[Meghnad's POV]
Shukracharya's expression softened, the sternness of a teacher tempered by the pride of a mentor. "I do not fear disappointment, Meghnad," he said, his voice carrying the gentleness of profound understanding. "For even in failure, there is progress. Remember, a spark may be fragile, but it carries within it the promise of a roaring flame."
With those parting words, he turned and began walking toward the sanctum's exit, his footsteps echoing through the vast, silent space. I remained standing there, the weight of his teachings and the flicker of the Agneyastra fresh in my mind.
As the sanctum grew quiet, I knelt, placing my hands on the warm ground where the faint glow of the dissipated flame lingered. The warmth felt alive, as if a remnant of Agni's divine essence still pulsed beneath the surface. My fingers traced the spot, seeking to reconnect with the spark I had summoned, albeit briefly.
