"Ask Karki to be Napat's teacher."
She was surprised. She responded to the voice that only she heard, with her thought," Lord Hotrā, he may not be alive. He may barely live for another four hundred years outside this mana sphere."
"Did you take anything edible from here?"
"No, I only took what you gave me."
"Ask Tara for a petal from the tea flower in her pouch. Chant after me as he eats it. He will live for twice as long."
"Let me ask him."
She then looked at Lord Airavan and Prince Karki.
"Lord Hotrā would like Prince Karki to be Lord Napat's guide, teacher and perhaps, friend. Will you please consider this request?"
Prince Karki and Lord Airavan looked at each other.
Lord Airavan replied, "Alas! My grandson is still half human. He may be alive, but age may not permit him for the role. Four hundred years from now, he would be as old as an eighty year old human in terms strength."
"What if Lord Hotrā can double his age? What if prince Karki can age in proportion as he lives to 1200 years, perhaps a bit more. Will you consider it?"
Lord Airavan looked at Prince Karki.
He was quiet for a minute. Then he said, "If I can serve our Lord Napat in my lifetime, why would I say no?"
Following Lord Hotrā's instructions, she chanted the spell as Prince Karki ate the tea flower petal.
Only for a second he felt his throat burn. She looked anxiously at him. "Are you all right?"
Prince Karki smiled weakly. "Quite a strong flavour Grandma Akira."
He tried to lighten the mood, but she was not convinced.
"Did I do it right Lord Hotrā?"
"I am His breath, but you did well."
"Well, how are you different from him?"
"I guide, but I have no power. Once my role is done, I go back to lord Hotrā."
"Oh, will you guide me often?"
"Only where needed. You both did a great job without my intervention. Lord Hotrā will be pleased."
"What do I call you?"
"Iki. You can call me Iki."
"Thank you, Lord Iki."
"Lord is not necessary."
Lord Airavan looked in wonder at his grandson. The spell had left a mark on his throat, a small blue dot, that would live with him for his life time.
His eyes, from its emerald, had turned the same shade as his own, a topaz yellow, a characteristic of the pure blood descendents from the direct line of Vasus, the first nagas created by Lord Apa.
His hair had turned a luscious black, the same shade as his tail.
While Prince Karki himself could not see the changes without the mirror in front of him, his grandfather cried with joy.
"Oh my grandson! You are indeed blessed by lord Apa himself! You shall do our entire lineage proud!"
Prince Karki looked bewildered at his grandfather's sudden outburst.
Lord Airavan then turned to Akira.
"Lady Akira. Hear me now. I mark you with the blood of the Nagas. No naga shall treat you any less than me, in this world or anywhere else. Such shall be your worth, for the service you have done to us."
With that, he made a small cut on his thumb and pressed his bleeding finger against the mark of Sorn.
Akira bowed her thanks. She was starting to feel light-headed. The incantation had drained her off all the energy she had, and the mark of Naga took some more.
"Lord Airavan, I don't have much energy left. If you don't mind, could I sit for a bit?"
Before he could respond, she fainted.