Love burns brighter...

Chapter 9

My dearest readers…!

It’s been a while since I’ve last published and I am sorry for taking so long to publish another chapter. Life and work kept me busy but I kept on working on this whenever I can. Finally one episode is finished and I’d love to publish it right away. I am just little worried over the errors it may have and cloud your enjoyment because I couldn’t thoroughly check it for errors yet.

I want to thank you all for bearing with me during all the short-comings and yet kept on encouraging me to write further. As I always says… without you I wouldn’t have come this far.

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Two years have passed since Zaheer broke out of frozen north with Korra….

The cold morning breeze blows gently through the leaves making a soothing sound as if nature is whispering in her ears. She sits by the calm flowing river in lotus position deep in her state of Samadhi. Gentle wind caresses her with its refreshing touch as she inhales and exhales in a slow rhythmic manner. Further she stays in the state of Samadhi, deeper she felt herself in the bliss of relief as if everything slowly fades away and there is only beautiful warm light wreathed around her.

Zaheer watches her from the distance as she meditates peacefully. He sees a mocha skinned girl with fairly long hair French braided to a single stem. She wears a cotton collarless shirt and pajamas. The avatar Korra sits few yards away from the river bank deep in her meditation. He felt a profound happiness within him to see his student who has mastered everything he thought her. He slowly walked towards her without causing any disturbances and sits in lotus position in front of her.

Korra felt the presence of her master and she slowly let go of her state of Samadhi then opened her eyes exhaling deeply yet in a calm manner.

“It brings me to an utmost joy to see you have completed the entire training Korra” Zaheer said in a soft tone. Korra smiled at him as he complimented sincerely on her achievement.

“As of completing the training in the art of “Fist of the blood dragon”, It is a requirement to bear the marking of the art, you may now receive the marking of the blood dragon…., Speak to me when you are ready Korra” said Zaheer while having his eyes closed.

“It is an honor to be trained under your guidance; I’m ready to receive the marking now…” said Korra and bowed at her master as he watched over her proudly.

They both stood up facing each other and stared at each other for moment quietly. Zaheer had a small leather pouch with him. He opened it and took out a pot of strange looking ink. Then he took out a stack of sharp long needles and a one long pointed bamboo shard. He held the equipment right in front of her face. Korra nods approving him to begin the process and she turned around facing away from him. Then she slowly undid the buttons of her shirt and slipped it out of her arms leaving her with the bra. Korra paused for a moment and took her hair to the front.

“In the history of red lotus, you are the first woman to receive the honorary marking of the “Blood Dragon”” Zaheer said slowly. She unclipped her bra and slipped the straps revealing her back freeing from all obstructions and held the shirt against her chest. Korra took a deep breath and sits on the ground in lotus position quietly letting Zaheer begin the marking. He stepped close to her and kneels behind her. Korra leans a little forward revealing all of her back to him to begin the marking process.

“I begin the process when you are ready....” said Zaheer.

She nods signaling him to begin the marking process. He dipped the bamboo shard and needles in the ink then he started to tattoo the mark on Korra’s back.