The Heir and the Humble

King and Comfort

As Devraj emerged from the temple, the weight of the ritual pressed heavily on his shoulders. The cool night air hit him like a wave, but he felt disoriented, lost in a sea of emotions. He stumbled and collapsed onto the steps, sitting there in silence, staring blankly at the ground.

Yuvi rushed to his side, concern etched on his face. "Dev! What happened? Are you okay?" He knelt beside him, checking for any signs of injury, his hands searching for traces of blood. "You're not hurt, are you?"

Devraj shook his head slowly, his expression stoic. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let's just leave."

Yuvi studied him for a moment, sensing the turmoil beneath the surface, but he didn't press further. They made their way back to the palace in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them.

Once they arrived, they parted ways with a simple "Good night," but Yuvi couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong with his brother.

As Devraj entered their shared room, he found Anika waiting for him, her eyes filled with worry. The moment she saw him, she rushed to his side, her hands moving over him as if to check for wounds. "Devraj garu! Thank goodness you're okay!" she exclaimed, relief flooding her voice. But as she looked into his eyes, she noticed something was missing—a spark that had always been there.

"Are you sure you're fine?" Anika asked, her brow furrowing with concern. "You look... different."

Devraj forced a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm just tired, Anika. Let's sleep."

She nodded, though her worry lingered. They lay down on their sides, facing each other. Anika couldn't shake the feeling of unease. "Devraj garu, I'm getting more worried now. Is everything really fine?"

He lifted his face to her, his expression softening. "Yes, everything is fine," he said, though the words felt hollow. "I'm just having new feelings every time. I can feel the curse bond getting weaker, but I'm not sure of anything."

Anika's eyes brightened at his words. "That's a good thing, right? Your grandfather will always be there to guide you. And your father... he would be so proud of you for fulfilling what he couldn't do."

At the mention of his father, Devraj felt a crack in his composure. He rolled onto her side, burying his face in her chest, wrapping his arms around her tightly. Anika could feel the warmth of his tears soaking through her nightgown, and her heart ached for him.

"What happened?" she asked softly, her fingers running through his hair. "Please tell me."

"I forgot my father," he choked out, his voice muffled against her. "I can't remember his face, his warmth, or his love. I don't have a single memory of him with me left."

Anika's heart sank, confusion washing over her. "What do you mean? How can you forget him?"

Devraj took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I offered his memories as a sacrifice during the ritual. The moon goddess asked for a deep memory, and I thought it would be for the best... but now, I feel empty. I can't hold onto anything of him."

Anika's eyes widened in shock, her heart breaking for him. Unknowingly,  she tightened her hug to comfort him. "Devraj garu!, I'm so sorry. I didn't know... I can't believe you had to do that."

He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes, searching for understanding. "I thought it would strengthen our family, but now I feel like I've lost a part of myself. I don't know how to cope with this."

Anika cupped his face in her hands, her gaze steady and reassuring. "You haven't lost him. He lives on in you, in the way you love and protect those around you. You carry his spirit with you, even if you can't remember the details. Its just that he will only exist in photos for you"