hapter 15 The Neelmukhi Trap and the Shadow of Doubt
Aarav and Kiyan sat huddled against a cold rocky ledge a thin layer of frost crusting the stone around them. The deep wounds on their bodies had finally begun to close but the scars remained. Jagged lines of faded purple and faint gold like the signatures of a brutal battle etched into their skin. Aarav's lips trembled and it was not just from the cold. Exhaustion. The draining of power. He looked at Kiyan and let his broken words slip into the frozen air.
Kiyan. Both of our powers. The Devanshik (a divinely blessed one who wields divine power) and the Chhayodhbhav (a nightborn entity who drains age). They have grown weak. That is why our wounds are healing so slowly. But. He dragged in a painful breath. We cannot lose courage. Understand.
Kiyan looked back at him. His golden eyes held only a dim tired glow now like a distant star fighting to stay visible. He nodded just slightly. Agreement. A silent pact.
A faint aching smile crossed Aarav's lips. He leaned his head against Kiyan's shoulder and closed his eyes. The slight chill radiating from Kiyan's body no longer felt like a burn. It felt like something to lean on. They stayed like that for a while staring out at the vast frozen mountain range spreading endlessly before them. Nothing else existed. Just the dead silence of the frozen air and the slow fading rhythm of their own heartbeats. No one else was there. Only the two of them. Two broken fragments from two different worlds resting on nothing but trust in each other.
Then Kiyan's voice cut through the silence. Soft but firm. Aarav get up. Evening is coming. We only have twelve days left now.
Aarav lifted his head from Kiyan's shoulder and forced himself upright. Every joint in his body screamed. Their wounds had started to close but the marks were still fresh. Kiyan reached out and helped him rise his hand gripping Aarav's wrist for support. They looked at each other. In that gaze was whatever strength they had left and an unbreakable sense of partnership. They held hands and began moving forward again slowly leaning on each other.
We have to use our powers Aarav said his voice strained and breathless. To reach that peak. He tried to summon the golden ember deep inside himself. For a few moments a faint shimmer of golden light flickered around his hands. The same way a soft glow returned to Kiyan's eyes. They tried to push their speed their steps lifting just slightly off the frozen ground.
But the power was temporary. Barely ten steps in the energy faded. A new emptiness sank into their bodies. Aarav slowed down. His voice was barely a whisper now. Maybe the poisonous strikes from that multi headed creature they may have drained our powers for a while. We will have to move forward like ordinary humans now.
Kiyan looked into Aarav's eyes and patted his back with a steady hand. There was no fear in his gaze. Only a quiet unshakable commitment. I am here. With you. I am here Aarav.
Aarav smiled. A real smile. Exhausted but genuine. He placed his hand on Kiyan's shoulder and they began walking again. No rush this time. Just a steady stubborn resolve.
After a while as they moved forward something caught their eye in the distance. Tucked between the rocks at the edge of a frozen waterfall something was glowing. The moonlight had grown stronger now and there it was. A flower. Its petals were a deep royal blue but from their center radiated a soft blue white luminescence that lit up the surrounding snow in an almost haunting way. The Neelmukhi flower.
There. Kiyan look. Aarav's voice surged with excitement for the first time. The Neelmukhi flower. Come on.
They forgot their exhaustion and pushed toward it. The darkness had thickened by now but the flower glowed with its own inner light. Aarav moved faster. His arm stretched out toward the bloom. His fingers were just about to brush the petals.
Then in an instant the flower's form changed.
It dissolved into thick black smoke rising into the air like an odorless flame. The shape of the bloom warped into a swirling ring of darkness. Aarav stumbled backward his eyes wide with shock.
Aarav. Kiyan screamed and sprinted toward him.
But it was already too late. The ground where the flower had been suddenly split open. Not like an earthquake. It was as if some invisible demon was unhinging its jaws. A deep dark chasm yawned wide. The black smoke crashed down on them like a net and the ground crumbled beneath their feet.
Aarav and Kiyan still gripping each other's hands never even got the chance to scream. They plunged into the dark fissure. Rocks and chunks of ice rained down from above. Then came a heavy deafening slam. Everything went silent. Only the moonlight remained spilling down onto the edges of that freshly formed ravine which now looked like a black swallowing mouth.
Far away on the college grounds Karishma and Nayan sat together on an old swing. It creaked softly with the breeze. Karishma looked at Nayan. Her eyes were heavy with worry.
Nayan. It has been five whole days since Aarav disappeared. And Kiyan has not shown up at college for three days. Do you think they are together.
Nayan took her hand in his warming her cold fingers. Maybe. Perhaps they both needed some time. To sort out whatever happened between them.
Karishma smiled. A sad quiet smile. She rested her head on Nayan's shoulder. You know Nayan that day when we all danced together at the college function. I saw something in both their eyes. Like they were hiding something. From us and maybe even from themselves.
Nayan smiled too his eyes holding a knowing softness. Yes. I saw it too. But then their friendship got so much better. They were always together. Coming and going together. Talking. Even when they only spoke with their eyes.
Karishma lifted her head from his shoulder. Yes. And did you notice our Aarav. He used to be so mischievous. Always talking always making noise. And now look. These past few days he has been so quiet. Ever since Kiyan and Aarav stopped talking to each other.
Nayan nodded. His smile faded. You are right. But maybe they are together now.
I hope they are together Karishma said her voice quiet as a prayer. And wherever they are I hope they are safe.
Nayan ran his fingers gently through her hair. Everything will be fine. Our friends will come back to us. Do not worry Karishma.
Come on Nayan. The canteen is right there. Let us go have some tea. Karishma stood up.
Nayan smiled. Alright. Let us go.
They walked to the canteen and sat at a table together sipping tea side by side. Karishma suddenly looked at Nayan and burst out laughing.
What. Why are you laughing. Nayan asked confused.
You have a tea mustache. Karishma giggled pointing a finger at his upper lip.
Nayan squinted at his reflection in the glass of tea then checked his face in the dark screen of his phone. Karishma pulled out a tissue and started wiping the drops of tea from above his lip. In that moment when her face was so close to his their eyes met.
A soft tender glow flickered in Nayan's eyes. A light blush crept across Karishma's cheeks. She looked away quickly and walked out of the canteen shy and flustered.
Nayan sat alone at the table a stupid happy smile spread across his face. He looked at the tissue Karishma had left behind then carefully folded it and slipped it into his pocket.
But his smile slowly faded. His gaze drifted out the canteen window to that empty swing where they had been sitting.
He stared at his cold cup of tea. There was no laughter in his eyes now. Only a deep nameless dread swimming in them. Some invisible thread was being pulled connecting the secrets of friendship to a distant struggle unfolding on a dangerous mountain. A thread that was perhaps far beyond his understanding.
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