CHAPTER 53 Broken Hopes and the Sound of Midnight
The black bars of the void prison were not just matter. They were graves of power. On the surface of every bar were small black spots, slowly moving, as if invisible insects were crawling on them. These spots were absorbing their elemental power. Every spark, every pulse, being swallowed one by one.
Agni looked at his palm. Yesterday this palm could light up an entire chamber. Today there was no glow on it. Just a faint redness, like the last flicker of a lamp about to go out. He curled his fingers. No energy ran through his veins. Just a numbness.
For a long time, only the sound of their breathing was there. Every breath felt heavier than before. With every breath, their power decreased.
Finally Akshansh broke the silence. He rested his head against the wall, eyes closed, but the vein in his jaw was twitching. Why did we trust her, he said. There was no bitterness in his voice that comes from anger. It was a tired, broken bitterness, as if someone was asking themselves. He hit the wall with his fist. Light. Pointless. No sound came, just his hand bones cracked.
Acharya, he said, now opening his eyes and looking at Agni. She trapped us one by one. First she showed sympathy. That mask, that silence, that mystery. Then she pretended to help. Brought us to Void Peak. And in the end. She served us to that Andhak Void. On a platter.
Anvay closed his eyes. There were no tears under his eyelids. Just a deep tiredness. I felt a familiar smell in her, he whispered, as if talking to himself. When she came to me. When she saw my power. I thought she understood us. She knows what we are feeling. But she turned out to be death.
He opened his eyes. There was a pain in them that was beyond words. My parents murderer is ruling outside. And we are here. rotting here. Only because we trusted a stranger. Because we thought someone was fighting our fight.
Agni took a deep breath. A breath that felt like needles in his chest. There was no regret in his eyes. A deep self analysis, as if he was weighing every decision he made. Trust is not weakness, Anvay, he said, his voice low but firm. Trust is the thread that connects people. But sometimes. Sometimes we want to see only what our heart wants. We give our hopes the shape of truth.
He stopped and looked at the black bars on the wall. I thought she was connected to Neer. Her eyes. Those blue eyes. They had the same depth that Neer eyes had. And this one hope. This one hope blinded my eyes. I ignored every suspicious step of hers. Because I wanted her to be true.
The three fell silent. The silence was so heavy that even the sound of their breathing began to drown in it.
As time passed, the cave began to feel like night. The darkness grew denser. Not the kind of darkness that eyes get used to. An active darkness, beginning to enter their eyes. The cold increased. Not the cold of winter. A cold of void, that could freeze bones.
Due to tiredness and weakness, Anvay and Akshansh eyelids became heavy. Anvay rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes. Akshansh also slowly lay down on the ground. Their breaths became deep, regular. They fell asleep. But this was not sleep. Unconsciousness.
But there was no sleep in Agni eyes.
He sat, eyes open, fixed on the wall. His gaze went through the bars to the altar outside, where that child still lay. The child chest was no longer rising and falling slowly. Just a faint movement.
When the whole cave was submerged in silence, when the sound of Anvay and Akshansh breaths became just a faint echo, then Agni patience broke.
He put his hand on his waist. There, tied with a string, was Varshini. Neer sword. He touched it.
The sword was lifeless. Cold. No glow on it. No blue light. Just metal. Cold. Inactive.
Something broke in Agni eyes.
He took the sword in his hands, stroking its edge with his palms. Neer, he whispered, his voice so low that perhaps even he could not hear himself. Where are you. Look. Your legacy, your Prakashgadh. And your companions. Everything is ending.
His voice began to tremble. I. I put everyone in danger. I trusted where I should not have. I closed my eyes when I should have kept them open.
A tear fell from his eye, rolled down his cheek, and falling on the swords edge, spread.
I wish you were here, he said, his voice now breaking, every word choking his throat. Your one smile. Just one smile. Would remove this darkness. Your one word. Would warm this cold.
He began to sob.
This crying was not shouting, not lamenting. It was a slow, breaking stream. Tears kept flowing on his face, on his neck, on his chest. He hid his face in his hands, shoulders shaking.
A great warrior, who had faced a demon like Andhak Void. A teacher, who had trained hundreds of warriors. Today he was crying like a helpless father remembering his friend, crying over his mistakes, crying over his defeat.
The slow sound of his crying was echoing off the walls of the cave. An echo, each time returning more painful.
Then.
Creeeak.
The sound came from a distance. Heavy, of stone grinding. The sound of the main door of the cave opening.
Agni crying suddenly stopped. He raised his head, eyes widening.
The sound grew louder. Creeeak. Click.
The sound was so loud that Anvay and Akshansh woke up with a jerk. Anvay opened his eyes and sat up. Akshansh stood up staggering, his eyes still blurry from sleep.
Who is it, Akshansh shouted, a wild fear in his voice. He looked around, as if someone was about to attack.
Anvay also clenched his fists. His eyes fixed on the door.
Agni wiped his tears. In a jerk, he composed himself. He pulled Jwala from his waist. The sword was lifeless, but the weight was the same. He gripped it tightly, steadying his hands.
A light entered through the crack of the door.
Blue light. But this was not the blue of the sky or the sea. It was a deep, saturated blue, like the darkest corner of the night sky where stars had died.
The light grew. And then a figure emerged.
Black attire, waving slightly in the air. The face was still in darkness, but the eyes. The eyes were glowing. The same mysterious glow as before.
And in the hand. The same bottle. Of black liquid energy, which she had taken from Nirag. The liquid was moving inside the bottle, as if a living creature.
It was Varunya.
The three were stunned seeing her. Their breathing stopped, hearts beating faster.
Fear first came in Akshansh eyes, then anger. He rushed to the bars, stretching his hand out toward her, as if wanting to catch her. You, his voice had a venomous sharpness. How dare you come here. Have you come to see us suffer? To enjoy our defeat.
Varunya did not answer.
She just stood quietly. Her gaze was not on Akshansh, not on Anvay. Directly on Agni. On his red eyes, which had just been crying, in which the moisture of tears still shone.
Varunya closed the door again. Creeeak. The sound echoed.
And then she began to move toward the prison. Her steps were so light that no sound was made on the ground. Just the rustle of her black attire.
Agni gripped Jwala even tighter. His fingers turned white. Varunya, he said, the same brokenness in his voice, but now a firmness had also come. Why. Why did you betray us. If you had to bring us to Andhak Void, then why did you save us. In that gorge, when Nirag was attacking us. You saved us. Why.
He stopped and took a breath. Just for this black energy. Just for this black liquid. What do you want. Today because of you we are in Nirag prison. And here. Our powers are slowly being absorbed. Only and only because of you.
Varunya raised her black sword. There was no shine on the swords edge. Just a black, faint reflection.
She slowly began to move toward the prison.
Anvay and Akshansh began to step back. Anvay pressed his back against the wall, Akshansh put his hands on the bars, as if wanting to break them.
But Agni stood there. Near the bars, eyes fixed on Varunya.
Varunya raised her sword in the air. And then, struck hard. On the lock bars of the prison.
Klang.
The sound was not of metal clashing. Just a faint, echoing sound, as if someone had hit glass with a hammer. The bars broke. No, they did not break. They evaporated. Turned into black smoke, which dissolved into the air.
Agni was shocked seeing this. His eyes widened. Now. What new plan is this of yours, he said, disbelief in his voice. To trap us again. Why did you cut the prison bars. To save us. Or to kill us.
Varunya threw the sword in the air. The sword spun and disappeared. Just a cloud of black smoke, then gone.
Then she raised her hand. And pointed toward a pit on the wall. The same pit where their absorbed energy was collected.
A black sphere rose from the pit. It floated in the air, then began to move toward Varunya hand.
Acharya, stop her, Akshansh shouted. She wants to take our elemental power. That sphere. It has all our energy.
Varunya threw the sphere in the air. The sphere rose, then came down. And directly entered the bodies of Akshansh, Anvay, and Agni.
The three bodies jerked.
Akshansh looked at his hands. The blue lines of veins appeared again on them, with a faint glow. Acharya, he whispered, surprise in his voice. I. I can feel my power again. Lightning. Is running in my veins again.
Anvay also looked at his palms. The lines of earth had appeared again on them, a faint vibration feeling. Finally, he looked at Varunya. What do you want. Why are you helping us now. What plan is behind this.
Agni kept looking at her. There was no anger in his eyes now, nor fear. Just a deep curiosity. A question demanding an answer.
Varunya waved her hand in the air. And a letter appeared in the air.
The letter floated and stopped near Anvay.
Anvay took the letter. Opened it. And began to read.
I know you all doubt me. But I had to do all this. Because I needed a part of Andhak Void power. That is why I pretended to imprison you. I had to deceive. But I had no other way.
Now I want to take you safely from here. But what I asked from you all. That you will have to give me.
Agni looked into Varunya eyes. And saw a firm resolve in them. The same resolve that was in Neer eyes when he made a decision.
Agni raised his sword Jwala and said, We will give. We will give you what you asked.
Akshansh said, But Acharya.
Agni raised his hand and gestured to be quiet. Akshansh fell silent, but suspicion still in his eyes.
Varunya began to move forward. And Agni, Akshansh, Anvay. The three came out of the prison. Coming out of the cave, they began to move outside through that dark tunnel.
Outside, Varunya created a magical door with her black energy. The door was of black smoke, but had a glow in it. Blue, but with a black shadow.
The three passed through that door and reached Nabhgadh.
And Varunya also reached Nabhgadh, waving her hand in the air. A letter appeared.
Akshansh took the letter and began to read.
I have brought you safely here. Now give me what I need.
Akshansh said, Never. We will give you nothing.
Varunya threw Akshansh in the air. Akshansh floated, kicking his hands and feet.
Agni kept looking at Varunya. Then said, Okay. We will give you.
Akshansh was lowered. He said, But Acharya. How do we know what she will ask from us. And what will she use it for.
Agni looked at Varunya and said, What do you need from us.
A smile appeared on Varunya face. Words began to appear on Akshansh letter. Akshansh read and said, Parts of your powers.
Everyone looked at Varunya in surprise.
And in one voice said, Our powers.
Varunya smiled and nodded.
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