CHAPTER 46 Two Fires
Pawangadh
Agni body jerked on the bed as if someone had pushed him. His eyes were wide open, pupils shrunk into small dots. Neer, his scream came not from his throat but from deep inside his gut, like an animal.
He grabbed his head. Fingers dug into his hair, nails scratching his scalp. Memories were returning one by one. Broken pictures that were now becoming complete. Neer sword going in from the back. His eyes widening. His palm soaked in blood. Then his breaths becoming quiet.
Agni fingers began to tremble. First a small shake, then stronger. He held his head with both hands, as if it was about to burst. He closed his eyes. There were no tears at first. Then one tear came from his left eye, rolling down his cheek. Then another. Then a flood.
He began to cry. There was no sound. Just his shoulders shaking, his chest rising and falling. Tears made wet lines on his cheeks, reaching his chest, staining his red tunic darker.
His eyes opened. There were no tears now. There was fire. Hatred. Anger. An anger that had been sleeping for years and had now woken up.
He picked up his sword Jwala that was kept near him. His palm closed on the hilt and his muscles tensed. His grip was so tight that his bones cracked.
Then his eyes fell on the other sword nearby. Varshini. Neer sword. Kalpit had kept it near him, maybe hoping it would bring him peace.
Agni picked up Varshini. The sword was light, but in his hand it felt heavy like iron. He looked at it. Carvings of blue flowers. A faint glow. His reflection on the blade looked broken, twisted.
He tied it on his waist along with Jwala. Two swords. One red, one blue. Fire and water.
He got up from the bed. His feet touched the ground, and he felt as if he was walking for the first time. His steps were unsure at first, then became steady.
As soon as he stepped out of his chamber, he heard someone crying.
The sound was very soft, muffled, as if someone was trying to hide their own pain. Agni moved toward that chamber. He stopped at the door.
Inside, Anvay was kneeling on the ground.
In front of him were pictures of Dharaaya and Vayansh. Large, bright. Both were smiling. A lamp was burning before the pictures, but its flame was dim, a thin line of smoke rising upward.
Mother, Father, Anvay voice was broken, each word carrying a different weight. Why did you leave me? How will I handle all this? How will I heal Acharya Agni? How will I save Nirag from that Andhak Void?
He stopped and took a breath that got stuck in his throat.
How long will I keep pretending to be a stone? As if I dont miss you? I hide and cry so others dont think I am weak. But I need you, Mother. Father. I need you.
His voice broke again. How will I bring Nirag back? Mother, he insulted me and threw me out of Prakashgadh. How can I go back to him now?
Anvay put his head on the ground. His shoulders began to shake. Sobs came. Small, muffled. As if he was trying to stop them.
Agni stood at the door watching all this. His fist clenched again. Veins popped on the back of his hand, blue rivers bringing a flood. His eyes were clear now. Anger. Pure, uncontrolled anger.
He turned away. His steps became fast. Walking through the palace corridors, the sound of his feet echoed. Thud thud thud. Like a drum.
He reached the stable and untied a horse. The horse was white, its eyes wide, as if reading the expression on Agni face. Agni climbed on the horse without any saddle. His thighs pressed against the horse ribs.
I am coming, Nirag, he said, his voice so low it seemed he was talking to himself.
The horse ran. It broke through the stable door and rushed out. The soldier just watched. He did not dare stop him. Because Agni eyes showed anger clearly. His red eyes were not orange anymore. They were deep red, like the mouth of a volcano.
The Border of Prakashgadh
The horse reached the border. As soon as the soldiers standing there saw Agni, they fell to their knees. Hands joined. Eyes lowered.
One soldier stepped forward. His face was pale, lips dry. Forgive us, Maharaj, but we have to stop you. Otherwise Maharaj Nirag will burn us alive.
The soldier voice was trembling. You have put us in a dilemma. On one hand we cannot go against you. On the other hand we cannot disobey Maharaj Nirag order. Now you only have to get us out of this dilemma.
Agni looked at the soldier. There was no sympathy in his eyes. He stretched his hand forward. Palm open.
Flames rose in front of all the soldiers. A wall. Red, orange, bright. The heat was so intense that the air began to waver. The soldiers stepped back, covering their faces with their hands.
Agni shouted toward the palace. Andhak Void, come out. Look, your end has come.
The Platform of Prakashgadh
Nirag stood on the platform. He looked down and saw Agni. His lips lifted. A smile. But that smile did not reach his eyes. His eyes were black. Empty.
You came, Agni, his voice floated in the air.
He jumped down from the platform. Not jumped. Fell. But stopped in mid air. His black clothes waved in the wind, and he slowly descended, stopping in front of Agni.
He kept smiling. So you came, Agni. I thought you had fallen into an eternal sleep from the shock of your friend Neer death. But what is this? You are completely fine. Right in front of my eyes.
Agni fist clenched again. My coming out of that eternal sleep was written to become death for you, Andhak Void. Your end is certain now.
Agni moved toward Nirag. His steps were heavy. With each step, the ground beneath his feet showed burnt marks.
Nirag stepped back. Slightly. In the air.
Agni created a ball of fire in his hand. A flame swirled in his palm, shrank, and became a glowing ball. He threw it at Nirag.
The ball flew through the air with a whistling sound. Nirag raised his hand and flew up. The ball passed below him, hit a tree in the distance. The tree turned to ash in a moment.
Now catch me if you can, Agni, Nirag said, turning in the air. His black hair was flying.
Agni looked up. He stamped his foot on the ground. Thud. Cracks appeared on the ground. And he flew up.
Where will you run, Andhak Void. Take this.
He pulled out a stream of pure fire from his hand. Not a sword. A blazing, burning stream. He threw it at Nirag.
Nirag stretched his hand forward. And this time, a stream of water rained from his hand.
Cold, blue water. It struck the fire stream.
Hsssssssssss.
A cloud of steam rose. White, thick. The air filled with a mix of moisture and heat.
Agni was stunned. His eyes widened. How, he said.
Nirag began to laugh. His laugh was high, hollow. What happened, Agni? Surprised? That is why I chose Nirag body. So I could get both fire and water elements. So I could defeat anyone.
He threw another stream of water. This time straight at Agni.
Agni moved sideways. The water stream touched his shoulder. Steam rose from there. The pain was sharp.
Agni struck back. A blazing ray from Jwala.
Nirag could not dodge. The ray hit his chest.
Ahh.
Nirag body began to burn. His clothes turned black. His skin turned red. He jerked back in the air.
A faint smile appeared on Agni face. But it disappeared quickly.
Because Nirag body began to heal. The burnt skin became new. The clothes turned black again. And he began to laugh again.
What happened, Agni? Lost?
He laughed and threw a black spear made of his dark energy at Agni. The spear flew through the air with a whistling sound, leaving a black line behind.
Agni could not dodge. The spear was coming straight toward his chest.
Then.
Someone came with the speed of lightning.
A blue light. A dive. And Agni flew up in the air.
The spear passed through empty space, hit a mountain in the distance. A part of the mountain turned black, then turned to dust.
The blue shadow was carrying Agni.
Both were in the air. Agni eyes were open. He was looking at the blue shadow. And the blue shadow was looking at him.
Their eyes met.
Agni red eyes. The blue shadow blue eyes. Red and blue. Fire and water. Pain and calm.
For a moment, time seemed to stop.
Then the blue shadow lowered Agni to the ground. Outside the same blue cave. On the ground. Gently.
She turned to leave.
Agni looked at her with surprise and said, Who are you?
The woman turned back.
And at that same moment, Nirag scream echoed from the sky.
Who are you who keeps coming in front of me again and again.
The scream was so loud that it echoed off the mountains. Black clouds began to gather in the sky. And the blue shadow lifted her head, looked into Agni eyes once more, then toward the sky where Nirag was screaming in rage.
A decision flashed in her blue eyes. A decision to fight.
© 2026 Aaryaveda All rights reserved Do not copy or repost without permission