Chapter 30 The Enemy in the Mirror and the Plate of Food
Nirag was in his room The golden light of evening entered through the window and fell upon that large polished bronze mirror hanging on the wall giving it a gleaming dark aura Nirag stood before the mirror and his gaze was fixed on his own reflection At first everything was normal His own face Slightly pale Dark circles under the eyes But today there was a faint peace in them that had returned after many days
Then slowly the reflection began to change
The lines of the face hardened and an unnatural stretch appeared The pupils of the eyes expanded and turned completely black as if ink had filled them And on his forehead the skin split and a black open third eye emerged within which pulsed a purple throbbing light like a poisonous insect fluttering
In the mirror Nirag was not smiling Andhak Void was smiling That smile was wide and hollow holding no soul Only a cunning satisfaction
Nirag stepped back and his heel hit the edge of the bed Why do you not leave me alone His voice trembled with a mixture of fear and anger Go away Far from my life
Andhak Void in the mirror began to laugh An echoing metallic laughter that dissolved into the air of the room How can I go away Nirag After all I am your father
Nirag turned his face away trying not to look at the mirror You are not my father My father name is Neer who raised me
Andhak Void said and his voice was filled with a dangerous sweetness Yes I know But how long will you run from your truth Nirag How long will you keep deceiving your mind that you are not the son of Andhak Void but the son of Neer when you yourself know the truth
Nirag looked at Andhak Void in anger and his fists clenched I am not your son Get out of here Or else I will end myself
Andhak Void looked at Nirag in anger and the purple light of his eye intensified I am leaving for now Nirag But I will definitely return And I will take everything from you Everything
And that reflection blurred Nirag own scared face appeared in the mirror again But that fear was still in his eyes and on his forehead at the spot of the third eye a faint black mark remained like a burn scar
Nirag was still looking at the mirror when there was a knock on the door Victory to the King
Nirag turned and looked at the door A soldier had folded his hands and said Maharaj Maharaj Neer has summoned you
Nirag said Alright You may go I will come
The soldier folded his hands and left from there Nirag looked at the mirror once more Now only his own reflection was there but his gaze held a new deep worry Then he left his chamber
In the mirror where Nirag had been standing just moments ago a blurry black smoke like figure suddenly emerged and once again that hollow laughter echoed disappearing into the empty room
Neer and Agni sat in a small cozy dining chamber of the palace Candles burned in the room and on a long wooden table was spread simple but delicious food Fresh bread Vegetable curry Yogurt And sweet rice The warm fragrance of spices and clarified butter filled the air
Neer said something to Agni and there was a gentle gleam in Agni eyes Just then the door opened and Nirag entered
Pranam Pitashree Pranam Tauji
Agni and Neer nodded yes Neer said and his voice held a soft fatherly warmth Come son I have had your favorite food prepared Come sit down
Nirag came and sat near Neer He smiled at Neer and in that smile there was an honest attempt To make everything seem normal Neer began serving food on Nirag plate Son begin eating And he began feeding Nirag He extended a bowl of yogurt and tore a piece of bread and gave it to him
Nirag smiled and began eating Agni was smiling watching this Everyone began feeding each other Neer placed a whole bread on Agni plate and Agni put vegetables in Neer bowl Nirag served sweet rice for both of them It was a simple yet profound moment A family that had returned from the brink of shattering was now sitting together and eating There was no laughter but a deep quiet contentment floated in the air
Everyone finished eating and bowed to their plates and got up and sat in a cozy corner nearby Agni looked at Neer and Nirag and said Son what happened that day The whole story
Nirag looked at Neer and then fixed his gaze on his own hands Pitashree That day upon receiving news of your departure King Ravitej attacked our kingdom He destroyed the armies Anvay and I tried to reason with him But he did not listen
He took a deep breath Anvay and I thought that the war could be ended with words just as you taught us That if war can be stopped with words before fighting then loss of life can be avoided That is why we focused more on talking and tried to stop the war
His voice became low But King Ravitej did not listen And he hurled a powerful energy orb at us But exactly at that moment Anvay used his earth element and merged us into the ground And he took us to Pawangadh There we were injured and unconscious from that poisonous smoke But we received the medicine at the right time and our treatment was done If Anvay had not been there at that time Our survival would not have been possible today
Neer stroked Nirag head Perhaps that is why the shreds of both your clothes were found in that attack
Nirag lowered his gaze Agni said Whatever happened everyone is safe now Right Neer
Neer looked at Agni and that peace in his eyes suddenly shattered He said slowly but firmly No Agni Not yet The end of Andhak Void is still pending
Nirag was startled to hear Neer words His breath caught He looked at Agni and a new intense fear ran through his eyes Agni face became serious and his gaze fixed on that black mark on Nirag forehead which was still faintly visible
The candle flames in the chamber flickered and their shadows on the wall became long and distorted The warmth of the food was now covered by a cold uncomfortable truth The battle outside had stopped but inside another deeper battle had just begun
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