CHAPTER 59 The Deception of Attachment and the Mirror of Truth
The whole Nabhgadh had frozen in that white light. A light that neither trembled nor went out. It just was. The edge that came from Agni new sword Justice was pulsating in his palm like a living star. The black smoke around Nirag began to scream as soon as it touched that light. Not smoke, as if thousands of small creatures were burning.
Nirag put his hands in front of his eyes. His fingers were trembling, black liquid dripping from his nails. He saw. His shadow on the ground was shrinking, as if someone was pulling it toward the sun.
Agni raised Justice up. Not slowly. With certainty.
Andhak Void. Your end has come.
There was no anger in his voice. Just a sad justice, like a judge delivering a verdict.
The tip of the sword moved toward the black eye on Nirag forehead. An inch. Then half an inch.
Then.
Nirag face changed.
The black pupils in his eyes shrank and turned brown again. The same color that Agni had seen in him as a child. His distorted smile began to tremble, then faltered. Tears came from his eyes. Clear, human tears, not black liquid.
Father.
The voice was so soft that the air tried to break it. That voice was of childhood. The same voice that used to scream at night, Father, I am scared.
Agni hand stopped.
The sword tip froze in the air. Just a fingers distance from Nirag forehead.
Nirag, Agni voice had disbelief, hope. A mad, desperate hope.
Nirag fell to his knees. Not slowly. Breaking. His back bent, shoulders began to shake. He stretched out his hands. Those hands were no longer black, but full of wounds, as if he had crossed a wall of thorns.
Father, save me, he whispered, a childs fear in his voice. This Andhak Void is inside me. It is eating me. I want to come out. But it does not let me go. If you had struck, I would have died. The real Nirag. He would have died.
Agni breathing stopped. An image appeared before his eyes. Little Nirag, just five years old, who came running to him in the dark night and hid in his lap. He had stroked him, said. Do not be afraid, son. I am here.
The light of the sword Justice dimmed. As if the lamp was about to go out.
Acharya, no, Akshansh scream came from behind. A warning. A pain. But Agni ears did not hear that voice. In his mind, only one voice echoed. Father, save me.
Nirag looked at Varunya. A fleeting glance, a signal.
Varunya understood. She immediately jumped. Came and stood between Agni and Nirag. Her sword raised toward Agni, but there was struggle in her eyes. Not acting. A real pain.
Step back, Acharya, Varunya voice trembled. I. I will not let you touch Maharaj.
She turned and looked at Nirag. Maharaj, do not panic. I am with you.
The corners of Nirag lips rose. Just a millimeter. A hidden victory. He thought. Varunya is still his.
Yes, Varunya, his voice again had arrogance, but he immediately suppressed it. Kill him. He has come to kill his own son.
Agni face distorted. Anger, pain, betrayal. Everything began to boil in his eyes. He pushed Varunya. Not hard. But decisive.
Varunya flew in the air, fell on her back. Before falling, she gave Agni one last look. There was a warning in it, a plea, and a deep sorrow. But Agni had become blind.
He lowered his sword and went near Nirag.
Nirag crawled to Agni feet. He put his forehead on Agni shoes. In the posture of a slave.
Father. Hug me once. Just once. The last time.
Tears fell from Agni eyes. Hot, heavy, making hissing lines on his burning cheeks. He loosened Justice. The sword fell to the ground, with a faint clink.
He bent down. To lift his son.
Then.
Nirag face changed again. This time fast.
His brown eyes turned black again. Now deeper, and emptier. The innocent smile on his lips turned into a distorted laugh. The fingers of his hand became long, sharp. Like pieces of black glass.
Foolish old man, the voice became double again. Not Nirag. Andhak Void. Now you die.
Agnis eyes widened. He saw. Nirag hand was moving toward his chest, every finger a spear of death. But his body could not move. Attachment had trapped him.
At that moment.
An echo came from the sky. Not a voice. A pulse.
The whole Nabhgadh was trapped in a golden white circle. The air froze. Dust particles stopped in the air. Nirag strike stopped. His fingers were just an inch away from Agni armor.
Everyone looked up.
The clouds parted. Between them, a divine figure descended. No, appeared. Long white beard, rosary of rudraksha, and a peace on his face that could stop time itself.
Attachment is the root of destruction, Agni. And truth is the path to liberation.
The voice echoed not in the ears, but in the soul.
A word came from Agni lips. Margdarshak.
Margdarshak Vishrayan landed on the ground. Under his feet, stones began to turn green, as if spring had arrived. He raised his hand. A simple gesture.
Nirag body stuck to the ground. As if the whole Himalaya had been placed on him. He tried to struggle. But his strength disappeared.
Margdarshak Vishrayan, Nirag voice had fear, surprise. You were in samadhi. How are you here.
Margdarshak did not even look at Nirag. His eyes were on Agni. Filled with compassion, but hard.
Agni. On the battlefield, there is no father, no son. Only duty. And you. Made your attachment bigger than your duty.
Agni head bowed. Tears fell from his eyes. Now tears of shame.
Then.
From all four corners of Nabhgadh, a strange echo rose. As if the walls had started crying. With the arrival of Margdarshak, the game had turned. But the last move of Andhak Void was still left.
Margdarshak raised his kamandal. Ordinary clay, but with the depth of the ocean in it. He took out a drop of water from it. That drop shimmered in the air, as if stars were dissolved in it.
Today the decision will not be made by me. The creation will do it. Varunya. Come forward.
Varunya, who had been lying on the ground like a criminal until now, slowly got up. She knelt in front of Margdarshak. There was hope in her eyes, fear, and an unshakeable resolve.
Nirag eyes widened. He understood. The game was not over yet.
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