Trudging through the corridors as fast as she could, panting as her lungs would give out at any moment. The weather was of no help either as she crossed gates and gates the clouds gathered and they wept as they lost something to the unfavorable fate. She stepped into the room where everyone mourned, even with everyone present she felt emptiness echoing off the walls, amplifying the ache in her heart. Each step felt heavier than the last as she walked closer to the soul-less being laying, slowly realising that the moon won't set the same today and the sun won't rise the same again she couldn't even gather the courage to look at the body which gave her the sense of warmth just few hours ago now lying cold, she couldn't believe that her father was really gone.

'Just what went wrong?ho-how could this have happened? This is a lie, how could someone as strong as him can perish so easily' She wondered, still not accepting the reality. She felt agonizing pain as if she were about to pass out.

Just then she heard someone calling her

"Jemi-Jemisha" the person cried, she turned around and it was her elder sister, she sobbed "Amiya my sister, I'm sorry it's all my fault i-i shouldn't have gone with him it's all my fault our father is dead because of me"

" Wh-what do you mean, it's your fault?" Asked Amiya with her face etched with confusion and concern

*A Day Ago*

"Father! Father" Jemisha ran towards the duke

"Miss Jemisha wait or you might fall" said the maid running behind her

"m'lord" bowed the maid as reaching the duke

"Father, I would like to come with you, for the search" Jemisha said cheerfully

"Jemi I would love to have you with me but you know right monster hunt is no joke, we dont even know what will happen next when we are in strife with them."

"I know but I'm strong now I have enough control over my tamas and Mrs.Maya says I'm one of her brilliant students I will really be of great help!"

"hahaha I know you'll be of great help but jemi my child-"

Jemisha cuts him in between

" Well... it's just that you and Ami both won't be at home, I dont want to be alone and Ami also went for hunt with you since she was 12 and I'm already past that age. I'll just look out for your back..like a team."

The Duke's expression softened with a gentle laugh

"Well if you say it like that I do need a partner who can look after my back but promise me you won't go away from my radius."

Jemisha buried her face in her father's chest her voice muffled against his cloak. "I won't! I promise!" The scent of leather and wool enveloped hers

"haha, then make haste, we must depart now"

~At the monsters fief~

"Chief, we have cleared the area and have placed the urja navgatih" said a soldier

"Is there a trace of any civilians around this region?" said the duke while entering the tent

"No! Duke Shakti, there were some travellers but we made sure they are away from this zone"

"Great, let's assemble units and start the hunt" The duke continued, "I want four units to surround the area and I'll lead the beast slayers to the centre so that Sorceress Nadi can lead mages to destroy the shaktisrot patthar."

"Yes, Duke Shakti"

"Chief Ajat. I want you to take care of lady Jemisha."

" bu-but Duke how could I?" the chief spoke nervously.

"Chief Ajat! I'm sure you've attended the Royal academy and you're aware about the history of 'goddess blessing of cosmos' " the duke exclaimed angrily

"I-i am aware Duke, I apologise for my behaviour, I'll make sure the lady-"

he was cut in between

"There's no need! I dont need an imprudent to be near the lady. I'll have her stay at the camp!".

'The Goddess Blessing of Cosmos' marked a pivotal period in the history of the Empire of Akaashamaya. The Duke and Duchess Shakti received a divine prophecy proclaiming that their children would embody the very essence of the cosmos itself – one representing warmth, light, vitality and wisdom, akin to the Sun, known as Queen of Daylight, Amiya Shakti, the eldest child of Duke Shakti.

The other child symbolizing resilience, mystery and courage, akin to the Moon, known as Queen of Night, Jemisha Shakti.

Despite being interdependent, with each's existence complementing the other, society's prejudice always casted a shadow over the siblings. While Amiya was embraced for her warmth, people viewed Jemisha with suspicion due to a peculiar mark on her hand resembling dark lichtenberg figures that extended to her fingers, evoking fear and wariness in those around her, despite her tender age.

The Duke who was aware of the scepticism of the society despised the people's ignorant frame of mind. He made sure that those ignorant fools are reminded of their halfwit knowledge, but the person he always made sure that they know it is a blessing was his dear daughter Jemisha.

He turned around and went to Jemisha

"Dear, it's a blessing of the goddess who trusted you with the great power and I know you are more than capable of harnessing that gift. You dont need to mind these dullards thoughts."

"Dullards! hahahaha" Jemisha laughed

" No! I meant intellectually challenged wits." "You said Dullards" Jemisha playfully scoffed "I did please dont let Aunt Nadi know I said it" duke said embarassingly realising his mistake

" haha! I won't, I promise"

"Won't tell me what?" Said as Nadi entered

"Aunt Nadi!" Exclaimed Jemisha as she hugged her

"My dear Jemisha you've grown quiet tall"

"Thank you, Aunt Nadi!"

"But what are you doing here? Your grace you know it's dangerous why did you bring her? We still haven't scanned the area. There could be dangers lurking around!" Her voice tinged with worry and anger.

"It's okay Nadi, Jemisha will be staying at the camp and I'll be casting the radius around her"

"Still brother in law how can you? Even wthout any Elite Guard"

"No guard is worthy enough to stand by her side and you know I wont assign any dimwits near her."

"Father said he wont allow any dullards to be near me Aunt Nadi" Jemisha said with concern.

" Brother in law! I asked you not to use such words in front of the kids!" Nadi exclaimed

"I apologise " the duke chuckled "by the way don't you've to go Nadi? You've to caste the spell, you should go ahead first, I'll follow you"

"I've to go but I'm still a bit concerned. Will you be okay alone Jemisha?" Aunt Nadi asked with corncern in her eyes.

"Yes, Aunt I wont go anywhere don't worry" said Jemisha

Just as Nadi was about to speak, a soldier came a-runnin' to fetch her.

"Lady Nadi, its time to leave we're ready!"

"Okay let's go," Nadi said " Your grace be careful on the ground." she continued

Duke shakti gave her a assuring nod and she left.

Nadi Magikar, the grand sorceress of the royal commander, her magical prowess unmatched in the realm held a special bond with Jemisha and Amiya as their maternal aunt even after their mother's passing.

-Sorceress played an essential role in tracking the monsters and keeping them under the urja navagith so they wont run away during the fief, while commanders or you can call them beast slayers put an end to the monsters threat so that the mages can destroy the energy stone that provide power-flowing energy. The stone's ability to flow with power, symbolizing the continuous source of energy .

Urja navagith:a device that helps in tracking the monsters

" Okay, so now i want you to stay at this base and watch the hunt. Since its your first time here absorb as much as you can, try keeping your tamas under control and I dont want you to leave this area no matter what. I want you to stay in my radius, can you promise me?" said the duke before leaving

" I promise dad!"

The troops left for the hunt

~Near the monster circle~

"I want knights to stay alert and take down as many beasts as they can while the mages destroy the Shaktisrot Patthar, are y'all ready!?"

"Yes chief!" The commanders roared before moving ahead

The fight begun the monsters number were greater than anticipated but beast slayers did their best keeping them away from mages so they could perform their duty.

~At the camp~

'I should try my powers to know about what's going on at the battlefield.' Jemisha closes her eyes while concentrating on her breathing. She releases energy that helps her in sensing whats going on at the battlefield as she watches she realises there are some civilians who are near the monster fief radius. She gets tensed. She assess the situation 'how many people are there? 1..2...3.. three! they are I think searching for something..someone?' she adjusts her energy to see what they are searching

'they are calling someone! I need to look for where they are...' she searches with the help of her power and see's someone with small hands clinging desperately to the rough cliff edge, tears streaming down their face as they calls out for help.

'It's.. It's a boy!'

She sees a young boy of almost 6-7 years old crying for help hanging on a cliff.

Jemisha gasps and her connection breaks "ahh! oh no I need to save him!" she was about to run but stopped.

She realised her father told her not to leave the radius,

"What should I do if I dont leave he'll die from the fall!" She talked to herself,

"I can't wait long I'll go and return as soon as possible."

Jemisha stepped out of the radius her father created for her protection.

~At the battlefield~

A slayer:"Chief Ajat!, the beasts are more numerous than we expected, and we don't have enough warriors. What's our next move?"

"Keep making path for the mages! As soon as the mages destroy the shaktisrot patthar it'll be over."

Schlurp-thud the beast slayers did their best to help the mages so that they could reach and destroy the energy stone,

"Duke Shakti, we are close!. We can send signal to Enchantress Nadi. She can start unbinding the beasts essence."

"Okay, go ahead lets get over with it!"

Suddenly the Duke felt a tingling sensation creeping up his spine, a sense of urgency gripped him.

"Jemisha! Crossed the boundary!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and distress.

The mages swiftly reached the energy stone and began unleashing the essence contained within it. In a flurry of magical energy, the stone shattered, causing a dramatic shift in the dynamics of the battlefield. The once bold and fierce beasts now turned timid, their instinctual fear overriding their aggression, leading them to choose flight over battle.

The aftermath of the energy stone's destruction marked a significant turning point in the conflict, as the beasts' retreat signaled a moment of respite and a chance for the warriors to regroup and strategize for the challenges that lay ahead.