The Royal Tatvas

chapter 46

The forest was drenched in a heavy silence, broken only by the rustle of leaves stirred by a faint, ominous wind. Beneath a towering banyan tree, an ancient saint sat cross-legged, his body draped in saffron robes. His eyes, closed in deep meditation, glowed faintly with an otherworldly light. The air around him was dense with divine energy, and even the animals of the forest seemed to keep their distance.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. A shudder coursed through the earth beneath him, as though it too had felt the disturbance. His gaze, sharp as a blade, burned with an intensity that seemed to pierce the very fabric of the unseen. The serene calm of his face twisted into an expression of wrath. His eyes, now glowing an angry crimson, reflected the betrayal of nature's balance.

"This cannot be," he murmured, his voice a low rumble like distant thunder. Rising to his feet with a grace that belied his age, the saint's aura flared. The beads around his neck glowed faintly as he clutched them, his lips moving silently in a mantra that summoned the winds.

He moved swiftly through the forest, his bare feet making no sound against the earth. The trees parted as though bowing to his wrathful stride. Birds scattered, their cries echoing through the canopy. He came to a clearing, where an ancient cave mouth yawned like the maw of some forgotten beast.

Standing at the threshold of the cave, the saint paused. The air was thick with malevolence, the kind that seeped into the soul and chilled the blood. His fingers tightened around his rosary as he began chanting, his voice rising in a rhythmic cadence that echoed through the forest.

"ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय।"

The very stones of the cave vibrated as his mantra reverberated, dispelling the darkness that lurked within. With each step forward, the saint's energy intensified, illuminating the cave's walls with a golden glow.

He reached the edge of the death well where Abhay had fallen. The well seemed alive, exuding a sinister presence as though guarding a secret it was never meant to reveal. The saint extended his hand, his voice now thunderous, shaking the very foundation of the cave.

"Reveal yourself, vile energy! You dare disrupt the balance of creation?"

The waters of the well churned violently, hissing as if in protest. The saint closed his eyes briefly, his chant growing faster and more forceful. The beads around his neck burned bright, and a surge of light erupted from his palm, striking the well with divine power.

A deafening roar echoed from the depths as an unholy shadow writhed its way to the surface. The saint's eyes burned brighter, unyielding as he prepared to confront the unnatural force that had dared to desecrate the sanctity of the land.

The mansion was eerily silent, the air thick with a foreboding tension that seemed to crawl under Aditi's skin. She stood in the dimly lit living room, staring at the empty chair where Abhay once sat, his commanding presence now a distant memory. Her hands trembled as she clutched the edge of the table, her heart aching with a hollow pain.

The wind outside howled unnaturally, and the trees swayed violently as though nature itself was disturbed. Startled, Aditi rushed to the window. The night sky had turned an ominous shade of crimson, and an unnatural energy crackled through the air. Shadows danced unnervingly outside, and her gut screamed that something was terribly wrong.

As she stood frozen in shock, the front door creaked open, and she turned sharply to see Yug standing there, his dark aura radiating malice. His eyes gleamed with malevolent delight as he stepped inside.

"Finally, we meet, Rani Sa," Yug said mockingly, his voice dripping with venom. "Your protector is gone, and now it's your turn to face me."

Aditi's heart raced in fear, but she composed herself quickly. She whispered instructions to the children, hiding them in the secret chamber Abhay had built for emergencies. Her voice trembled as she kissed their foreheads, urging them to stay quiet.