As Meghnath was moving out, he said, "One more thing I forgot.  The first condition for becoming the King of Pranyakta was to finish the training.  But there is an alternative and short cut is also available although very dangerous".  Agni was looking at him curiously when he said, "Just destroy the Asuras once and for all".  Meghnath finally left, leaving behind Agneya who was thinking very deeply.

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It was early in the morning and Rashmi woke up after a disturbed sleep and looked around the room to realize the last day's events.  She sighed and got up from the bed to get ready for the day.  She went to the adjacent bathing room and was mesmerized by grandeur of a bathing room.  Although her chamber back in Akashpura was also large, that is nothing compared to the one she has here.  Finally she took a bath and came out with only two pieces of clothes, one covering her bosoms and the other was an underskirt covering her legs.

Rashmi looked into the full length mirror and turned to different angles to check herself.  Suddenly she heard a voice which made her jump and turned back to look at the person.  "What are you doing?", Agneya asked frowning as he saw how she was checking herself out.  She looked at him nervously with her back facing the mirror and said, "I am wearing a sleeveless blouse after a long time so wanted to see the mark on my back".

Agni moved towards her and she kept looking at him to predict what he was about to say.  Instead of saying anything, he caressed her forearms, where previously there was a scar.  Rashmi didn't stop him and then he turned her around, making her face the mirror while he stood behind her.  Both of them stared into each other's eyes as he said, "You might not be able to see the mark completely.  But you can feel it". 

Rashmi looked at his reflection in the mirror and closed her eyes as he had gestured.  Agni kept his index finger on her back and started to trace the mark which is spread over her entire back.  Infact he too had not seen the mark because they had never crossed that level of intimacy where clothes were discarded.  She felt the big circle like that of a wheel and also inner circles which were five in number indicating his five elemental powers.

As Agneya finished his tracing, Rashmi opened her eyes.  Both of them were staring at each other's reflection, not because of sexual tension but because of the sudden realization of the depth in their relationship.  Both of them understood that them being soulmates is not just for a domestic life but also for the ultimate destruction of the Asuras, who are a threat to the realm.

Agni whispered, "It's a symbol of both of our powers".  Rashmi nodded absentmindedly and thought of why her powers were included when Agni is the one who has immortal blood and can kill the Asuras.  While she was thinking all this, she heard him say, "I'm sorry".  She looked back at his reflection who was not meeting her eyes and turned towards him.  She cupped his face and made him look at her.

Rashmi told him, "You don't have to say sorry.  I failed to understand your emotions".  Saying so, she hugged him and he too wrapped his hands around her.  She whispered, "You missed your family yesterday.  And I took some time to understand that.  Hereafter I will be careful".  He too repeated his apology for leaving her alone last night.  She smiled and hugged him tightly.

After a few minutes, Agneya asked, "Actually I thought you will get angry at me and won't talk.  Then I may have to please you to earn your forgiveness.  But I was wrong it seems".  Rashmi understood his teasing and said, "If I was really angry, then no amount of pleasing will make me forgive you.  Unless you bear whatever punishment I would give". He chuckled at her and said, "Since you talked about punishment, I think I didn't fulfill my punishment last night.  Let me fulfil it now".

Saying so he leaned to kiss her but she closed his mouth with her palm and said, "If you are not aware, I took a bath already and you haven't even cleansed your mouth".  Agni sighed and went towards the bathroom leaving her to drape her saree.  Once he was ready for the day, he brought her to the breakfast room and sat on their designated seats.  Meghnath smiled on seeing Agneya with Rashmi and both of them gave a silent nod to eachother.

Other members of the Royal family joined the table and Dakshesh too had his seat.  Samrat ordered the servants to serve the special breakfast for the newly married couple and then everyone started their breakfast.  Dakshesh said, "Dadashree, I have a request to make".  Samrat nodded and Dakshesh continued, "Since I don't have a primary wife, I would like to have Charusheela as my primary wife".

Samrat was controlling his anger and said, "I will have to think about that Dakshesh.  I can't decide immediately".  Dakshesh nodded and kept staring at the new couple who didn't even give any reaction to his request as if he didn't exist.  Then Agneya asked Samrat whether he and Rashmi could go to the Academy, from today itself and Samrat nodded in Affirmation.

On the other side of the Palace, in her chamber, Charusheela was sitting in a meditating posture while the voice inside her head was commanding her to concentrate on increasing her dark powers.  Since Dakshesh has no other women, charu has all the chamber for herself.  Charu completed the instructions and opened her eyes and was pleasantly surprised when she saw a black smoke in the shape of a man standing infront of her.

Charu exclaimed, "Wow!  I made a character out of my own shadow.  Now I don't need to depend on stupid people to complete my tasks".  She remembered how the man whom she controlled by mind, had been caught by the guards of Akashpura and right now in the dungeons of the main palace.  She thought to herself, "It was good that he doesn't remember anything after the mind control worn off.  Otherwise I would have been caught".

The voice which she was hearing till now within her head, suddenly resonated in the room, startling her. She looked back to search for the source but jumped on her place because of the scary red eyes floating in the air.  She realized that it was the voice which she had been hearing till now.  It said, "Now you have enough power to complete your part of the deal.  Don't waste it like last time.  Otherwise we won't spare you when we regain our powers". 

Charusheela nodded her head with fear as she thought, "Now the voice has eyes.  Seems like the forbidden gate is breaking quickly and they are already gaining power".  Little did she know that the reason for their increasing power is not only the weakening of the gate but also the increasing use of Dark powers by her.  As she use more and more dark powers, Asuras will gain more and more strength.

Charusheela bravely replied, "I am not wasting my time, My Lord.  I am going to attack Yuvraj Agneya using my shadow power.  Although I wanted to eliminate Rashmi first but since he is her soulmate, she will always be protected, until he is alive.  So My target is Yuvraj Agneya".  The voice acknowledged it and said, "In all this planning, don't forget the main reason for entering the palace so quickly".

Charusheela nodded at him in affirmation and told, "I remember it, My lord.  I will search it quickly".  The eyes disappeared from her sight while it murmured in frustration, "Anyways you cannot kill him by such childish attempts".  Charu didn't hear his murmurs and was excited to execute her plan.  Just then her maid Damini entered after getting permission and informed that Yuvraj and Yuvrani are going to the Academy.

Glossary:
Samrat - Emperor
Samragyi - Empress
Rajkumar - Prince
Bratashree - Brother
Bhabhishree - sister-in-law
Acharya - Master/Teacher
Mamashree - Uncle (Mother's Brother)
Mamishree - Aunt (Mother's brother's wife)
Bade - elder or big
Chote - younger or small

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Precap:

Charu was roaming inside the palace in the middle of the night, while discreetly searching for something. 

Inside Agneya's chamber, he was taking a bath in the pool when he felt someone behind him.

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Hi guys,

Only till the middle of this chapter, I had written yesterday and was not satisfied.

Hope you like the chapter.  Do vote and comment.

Word count: 1450

Thanks,
SM.