The Dark Light: Amethyst Heart in the City: The Dark Light

By Pravin Gupta

Pratik has never rode on Seltion, soaring along with the stream of wind. He knows nothing of Solus Jungle, has never seen any magical books, and has never hexed at anyone. All he knows is a boring and miserable life with his boring uncle. His lives with him — in the Golstide City — next of which is standing an elusive old house, which haunts his curiosity. But all that is about to change when he penetrates the walls of that elusive house next his home and receives magical books. Then while reading it, he gets a magical call from a man — a retired wizard, who forewarns him of an inevitable danger, and urges him to meet, calls him in Solus, where he lives. Pratik commences his journey to Solus along with his uncle, finds Lamashma — a dreadful merciless demon — threatening Hereaws. They stand on to rescue those cute creatures. In next, they meet with second danger, the Witch, who is cursed and wants to be curseless by using Amethyst Heart that lies to an incredible place no one knows about . . . and last but not the least, The Decider, Kaal, who conspires to kill him. Will Pratik be able to defend himself or Will Kaal succeed in his intention? Will The Witch find Amethyst Heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pravin Gupta
• Release date: Mar 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393897507

Pravin Gupta

P ravin Gupta is the author of The Dark Light: Amethyst Heart  in the City, which is the first installment in an epic tale of six-part series The Dark Light. As his debut novel got published amid the corona pandemic, it caught the rapid limelight, getting featured in two major national newspapers, Dainik Jagran and Hindustan. Mr. Gupta loves writing. But more than that, he loves to photograph the wildlife, the world of animals and picturesque landscapes. He has two aims of his life; either to become a software engineer or become the Prime Minister. He also writes poetry which he regularly posts on his Instagram account. His work reflects thepain he has bore, theexperience he has and the problems he has faced. You can easily contact him through the following platforms: Facebook: www.facebook.com/pravingupta2020 Instagram: www.instagram.com/enigmaticpravin Twitter: www.twitter.com/enigmaticpravin E-Mail: [e-mail]

Book preview

Chapter 1

Practice of wicked witch

How beautiful a life would be without anyone’s interruption, with magic, less work, having everything and possessing a lifetime target to conquer the world?

The witch, living at an unknown place near the Solus Jungle of Sikkim, was such person best suited with this question. She was cursed, boycotted from society, living like even worse than donkey.

The moonlight had enveloped the garden she was stirring a mixture in the cauldron in. She took tooth of Zygulthus and dropped it in the cauldron. The colour of potion changed dramatically in purple. She was eagerly waiting for the consequence of the practice, for which she was prepared from two days earlier. It was all for making a wand — a wand that could give hopefully few powers and might smash her title of being cursed. Every time she attempted practice, came to see the face of failure and this was her 38th attempt.

Just next to her was a hut as poor as she. She also had a very loyal pet, the Demon Dog. She used to call him Raka as his name. He was in the hut while the witch was busy in her practice. Raka, the demon dog, slid his fingers slowly over the window and confidentially peeped out as her owner, the witch, was really grave on her practice so, he didn't want to distract her attention.

In next, the witch plucked lavender leaf from one plant and threw it in the potion and stirred it again in the same way as she had done before. Everything was perfectly going according to her. Her happiness was growing with every single step she was completing. Though she was not confident about the result but at least she had enough hope, as she knew very well now which ingredient to use. Her intention was totally against the truthfulness and righteousness.

As the time came to halt at a point, the flames stubbed off. It seemed like everything had been frozen. The witch inched near the cauldron, waited for the result to come and wasted no time in posing to accept the wand, which only she desired for.

Suddenly she flinched as rumbling sound occurred in the cauldron. It began trembling as though a trapped prisoner was violently bolting the cell to flee. She backed away a little to ignore anything negative that might hallucinate her mind for being fallen in negative thoughts of her one more time failure. Eventually the cauldron boomed, spilling the potion over ground. A cloud of black ash billowed up and blackened the witch's face. She froze for a second, taking all her rage in.

Before she could yell her anger out, Demon Dog sprinted at her. He began to examine the potion that was spoiled, remaining no longer in use. The witch screamed with all energy she could muster. Her fate had again made her fail. How unfortunate she was, even she couldn't touch any living thing because of her curse. While she was yelling, the Demon Dog took the taste of potion. It was really bitterest of all. He was about to faint from its taste, but later he managed himself.

The witch jerked her head wildly, letting all her rage pour out through her terrific voice. She meant to kill any creature that time. Her anger was on the top. She could see nothing, but noticed the nest of Sparrows up in between branches, covered with leaves, and could hear no flapping of their wing as they were resting silently. She walked near that tree, swung around a corner, and sent a very neat jinx at their nest, which flew upwardly, rounding the branch and finally reaching at the nest. It hit all the sparrow line wise, all felt nothing but a tickle, so they gave a funky quake to their body.

After little time when she realized that she was wasting her time meaninglessly, she hurried back in her hut. The Demon Dog followed her. She furiously sat on her armchair and began to think for her problem. Meanwhile a very dreadful idea ran in her mind. She now finally decided to take help from God of Evil, who was very helpful towards bad creatures and dark powers.

Raka, the Demon Dog, found it strange when a rare smile emerged on the witch's face. He had seen her smiling before the practice, but now there was no logic of her smile after the failure of her practice. So, he kept noticing her unbelievable smile, hoping to understand its logic. The fact of the witch's thought of getting help from her beloved God was that he would help her in anyway and at any cost in the same way as he often did help to others. Though God of Evil did ever disappoint only few of bad creatures, the witch made sure that she was all capable to get his help without any rejection. She again checked her sins list that stretched long to an endless point, so she hoped it was enough to be God's devotee. Raka drew his attention towards his boss, who obviously was the wicked witch.

Take care of hut, Raka! The witch spoke to Raka, who was totally indecisive what he should do on her reaction I have no option left except going to have help from the God of Evil. The soon I go there, the soon I become a free witch.

As soon as the demon dog heard the name of 'God of Evil', his legs began shaking with fear. He let himself barely believe on witch's unbelievable words. Literally it was going to be her revolutionary step. If fortunately, she succeeded in her intention, she would again become curse less, and if unfortunately she failed in her intention, the God of Evil would send her in another world where return is impossible. While these thoughts were flooding in Raka's mind, the witch fluttered her hand in the air and a very friendly broomstick flew at her, zooming in. She jumped on it and made herself comfortable.

Did you hear what I said to you she asked, frowning as though Raka was her main enemy as well as cause of her curse.

Raka said nothing, but nodded in a coward manner.

Very well! Very well! And she flicked front part of her broomstick, that it slanted a little, flew precisely through door, out in the infinite sky, which was well illuminated with bright stars.

With an unpleasant feeling that this could be totally unknown to land on a perfect spot, the witch lowered her broomstick on the cold frosty grass that crunched under her feet as she hurried towards a dark cave. There was powerful wind all around, and the sky fell darkly moonless, which meant she was perfectly on her right way without any problem of being lost or coming on a wrong path. It seemed that she had approached in another world. The witch noticed the object around as she stepped in the cave. It was surrounded by huge sturdy rock, which were standing there as its shield. Though visibility was very low, small and crawly animals were noticeable, from which she at least understood that her aim was near, distance rapidly receding.

As she went more in, visibility turned completely zero. She groped for a support, to manage herself from stumbling on any rock and meanwhile a grey tough rock struck on her leg. She clutched her mouth and let her pain stay inside her food pipe. She did not scream, because she knew if she would have done so, God of Evil might refuse to help her.

Repressing agony inside her larynx, she moved on, but still it was hard for her to see in the dark. So, to light her path in a clear view, she released few fireflies from her hand magically. The interior of cave had lighten up in a dim orange light. Now the path had enough light to be seen. The cave was leaky as from many crevices, water was rapidly dribbling. She kept following the path along with fireflies, who were leading her towards the end of the cave.

The witch finally could see the brink of the path, falling directly in a pool of lava that was boiling. She stopped and the fireflies faded somewhere. The light spilling out from the pond of lava was the only source of good visibility. She, obviously, felt rise in temperature as it was part of heat and warmth.

God of Evil, Come and help your wicked daughter, hummed she, in high voice as much as she could. I need your help

With a great leap of her heart, the witch saw a dense cloud of fog ahead and smoke, rising up and covering the pool of lava with its density. She trembled a little in the starting, but she put patience with self and waited for those smoke and fog to fade out. Among from dense fog emerged a horrible head with two fiery horns. The witch backed with a gesture of fear. The fog and smoke began disappearing. God of Evil was now in his full avatar. He had a huge and sturdy body, much bigger than a normal creature, along with touch of flames.

You are in pain, seeking help, tired of your life! Aren't you? said the God in a horrific voice.

The witch came forward and said courageously Exactly, My Lord . . . . Since, I have killed a child of a gnome, my life has been ruined. Nothing has remained like before. I can't kill any living thing, and also I can't use my magical powers . . . . she sunk to her knee and continued, Have mercy on your child, my lord. Please help me out.

The God of Evil was cautious about her attitude; he knew everything what was going with her, about her life, about her failures and about her aims and goals as well as intentions. Then he noticed her legs, still bleeding.

He turned his attention towards her, ignoring her wound.

I will help you, only because you kept attempting your practice despite of being failed every time, instead of losing your hope. I like your courage, hope, and intention. You know I help all of those who are contributing in bringing magic rise above the rest and you are one of them. I can't make you curse-free, but can show you path to find your destination and a better future. God of Evil whispered, his cold voice echoing in the cave.

The witch was looking rather keen to know his suggestion as soon as possible that she showed a gesture of excitement, God of Evil caught it. He grumbled and waved his body backward.

There is precious material . . . he continued, sounding horribly called Amethyst Heart. As far as I know, it is belonging to Aurora City for now. You have to do is going there, searching it and breaking your curse with its power.

Don't you have idea about exact place, my lord?

Nooooo, God of Evil cried angrily, for witch scared and again went back.

She bewildered about what happened to him suddenly. So, with a very humble and sweet voice she asked timidly M-m-my L-l-lord, if you don't mind may I know—

Before she could finish her sentence, God of Evil jerked his body and grudged. The witch stopped and tried to make him silent by saying No worry, My Lord. Leave it. I understand where it is.

Frowning, he made to tell the reason of his angriness when she asked about the exact place, but if he did not tell her so, the witch would may have doubt on him.

You're not first to ask me about any precious material. Many more have asked me for their problems, I told them solutions, but they betrayed me. I am not sure but you will also do like the rest. So, you go single handily and find your solution yourself.

The witch bowed his head, nonchalantly ignoring his last sentence and said But My lord, There would be lot of people and they certainly will try to stop me as what I am finding is not normal thing and in the crowd of people I would be the strangest as you can see, I am a witch.

What are you trying to say?

As I have already told you that I can't kill any living things, so how could I freeze them until I find the Amethyst Heart.

God of Evil sighed, relieved. I can just give you power to make them wound. I am sure it would be enough to make them freeze

The witch's face lit with happiness on this remark. Even from now, she could witness her dream coming true.

Of course, my Lord. That's enough for me.

God of Evil closed his eyes, straightened his body, and stretched out his arms, opening wide. Green color of harmless jet of fire wrapped his body; like a Python. His palms drowned in flames. For some reason the witch hesitated in coming forward as God of Evil dived in his practice to give power to her. She had the strangest feeling that God of Evil had been watching her with his invincible third eye, but when she came forward, still God of Evil seemed to be absorbed in the process of sending the hex. God of Evil abruptly opened his eyes and as he did so, the witch found new changes in his body. His pale, flamboyant, big head turned slightly more terrible than before, and his eyes threw flames wildly up to several metre heights.

Meantime, a purplish shield raised the witch higher in the air. Her arms automatically stretched wide and body twirled in slow manner. That same green jet began to glide in the witch's body. Yet God of Evil was in his former pose. The magical bond between Witch and God of Evil, which he was sending in the witch’s body, seemed to slow down. The witch landed on ground delicately as the last particle of the God of Evil's magic entered inside her body.

Thank you, My Lord! she thanked him happily I'll always be thankful to you.

I bless you, my daughter.

These words fell hardly with an essence of magic. The witch felt no pain in her leg abruptly. She looked down on her leg, finding the cause of that miracle but she found just normal patches of muscles and an old seeming bruise, no longer bleeding. It was another gift from the God of Evil.

The witch flung herself down at God of Evil's feet to show her spirituality toward him (though his feet were lost in fog and smog down in the pool of lava). But he paid no attention and disappeared again down in pool of lava.

Coming back at an unknown forbidden place where the witch lived, she threw the woundable curse, that God of Evil gifted her, at the same Sparrow's nest. After that she came to hear scream of four sparrows. The woundable curse knocked off their wings, resulting in bleed but unable to give any serious injury. Happiness rose in the witch as well as the demon dog as Family of Sparrow got wounded. The demon dog, who was guarding the hut, went near at her, and joined in her celebration of first success. She laughed madly. Raka hooted, instead of bark.

Chapter 2

Secret of the elusive house

The location was Great Life House.

The trees had burst in bloom. It was really a very silent day, yet numerous of families were there to commemorate death anniversary of their past relatives. One family was showing their child to their grandfather, who had just passed few days ago, much earlier before they were blessed with a cute child. It was unfortunate for them that even they couldn't able to show their child at the time when he was alive.

At front of big tomb, was standing a boy, aged 17, with black messy hairs, mid-sized fair nose and a quite thin body, who was continuously looking at the sign of humanity of his grandfather, who had left him when he was very small. He was named Pratik Rai.

There he read, written on steel plate, which was clinging on the tomb, his grandfather's message:

A Man without human suffering is a man of himself. No fear of death, no requirement of additional power, no concern for others, no burden of difficulties, and no greed for Money, could make a person true out of his life ordeals. The last standing of his life would be truly his own. There would be no sensation of living in thralldom. A new dawn of freedom he would earn only by his good deeds, hard work and fixed aim.

Slowly he changed his view, placing his eyes towards another tomb, next to it. It was of his grandmother, who had also left his fingers just after the death of his grandfather. His grandfather's name was Indermal Rai and grandmother's name was Sweta Devi.

Suddenly his mind went in a flashback, probably of nine years ago, when he was living 8th year of his life.

Indermal, his grandfather galloped quickly to catch him, but he was quick, hence he dodged quickly from under his hands.

Don't make me catch you in this age, Pratik. said Sweta, his grandmother, in a shaky voice with a feeble laugh.

Pratik ignored her words, still running with his small steps, trying to go out of their hands. He laughed and his grandfather, Mr. Indermal fastened his steps, rapidly closing near him.

Stop, Pratik. You're gonna trap in my hands. said Indermal feebly with stupid laugh to match Pratik's own.

And yet there was no change in Pratik's speed. He whirled around a table, which was bounded by sofas, and his grandmother, who was sitting on middle sofa, tried to catch him with her weak hands, but he bent and dodged under from her arms; her grandmother felt at that moment like there just passed the wind with furious speed.

His grandfather was chasing him. Slipping and sliding he ran on towards the door. Indermal leapt over him, who was about to exit the hall, crossing door. Abruptly, little Pratik fell over the ground, catching his stomach tightly and began crying with pain.

Pratik! screamed Indermal, looking very tensed at his faint manner.

When Sweta heard his sound, she too suddenly ran after him. Pratik lay, curled, still tightening his grip over his stomach. Indermal caught his stomach and what he felt was unbelievable, but he told not to anyone now as still Pratik was unconscious. Pain in his stomach seared and burned. The pain inside his stomach was making his eyes go stream. His grandmother rounded him and shouldered him up along with her husband, Mr. Indermal. Pratik now felt his body over Indermal's shoulder, getting a little jolt every time as he boosted his speed.

Pratik's eyes screwed up against the agony in his stomach, now more terrible than before. Indermal and his wife, Mrs. Sweta heaved him in their special Ayurveda Treatment plant, which they had set up under the basement secretly, out of everyone's sight. Pratik had never experienced such feeling what he felt after entering in their secret room, about which no one had ever known, but they themselves.

Unfold the carpet over the table. ordered Indermal to his wife.

She worrily sprinted near a cemented table, coloured beautifully golden, and unwrapped a traditional carpet over it. Indermal placed Pratik's body over the table and checked up his nervous. He felt usual number of blood run. Pratik squinted; his eyes opened a little that interior of room he saw as blur. He noticed the wall, covered with wallpaper, and few pictures of his father, Siddhartha Rai, clinging upon them. Then he hardly noticed, despite of pensive pain in his stomach, four electric bulbs glowing dimly. Indermal pressed his stomach as he screamed with pain. Again he felt that same power that he had experienced before. Pratik's pain now seemed going away. As Indermal realized that his pressing among Pratik's stomach was resulting in relief, he hastened his speed.

Pratik was constantly crying.

Do it smoothly! shouted Sweta as she found Pratik screaming more loudly.

But it was hell before peace. Literally Indermal's ayurvedic strategy worked. After few time Pratik's pain went, so far away. Happiness burnt on his face. He got up and hugged his grandfather tightly and then his grandmother.

Are you okay? asked she, looking worried.

I am absolutely fine. Pratik smiled as if a pain few time ago had never existed.

His grandmother also looked at him and smiled.

What had happened to me? Pratik asked, making tensed sound, which faded just as his grandfather answered It was just a normal stroke. It will not harm you anymore.

Pratik came out from the flashback as a handsome man with big height and clean face tapped on his back.

Old memories always hurt us. said a calm voice from his behind.

He was Sanjay, Pratik's uncle, whom Indermal had adopted as his son when he had found him alone on a deserted road. It was very old time, Sanjay and Pratik's father, Mr. Siddhartha had lived together happily. Siddhartha had always treated him as his small brother and never let him experience that he was just his step brother.

But it always memorizes us that looking forward won't change the danger chasing you behind. quoted Pratik, turning his face over him.

There was something in Sanjay's hand. Pratik knew what that was. He outstretched his hand and Sanjay unwrapped that basket and handed him bunches of flowers. Pratik silently sprawled it over his Grandparent's tomb, dropping firstly at his grandfather's and secondly at grandmother's. Sanjay had never seen him as emotional as he was at that time. Only tears were left to come, otherwise he was totally drowned in emotions.

As Pratik moved his legs back, Sanjay went on his place and he too did the same what Pratik had done few seconds earlier. But he remained froze there even after putting flowers over his step-parents' tomb, and closed his eyes.

Mom, Dad! He talked to them in his mind, still closing his eyes, hoping probably they could hear him. "I am missing you a lot . . . Don't worry about me. Bhaiya cares me a lot in the same way as you have both looked after me. Everyone is very good and thank you for understanding me as