggled to breathe Yes Nirag Yes Your Pitashree will recover I promise By tomorrow morning everything will be better
But the words of the promise hung in the air feeling hollow
In the ministers chamber Agni seemed a different person The calm compassionate expression was gone from his face replaced by the stern resolve of a king
Minister ji Agni said each word clear and heavy No information about Neers health should leave the walls of this palace If a single word leaks the responsible person will face the consequences
The minister bowed Yes Maharaj
And another thing Agni continued a slight softness entering his voice From today I will take charge of Prakashgadh Neer needs rest I need your help Because because my family is breaking apart My oldest friend and his son both are in a crisis I dont fully understand yet Do you understand
The ministers eyes held understanding and the loyalty of an old servant Yes Maharaj Completely Do not worry All palace boundaries will be sealed No rumors will spread Every entry and exit will be recorded
When the minister left Agni was alone He clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms His eyes held pain anger and a decision
Neer he whispered his voice lost in the rooms silence You will be well I will free you from that black things clutches Even if I have to fight the entire creation for it even if I have to burn myself
Nirag was sitting in his chamber when a soldier knocked Greetings Prince Maharaj has called you to the dining hall
In the dining hall Agni was already seated The table was laid with Nirags favorite dishes spiced vegetables fresh breads sweet desserts But the plate before Agni was empty
Come Nirag Agni said trying to form a smile
Nirag sat His gaze wandered around the table Tauji Pitashree isnt coming
He is resting Agni said his tone flat He is unwell I will send food to his chamber You eat Nirag
Both prayed in silence Nirag picked up his fork but his heart wasnt in the food He noticed Agni ate nothing He only lifted a glass of water took a sip and put it down
Tauji Nirag finally said You should eat too
Im not hungry right now Agni said eyes lowered
Nirag understood He knew Agni was so consumed with worry for Neer that he had forgotten his own bodys needs Nirag ate very little just enough not to upset Agni and got up
As soon as Nirag left Agni served food onto a plate and walked towards Neers chamber
Neers chamber was dark The curtains were drawn Neer lay on the bed eyes open staring at the ceiling
Neer Agni said opening the door Get up Have some food
Neer sat up Agni sat beside him placing the plate on his own lap He lifted a morsel and brought it to Neers mouth
Neer ate the bite chewed swallowed Then he looked at Agni Have you eaten
Yes Agni said without meeting his eyes Ive eaten
The corner of Neers lips lifted slightly He raised his finger and wiped a tiny crumb from the corner of Agnis mouth
You can hide from everyone Agni Neer said his voice regaining its old softness But not from me I know you havent eaten Come open your mouth
Agni surrendered He closed his eyes and ate the morsel from Neers hand A grain of rice stuck in his throat He was getting emotional
As long as you dont eat Neer said lifting another bite how can I eat hmm I know you havent eaten
They fed each other a silent intimate ritual Agni put Neer to sleep covered him with a blanket and turned towards the door
As soon as he stepped out Agni leaned his back against the door Tears streamed from his eyes silently without a sound
Neer he whispered voice broken You know everything My pain my joy every breath of mine is connected to you So why all this Knowing that my pain hurts you too why did you choose this path
Inside the chamber Neers eyes were open Tears were soaking into his pillow from the corners of his eyes
Agni my Agni I had no other way To save our family I know it hurts you to see me like this Every time I see fear in your eyes my soul screams But I I cannot lose you Cannot lose Nirag Even if the price is my own soul
Agni returned to his chamber but sleep eluded him all night He sat by the window staring outside where moonlight had painted the palace gardens a ghostly silver Every moment his heart beat for Neer Every breath held Neers name
As soon as morning came Nirag went searching for Agni all over the palace
Soldier Have you seen Tauji
A soldier bowed Prince Maharaj rode out on his horse early this morning He didnt say where
Nirags heart grew heavy He went to Neers chamber Neer was awake standing by the window looking out
Greetings Pitashree How are you How are you feeling
I am fine Neer his voice normal but strained Your Tauji hasnt woken yet
No Pitashree He left somewhere early this morning No one knows where
Neers brows furrowed Alright You go practice your swordsmanship In the field behind the palace
As soon as Nirag left Neer stepped out of his chamber In the corridor he saw Ramlal the palaces old cook who had served for thirty years
Ah Ramlal Neer said a warm smile on his face How are you Your children Your daughters wedding happened right How was it
Ramlal joined his hands a humble smile on his face Maharaj I am well All is well Daughter is happy in her new home Its the effect of your blessings
Very good Your service has always
Neers sentence was suddenly left unfinished
His eyes began to turn black again This time not slowly but abruptly As if an invisible hand flipped a switch inside him His smile vanished his voice grew deep metallic
How dare you speak to me so casually Bandy words with me
Ramlals face turned white Maharaj I I said nothing wrong
Neer raised his hand Thin arrows of black water shot from his fingers whistling through the air towards Ramlal
Forgive me Please
Just then a golden flash brightened the air The black arrows burned to ash mid air with a crackling sound
Agni stood there
Ramlal Agni said his voice calm but commanding You leave Now
Ramlal bowed his head and scurried away
Agni took Neers hand Neers hand was cold as ice
Neer blinked The black faded from his eyes He suddenly grew frantic Agni Youre back Where did you go so early I looked for you everywhere You were nowhere
Neer Agni said a weariness in his voice that had sunk to his bones Come I need to talk to you
Agni took Neer to his chamber Closed the door Then he took out a silver amulet from his pocket This was no ordinary amulet Intricate Naad Sutra were engraved on it and at its center was a sun symbol glowing faintly
Neer Agni said You sometimes lose control I I went to meet Margdarshak I brought this amulet for you
He fastened the amulet around Neers wrist The silver chain warmed upon touching the skin and a soft golden light emanated from the amulet forming a luminous aura around Neers arm
Neer looked at the amulet A complex emotion surfaced in his eyes relief gratitude and a deep fear You you went to Margdarshak What did he say Did he say anything about me
No Neer Agni said his gaze piercing Neers eyes He said nothing Just that this amulet will prevent the dark shadow from overpowering you But tell me one thing Neer Tell me the truth How did that shadow how did it gain control over you Why did you let it inside
Neer lowered his eyes His lips trembled For a moment his soul wavered between truth and lie Finally he shook his head eyes still downcast
I I dont know Agni Truthfully I dont remember
Agni studied him for a long moment Then without another word he pulled Neer into his arms Held him tight So tight that Neer could feel every heartbeat every breath
And then softly against Neers ear Agni whispered words that carried the weight of a thousand burning suns
My heart wants to hide you far from the world in the midst of my fire Where no one can see you no one can touch you where only I exist only you exist and this incomplete dawn of ours
Neers breath stopped His hands clutched Agnis back his fingers digging into the fabric as if holding onto life itself
A tear escaped warm alive real
Agni he breathed
Shh Agni whispered still holding him Im here Ill always be here No shadow no darkness no force in this world will take you from me I wont let it
They stood there wrapped in each other two souls fighting against a darkness that threatened to consume them both
For a moment just a moment the world outside ceased to exist
At that same moment miles away in Tapobhumi Margdarshak Vishrayan sat in deep meditation in his hut A gentle sorrowful smile touched his lips
Agni he whispered to himself his voice almost vanishing in the air You have saved Neer from the dark shadow for a time This amulet is a wall but walls too break with time
He opened his eyes and his gaze lifted towards distant Prakashgadh as if seeing through the palace walls
That shadow is not as simple as you think Agni It is not just a shadow It is a messenger A herald And the one it heralds is the source of darkness itself No one can avert this play of destiny It will return and next time Agni even your fire will not pierce its cold
The Margdarshak took a long pained breath
The path Neer chose this amulet is only a temporary pause on it A chance to catch a breath nothing more And when the storm returns it will be even more destructive
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