Singh stood motionless, seemingly waiting for the atmosphere to clear. His mane swayed with the slight wind, eyes directed at me- even from the great distance, he appeared enormous and ferocious. His majestic structure appeared quite intimidating. Having known him for quite a few months hadn't been worthy enough to discover his skills. Now, besides mentally praising his appearance, I was determined enough to not get diverted and thoroughly check on his way of Formations.

Singh took a step forward, cautioning me that he was about to get the challenge going. Keeping a steady breathe, I keenly watched his movements. The very minute, as if our minds were united, flames shot out of my hands and from his paws in a sync. Nazira standing right behind me did not appear in my mind. She slightly gasped as my flames intensified and got away giving me the space I needed.

My eyes enlarged as I watched the nascent flames Singh had generated-red, orange and gold-expanding, turning as similar to that of a bonfire. It drifting up and covered his whole body. It was indeed glorious to watch my Constellia looking deadly yet magnificent but the exact words that I thought...

Darn it! He looks dangerously beautiful.

"DARN IT! HE LOOKS DANGEROUSLY BEAUTIFUL!"

Goosebumps flooded all over my skin hearing the ear-splitting thunder. A ghostly adrenaline pierced through my heart when my voice echoed far above in the sky as if somewhere in this realm the most modern and highly technical speakers had emerged splitting through the universe.

"What the hell!" I shrieked. Provoked, my flames around hands enlarged encircling my body.

Apart from this unpredictable occurrence, my stone began to burn. But I stayed put without taking my eyes off Singh. As soon as I expressed my mystification, Singh charged. The ground beneath my feet shook. Nazira must have felt it too. She quickly slid further behind me, and chose to stand near the door of the hut.

I kicked my heels and bolted to his direction tearing through the wind. I had no plan in my mind, no organized strategy, but my flames were intact and my eyes curiously waiting to see his style. It probably might have taken half a minute to cover the distance, yet neither Singh nor I reduced our momentum. He suddenly roared and it sounded like a caution.

"Aah!" I gasped, covering my ears.

My feet suddenly lost the balance and I slipped, my feet digging into the smooth and powdery sand. Watching me sliding, Singh leapt up in the air, crossing me from over my head.

"Watch it, kid!" He snarled as soon as he landed.

I pulled myself up, sitting on my single knee. We have changed our directions. I was facing the hut now, Nazira clearly visible. "Don't tell me it was my voice...."

"Well, Constellia Formation, how do you think we hear that?" He said.

"Say what?"

Singh stirred, slightly growling, bending a little back. His mouth viciously opened ajar, seemingly devouring the flames and in the brief moment of time, he began emitting unceasing whips of fire, one after the other, attempting to strike me.

Figuring it was too late to get away, I instinctively covered my face with my arms. His whips were whipping me senseless. My hands should have, by now, charred with the incessant beating. But fortunately, I felt nothing.

HAW! Just a pretend fire!

"HAW! JUST A PRETEND FIRE!"

The realm came to life once again. I removed my hand out of curiosity to check if he was still in action. But he was standing all still, without putting off the flames surrounding his body.

Did you hear that?

"DID YOU HEAR THAT?"

"Yes I did," he replied instantaneously, "Pretend fire, huh? Now take this."

He stirred again, stepping back but before he could begin spanking me, I fiercely commanded my stone.

"Fire Explosive Formation!"

And then there was Nazira, now that she was standing far away from me, I clearly saw and heard her say in my mind. "Don't hurt him!"

Her voice-fierce and commanding, like never before. I cringed. My hands and legs suddenly feeling numb on the sudden distraction. I let my fire off, sincerely wanting Singh to not get hurt. Sure, the flames had travelled a certain distance but it at once got sucked away by the slight blowing wind. I just did what she asked me to do.

In split second of time, I assumed to have, my sight shifted to have a glimpse of her standing too far, her thin and tall outline pressed against the wall of the hut, having one of her hands against her mouth. She definitely seemed tensed, unlike her voice that sounded authoritative.

A shower of fire then drenched me thoroughly. Singh had growled which for once I lost the sense to acknowledge it. But thanks to him that he attacked me at the right time -it was an opportunity to get back to the challenge, letting my mind off Nazira.

I tilted my face aside, rotating my body standing at a spot. Again, the fire made no impact on me, except my skin felt a slight warm sensation.

"Wooo!" I said, setting my shirt straight, as the fire turned off, "It's like bathing in a hot spring."

"Are you going to fight back or have you decided to run around like a headless chicken?" Singh asked, his flames intact.

"Well, you tell me," I said in a satirical way, bending a little and dramatically batting my eyes like a young teenage girly girl, "Afterall you know everything about my inner feelings!"

Singh opened his mouth, flames rushing inside. I concentrated hard on my stone and commanded it. "Fire streak formation!"

Thin and blunt bullets of fire escaped my fingers, navigating straight towards him, Nazira in my mind asking me not to hurt him. I firmly tried to keep myself from bothering about her, for I was more interested in Singh's counterattack. Watching him bend forward, glaring at me I comprehended that he was about to do something unusual, something that I never knew I could form myself.

A pair of gushing fire rushed out of his mouth, in the form of waves, travelling up and down. It engulfed my bullets and consumed it one after the other.

I stood stunned, without worrying about the deadly fire coursing to hit against both of my sides and then disappearing within a snap.

"How did you do that?" I asked, creasing my brow, now that I knew saying it out aloud instead of inwardly being doubtful would atleast save my self-esteem from getting sore.

Singh gurgled and said, "Duel Rolling Fire Formation. Look who wants to be my master."

I bit my lip. "I certainly wouldn't want to if you weren't so hell-bent to choose me."

"It's a lie!" Singh snarled, surely getting insulted.

"Oh, I've hit the right spot, haven't I?"

Singh and I, both enraged, began to throw our Formations at each other, turning the whole realm into an inferno. Although I couldn't deny, Singh, a thousand years old experienced, was way better than I was. He was easily able to attack by a defending force against my formations. Despite getting fascinated by his techniques- extremely rewarding and sophisticated- I was also getting highly piqued. Nazira was there in my mind, repeatedly asking me not to hurt him and there was no sign of her getting worried for me.

I tried to close my mind, refraining myself to have any thoughts. But I failed. The realm thundered with my voice.

"SHE BELONGS TO ME!"

"Trying too hard now," Singh said, breathing heavily, his body contracting and expanding.

"I cannot believe you can hear whatever I think," I said, getting annoyed.

"Who is it exactly that belongs to you?" Singh asked, the fire around his body intensifying.

"This is too unfair!" I yelled, my eyes hurting of keeping too wide for a long time, "I need my privacy."

Once I spoke my mind, I felt my bowels turned to water, fear overtaking my pride. My nerves trickled with the sudden notion that Singh must have been hearing my every single thought. Hadn't it been over a year that I was chosen to be his master? He must be, by now, well aware of every aspect of my personal life. My relationship with each and everyone I met after my parents' demise. King Harsh? Tyrell? Nazira?

I blinked hearing my voice reverberating once again. I grimaced bending my head down, feeling too embarrassed.

"Whoa, too many suppositions," he said, "You are annoying as always."

"Then stop listening to it."

"If I could, I would!"

For the first time, we attacked each other with the same command-Fire Explosive Formation. The same amount of heat generated resembling our growing temper. Fire from my hands and from his paws leapt up like a missile, colliding against each other. Subsequently, there was a huge sound of an explosion and this created bollocks of black smoke, rising towards the sky.

Singh wouldn't allow me to stand at the spot. He walked aside slowly, keeping his flames flowing. I had to move with him, to keep my fire jetting against his. We both were walking sideways- anticlockwise- and I wasn't able to decipher what his intention was.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Nazira had taken a step forward away from the wall. She had her hands folded, head slightly inclined, gazing intently and it wasn't even at me. That irritated me more and I pressurized my stone to intensify my fire. But every time I heard her voice, I felt my muscle involuntarily relaxing, in turn agreeing to obey her demand.

The smoke was getting out of control, obscuring the realm as if a layer of dark fog was materializing thick in the air. My eyes were getting watery and inhaling it deeply, smoke felt swirling up in my lungs. Singh must be having the same impression, he immediately let go as I did. However, even without giving a second to breathe, he quickly changed his attack. His paws began to shoot incessant balls of fire which I tactfully, although not required, shielded myself.

"Why did you have to betray me?" I asked, lifting my hand continually trying to keep the heat away. It felt as if we were not in the middle of the fight but having a friendly chit-chat about a misunderstanding caused.

"Here he goes," Singh mumbled, tossing a huge ball that I shielded my eyes against its intense light and heat.

"I begged you to help me help my friend! Why did you leave me alone?"

"I do not care about your friend."

"He's a Samagraha in trouble!"

"Whoever. I do not care."

"Then what do you care about? What do you want from me and my life? What do I have to do win your trust?"

"What if I ask you the same question?"

"Well, you know...wait, which one?"

"Why do you care too much about everyone?" Singh asked, "You worry a lot, you brood a lot. Doesn't it give you migraines?"

He was diverting the topic, I could clearly feel it.

"I don't know," I replied, uninterested, "Born defective, perhaps."

"Of course, can't deny that," he said, tossing a rather huge ball, "That reminds me- you laugh a lot. Stop laughing for every silly reason. Your continuous laugh gives me migraines!"

"Hey!" I cried, lifting my fired up arm up to disintegrate the ball away, "You told me laughing is the best medicine."

"Oh, and did I forget to mention if you laugh unnecessarily then you need a medicine?"

I grunted dramatically. I had enough shielding and indulging in the banter. My stomach was beginning to growl. I let a lot of my energy go to waste. I was refraining from making any plans regarding the challenge for apparent reasons. I knew this fight- attacking each other with the identical magical fire that we possessed, was useless. It was nothing but time-consuming and strength draining. If I kept competing this way, then unquestionably I would pass out and mark my failure.

I pressed my eyes shut when the realm repeated everything I had deliberated. It triggered my anxiety. I was aware of the fact that everybody hates the sounds of their own recorded voice, but I never knew that my own voice would sound so unnatural. It was similar to that of Lurch's from the Addams family.

I was trying to be cautious about it, haven't I, not pondering about the ways to defeat him and to end the only challenge that was in my way to meet Shaytan Rup.

"So, what's the plan?" Singh asked, raising his voice to let it penetrate through the raging fire he created and it wasn't even close to a needle prick when in contact with my skin.

"Well," I said, answering him back with one of my own attacks that he easily and unnecessarily dodged, "If you stop the thing you are doing to hear everything I think, maybe I will come up with one."

"If that happens, it wouldn't be called a challenge kid," he shouted.

"Hey, you weren't listening to my thoughts before we began this challenge."

"It's not under my will, how many time do I have to tell you that? Blame Late Lady Chandrika and everything she executed to connect you lot with us."

I slightly frowned when he brought up her name. Before I could ask what he really meant, he launched a huge ball of blazing fire on me. Watching it speedily gliding, I instinctively slid aside.

"Whoa!" I cried, as continuous balls of fire made my way. I didn't have to move away nor I had to be worried about falling into his traps and getting roasted, yet I began to draw myself back and aside.

We were revolving in the same direction maintaining the distance and attacking each other. Whatever I thought, the realm revealed it. Singh made the familiar gurgling sounds, and it was nothing more than the mockery of me making plans.

I had no plan. Period. I had no idea how in the world this challenge was ever going to end. We were still revolving, throwing attacks at each other and amidst it, whenever possible, I checked on Nazira. She stood in the same spot, hands folded and had her eyes fixed upon Singh. Oh sure, the talking, flame generating, enormous mammal was more fascinating and delightful to watch.

I was standing in front of the hill, beneath the Singh's throne. He had stopped revolving and so did I, but our attacks never ceased to stop. My guts knotted. I could feel the pain in the stomach. My breathing began to turn heavy, which was the sign of my approaching exhaustion. I lurched back as Singh moved upfront. He walked towards me slowly and his paws began to shoot the bullets of fire. Perhaps, it was the Eternal Fire Brigade Formation, which came with a blistering speed in a verge to stinge my eyes. I ducked and almost sat on my knees wishing for him to stop.

"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!" The realm cried out.

"Thank god being a chicken is not a crime in the Authentic Universe," said Singh, without withdrawing himself from attacking me, "Otherwise you would get a life sentence."

The needles swiftly venturing to sting me immediately got dissolved when they came in contact with my skin. The rest passed by my sides, spearing the air and creating swishing sounds. Singh wasn't giving up. He was taking slow steps towards me and then knowingly or unknowingly, fortunately, or unfortunately, the needles sliced the wooden fire logs that lingering in between me and the hill.

"Aah!" I gasped. I felt a sudden burning sensation on my calf. My jeans were surprisingly caught on fire. Going with my instincts, I began tapping on my jeans slightly lifting my leg up. The fire lit off within a few seconds but my palms stung. I hissed and groaned as my eyes moistened, trying to get over the confusion the impromptu incident had caused.

Singh's fire? It isn't supposed to hurt me! Then what the heck is this?

The realm repeated my muse but I focussed more on the ground beneath my feet that shook violently. Needles of flames were diminished, I was allowed to see normally but the upcoming threat was great enough to rouse my curiosity.

Singh was hurriedly running towards me, growling and his paws burning with flames. My heart dropped to my knee and I was unable to fathom what his intention was. What was he thinking? Act like a predator and rip my flesh apart? My mind wasn't made up on what I was supposed to do at this moment. I glanced at Nazira. She had taken a few steps upfront and her head was turning along the Singh's movement. I wondered if she even cared about how I was going to get through this challenge.

Singh roared loudly. I stirred, a strange shiver of discomfort coursed down my spine. I took a few steps back and then immediately sensed the heat. I looked down and found the pieces of logs lingering all over the ground surrounding me. It was on a spur-of-a-moment decision. I immediately bent down and lifted the opposite unlit side of one of the broken log up.

Singh's proximity scared me. Roaring once again, he leaped up in the air ferociously, as if he genuinely wanted to experience the mighty taste of my blood. My eyes widened watching his ruthless eyeballs. His fangs were out of his jaws, paws strong ready to pounce...

It was clear in my mind about what I was going to attempt and it brought all the strength back to me weakening muscles. I couldn't care less about the actual outcome of this battle. This seemed to be my only prospect of success. Gritting my teeth and applying all the pressure in my arms, I aimlessly swung the log. A harsh scream escaped my cord as I felt the log hitting the lion's majestic body.

I jumped aside bending my head down, unable to bear the heat of the fire that suddenly amplified. Singh roared, and this time his roar sounded like a cry of pain. Quickly catching my balance, I turned around to check on him. I had no idea that the power of my counterattack would make him take a double flip in the air, travelling towards the hut where Nazira was standing, and then he landed with the huge thud raising the red powdery sand off the ground.