"What happened!? How did it go!?" Eshanth asked anxiously. The spiritualist nodded in no. Eshanth grabbed his collar in fury
"Fuck! How long is it going to take!? You better bring him back in ten days or you and your whole family is dead"
"I'm trying my best, your highness. It's not an easy task, ten days are too little" the spiritualist pleaded.
"Try harder then. In ten days I want Agha standing infront of me" Eshanth announced and left the secretive basement.
-----
"Father? I'm coming in" He entered Vigrayana's room and sat on the chair beside the bed. "Are you feeling well? I've informed the royal physician to get better medicines"
"I'm fine" Vigrayana was nervous, why was he here all of a sudden? Even his breathing was uneven. Eshanth, took out a letter from his lapel and started reading it "I didn't step down willing, he has gone crazy. Don't tell him any information about Anta or Agha, we already saw what it did twenty years ago. We don't want it happening again. Did you write this, father?"
Vigrayana started sweating profusely, he couldn't even say a word. "Father, for whom do you think I'm doing this? To bring back glory to Udichi, to crush those Yamaya dogs. Are you with them or with me?" he shaked his head in disappointment.
"Since you stepped down the throne without any protests, I'll forgive you this time but if this happens again I wouldn't let go this easily. You understand, right?" The smile on his lips was terrifying. Vigrayana didn't say anything. His own son, who he raised so lovingly was threatening him, what could he possibly say?
--------
It has been three months since Anugraha started practicing spirituality, luckily he possessed enough spiritual energy to get started. He learned how to concentrate his spiritual energy in his third eye chakra just in fifteen days! Abhitha was shocked by the pace of his learning. In three months, Anugraha didn't take a single break, did meditation and trained without stopping. Sometimes he even forgot to eat. Somaya was concerned for her only son while Prajya was happy, finally his lazy, good for nothing son was taking something seriously. In three months he learned the fundamentals of practicing spirituality, though he wasn't as good as the the disciples at the spiritual school his progress was still unbelievable. With this fast progress he could become a high level spiritualist on par with Abhitha in just few years.
"Oh lord! How many times do I have to explain this!? Just gather your spiritual energy in your third eye chakra and focus on transferring it into the sword!" Abhitha was annoyed, she was explaining this to him since the past one hour.
"I'm trying, okay? It's not easy!" He closed his eyes and focused, flicks of black glare became visible on the sword. Abhitha watched in anticipation,
Finally!
But it faded without even fully showing, Abhitha sighed and Anugraha groaned in frustration.
"Let's take a small break" Anugraha suggested and Abhitha agreed.
They sat on the grass on the side of the training ground.
"You were doing great till now, what happened all of a sudden?" Abhitha asked
"Fuck, I don't know. It's hard, you probably won't realise since you're doing this since you were a kid"
In Advaya sect, language , behaviour and the way one presents themselves to the world was of outmost importance but today Abhitha decided to ignore the foul language
"You're right"
"Oh! your hair" Anugraha pointed at her braid.
"What happened?" She took her braid over her shoulder to see. The ribbon she used to tie her hair was untied and her braid was loose. "I'll go fix it" as she was about to get up, Anugraha held her hand and stopped her. She felt her heart skip a beat, her cheek immediately heated up.
"I'll do it for you" Anugraha said as if it was something completely normal.
"No need, I'll be back in no time"
"Exactly, it won't take much time so just let me do it here. I'm good, I won't mess up your hair" Anugraha insisted.
"But what if someone see's us? It will give the wrong idea" she asked anxiously.
"No one's here, just sit and I'll do it in no time" he reassured.
"Fine, but do it quickly" she sat with her back facing him. He ran his fingers through her scalp, gathering her hair at the back. He was gentle as if he was holding a butterfly. Abhitha felt as if butterflies were dancing in her belly. He started braiding her hair.
"How do you even know how to do it?" She asked out of curiosity.
"I've three sisters, remember? I've watched my mother braiding their hair countless times, it would be weirder if I didn't know it"
"...." She nodded in understanding.
"Give me the ribbon" she handed over the ribbon and he tied her hair neatly. Through the whole process, Abhitha's heart didn't stop fluttering.
Something is definitely wrong with me, I shouldn't be reacting this way. Did he use some dark magic on me? What am I even thinking!?
"All done!" She turned around, her cheeks were still red and Anugraha could tell she was a little fidgety.
Maybe she isn't used to this kind of things
"Thank you" she glanced at him and his lips curved into wide smile. At that moment, seeing him smile Abhitha's heartbeat quickened. He looked so beautiful, his skin glistening under the sunlight because of the thin layer of sweat, the cresent moon vermilion complimenting his face just perfectly, his feminine yet masculine features made him look like a deity.
How can a person look this beautiful!? I think I'm losing my mind, I shouldn't be thinking this! But he's just so beautiful, NO!NO!
Their was a whole turmoil going on inside Abhitha's head, it was like her heart and brain were walking opposite paths.
"Enough break, let's get started again" she abruptly got up and walked ahead, Anugraha was confused "wait for me!"
"Walk faster!" She yelled.
What's with her all of a sudden?
"Just focus, you can do it" Abhitha reassured him and Anugraha nodded. He closed his eyes and gathered all his spiritual energy in his third eye chakra, this part was easy. Now was the difficult part, he concentrated the flow of spiritual energy into his sword. Small flicks of black glare appeared
Focus Focus Focus Abhitha couldn't say it out loud as it would disturb his flow.
Soon his whole sword was covered in black glare. Anugraha slowly opened his eyes and looked at the sword,
"I did it!! Finally!" Abhitha him gave an approving nod.
Anugraha immediately fell to the group and let out a sigh of relief.
"Finally, I can rest now" his voice was heavy because of fatigue.
"You should, let's end it here today" Abhitha said, she didn't wanted to exhauste him even more.
"Carry me to my room"
"Walk on your own!"