Rudra Awakens — The Burden of Light

The sun was rising over the silent forest, but its warm light could not make the valley feel alive. The land was still scarred from the great battle. Smoke curled upward from broken rocks. The trees were nothing more than burnt sticks. The earth was cracked and blackened.

In the center of all this destruction…

Valmiki lay unconscious.

His breath was faint, like a dying flame.

His body looked frail, his staff broken into pieces beside him.

Not far from him, Aghori lay completely still. His shadow powers were gone. His body had collapsed under the weight of his own dark transformation.

The world was safe—for now.

But the cost was high.

Miles away, in the burned forest where Rudra had first fallen unconscious, something stirred.

Rudra’s fingers twitched.

His eyes slowly opened.

At first, he saw only blurry shapes. His body felt heavy, like he had chains tied to every limb. His chest hurt. His skin felt cold.

He whispered,
“Val… Valmiki…?”

No answer.

Rudra tried to sit up, but pain shot through his body.

He coughed weakly.

His bracelet—once glowing with blue and silver energy—was now cracked and dull.

He stared at it.

“Why… why is it like this…?”

He remembered the fight with Trishantha.

He remembered pushing his powers far beyond the limit.

He remembered Valmiki’s voice saying:

“Your body has used too much power.”

Then he tried to stand.

But as soon as he did, his legs gave out and he fell to his knees.

Rudra gritted his teeth.

“No… I can’t rest… Valmiki is out there… Aghori is still out there…”

He placed a hand on the dirt and tried again.

This time he stood, staggering like someone learning how to walk again.

He took a deep breath.

A faint glow appeared on the bracelet—but it flickered and vanished.

Rudra clenched his fist.

“I don’t need power. I just need to reach him.”

He began walking.

Slow.

Painful.

But determined.

As Rudra walked deeper into the valley, he saw the signs of the battle:

Burnt trees.
Rocks split in half.
Deep craters.
Strange black marks on the ground where shadows had melted.

Rudra whispered,
“This… all this was Aghori’s ritual?”

He kept walking. The further he went, the colder the air felt.

The sunlight couldn’t warm this place.

Something felt wrong.

Not dangerous…

Just empty.

Like the valley had lost its soul.

Rudra’s heart beat faster.

“Valmiki… don’t tell me…”

Suddenly, he saw a piece of cloth on the ground.

Golden.
Burnt at the edges.

“Valmiki’s robe…!”

He ran forward.

Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring his weakness.

Finally, he reached the center of the valley.

And there—

Rudra froze.

His breath stopped.

“Valmiki…”

The saint was lying on the ground, barely breathing.

His skin was pale.
His body was covered in cuts.
His aura was gone.

Gone.

Rudra fell beside him, shaking him desperately.

“Valmiki! Wake up! Hey—wake up!”

Valmiki’s eyes opened, but only barely.

He whispered,
“Rudra… you woke up…”

Rudra felt tears forming in his eyes.

“You idiot!” he said, voice cracking. “You said you’d come back! You said you’d be fine!”

Valmiki smiled weakly.

“I… kept that promise. I returned.”

“But you’re hurt! Why did you fight alone?!”

Valmiki slowly lifted a hand and touched Rudra’s head.

“You… are meant to face a different battle. My job was to hold back Aghori. And…”
he coughed, blood touching his lips,
“…I succeeded.”

Rudra shook his head furiously.

“No. No, you didn’t ‘succeed.’ You almost died! I should’ve been here!”

Valmiki chuckled softly.

“You would’ve died too. And your story must continue.”

Rudra clenched his teeth.

“But I can’t do anything! My powers are gone… my bracelet is broken…”

Valmiki slowly closed his eyes.

“Power… is more than energy, Rudra. It’s… heart. That’s why I believed in you.”

Rudra grabbed Valmiki’s hand.

“Don’t close your eyes. Please. Stay awake.”

But Valmiki’s breathing was getting weaker.

“You must… find the others… You are not alone…”
His voice faded.

Rudra shook him harder.

“Valmiki! NO! Don’t sleep! I still need you! Please!”

But the saint slipped into unconsciousness.

Not dead.

But deeply unconscious.

Like his soul was resting far away.

Rudra hugged him tightly, tears falling on the saint’s robe.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry I wasn’t there…”

Rudra wiped his eyes and lifted Valmiki gently, placing him against a rock.

He stood up, fists clenched.

“I need to get him help. I need to—”

A cracking sound came from behind him.

Rudra spun around.

In the distance, Aghori’s body twitched.

Rudra’s heart dropped.

“Impossible… he’s still alive?”

Aghori slowly moved an arm.

A raspy voice came out.

“Val… Valmiki… didn’t… kill me…”

Rudra stepped back, shocked.

Aghori’s body was broken, burned, almost destroyed—but somehow his spirit clung to life.

Aghori coughed dark blood and laughed painfully.

“You… Rudra… you survived… too…”

Rudra’s hands shook.

“You… stay where you are.”

Aghori grinned weakly.

“No energy left… do you? That bracelet of yours… it’s nothing now…”

Rudra gritted his teeth.

Aghori continued, coughing every few seconds.

“Valmiki… used everything… to destroy my ritual… he has no strength left to protect you…”

Rudra’s anger rose.

“Don’t talk about him.”

Aghori smiled faintly.

“But you… Rudra… you still shine… even without power. You… are a threat.”

Rudra stepped back.

“What are you planning?”

Aghori lifted one trembling finger.

“I will… kill you… even if I die… right after.”

A dark spark appeared at his fingertip.

Small.

Weak.

But deadly.

Rudra froze.

“I can’t dodge that… I don’t have power… I don’t have speed…”

Aghori whispered,

“Die… chosen child…”

The spark shot toward Rudra.

Straight at his heart.

Rudra didn’t move.

He couldn’t.

He braced himself—

Just before the dark spark hit Rudra, a flash of blue light exploded in front of him.

CRASH!

The spark was blocked.

By something floating in the air.

Rudra’s eyes widened.

“My… bracelet?”

The cracked bracelet on his wrist suddenly glowed.

Not white.
Not blue.

But a mixture of colors—blue, silver, black, gold.

A voice echoed in Rudra’s mind.

Not Valmiki’s.

Not Aghori’s.

A new voice.

A powerful one.

“You are not alone, Rudra.”

The bracelet shined brightly, repairing itself in seconds.

The cracks vanished.

New symbols appeared around it—glowing like stars.

Rudra felt a warm wave rush through his body.

Strength returned to his lungs.

Heat returned to his muscles.

His heart felt lighter.

Aghori’s eyes widened in fear.

“No… NO… that can’t be…!”

Rudra stepped forward.

“You wanted to know if I’m a threat?”

The bracelet pulsed.

Rudra’s eyes glowed faintly.

He whispered,

“I am now.”

Aghori coughed, terrified.

“What… what are you?!”

Rudra looked down at the bracelet, then back at Aghori.

“I don’t know yet.”

The bracelet vibrated, as if agreeing.

“But you will learn,” the mysterious voice echoed again.

Rudra felt goosebumps.

Aghori weakly raised his hand, trying to summon another attack—

But before he could finish, he collapsed.

His strength was gone.

His consciousness faded.

This time…

Aghori didn’t move again.

Rudra watched him for a moment, then turned back to Valmiki.

He whispered,

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you now. It’s my turn.”

He lifted Valmiki gently on his back.

The bracelet pulsed lightly, guiding him.

Step by step…

Rudra walked out of the destroyed valley—

Carrying the last saint of light…

And the burden of a destiny he still didn’t understand.