Chapter 43 Shadow and Counter Shadow
The stairs of the Nabhgadh palace were no longer smooth marble as before A fine layer of dust had settled on them on which the footprints of three pairs were moving downward Akshansh was at the very front his steps were heavy on every stair his left foot would falter slightly as if he was having difficulty walking Behind him were Aksh and Kalpit Aksh fists were clenched so tightly that the knuckles of his hands had turned white Kalpit kept turning back to look up as if someone was following them
Descending down the three stood at the edge of that vast abyss that separated Nabhgadh from the rest of the kingdom Below in the depths black water was still but on its surface sometimes a slight ripple rose as if some giant creature was breathing below
Akshansh picked up a stone and threw it into the abyss It took seven seconds for the stone to reach the water No sound came just a faint gulping noise
Who was that woman Akshansh voice bounced off the walls of the abyss and returned
Aksh placed his hand on the hilt of his sword His fingers were rubbing repeatedly at the same spot where the leather had worn smooth Black clothes face covered and she saved our lives Why
Kalpit looked at Akshansh There were dark circles under his eyes as if he had not slept for weeks Friend she saved our lives he said choosing his words slowly but did you see how powerful she was She defeated Nirag Andhak Void in a single strike
A silence spread in the air The shoulders of all three tensed simultaneously
That Andhak Void Aksh whispered as if just taking the name would awaken some evil force who had destroyed a kingdom like Chandrapuri in a single moment
Everyone looked at each other The lid of Akshansh right eye was twitching Aksh opened his fist there were deep nail marks on his palm Kalpit had held his breath his chest remained stuck inflated
Who was that woman Akshansh said again this time there was a strain in his voice as if a rope was about to break And why did she save our lives We must find out friends
Everyone nodded in agreement Aksh nod was fast decisive Kalpit was slow thoughtful Akshansh looked into the abyss one final time below in the black water his shadow appeared blurry broken distorted
He turned in anger and walked back into the palace His steps were so heavy that the stone stairs trembled slightly
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In Akshansh chamber the air was still The window was closed but through a narrow crack in it a thin line of sunlight was coming in with dust particles dancing in it He sat on the bed the wooden cot creaked under his weight
His gaze fixed on the sword Medhanshi hanging on the wall The ray of sunlight was falling on the edge of the sword but it was not shining just a faint dormant gleam like some sleeping fire
Who was that woman after all He whispered the words hung in the air Who saved us and defeated Nirag in a single strike After all who could be such a powerful woman
He hid his head in his hands Fingers dug into his hair nails began rubbing the skin of his scalp
In Prakashgadh Nirag was sleeping on his bed His breaths were regular but with every breath the right corner of his lips would stretch slightly as if seeing some dream
Suddenly his eyes opened
The lids lifted but there was no haze of sleep in the eyes just a black empty stillness His mouth opened throat contracted and a scream escaped No No No one can defeat me
The scream bounced off the walls of the room and returned transforming into multiple voices
He leaped out of bed His bare feet touched the cold marble floor but he felt no coldness He moved towards the mirror steps measured like a warrior
In the mirror his shadow was blurry at first then became clear
The face was his but also not The color of the skin had darkened like a mixture of ash and ink In the center of the forehead just above the brows the skin was twitching Then a crack opened narrow long and an eye appeared from within it Black Both eyes were now also black not red like the deepest corner of night
Nirag touched his face His fingers felt that warm throbbing bulge His lips curled upwards A smile But that smile did not reach his eyes
I must become more powerful he said the voice was in two tones one his own the other deep harsh I must find that woman I must know how she defeated me
The smile widened further In the mirror his teeth appeared not white but yellow like old bones
He turned and looked at the pitcher kept in the chamber The pitcher was of copper on it was blue colored carving which had now become faint He lifted the pitcher the hand was steady not a single tremor
In one go he downed all the wine The liquid went down the throat but produced not warmth but a cold shiver
Outside the chamber a bird chirped
Nirag turned his head His black eyes raised towards the window The bird was sitting on the window frame preening its wings
Nirag smiled Slowly he raised his hand opened his palm and directed it towards the bird
No fire emerged from the palm Just a shimmer occurred in the air like a heat wave
The bird opened its beak but no sound came out Its wings fluttered for a moment then became still The gleam in its eyes faded The color of the wings became brown then black The bird froze right there became a stone statue from which faint smoke was rising
Nirag began laughing loudly The laughter was not coming from his throat but from within his chest echoing hollow
Soldier He shouted cutting the laughter abruptly Soldier
The door opened A soldier came running his breath was heavy He stopped at the threshold his gaze went first to Nirag then to the stone bird on the window
The soldier throat went dry He bowed his neck folded his hands His hands were shaking a faint continuous tremor as if some electricity was passing through them
Nirag slowly went near the soldier With every step the soldier body shrank further Nirag placed his hand on the soldier shoulder
The soldier eyes widened On the shoulder where Nirag hand was the cloth first became brown then began turning black Smoke rose Beneath the leather armor the skin began to burn a faint deep burn as if a red hot iron was being pressed slowly
Tears came to the soldier eyes They began flowing down his cheeks but he could not move His jaws were clenched so tightly that his teeth were creaking
Why did you take so long to come Nirag voice was soft almost sweet But every word was like a needle prick in the soldier ears
Go Nirag said removing his hand On the soldier shoulder was the imprint of the palm black sunken a thin column of smoke rising
The soldier looked at the scattered pieces of the pitcher on the floor The copper pieces were still hot emitting faint smoke He bent and began picking up the pieces hands trembling fingers blistering upon touching the burning metal
He ran out of the chamber pieces falling and slipping from his hands
Nirag watched him leave Then laughed The laughter was long unbroken like a waterfall flowing
He went near the window and looked towards his kingdom Far away the high towers of Nabhgadh appeared blurry A gleam came into his eyes mysterious filled with plans
The smile appeared on his face again
In Pawangadh Anvay was cleaning Agni body with a wet cloth The cloth had Mandar Jal whose fragrance was spreading in the room fresh pure opposite of the scent of death and burning
Margdarshak Anvay said the voice so soft that it seemed he was talking to himself You told me once to gain control over your elements you must gain control over yourself
He squeezed the cloth The drops of water fell on Agni chest sliding down and soaking into the bed sheet
Similarly you must come out of the grief of losing Margdarshak Neer he continued removing the layer of sweat accumulated on Agni forehead with his fingers Only then will you be able to recover completely
Agni eyes were closed but the lids were fluttering slightly The breaths were now regular small but steady
I know you are trying Anvay said placing a hand on Agni shoulder But you must not just try you must recover completely right Margdarshak
Agni opened his eyes
First blurry then clear The redness in the eyes had reduced only a faint gleam remained He looked towards Anvay
For a moment there was joy in his eyes a deep quiet joy like the first sunlight after the rains
He tried to raise his hand
The hand rose two inches above the bed then began trembling The veins on the back of the hand emerged tensed The fingers began to bend then straightened
Anvay smile widened Yes Margdarshak Try Lift your hand lift it
Agni looked at his hand then into Anvay eyes His lips moved no sound came out
The hand rose a little more now four inches The trembling increased like a thin wire being stretched
Then suddenly the hand fell Lay on the bed heavy lifeless
The happiness on Anvay face vanished He took a deep breath then covered Agni with the blanket
It is alright Margdarshak he said the voice again that same soft firm tone You keep trying One day you will definitely recover
Agni looked at Anvay In his eyes now was not joy but a deep unbreakable determination
Anvay left the chamber The sound of his footsteps grew faint in the corridor then disappeared
Anvay went to the lower part of the palace where the empty field lay The soil of the field was dry with cracks in it The wind was blowing fine particles of dust were flying shining in the sunlight
He went to the middle of the field Stopped there Extended his hand forward palm towards the ground
Then he sat on his knees Slowly placed his palm on the ground
The ground was cold but beneath his palm warmth began to spread
His green eyes began to glow a faint gentle glow like the first ray of morning
He pressed the ground
Vibration began in the earth First faint then intense The stones around him began to rise in the air small stones then larger ones They began floating in the air revolving around his body in a sphere
Anvay removed his palm from the ground Raised one hand opened the palm
The stones floating in the air began moving towards his palm They formed a sphere then a long line Anvay moved his hand the line of stones also moved forming a spiral
Then he jerked his hand
The stones fell far away sank into the soil a cloud of dust rose
Anvay began spinning rapidly Feet firmly planted on the ground body like an axis The wind began swirling around him fast faster and faster
A whirlwind began rising from the earth
First small only of dust Then it grew larger Particles of soil pieces of stone dry grass everything began to be pulled into it The whirlwind rose upwards began moving towards the sky
In moments the whirlwind had taken a monstrous form tall wide a rotating creature The sound of the wind began to roar like some giant serpent hissing
Anvay raised his hand upwards
The whirlwind rose higher In the sky it began to touch the clouds Then suddenly it began to shrink The spinning slowed The dust particles began falling down
In a moment the whirlwind disappeared Only a gentle gust of wind remained which was moving Anvay hair
He stood right there breathing With every breath his chest was rising calm controlled
Just then a soldier came running
The soldier breath was heavy He was panting drenched in sweat He stopped and looked at Anvay then began panting again
Maharaj Maharaj
Anvay turned back His eyes were now normal green calm What happened soldier Why are you panting so much Has something happened
The soldier looked at Anvay then lowered his gaze His throat seemed dry the words were struggling to come out That that Maharaj Akshansh
Anvay said What Akshansh
The soldier raised his head In his eyes was fear but more than that a strange surprise Maharaj Akshansh had gone to fight Maharaj Nirag and somehow returned from there
Anvay was startled hearing this His brows tensed And
The soldier took a deep breath forcing the words out A Rahasyamayi Stree (Mysterious Woman) saved them
Anvay breaths stopped
The wind suddenly became cold Far away in the sky a cloud began to cover the sun The shadow grew longer spreading over the field
His eyes narrowed From his lips words emerged slow clear
Rahasyamayi Stree (Mysterious Woman)
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