In the guest halls of Vanrakshak, the night was silent.
Outside, banners of many clans fluttered in the restless wind—but within, a storm was already brewing.
Inara knelt upon the cold marble floor, her head bowed low, firelight painting restless shadows across her face.
The heavy doors creaked open.
Master Zaydan—Leader of the White Peacock Clan, feared and revered alike—stepped inside. His aura filled the chamber instantly.
His voice cut through the silence, sharp and unforgiving:
"Do not think your tears or silence will soften me, Inara. I will not forgive you this time."
Inara's shoulders trembled, but she remained kneeling.
"You are the Young Mistress of this clan!" Zaydan thundered.
"And yet every day, you bribe your guards and maids, slipping away like a reckless child. Do you realize the insult you bring upon this position?"
"We are not here as mere guests—we are watched by every clan."
" They know us, even if you know none of them. And you—flaunting your powers before the public, revealing your identity so carelessly!"
His words cracked like a whip, echoing against the chamber walls.
"Tell me, Inara—does such behavior befit the heir of the White Peacock Clan?"
For a moment, silence pressed down like stone.
Then Inara slowly raised her head, her eyes shimmering with innocence. She whispered, :
"Appa… please forgive me. I only—"
"Do not call me that." His words cut her off, cold yet pained.
"Call me only Master. Until you learn what it means to carry this crown, you are first a successor, and only then a daughter."
Inara bit her lip hard, lowering her gaze once more.
"You will return to your chamber immediately," Master Zaydan declared, his tone final.
"And until further notice, you will not step outside."
" And transcribe every law of this clan one hundred times, by your own hand. Only then will you understand the weight of responsibility."
Inara lowered her gaze again, but inside her mind a playful grumble stirred:
("One hundred times… my poor wrist is already weeping." )
For the briefest moment, Zaydan's eyes flickered—between anger and sorrow. He turned sharply, hiding the conflict in his chest.
From the dim corridor, a man in a dark navy-blue robe stepped forth, a single peacock feather twirling between his fingers.
A faint, knowing smile curved his lips.
"Master Zaydan, if I may… one hundred times writing all the clan laws? That sounds less like punishment and more like torture."
A flicker of amusement touched Inara's eyes. She looked up at her uncle with innocent gratitude, her lips curving into the faintest smile.
[Master Numan, Adviser of the Clan—the Blue Peacock Soul Beast]
Master Numan caught her glance and offered the smallest reassuring nod. Folding his arms, he added, lightly teasing:
"You do realize, don't you, that your heir will spend the whole night scratching ink on parchment? "
"Tomorrow, when she stands at the Royal Ceremony, she will not look like the shining jewel of the White Peacock Clan… but like a panda with dark circles."
Inara's inner thought flickered with confusion:
( "Panda Uncle… are you embarrassing me, or secretly helping me?")
Zaydan, however, was not amused. His cold gaze cut to Numan.
"You think this is a joke, Numan? The eyes of the whole kingdom are upon us. Do you understand how dangerous her carelessness is? "
"If she cannot control herself, the entire White Peacock line will be in jeopardy!"
Master Numan lifted his hands slightly, as though calming a storm.
"Yes, yes, I know. You are right. "
"But come now—what good is an heir who collapses from exhaustion on the most important night of the year? Let her shine tomorrow."
Inara's eyes softened, her breath easing.
( "Only Uncle's words can calm Appa…")
But Zaydan's face remained carved in stone.
"Your sweet words will not soften me, Numan. My successor must learn that every action carries weight. Discipline is not negotiable."
He paused, his eyes sharp but his tone colder, measured.
"Very well. The punishment remains—but it will be delayed."
" After the Royal Ceremony, she will transcribe every law of this clan… not one hundred times, but two hundred. And she will present them to me, sealed by her own hand."
The relief in Inara's heart froze instantly.
Her lips parted in protest, but Numan quickly stepped in before she could speak, chuckling nervously.
"Well, there you have it, Young Mistress. Your father does not forgive… he only postpones."
Inara's innocent eyes flicked toward her uncle again, this time filled with mock betrayal.
Numan winked, whispering just loud enough for her to hear:
"At least you'll look radiant tomorrow."
Master Zaydan caught the exchange, his jaw tightening—but a ghost of softness flickered in his eyes as he turned away.
For all his anger, his love was buried just beneath the iron mask of duty.
Inara bowed with quiet respect, her silken dress sweeping the marble as she took her leave.
The chamber doors closed behind her, leaving only Master Zaydan and his adviser, Master Numan, in the heavy silence.
Zaydan's voice broke it first, low and edged with steel.
"How long will you keep shielding her, Numan? Do you even realize whom she crossed paths with today?"
Numan's eyes flickered.
"Queen Vishtara."
Zaydan scoffed, the sound sharp as a blade.
"Exactly. That woman worries me more than any rival clan. "
"Once Vishtara sets her eyes on someone, she does not rest until they are her prey. Her hunger for power grows stronger by the day."
" I can feel it—there is something… wrong in the air here."
He paced a step, his gaze narrowing as though seeing beyond the chamber walls.
"Tell me, have you heard anything?"
Numan inclined his head.
"Your Highness, Aakesh has already met with Vishtara."
" Among the Aakashvanshi, after the Eagle Clan, our White Peacock holds the greatest strength. If power slips from their grasp, it will naturally fall into ours."
Zaydan's jaw tightened, his voice dropping colder.
"And that… is the greatest danger of all."
Master Numan (with unease):"And soon… even the Chhayavanshi will be here."
Master Zaydan's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening.
"That is what troubles me most. Their shadow brings nothing but unrest… and if they align with Vishtara, the balance of power will shatter."
At the same hour in the royal palace… the halls buzzed with whispers of the Young Prince's return.
Rudr, his elder stepbrother and soon to be Crown Prince, stormed into Shaurya's chamber with General Bijli at his side.
Shaurya, his hands still fiddling with a mask, pouted.
"Bhai (Bro) , you can't just keep me locked up like this!"
Rudr only smirked, lifting two festival masks from the table.
"I even brought you gifts—see? One ferocious lion, and one splendid cat. Perfect for us."
Rudr wrinkled his nose.
"Don't try to fool me with masks! You know how furious Grand Father is. "
"Tomorrow, with envoys from every kingdom gathered here, how would it look if the young prince of this palace was found dousing fires in the streets? "
"What if something had happened to you?"
Shaurya gave him his most innocent, pleading look, eyes wide.
"But Bhai, I was only trying to help… It's not my fault I'm weak. Besides—" he leaned forward with a mischievous smile,
"I know my big brother, Crown Prince Rudr, will always save me."
Rudr pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Stop buttering me up. It won't work."
General Bijli stepped forward, bowing low.
"Your Highness, the guards are on high alert. No one enters or leaves without being checked."
"Good."
" "Keep your eyes sharp—do not be deceived by his innocent tricks." Rudr ordered firmly before turning to leave.
Shaurya flopped back dramatically onto his cushions, calling after him:
"Bhai! Don't be so heartless!"
The chamber echoed with Shaurya's playful whining, while Rudr's retreating figure carried the heavy weight of duty.
Far away, under the same moon… The chamber was silent, moonlight slipping through the lattice window like silver threads.
Agnira sat rigid on her bed, her thoughts a storm of questions—her mother, the dragon, Ayush's words echoing like a curse.
A faint creak broke the stillness.
The window slid open, and Jhumki slipped inside, clutching a small tray of food.
"Agnira…" she whispered, worry heavy in her tone.
"I thought you would've returned straight from the festival. You never like crowds. But tonight—you were the last to come back."
" And now the Leader is furious with you. What happened this time?"
Agnira's eyes remained cold, her voice sharp.
"Go back. Or you'll regret stepping into my trouble."
Before Jhumki could protest, Taal's muffled voice came from outside the door.
"Don't worry, I'm standing guard. If anyone comes, I'll warn you."
Jhumki's eyes softened, lingering with concern. "Eat something First , because we never leave you not in dream".
"Can you leave ..?" Agnira said coldly.
"Fine ..I come again. " with this jhumki turned to leave
"Here...." Agnira said curtly, tossing a small pouch toward her.
Jhumki caught it, blinking in surprise. "What's this?" She opened it—and gasped. " Wow Earrings? These are so beautiful!"
In an instant, she threw her arms around Agnira, hugging her tightly. "Thank you! I love you so much!"
Agnira exhaled sharply, almost exasperated. "Enough. Now go."
Jhumki pulled back, her lips curving into a small, worried smile.
"Okay… but at least eat. I brought your favorite—spicy rice. You'll like it."
With a small sigh, she left the chamber, slipping quietly into the shadows.
Left alone again, Agnira leaned back, her knuckles white around her dagger. Ayush's words rang louder than ever:
("Could it be true… am I really the daughter of a.... dragon?")
Her chest tightened.
Suddently she feel something suspicious she clenched her jaw, scanning the chamber with suspicion.
The air itself shifted—too heavy, too still.
Her instincts blazed. She snatched her dagger, moving silently toward the curtains. With a swift motion, she slashed—
Only to have her wrist caught mid-strike.
The dagger froze an inch from warm skin.
From behind the curtain, a figure stepped forward, his grip firm yet careful. His eyes caught the moonlight, calm but unyielding.
Ayush.
The steel in Agnira's eyes clashed with the quiet storm in his. Her breath stuttered.
Ayush's lips curved, his voice low—dangerous, breathtaking.
"Beautiful."
"I never thought these eyes without blue flowers could still look this breathtaking…"
Agnira shoved her dagger closer to his chest, her voice sharp with fire.
"So eager to die, that you've followed me all the way here?"
Ayush leaned in, his words dropping in a husky whisper, warm against the silence:
"Calm down, beauty."
"Once someone falls for Ayush's charm, their heart and mind remain bound to him alone." he spoke with that disarming smile.
"You were thinking of me, weren't you, ?"
" Agnira "
"Your name… truly unmatched, just like you."
Irritation flared hot in her chest. With a swift move, Agnira drove her knee toward him and slashed with her dagger.
But Ayush slipped aside effortlessly, dodging with infuriating ease. "WOO...!"
His eyes glinted with teasing mischief.
"Why scar me with a blade, when your gaze already wounds me?"
Agni's fury deepened. She lunged again, blade flashing.
"I know very well how to knock sense into madmen!"
He dodged once more, his voice low and taunting.
"And if you kill me… who will answer the questions you burn for?"
Her eyes narrowed.
( "Now you'll understand—you've crossed paths with the wrong person this time." )
In one quick motion, Agnira pulled a small pill-like object from her pocket and flicked it into the nearby candle flame.
Smoke exploded, curling through the room like a storm.
"Worry for yourself first," she hissed, striking once more from within the shrouding haze.
To be Continued...