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Selfish

Kanani handed the scrolled paper to Ayom, 'He just asked me to give it to you.' Ayom unrolled the paper and it had some kind of route map. In bold heading above, it read

"The Great Quest Route Map"

"Great Quest" Ayom said 'What's that?..'

Nrita earlier plucking flowers came to the twins sitting on stone benches. 'You don't know about the The Great Quest. It is annual competition held two days before Sridya for the best warrior of Mayong.' she said, 'Some fifty dumbs participate every year and one wins. I just hate it, only boys are allowed to participate and they say The Best Warrior of Mayong.'

'But why did Kshey gave the route map to me?' Ayom wondered.

'Ayom....' Kanani said taking the map in his hands, 'Is that Lost Ruins of Dark forest... Who chose this route? It's the most dangerous area of Dark Forest....'

Ayom leaned in to take a closer look, 'That's the Warrior shrine, it's Kolumb port and near this is the boundary of Mayong and Dark Forest. They have truly gone crazy? Are they even serious about this?'

'I heard the royal princes are also taking part in the competition this year.' said Nrita to Kanani.

'Does that mean Kshey is in the competition too? It is really dangerous for him. The protection shield has the weakest intensity in that area which the demons can easily cross.' said Ayom.

Kanani thought for a while and then after a few seconds of silence she said, 'Kshey won't participate on this competition, Not on his own wish.'

'I will take part too.' said Ayom.

'What, why?' asked Nrita.

'If the demons will attack on the competition you know what can happen. People can even die. I need to make sure the protection of people.' said Ayom, 'As an Aanshik, it's my duty to protect....'

'No' said Kanani, 'You are not.... You are not participating in any competition. It's too dangerous...'

'Kanani...'

'No Kanani, I said you are not. That means you are not.' said Kanani.

And she left from there. She was worried, no actually scared for her brother. Her only family. The dark ruins hosted the most dangerous creatures. Even for the Aanshiks And it terrified her .

***

'But father, The route.... It's not safe. I searched the Royal Library and there are a lot of reports of hazardous incidents and encounters there..... ' said Kshey.

'Your Majesty, it's no wise to believe some old record fables. And there had been no pure evidence to prove the events.... We need to show people that there is nothing like that to be afraid...... Don't you agree.... And the factor of security. I will do my best. Even my own son Mayur is in the competition... My lord... I won't ever take any chance...' said Konom, the Advisory General.

'But.... What if that's true.'

'Is it really your concern towards the participants your highness or a way to escape the Quest..' said Konom.

'Never in my life The Royal Blood of Mayong has been afraid of danger and challenges, Advisory General Konom. Are you not aware of that..?' asked Kshey.

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'Great then, see you in the competition..' Konom smirked.

Kshey looked at his father, hopefully he would say anything. Maybe he would support him this time. Maybe he would understand him this time. But it was all crushed with the emotionless words of the Royal Majesty, 'The Quest will follow the decided route as planned. Konom make proper arrangements of the security.'

Did Kshey expected a lot for his father?

***

Kanani was sutting on a big rock near the pond in the Dark Meadows. Her heart full of thoughts... What is right? What is wrong? At one place he was worried about Kshey but at another it was his brother. She knew him, he would definitely participate to protect others. She wanted to stop him but how could she?... Somewhere she knew it too that it was the right thing but she didn't wanted to accept it.

She was so lost that she didn't noticed someone getting sitting beside her untill he placed his hands on her. With the gentle and warm touch she recognised Ayom.

'Worried?'

'Ofcourse I am?... Wouldn't you have if I was upto such stupidity?

'No I wouldn't... But I have supported you in your decision.'

Kanani turned a little to look straight in Ayom's eyes. 'A straight lie. Who do you think I am? I know you since born.' she said making Ayom chuckle in his sweet short laughter. It was rare. Rare since they have come to Mayong.

'I know you are worried up.... about me. But Kanani you need to trust me. I will be safe, but the others may not be. You know ver well that it is the right thing, don't you?'

'The right thing.... What if it is? I am tired of the right thing, the right act... Why always me? Why always us to the right thing? Why you? You don't need to clean up the Royal mess.....' said Kanani in a frustrated manner.

'Cause that's what we are supposed to do. We need to help others with what we have. We can't be selfish.....'uttered Ayom.

'Why can't we be selfish? All the humans are selfish..... I want to be selfish.... Just once '

'We are not the HUMANS. You talk about.' Ayom said in a loud voice. And Kanani grew silent. And then after a few seconds.

'You want to take part in the competition. Fine go then. I won't stop you.' said Kanani gravely.

The twins talked very less after that day. Always escaping each other. Kanani would say by the pond for hours or engage herself in gardening. Nrita tried to light her up but failed. There was an inner uproar in her. A fear of loosing everything again. The day of the quest arrived. Kanani left early in the morning. After searching for more than an hour when no one found her they left for the shrine. Maybe she will come there.

Kanani rushed through the dense woods in the dark forest. Running faster than her capability. Going deep and deep she reached plain meadows full of tulips. By the side there was a brook with waiter sparkling like white foam. She sat near the brook, her legs fold, her hands joint with both palms touching each other and chanted something. It was more a chant it was a pray.

' Tarini's Daughter..... I request, pray....you. I need your help, guidance..... please listen to the words of the one who.... is having belief in you.'

Never ever she had thought that she will be doing it. But she was. And somehow it worked. There, from the shallow brook appeared the Graceful, Eni, Goddess of the water.

Kanani opened her eyes to see the beautiful Goddess.

'Thank you, for hearing my request.' she said humbly.

'Well I had to. It was the most strange call of help. Mostly people are like the furious, the healer, the life giving ..... It has been a long time since someone called me Tarini's Daughter. How could I refuse? .....' Eni added, 'What do you wish for Dear Kanani?'

'I want the Frozen Tears......' she said, 'The fastest arrows ever made.'

'You have a good knowledge of weaponary' smiled Eni.

Eni mumbled something and a quiver of arrows came in her hands. She handed the quiver to Kanani. Kanani bowed in thanks to the heavenly resident.

'May I ask something you Kanini...?' said Eni, 'You could have got a thousand times more bizzare arrows of Blossoms or the sword of Tahia, if you had called your own Mentor, Goddess of Nature, Vanya. More you could ues the full potential. Then why me?'

'There was the least chance of answers from her.I had called her, I really did. I had prayed her, I had cried that unfortunate night. But .. she didn't. I didn't wanted to be broken again....' said Kanani with a plastered smile.

Eni just smiled. And then vanished.

Kanani stood up and plucked the tulips sone hundred, no more than that. And bunched then on the ground, then with closed eyes, another enchantment.

And the tulips transformed in a majestic bow. With the Bow and the Quiver, she rushed out of the forest to the shrine.

Ayom and the others were already there waiting for her. Though there was least chance for her appearance. Far far away, a faint figure appeared approaching. Ayom looked carefully, advancing her vision and Kanani could be seen running.

Panting heavily she finally reached there.

Handing the Bow and Quiver she said, 'I want you to win, No matter what.'

After a total of four days, this was the her first sentence of communication to Ayom. He hugged her tight, with a deep smile on her face.

In his ears she said in a low voice, 'I will kill you, if you didn't won the match.'