Chapter 4 The Mirrors Secret
Nirag peered out of the window of his chamber The golden light of sunset spread a crimson hue over the palace stones There was a slight chill in the air as if an invisible shadow was breathing He took a deep breath and stepped out of his bedchamber The polished bronze mirror placed in the corridor seemed to pull him towards itself It was a gleaming cold surface that appeared ready to swallow his face He stopped and slowly came before the mirror
In the mirror his face looked blurry There were dark circles under his eyes Not from lack of sleep but from a deep unspoken exhaustion He placed his fingers on his forehead where he felt a faint pulsation His reflection on the surface of the mirror was trembling slightly as if some hidden breeze was shaking it
Just then his reflection in the mirror moved
At the center of his forehead just above his brows the skin twitched A bulge appeared Small but unmistakable Then slowly the skin cracked open like a narrow fissure And from that fissure an eye emerged
Black So black that even light seemed to dissolve into it No pupil No shine Just a void that was eager to swallow everything Within that black eye a glimpse of a distorted smile appeared A laughter that felt familiar to Nirag It was Nirag laughter That cold laughter from the dream that haunted his nights
Nirag breath stopped His mouth fell open but no sound came out His throat had gone dry He stumbled back and his heel hit the wall His heart pounded hard as if someone wanted to crush him from within He touched his forehead His fingers fell upon that warm damp bulge It was real It was true
In the mirror that black eye glared back at him Then something moved within it A shadow A distorted face that appeared for a moment and then vanished Nirag eyes widened He screamed A long shrill scream that echoed back from the corridor walls The scream was so deep that the armor of the soldiers trembled
He turned in panic and ran out of the chamber His steps were uncontrolled and his breaths were ragged The soldiers standing in the corridor saw him Their eyes widened in astonishment The prince who was always calm and composed was running like a terrified deer today
Maharaj One soldier called out but Nirag did not hear him
He ran towards the main door of the palace As soon as he stepped outside he shut both his eyes The moment his eyes closed that black eye on his forehead opened again Now it was more distinct and more alive
His body began to stiffen His muscles tensed He grabbed his head with both hands It was not pain It was an explosion An explosion of memories
Agni and Neer fighting against Andhak Void Waves of fire and water clashing against black darkness Dharaya and Vayansh holding each other hands as they sacrificed their lives to protect the elements The final union of Prakash and Sheetal And Anvay himself standing beside the corpses of his parents with tears in his eyes
Everything was exploding inside his mind Every scream Every sigh Every shattering dream Anvay own scream escaped his lips A long shrill scream that bounced back from the palace walls The scream was so deep that the armor of the soldiers trembled and the horses far away began to neigh
The soldiers came running There was fear and worry on their faces Maharaj What happened
Nirag opened his eyes Only that black eye was visible His voice became deep and hoarse Run away from here Or else I will kill all of you
He raised his hand One soldier flew into the air and fell ten feet away His armor cracked The other soldiers began retreating and terror filled their eyes The sword of one soldier slipped from his hand and fell to the ground The sound of metal echoed Nirag kept screaming His voice held no fear and no anger Just emptiness He kept moving forward and every soldier who came in his path was thrown into the air
Upstairs in the highest chamber of the palace Neer was sitting The sword Varshini lay before him He was cleaning its blade with a soft cloth and each stroke had a regularity like a meditation The metal of the sword gleamed but Neer eyes were lost somewhere far away
The door of the chamber opened Agni entered What thoughts are you lost in
Neer looked up A faint smile played on his lips In no thoughts Come sit down
Agni sat on the seat Between them was a small table on which a pitcher and two cups were kept Neer lifted the pitcher and poured the sherbet into the cup The golden liquid slowly filled the cup
He extended the cup towards Agni Agni looked into Neer eyes There was a calm depth in those blue eyes He lifted the cup and drank the sherbet in one gulp The coolness of the liquid gave him peace as it went down his throat
Neer watched and smiled Then he reached out his hand and lifted the pitcher to pour more sherbet into Agni empty cup
Just then Agni reached out his hand He took the pitcher from Neer hand Without a word he gestured towards Neer cup
Neer smile deepened Alright fine He pushed his cup forward
Agni tilted the pitcher The golden liquid fell into Neer cup Then he looked into Neer eyes and gestured for him to drink
Neer lifted the cup One sip Then a second His eyes remained drowned in Agni eyes Those blue eyes That warm touch Everything was just as it had been when they first met But in between there was that old pain too That memory of the curse
Just then there was a knock on the door A soldier panting heavily entered the room Maharaj Something has happened to Nirag He is screaming outside the palace
The clay cup slipped from Neer hand and shattered The shards scattered everywhere His eyes met Agni eyes for a moment and that old fear returned to them
Without a word both of them ran Down the stairs Through the corridors Towards the outside of the palace
Outside Nirag was still screaming The black eye on his forehead was burning He raised his hand towards a soldier and a fireball began forming in his palm The soldier face turned pale and he stepped back
Just then a hand fell on Nirag wrist The touch was cold and firm The fireball dissolved right in his palm
Nirag looked up Anvay stood before him There was concern in his eyes but even more than that there was a firm resolve
Nirag Anvay said and his voice was cracked What happened to you
Just from Anvay touch the black eye on Nirag forehead began to fade Then slowly it closed Nirag own two eyes opened again
Anvay looked at Nirag Then he hugged him Tightly Nirag hugged him back Between them that old bond was felt Brotherhood that had been forged in war
What happened Anvay asked and calmness had returned to his voice Why were you screaming like that
Nirag said nothing He just hugged him tighter But a question echoed in his mind Would this shadow now swallow everyone
Just then Neer and Agni arrived there Neer ran to Nirag Son What happened to you
Nirag looked at Neer Then he lowered his eyes Nothing Pitashree Just these soldiers made me angry I lost control
Neer took his face in his hands His fingers moved over his cheeks The duty of a king is to protect his subjects not to hurt them
Forgive me Nirag said and his eyes were still lowered It will not happen again
Agni placed his hand on Neer shoulder Anvay Sit with your friend Talk to him We will come later
Anvay nodded Agni and Neer left but as Neer walked away he glanced back once Anvay was still standing with Nirag and his eyes were fixed on the ground
Something was gnawing at Neer heart Something strange But he walked away
Anvay looked at Nirag He read everything in those lowered eyes that Nirag had not spoken He understood Nirag was hiding something
And perhaps he himself was too
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