Chaturika came closer to the protective boundary.
The instant her toes were about to touch the invisible line—
The sound of golden wings resounded.
The air split with a cry like that of Garuda.
Chaturika was hurled backwards and fell to the ground.
For a moment, the softness upon her face cracked apart, and black fury flashed from within.
“A circle of Garuda…” she muttered through clenched teeth.
She understood.
It was impossible for Chaturaka’s magical power to enter directly.
But Chaturaka had not come to accept defeat.
Still wearing Chaturika’s form, he withdrew into the shadows of the forest.
There, he drew a magical circle upon the ground.
He cut a black line across his wrist.
No blood came forth.
Blue smoke emerged instead.
The smoke twisted into coils and became a small enchanted serpent.
Darkness shone in its eyes.
Chaturaka placed his magical power within that serpent.
As long as the power remained within him, the Garuda circle would reject him.
But if he left the power outside and transformed himself into nothing more than an ordinary woman, he believed he might slip inside.
Chaturika hid the enchanted serpent within the shadow of a broken image of Nandi near the front of the ruined temple.
Then she extinguished all magical light from her eyes and became, in truth, like a powerless human woman.
Once again, she approached the entrance.
This time, the Garuda circle did not stop her.
She stepped inside.
Kumudvati’s heart began to pound.
“Revered master…”
Sharabhanga raised one hand, signalling silence.
A faint smile appeared upon his face.
“We must see where deception has hidden its strength,” he said softly.
He lifted his right hand into the air and formed the gesture of Garuda with his thumb.
From that gesture arose a magical bird of golden light.
It did not flap wings like a living creature.
The syllables of mantra themselves became its wings and carried it forward.
The enchanted Garuda flew beyond the temple.
The serpent hidden in the shadow of the broken Nandi sprang upward.
It leapt like a flash of darkness.
But the moment the Garuda descended upon it, the serpent vanished into sparks of fire without even making a sound.
At that instant, Chaturika, standing inside the temple, collapsed.
The hidden light in her eyes died completely.
The pride of sorcery shattered upon her face.
She stared at her hands.
There was no staff.
Her gestures no longer worked.
There was no power in her breath.
Now she truly remained only a powerless woman.
“Sharabhanga!” she screamed.
Chaturaka’s rage remained in the voice, but none of his strength.
Sharabhanga replied calmly,
“A disguise may enter. But the power had to remain outside. That was not your mistake, Chaturaka.
“It is the law of the Garuda circle.”
Chaturika tried to retreat.
But Sharabhanga had already given the signal.
Female guards, secretly sent from the inner palace, stepped forward.
They had remained hidden around the temple throughout the entire period of the vow.
Spears rested in their hands. (To Be Continued)
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