Nihapriya took a step back from his thirteen year old daughter. She was his most favored daughter among the Eight Princesses. Even though the king was close with his sons, he ultimately had to be objective with them, often assessing their performances and judging their character with an aloof eye. But he was like any other father with his daughters. He treated them most preciously and never wanted to harm them.
As it happened, the little prince informed the king personally of his brother's heroic sacrifice and tragic passing. Though his lips were blue from lack of blood, though his voice was cracked and hoarse, he had finished the tale from start to end so that his father would know firsthand of what had come to pass on the Ha'gya road. The ailing king, when he heard the news, did not grieve. Instead, he blamed the little prince for being unsuccessful in saving his brother! Perhaps the long illness had made his mind foggy, but he loudly berated the child who was barely hanging by a thread until he had fallen into a dead faint! The little prince who had stayed strong for so long, who never complained even when his body wore numerous wounds and was yet forced to flee for his life, who smiled even when the adults cried, was finally broken. His mind was completely scattered and he had fallen into a catatonic state, alarming everyone. Even when he roused himself, he cried continuously, unable to offer slightest resistance to the pain. He was like a lost child who suddenly found himself abandoned by the two people he believed in the most. Only pain remained with him till the end. And when the doctors began to cut off the dead flesh on his back, he screamed and screamed until the Lotus Seat nearly fell apart, unable to contain such grief.
Agnipriya was the one to hold him from moving when all this happened. Her second sister Bhupriya was much too fragile and timid for a job like that, so she took over. Though she was younger, Agnipriya was stronger. She watched without a word as her ever calm and wise younger brother who the sisters raised without knowing the smallest discomfort reduced to a state like that. She only held him tightly like the doctors instructed without the slightest movement, her bloodshot eyes throwing out dangerous sparks of red and white instead of tears.
Agnipriya (Beloved of Fire) seethed with rage for a whole three days when the doctors performed their operations. When it finally ended, she ran to her palace where her rage erupted uncontrollably in the form of fire. Later on, she set entire palaces, temples and gardens on fire, sending the entire palace enclosure into a state of panic. Though these flames didn't burn, it was believed that the soul would be sucked away if one comes in contact with them! The palace staff ran hither thither unable to control themselves. Agnipriya never went to the lotus seat to visit her brother after that. She came to visit her father however, to question him on her actions.
"How could you do this to my little brother?!" she screamed, throwing a tray made of fire crystal, embellished with cut glass on the floor. The scattered fragments flew towards the king, hitting them sharply on the lower legs.
"Do what?" the king tried to compose himself while speaking. "You four sisters have barred access to my own son by taking him into the Lotus Seat. How am I supposed to know what you're talking about? I don't even know if he's alive!"
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Blazing into a human torch, Agnipriya had to grit her teeth to stop herself from exploding. "Oh, he's alive alright…" she said in a dangerous murmur. But for how long?
The raising temperature made the king take a few more steps backward. "Agni, compose yourself," he said in a regal voice.
For some reason, that voice had a restrictive effect on her. It was Indra's own speech. Agnipriya could not remember the last time she had heard it.
The fire reached its end and sucked away the last of her energy, condensing into hot tears. The red, beautiful and feisty little girl fell to the ground in front of her father's knees. "Oh father-Indra, how could you hurt my brother so…" she cried helplessly, her shoulders quivering.
After three days of violent anger, Agnipriya finally collapsed. She remained there in silent anguish for the longest while.
A soft sigh was heard. When she looked up there was already no one in front of her. Her heart caught in her throat when she realized her father had left! He left without a care…
Copious tears threatened to pour out as her brain melted. She was unable to process what just happened.
Just then, a pair of old hands lifted her up by the shoulders. "Oh you poor girl," said an aged voice from behind her, "You must know your father is already not of clear mind…He is at the end of his days…with only one task to fulfil."
Flipping around, Agnipriya found a wrinkly old man with a snakelike body and an overall loathsome appearance. There was once a time, she used to find this man divine of appearance despite his advanced age. But now she couldn't even hide her disgust when she looked at him. "Rajguru," she joined her palms together and bent low in greeting. She quickly steadied herself from her earlier state showing the true composure of an Aditya princess.
The royal teacher didn't mind the naked disgust on her face. He merely smirked thinking that the first princess would've never showed her emotions so openly. Unfortunately for him, the first princess was currently holed up in the Crystal Arrow Palace at the city outskirts which her father gifted her for her sixteenth birthday. The second princess was too timid and was not in charge of things. So the Rajguru could only deal with this immature brat for now.
"How can I help you?" the princess asked him flatly.
"My dear, I know you do not like me," the Rajguru smiled self-admonishingly, "It's this state teacher's fault. State teacher should've explained to you that everything state teacher does is for the sake of Rtadhara's continuous glory."
"What do you want state teacher?" Agnipriya's tone grew even flatter, her impatience showing plainly.
"Just what I said earlier," the Rajguru shrugged helplessly. "Your father's body and mind are reaching the limits…My dear, there is only one task left for him, which is declaring the successor. I hope the Eight Devis will allow him to pass without regrets."
Blue fire erupted in crazy streaks from Agnipriya's two eyes. "My father already assigned the successor when he named Cactus the little prince at his birth," she said in a low, threatening voice.
The priest seemed unfazed by the fireworks though. He smiled with the amusement of a grandpa when he sees his grandchildren's antics. "My dear, we have all seen the little prince carry fatal injuries when he returned to the palace…And now you have restricted access to anyone who wishes to see him, knowing no one but the Eight Princesses and the infant prince is allowed into the premises of the Lotus Seat. Who even knows if the little prince has already…"