Time: ~11:00 PM IST, 2100
Location: Kudligi, Karnataka – Night of the Fire-Walk Festival
The fire crackled like a heartbeat. A sea of torches swayed in rhythm to ancient drums as Kudligi—an otherwise forgotten village in Ballari district—transformed into a glowing myth. Thousands had gathered for the annual Agni Jatra, where barefoot devotees walked across burning coals, surrendering fear in the name of faith.
Raghu adjusted the scarf across his mouth as smoke painted the sky orange. "So this is our subtle next step?" he muttered.
Myra smirked beside him, adjusting her cloak. "Subtlety's overrated. The clue said: 'Where fear burns and faith remains.' Looks pretty on-brand, don't you think?"
They moved through the crowd, the team cloaked in shawls and anonymity. Chitti peeked from Myra's sling bag, whispering, "This place is a fire hazard, ra. And I'm 30% battery and 70% dry coconut. One spark and poof."
Vishnu, mesmerized, swayed to the temple music. "This festival's a vibe! These drums? Better than any DJ in Hyderabad!"
"Better than your singing, that's for sure," Pinkki muttered, rolling her eyes as she carried her spice satchel.
Vishnu winked. "Don't lie—you love my rhythm."
"I love my silence more," she shot back, but a smile tugged her lips.
The main temple stood tall at the edge of the fire path, its ancient gopuram wrapped in LED garlands. Devotees danced around the flames while priests chanted mantras under glowing digital displays.
Inside the sanctum, an idol of Agni Veer, fire warrior of lore, stood wielding a flaming trident. At its feet, a riddle was carved into stone—half-faded, half-lit by flickering light:
"To touch the flame, walk the path.
But carry no fear, or it carries you back."
Myra traced the etchings. "This is it. The shard clue aligns. There's something hidden beneath the firewalk route."
Chitti beeped. "Hidden treasure under lava-toast? Whose genius idea was this?"
Raghu looked toward the coal path, now alight, with volunteers prepping for the firewalk.
"Then we walk," he said.
The Fire-Walk Begins
The crowd roared as the first devotee stepped across glowing coals, chanting names of gods with each stride.
Then came Vishnu, uninvited but undeterred, barefoot and wild-eyed. "For love, for glory, for filter coffee!" he shouted as he tiptoed dramatically across.
"Idiot," Pinkki muttered—but her laughter betrayed her concern.
Myra took a deep breath, untying her boots.
"You don't have to—" Raghu started.
"Yes, I do," she interrupted. "This is my father's riddle. I'm not watching from the sidelines."
She took his hand for balance.
He stilled.
"Don't get any ideas, Captain," she teased, cheeks red. "This is for stability."
Still holding hands, they stepped onto the embers.
It burned. But not as they expected. Not pain, but a pulse—like something beneath the fire recognized them.
Each step, the world dimmed.
Until—CLUNK.
A square of earth dropped below them as they reached the center.
They fell—only a few feet—into a hidden platform beneath the coals.
The Underground Trial
Dim torches lit on their own. In the center, another idol: a twin of Agni Veer—but eyes open this time.
Suddenly: a voice. Familiar.
Zerum, through a glowing holo-orb, flickered in the air.
"Bravo. You've reached the second vault. But the Amrit doesn't reward fools. So let's play a game."
Walls closed in. Steam hissed. Four doors appeared—each with a different symbol: Flame, River, Wind, and Ash.
"Only one leads forward. The rest… burn your memories."
Myra whispered, "We don't have time for this."
Chitti buzzed out, scanning. "I hacked the temple files. The old Agni tales speak of balance. Fire burns, but ash remembers."
Raghu glanced at the Ash door. "We try that."
They opened it—
—and emerged into a hidden sanctum, with another shard embedded in a clay urn.
Myra reached it, breath caught.
"To forget fear is courage. To walk into fire with it is faith."
She turned. Raghu stood watching her—silent, burning, real.
Aboveground Emotion & Chaos
Pinkki, still above, had begun pacing.
"If they died in there, I swear I'll cook the priest," she growled.
Hanush, silent till now, spoke: "They'll return."
She blinked. "You speak now?"
He nodded, and for the first time, touched her wrist gently. "I like your voice."
Her heart flipped.
Just then—an explosion tore through the temple entrance.
Devmani's new soldiers arrived—now with Gungun at the front, her cyber-sari glowing like a storm cloud.
Chitti shouted: "Naa DJ mode ON, ra!" and released a sonic wave, toppling the goons like bowling pins.
Myra and Raghu shot back up through the secret trapdoor as the fight broke.
Raghu covered her, karambit drawn. Hanush bulldozed a wall. Pinkki flung chili bombs into attackers' eyes.
Gungun stood firm, eyes locked on Myra.
"We're not enemies," she said, smiling. "We're sisters chasing the same truth. You just haven't seen what lies beyond Amrit."
Then she vanished into the smoke.
Aftermath
As the crowd dispersed, and the fires dimmed, the team sat under a neem tree, wounded and breathless.
Myra held the new shard. "That's two. Five to go."
Vishnu strummed a broken temple flute. "We survived fire. Next, we take on thunder?"
Pinkki raised an eyebrow. "Don't jinx it, pirate."
Raghu looked at Myra—really looked. "You okay?"
She nodded. "I think… I felt something in there. Not just the fire. It... accepted me."
He didn't speak, but his gaze said everything.
Above them, the stars blinked. The road ahead was long, but tonight, they'd walked through fire—and come out stronger.