**Setting: Deep within a dense jungle**
Agni's wounds were slowly healing, the ash-like blood from his injuries had ceased to flow. Agni
and Neer now ventured deeper into the jungle, toward their next destination.
As they entered the heart of the forest, they heard the chilling scream of an animal, but no
creature was visible far or wide. Suddenly, the ground trembled with the heavy footsteps of an
unseen force, as if the earth itself quaked in fear.
Neer's eyes widened with dread. Before them appeared a terrifying Brahmarakshas—a
monstrous being with two sharp horns on its head, eyes glowing like embers, and claws like
those of a wolf. Standing seven to eight feet tall, it seemed a grotesque fusion of a Brahmin and
a demon, adorned with a sacred thread across its torso.
**Neer (trembling):**
"What… what kind of demon is this, Agni? How can we fight it? It could kill us in a single blow!"
**Agni (grimly):**
"We have no choice but to face it, Neer. There's no other way. Come, let's slip past its gaze."
**Neer:**
"Alright, but I'll go first. You're injured—stay behind me."
Agni nodded in agreement.
They managed to evade the Brahmarakshas's notice and cross half the jungle. But then, the
creature caught the scent of Agni's blood from his wounds. Its fiery eyes locked onto them, and
it charged.
Neer and Agni tried to flee, but the Brahmarakshas caught up, seizing Neer in its claws and
lifting him toward its gaping maw. In a flash, Agni summoned his fire element, scorching the
demon's hand. The creature howled, dropping Neer to the ground, unharmed by the flames.
Agni (panicked):**
"Neer! Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
**Neer (gasping):**
"I'm… I'm fine. Thank you, Agni… for saving me."
Exhausted, Agni collapsed. Neer caught him, urgency in his voice.
**Neer:**
"Get up, Agni! You're weakening… Come on, grab my hand, let's run!"
They tried to escape again, but the enraged Brahmarakshas attacked. Neer, with grim
determination, sliced off its hand with his sword.
**Neer (resolute):**
"Go, Agni! I'll hold it off."
**Agni:**
"No, Neer! I won't leave you alone."
**Neer:**
"You're injured—you can't fight it!"
The demon's severed hand reattached itself, and it hurled Neer aside. Agni faced it but soon
collapsed, unconscious from his wounds. As the Brahmarakshas moved to finish Agni, Neer
intervened, his blue eyes blazing brighter.
**Neer (furious):**
"No, demon! Fight me—don't touch Agni!"
Neer's body glowed, and he rose into the air. A stream of blue light formed a water-shield
around Agni. Droplets fell on Agni's face, reviving him. Neer's sword transformed into a blade of
water, slicing the Brahmarakshas into countless pieces.
**Neer (embracing Agni):**
"Agni, are you okay?"
**Agni (astonished):**
"Yes… and somehow, all my wounds are healed… as if they were never there."
**Neer (softly smiling):**
"Maybe it was the water-shield…"
Agni pulled Neer closer, and they fell together.
**Neer (alarmed):**
"What happened?"
**Agni (eyes wide):**
"Look!"
The Brahmarakshas's pieces began to reassemble. It attacked again, and though they struck it
down, it reformed. Agni's fire failed to destroy it, the flames returning to him. Confused, they
faltered as the demon used mantras to control Neer, commanding him to attack Agni.
Agni refused to strike back, but Neer, under the demon's spell, wounded him. Seeing Agni's
blood, the Brahmarakshas seized him, releasing Neer to gloat over Agni's defeat. Neer, now
free, was horrified by what he had done.
**Neer (weeping):**
"Forgive me, Agni… I hurt you…"
Agni broke free by severing the demon's hand but collapsed. The Brahmarakshas's sword
pierced Agni's abdomen. Neer realized Agni had sacrificed himself to save him.
**Neer (screaming):**
"AGNIIII!"
Cradling Agni, Neer cried out to the gods.
**Neer (sobbing):**
"Gurudev, what kind of test is this? How do I save Agni? Why did you send us to this hell…?"
Invoking the water god, Neer pleaded:
"O Water God, I call upon your element… Save Agni, heal his wounds. Take my life if you must,
but give him back his!"
Neer created a divine water-shield, stabilizing Agni's body. His rage erupted, wielding twin
swords—one of scalding water, the other of fiery intensity. He slashed the Brahmarakshas,
binding its pieces with a water spell to prevent it from reforming. Exhausted, Neer poured a final
stream of water over Agni before collapsing.
Agni regained consciousness, tears streaming as he knelt beside Neer.
**Agni (voice trembling):
Get up, Neer… I never knew how to cry, but today even my tears betray me. Fine, I'll become
like you—fighting, teasing—but first, get up! Forgive me, Neer… I couldn't protect you. Scold
me, be angry, but don't stay silent. What's wrong? If you don't wake up, I'll give up my life too!"
A divine light descended, enveloping them.
**Divine Voice (Gurudev):**
"Son Agni, compose yourself. Neer lives. He used all his power to save you, and his body
couldn't bear it. But he will recover with time. Your task is not yet complete. This is no ordinary
demon—it's a Brahmarakshas. Only the sacred Narayana Kavach can free it."
**Agni (stunned):**
"Gurudev… you?"
**Gurudev's Voice:**
"This Brahmarakshas was once a great scholar, teaching the Vedas and music to the gods. But
pride corrupted him, and he insulted a Gandharva, who cursed him to become this creature.
Free him with the Narayana Kavach and your fire-shield."
Agni closed his eyes, summoning his fire element. A radiant fire-shield enveloped him and Neer.
He chanted the Narayana Kavach with devotion, the air resonating with its power. The
Brahmarakshas screamed, its eyes reflecting fear and fire.
**Brahmarakshas (trembling):**
"After all these years… I am… freed… O Narayana, O Vishnu!"
With a burst of light, the demon's body turned to ash and merged with the earth. Silence fell.
Agni, panting, looked at Neer, still unconscious but breathing.
**Agni (lifting Neer):**
"Come, Neer… I'm taking you home."
In a deserted village house, Agni laid Neer on a bed, watching him with a mix of pain and love.
**Agni (whispering):**
"I know you'd give your life to save someone. But why for me, Neer? Why pour all your energy
into me? That's not bravery—it's foolishness! If something happened to you, I'd never forgive
myself. I won't even talk to you now…"
Neer remained still, but a faint smile curved his lips, as if his soul had heard everything.
As Agni's scolding faded, the room was left in heavy silence. Then, the faint smile on Neer's lips deepened. His voice emerged as a weak, but clear whisper...
"So many... words... from you..."
Agni's breath hitched. Neer's eyes were still closed, but his words were unmistakable. He had been listening.
Neer whispered further, "So... if I get up... will you... really... become like me?"
Agni stood frozen, trapped by his own promise. This sign of Neer's consciousness brought not just relief, but a new dilemma. How did he even answer that?