Episode 8: ASHES GOES BEYOND

  Scene 1: Ashes and Echoes

  Location: Ruins of Neel’s home, dusk setting in.

  Neel stood where his life once was. Rubble surrounded him — everything burned, everything gone. His fists were clenched.

  From a distance, Mahabir watched. Calm. Silent.

  Neel (low voice):

  “They’re gone. Because I was weak.”

  Mahabir:

  “Weakness is not falling. It’s refusing to rise.”

  A crackle broke the stillness. A broken radio among the debris came to life.

  News Anchor (radio):

  “...unknown energy surges across West Bengal... paramilitary units dispatched to affected villages... citizens are advised to stay indoors…”

  Neel’s eyes flickered. The world hadn’t fallen — not yet. But something ancient was leaking into it.

  Mahabir walked. Neel followed — rage and sorrow simmering beneath his skin.

  They passed through Baghmore, a forgotten forest village. Twilight stretched shadows across the trees as they reached Rath Mandir — a crumbling, ancient temple. Its stones cracked but glowing faintly with residual energy.

  Mahabir:

  “Temples don’t die. They sleep. This one holds stored energy — bhakti from the past.”

  He knelt, drawing sacred yantras on the ground with ash. At the center, he placed a small coin etched with ancient script.

  Mahabir:

  “This will open a portal. But the energy spike will be loud. Something may notice.”

  The air shifted. Warm… hot… boiling.

  Flames danced at the forest’s edge. A ghost emerged — limping, burning. Half-man, half-fire, wrapped in blackened chains. In his hand, a scorched torch dripped flames like blood.

  Vahak:

  “They set me ablaze… for what I didn’t do. Now I’ll burn every breath around me.”

  Neel (steps forward):

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  “Another one…”

  Niki (alert):

  “Neel — this one’s not like Bhreda.”

  Niki (serious):

  “This is Vahak. Bhoy Shakti Level 5. Early-mid tier ghost. Strong, but killable.”

  Neel:

  “Level 5? That sounds… low?”

  A chibi-style Author pops up from the corner like a cartoon panel.

  Author (winking):

  “Wait wait wait! How does Neel even know about Bhoy Shakti Levels? Flashback time!”

  Scroll-style animation shows Niki and Neel walking earlier…

  Niki:

  “There are 100 Bhoy Shakti levels. One means weak. A hundred means ‘run unless you're Shiva himself’.”

  Neel:

  “Why do I feel like I’m still at level zero?”

  Niki:

  “Because you are.”

  Back to Present

  Neel (grimacing):

  “Yeah... I am.”

  Niki:

  “All ghosts have a Relic. It’s their anchor to this world. Destroy it, and you give them moksha.”

  Neel:

  “The torch?”

  Niki:

  “Exactly. It’s called the Torch of Betrayal. That’s his shame. That’s his fuel.”

  Vahak slammed the torch down — WHOOOM! A fiery shockwave blasted out. Trees cracked, the ground blackened.

  Neel rolled behind a crumbling wall, singed and gasping. Niki flipped through the fire, landing beside him.

  Neel (internal):

  “He’s not just attacking. He’s hurting. That torch… it’s like his guilt is alive.”

  Vahak charged — flames erupting beneath his feet. Neel fired — bullets passed through the fire harmlessly.

  Niki (shouting):

  “Don’t shoot the body! Shoot the relic!”

  Neel closed his eyes. He felt the pulse. Remembered his training. The torch… it beat like a second heart.

  Through smoke and flame, Neel leaped — hands trembling, heart steady.

  Neel (whispering):

  “You don’t deserve to suffer forever. Go in peace.”

  BANG!

  The moksha bullet struck the torch. It shattered mid-flame.

  Vahak screamed — not in agony, but in release. His body unraveled into glowing embers, swirling like fireflies.

  Vahak (softly):

  “They… forgave me… after all…”

  Then silence.

  Niki landed beside Neel, breathing hard.

  Niki:

  “Every ghost has a relic. It’s their story. Their chain. Break that, and you give them moksha.”

  Neel stared at the fading embers.

  Neel (quietly):

  “He wasn’t evil… just broken. Haunted by pain no one cared to understand.”

  Mahabir (approaching):

  “Well done. You didn’t just fight… you listened. That’s the mark of a seeker.”

  Neel lowered his weapon. His hands trembled slightly.

  Neel:

  “I didn’t save him. I just… set him free.”

  Back at the heart of Rath Mandir, Mahabir completed the yantra. The stone beneath glowed. The wind stirred the ashes.

  A spiral of light opened — a portal.

  Mahabir:

  “Tapoban lies beyond. A hidden sanctuary. Sadhus. Rishis. Secrets the modern world forgot.”

  Niki (softly):

  “It’s where I learned everything… before my world was destroyed.”

  Neel (stepping forward):

  “Then let’s learn more. I’m done running.”

  They stepped into the light.

  Hope you enjoyed Episode 8: Ashes and Echoes. This chapter dives deeper into the idea of Bhoy Shakti Levels — a system that’ll be crucial in understanding how dangerous each ghost is in the world of Aagami. From the Relic-bound souls like Vahak to the ancient terrors yet to come, this energy system will keep evolving as Neel grows.

  ?? I used a bit of help from AI today just for formatting and organizing this episode. I’m currently out of station and didn’t want to delay the weekly release. The soul of the story, as always, is fully mine. ??

  Project Kanime and Aagami. More fire awaits in Episode 9: Tapoban – The Forest of Secrets ????