: The Return, The Bow, and The Coming Battle
The forest was quiet except for the soft rhythm of two galloping horses. Agni rode ahead, silent as always, while Neer rode beside him, swinging his legs lightly as if the danger they had just faced meant nothing.
After a while, Neer leaned closer on his saddle and smirked.
"Agni… you were scared, weren't you? When I fainted in the temple?"
Agni didn't even look at him. "No."
Neer's eyes widened theatrically. "Achha? Then tell me… why did you save me from that Bhram-Rakshas? Don't tell me you've started caring about me now."
At this, Agni finally turned his head. His fiery eyes didn't blink.
"I did not save you out of concern. You were my companion in this task. Protecting you was my responsibility. Bas. Otherwise, I—"
Neer leaned forward. "Otherwise what, Agni? You wouldn't have saved me?"
Agni didn't answer. The reins in his hands tightened, but his lips didn't move. The silence was louder than any reply.
Neer snorted. "Fine, don't tell me. But at least tell me something else—why do you always answer the opposite of what I say? Are all my answers wrong?"
Agni finally spoke, voice low and steady. "No. Your answers come from your heart."
Neer blinked. "And yours don't? Do you not have a heart, Agni?"
"No."
"Then you'll never fall in love," Neer sighed dramatically. "Poor you."
Agni glanced at him then, just for a second, a small smile flickering—tiny, almost invisible. But it was there.
Neer noticed and grinned. "See? You can smile. And… I care about you, Agni. We're friends now, aren't we?"
Agni didn't respond to that. His gaze returned to the path, silent once again.
Suddenly, Neer's horse stopped abruptly.
"Arre, why did you stop?" Neer muttered.
Agni halted his horse beside him. "What happened?"
"I don't know… maybe my horse is hungry."
Agni nodded. "Fine."
Neer stretched his arms. "Actually I'm hungry too. Let's rest for a while."
Agni dismounted quietly and tied both horses to a nearby tree, letting them graze. Neer found a soft patch of ground beneath a large tree and lay down instantly.
Within minutes, he fell asleep.
---
A Quiet Moment
When Neer woke up, he heard the sound of footsteps. He blinked and saw Agni sitting beside him, holding wild forest fruits in his hands.
Neer sat up. "Agni… you brought these?"
Agni nodded. "You said you were hungry."
Neer smiled softly. "You could've woken me up instead of going alone."
"I thought you were tired," Agni said simply. "So I let you sleep."
Neer accepted the fruits from his hands and took a bite. "You know," he said, mouth full, "they are really good. Eat with me."
Agni hesitated, then nodded and took one.
Neer placed a hand on Agni's shoulder. "Thank you… truly."
Agni looked away. "We should leave. We've stayed too long."
Neer jumped up energetically. "Right! Let's go."
They mounted their horses and continued their journey.
"Agni," Neer called out, half-teasing, "you brought those fruits for me, right?"
"No."
Neer laughed. "Fine, lie as much as you want. At least my stomach is full—and my horse's too!"
Agni didn't respond, but Neer knew the truth.
They kept talking and laughing until the tall stone walls of the Gurukul appeared in the distance.
---
Return to the Gurukul
When they stepped into the courtyard, Guru Vishrayan and Acharyas were already waiting.
Agni and Neer dismounted immediately and bowed.
"Pranam, Gurudev. Pranam, Acharya."
Guru Vishrayan raised his hand in blessing. "Kalyan ho, putron. You have completed a difficult journey… and returned with the divine bow."
The Acharyas examined the blazing golden bow in Agni's hands, its string glowing like a line of fire.
Guru Vishrayan spoke calmly, "This bow needs no arrows. Agni—whenever you pull its string, the arrows of pure flame will appear on their own. It is a weapon born from fire itself."
Both boys bowed again.
"Now go. Bathe, purify yourselves, and perform the bow's worship. Then rest. Tomorrow will be another day of duty."
"Yes, Gurudev."
Agni and Neer went to their separate chambers, bathed in cold water, and performed the sacred rites.
When Guru Vishrayan saw the bow placed before him, he named it—
"Agniprastha."
The Path of Fire.
---
Subtle Changes in the Gurukul
As Agni left to rest, Neer wandered around the courtyard and suddenly frowned.
"Why does the Gurukul feel… different? Rebuilt? Aiye, Aakash!" he called out.
Aakash approached with a warm smile. "You noticed."
Neer crossed his arms. "Tell me everything."
Aakash sighed. "While you and Agni were gone, the Gurukul was attacked—by dark-magic Rakshasas and a black shadow. Some parts were destroyed. Many got injured."
Neer's face tightened instantly. "What!? But… Gurudev was here, wasn't he? How could anyone attack?"
Aakash shook his head. "Gurudev had left for an urgent task. The Rakshasas took advantage."
Neer exhaled slowly. "So that's why everything looks rebuilt."
Aakash nodded. "Yes. But now everything is safe."
"Good…" Neer murmured. "Let's go to our chambers. Tomorrow will be long."
The three—Agni, Neer, and Aakash—went to rest.
---
Next Morning: The Call to Battle
The next morning, sunlight filled the Gurukul grounds. All Acharyas had gathered when Agni and Neer arrived and bowed.
"Pranam, Gurudev."
"Kalyan ho."
Dharaaya, Vaayansh, and Aakash joined them, bowing as well.
Neer stepped forward. "Gurudev, you called us?"
Guru Vishrayan's face turned serious.
"Yes, Neer. The time has come… to end the Rakshasas who have been circling the Gurukul. Their shadows creep closer each night. Only Agniprastha can destroy them."
Agni stood tall. "Your command shall be done, Gurudev."
Guru Vishrayan continued, "Agni and Neer… you two will lead. Dharaaya, Vaayansh, and Aakash will support you—protecting you and distracting the Rakshasas."
All five young warriors bowed together.
"We obey, Gurudev."
With their weapons ready, hearts steady, and Agniprastha glowing like a rising sun…
the five set out toward the battlefield.
A new chapter of destiny had begun.
Where the wisdom of Agni and Neer, Deep Bond and dharaya and aakash and Vayansh will come together to destroy the demons.