"You.. What!!", Nagini exclaimed.

"Yeah, I was just doing the breathing exercise and it felt like something in my second Chakra go off.. Unexpectedly, it began to rotate like my first one does."

Swadhisthana, or the second chakra, was associated with the water element. Once someone passes the threshold of this chakra, not only the life force in one's body increases by leaps and bound but it also becomes much purer and condensed.

"This must be the consequence of you practicing a fourth level breathing technique. But still, it's sooner than I expected." Rudra mused to himself.

This was an unexpected development. Not only had his disciple somehow managed to practice a fourth level breathing technique while he was still in the first level, he had also broken through to the second realm in such a short span of time! Rudra couldn't help but feel a little jealous of his disciple.

Nagini, on the other hand, was beaming with happiness.

"Aren't you happy little Sesha? With this, you have stepped on the Water Realm!!", Nagini squeaked.

"Water Realm?", Sesha repeated.

"Little Sesha, did your teacher told you about the realms?", Nagini asked Sesha.

"Umm.. I don't think so.", Sesha answered truthfully.

"What's this old sage? You didn't even teach something so basic to him?", Nagini criticized the old sage.

"Hold it little girl! Why wouldn't I teach this trivial thing to my disciple?", Rudra said coldly.

"But .."

Before Nagini could protest, Rudra interrupted her.

"Little Sesha, what element is your second Chakra, Swadhisthana associated with?"

"Swadhisthana is associated with Water element master." Sesha answered promptly.

Rudra nodded upon Sesha's answer.

"Since you opened your Chakra of the Water element, so you are now into the Water realm. See, it is simple isn't it?", Rudra explained.

Sesha immediately nodded. This explanation was simple enough for him. But Nagini wasn't satisfied. To be honest, Rudra really hadn't said anything at all about the realms to Sesha before. But this time, seeing that Nagini wasn't going to let it slide, he decided to explain a little instead of providing her any chance to complain.

"The realms are nothing more than another way of saying where your cultivation is at. For instance, you know that Muladhara is associated with Earth right? So when I opened your Muladhara, you progressed into the Earth realm. Similarly, since your second Chakra Swadhisthana is associated with Water element, your cultivation reached the Water realm when you opened it. As you go further up and open your third Chakra, the Manipura of the fire element, your cultivation will reach the Fire realm.. It's just another way of naming your cultivation level, little Sesha.", Rudra concluded.

Immediately after Rudra finished his explanation,

"Hmph! You didn't explain properly old sage.", Nagini complained again.

Rudra was really annoyed at this little girl who seemed to be hell bent on finding fault with his education.

"Really? Why don't you try to explain then little girl.", Rudra replied.

Nagini smiled gleefully as if she had been waiting for this from the very start. She faced Sesha and said.

"Little Sesha, listen properly to this Nagini okay. From the first Muladhara to the seventh Sahasrara, there are seven Chakras and associated to each of these Chakras are the elements."

"But I know this already Nagini.", Sesha interjected.

"Earth for Muladhara, Water for Swadhisthana, Fire for Manipura, Air for Anahata, Void for Vishuddha, Soul for Ajna and the Divine for Sahasrara."

Even though Sesha interrupted her explanation, Nagini didn't mind. She patiently continued

"You are right little Sesha. But it isn't just that simple. For instance, since you already have your Ajna open, then will you be considered to be at the Soul realm?", Nagini asked Sesha.

"Umm... Ye..ah?", Sesha couldn't answer.

"No little Sesha! You are still at Water realm! This is the difference between the realms and the Chakras. While they are both the same for a normal cultivator, for others like you they are a little different."

"Others like me?", Sesha asked.

"Yes, while it is true that most cultivators follow the simple path and open their Chakra one by one starting from the Muladhara to the Sahasrara, there are some others who for some reason or other do not follow this path. For example, us Basilisks always first open our Ajna after the Muladhara.

"Although this isn't entirely impossible, but this is only a rare occurrence little Sesha. This way of cultivation takes a really long time so almost all of the cultivators follow the simple path and open their Chakras orderly from bottom to top.

"And this is where the realms come into play. For these types of cultivators, like you and me for instance, the realm equals the highest Chakra that is connected to the Muladhara. Although my Ajna is open, I am still in the Air realm! This is because my first, second, third and the fourth Chakras are open but my fifth Chakra is not. It blocks my sixth, Ajna from connecting to the Muladhara, even if it is open.

"Similarly, your sixth, Ajna is open but since your third, fourth and fifth Chakras are closed, they prevent your Ajna from connecting to Muladhara. This is precisely why you can't use any powerful arts of the Ajna even though your Ajna is already open."

Nagini's explanation was clear and concise. Sesha understood it immediately. On the other hand, old sage Rudra had a dazed expression on his face.

"Little girl, you really do know your stuff!", he remarked.

"Thanks! It was father who taught me this......"

'...'

Hearing a rare praise from Rudra, Nagini was overjoyed at first but her mood immediately fell as she mentioned her father.

Nagini's father had already passed away but it was evident that she still missed him.

For a while, the atmosphere was quite awkward but Nagini broke this awkwardness with this simple proclamation,

"Anyway, does this mean that he no longer has to go through the closed door cultivation for now?"

Rudra pondered for a bit and said, "Well, originally I intended him to undergo closed door practice to open his second chakra, but since he already opened it... But still, if he has already opened it, then I think we should focus on opening the third chakra."

Hearing his reply, Nagini couldn't help but protest. If Sesha were to go close door cultivation again, she absolutely won't be seeing him anytime soon.

"But that can wait!! Can't it!! For now, I want to play with him!"

Seeing her so resolute, Rudra couldn't help but sigh.

"Alright, you can take him to play with you for a couple of days." he relented.

"YES!! Let's go little Sesha, today I will show you this Nagini's home.", she grasped his hands and dragged him with excitement.

After the two of them had left, Rudra went back to the center of the lake. For some reason, Nagini's earlier sadness had touched him a little.

"To think that she still hasn't let it go... sigh!"

He was speaking to no one in particular but his face had a tinge of sadness. Dispersing these thoughts instantly, he closed his eyes and submerged himself in meditation.

* * *

In the Dark Forest, there was a region where no one approached, that was precisely the center of the forest, for there lived the old sage. Even beasts knew what could and what couldn't kill them. And they knew full well that the old sage could end their lives with a mere thought. This kept them from approaching his abode.

But there was another such place in this forest the dark beasts didn't approach. To be precise, it was not that they didn't go anywhere near, it was that they couldn't go near it. An invisible barrier had been in that place which prevented anyone or anything unwanted from trespassing there. The barrier was semi spherical and it had a radius of a hundred meters.

Right at the center of that barrier lied a cave and at the entrance of the cave were two small children. These two were Sesha and Nagini.

"You haven't been here previously right little Sesha? I have been waiting to show you inside." Nagini said.

For some reason or other, Nagini doted on Sesha. Even Rudra didn't know why exactly. If someone didn't know any better, they would've said that it was because Nagini was a girl and Sesha was a child. Except that she wasn't exactly a normal girl. She was a fearsome basilisk. Although she wasn't an adult yet but she possessed frightening powers and her nature was ruthless. A human child wouldn't have instilled any pity on her let alone love. Thus her unnatural affection for Sesha was a complete mystery.

Nagini dragged Sesha inside through the opening of the cave. The inside of the cave was dark and humid and Sesha couldn't see at all. He kept following Nagini as she guided her through her hands. Eventually they stopped at some place.

"So, how's my home?"

"Umm.. I can't see at all you know."

"Oh! That's right, excuse me for a bit."

She apologized and began to search for something.

"Got it!"

Suddenly, the room was illuminated with what appeared to be a light orb in Nagini's hands. She placed it in a holder in a nearby wall that was apparently constructed for the specific purpose of holding the orb.

"You are a human so you can't see in dark. That must be quite troublesome right?", she asked.

"Not really. When I am meditating or sleeping, I don't really need any light. Other times, the light from stars and moon is quite enough." he replied casually.

"Right! Sesha, let me show you something."

She took her hands again and guided him to another room. This room, unlike the previous one, was illuminated, not by any light orbs but due to something in the center of room which appeared to be a pool. To be exact, it was the water inside the pool that was giving the light. The entire room smelled really pleasant and bubbling sound could be heard from the pool itself.

"See, this is the place where our elixir comes from. You really like it right? Here, have at it."

She scooped some from the pool in a bowl and gave it to him. Sesha drank it with a happy expression in his face.

"Hey, tell me, how does it taste like?", she asked curiously.

"It's really sweet and smells nice. But why are you asking me? Don't you know it for yourself Nagini?"

At his question, Nagini became a little depressed. She replied,

"Father used to say that the elixir was entrusted to us for safe keeping and that we are not to consume it ourselves. Even though I really wanted to."

"What's so special about it anyway?" Sesha asked.

"Father said that whoever drinks it will get really really strong and that he would stay healthy forever. You know, when I was little, I used to fight with father because he wouldn't allow me to drink this elixir even though I only wanted to taste it a little.", Nagini was gloomy again.

Sesha stepped forward and filled the bowl. He approached Nagini and gave her the bowl,

"Your father asked you to not drink it, but he is not around. If I can drink it, I don't see the reason that you can't. Here, have at it.", he offered.

"No no no!! Father specifically said that only humans can drink it. Little Sesha, this Nagini is already happy that you offered her but she shouldn't drink it, Father would be angry. Besides, this elixir is the bane of all poisons so it probably will end up harming me."

Seeing her so vehemently denying, Sesha poured the elixir back to the pool. Nagini was no longer gloomy but was instead faintly smiling.

"Little Sesha, say, would you promise this Nagini something?", she asked.

"Okay."

"Hey, you shouldn't casually promise something you know. In the future you should at least ask before promising anyone okay?" She reprimanded him.

"I only said okay because it was Nagini who asked. But I understand. I won't promise anything casually in future. So please say what you wanted to." He apologized.

"Although I want it but I can't drink the elixir. To be honest I am not too sad about it. But there is something that I want even more than to drink the elixir."

"What is it?"

"I want to leave this Dark Forest."

"..."

Sesha didn't know what to say.

"Ever since father left me, I had had no reason to remain in this forest little Sesha. I have wanted to go out of it for a long time!!"

"So can't you just leave then?", Sesha gently asked her.

Even though Nagini was his only friend in this forest except for his master, he could sense that she was desperate in this matter.

"No.. Ages ago, we basilisks were banished to this forest by the gods. A powerful formation prevents us from leaving this forest so we can't just leave it at our will."

She explained to Sesha.

"But you can help me break free from this formation, little Sesha."

"How?"

"We were originally banished because we were extremely powerful and violent and caused a great deal of troubles to the humans. The gods are extremely protective of the humans, little Sesha, so they forcefully banished us here in this forest. But father said that the gods allowed those of us to leave who decided to serve a human. Naturally, none of us could ever lower ourselves to serve a human but if it's you little Sesha, then this Nagini won't mind being your familiar."

"Nagini, what's a familiar?", Sesha asked.

"Umm.. you see, a familiar is someone who is bounded to a human through the bond of life. Usually a human has to fight and subdue a beast before he can bind it through the bond of life to make it his familiar but you won't have to fight this Nagini little Sesha.", Nagini explained.

"You really want to leave this forest Nagini?", Sesha asked. He couldn't help being sad a little.

"Please, little Sesha, I beg of you.", Nagini pleaded to him.

Sesha didn't know this but for the prideful Nagini to plead to a human, even if it was Sesha himself, was already extremely desperate.

"Okay. If Nagini wants then I agree to take you as my familiar and grant you your freedom." Sesha replied at the end.

"Yeah!! Thank you little Sesha."

Nagini hurriedly hugged Sesha. She was ecstatic at the prospect of being free from this forest to roam the world.

She taught Sesha an incantation which he chanted. As soon as he had chanted it, a circular formation appeared before him.

"Little Sesha, you touch the formation from that side, this Nagini will touch it from here."

As soon as both of them made contact through the formation, little threads appeared from it which bound both Nagini and Sesha. After binding both of them, gradually the formation faded.

"You have truly done this Nagini a huge favor little Sesha. Now, this Nagini wants to give something to you. Let's return little Sesha to your master first little Sesha."

Nagini took Sesha back to the forest the same way they had originally come.

Basilisk were really hard to subdue because they were extremely powerful and arrogant creatures who preferred to die rather than to serve a human. The last time someone made a basilisk his familiar was millions of years ago before they were banished to the Dark Forest and the one who had managed this feat was an extremely powerful expert. Now, after so many years another one had managed to make a basilisk his familiar. But this was, unexpectedly, a small child.

* * *

Both of them returned to the lake where Rudra was still in deep meditation. Rudra sensed them approaching and opened his eyes.

"That was sooner than I expected. I thought I won't be seeing you both for some days.", he confessed.

"That's not it! It's just that I had to ask you for something." Nagini clarified.

Rudra waited. He seemed to be allowing her to speak her mind. Sensing his intentions, Nagini continued,

"I want to teach little Sesha the Eyes of Petrification. I know that he is your disciple but I really want to teach it to him. Besides, this art won't interfere with his Aghor cultivation in any ways. What do you say?"

Nagini paused to let the old sage decide. He was the master of Sesha and if he didn't allow it, she had no way of teaching Sesha at all. This was the ancient tradition, disciples were supposed to learn only from their masters and from no others and it was for a good reason too. Learning different from different sources could severely harm one's cultivation. Of course she didn't want to harm Sesha but she still had to ask for his master's permission.

Rudra thought for a while before answering,

"Fine. I will let you teach him your art. As you said, it will not harm him in any ways because like Aghor yoga, your clan's arts too are of demonic nature. But are you sure you want to teach him? Aren't the Eyes of Petrification a secret of your clan??"

"Yes, I've thought about it and if it's him I won't mind teaching him this art. So, let's begin little Sesha."

Nagini wanted to start right away.

"Not now, today he will rest. You can come and teach him tomorrow. Sesha, go to the hut and continue cleansing your meridians."

"Yes master.", he replied and went to the hut.

After Sesha had gone, Rudra faced Nagini and asked her,

"So you allowed him to take you for a familiar after all even though I offered to take you ages ago."

"Huh!! who would serve you, you old man. I would rather die.", she retorted angrily.

"Alright, it's not like I wanted you as my familiar. I only wanted to free you from this barrier. Anyways, you are free now, so won't you go out already? I would've thought that you would've ran off the moment you could."

"I will. After I have taught him this art, I would go away from this damned place.", she replied coolly.

"But what would you do if he orders you to stay, you can't disagree you know. The bond of life is not to be taken lightly."

"Do you take me for a fool? If I did not have complete confidence in little Sesha, I wouldn't have bonded with him. Anyways, it's getting late, I would come tomorrow and take him to my lair to teach him. I expect, with his talent, it would only take him a few days to learn the art completely."

Nagini went to her lair and Rudra sat back for his meditation.

* * *

The next day, Nagini came and together with Sesha, went back to her lair.

Back in the cave, she sat down with Sesha. The little light orb was illuminating the entire room. Nagini was facing Sesha and both of them were sitting in the lotus position.

Nagini began,

"Little Sesha, the Eyes of Petrification are among the demonic arts left behind by the Asuras. This is a secret of us Basilisks so promise me that you won't disclose it to any other soul, not even to your master. Do you promise me, little Sesha?", Nagini asked gently

"Okay.", Sesha confirmed.

"The Eyes of Petrification is a special art of the Ajna Chakra. Little Sesha, do you know why us Basilisks open our sixth Chakra, Ajna after the Muladhara?", Nagini asked.

Sesha shook his head implying that he did not know.

"It is precisely because of this art. This is one of our clan's absolute secret. Normally, even if one's Ajna is open, one can not practice any of its arts until he reaches its realm i.e. the Soul realm. But this does not apply to this art."

"But why Nagini?", Sesha asked her.

"Even us Basilisks do not know the answer to this question, little Sesha. When I asked this to father, he simply said that this was because this art is special.

"There are three steps to this art. At the first step, you will be able to suppress. At the second step, you will be able to command. And at the third step, you will be able to kill. Of course, you can't use this art to its full capacity without reaching the Soul realm.

"As you are now, you can at most use the first step of this art. But even so, this Eyes of Petrification is an art of the Ajna. Any art of the Ajna is not to be taken lightly little Sesha, it can even destroy an entire country at a mere moment's notice!!".

After these words of caution, Nagini continued once again.

"It is time for me to initiate you into this art. Look into my eyes little Sesha."

Following what Nagini said, Sesha looked into her eyes. Nagini had eyes green like dazzling emeralds, which were extremely enchanting.

But as Sesha was looking into her eyes, something strange happened. Nagini's green eyes instantly became dazzling red like the color of rubies. With these red eyes, Nagini deeply looked into Sesha's black eyes stirring something on it. With his cultivation so far ahead, he could feel the strange pulsating prana.

"Little Sesha, can you feel the prana in your eyes?", Nagini asked.

"Yes, I can."

"Good. The source of this strange prana is actually your Ajna chakra. It is responding to my eyes. Now I want you to remember this feeling and reproduce it."

Nagini stopped her art and her eyes went back from ruby red to green.

Sesha had an incredible aptitude and he had memorized the motion of the strange prana. Sesha's control over his prana were masterful but previously, whenever he did his cultivation, the movement of prana in his meridians originated from his first chakra, the Muladhara. Only, this time the Eyes of Petrification required the prana to originate from his sixth chakra, the Ajna. So it was different from what he was previously accustomed to.

It took him almost hours and Nagini had to repeatedly show him her art, but he grasped it nonetheless.

Once he grasped the art, he closed his eyes and began cultivating it.

When he finally opened his eyes, his eyes were red, the color of blood.

"Little Sesha, you finally learned it! Tell me, what does it feel like?" Nagini exclaimed.

"Yes! thanks Nagini! Everything looks so weird.", Sesha looked everywhere in the room with curious gazes.

"Wait!", Nagini stood up and touched the light orb that was illuminating the room. The orb went out at once and the room became dark once again.

"See!! Isn't it amazing?", she asked Sesha.

"Yes! Even though it's dark, I can see everything clearly!!", Sesha was quite happy.

"Now that you've learned it little Sesha, you will be able to see without lights and not only that, you will see many things that ordinarily can't be perceived. For example, the flow of prana in another's body, the movement of chakra and many other things. So you must diligently cultivate it okay!?"

Sesha nodded in response.

"Also, now whenever you look at others with these eyes, they will be intimidated with you. The weaker ones will even faint. Remember, the larger the power gap, the stronger will be the effect. So you must use it wisely.

"When you've cultivated it to the third level, if you desire so, you can take other's soul with your eyes. But remember little Sesha, those who have opened their Ajna chakra won't be susceptible to your eyes. These eyes directly act against a person's soul. Ajna chakra is the strongest defense of one's soul so these Eyes of Petrification are useless if one has his Ajna open. But other than that, even if someone have their five chakras open, you will be able to dominate their will. Once again little Sesha, you must use these eyes carefully."

To Nagini's words, Sesha agreed at once.

"Now, little Sesha, this Nagini has already taught you what she wanted to. Since this Nagini is your familiar now, she would be allowed to leave this forest. So this Nagini must separate with you. Little Sesha, you continue on your cultivation. If in future, you require assistance of this Nagini, then don't hesitate to summon her okay?"

Nagini asked Sesha.

"Okay Nagini." Sesha replied simply. Although Sesha may not have known, but if he asked her to stay, she would've no other option but to stay because there was no way she could go against his will! But it didn't come to that and Sesha simply agreed. Sesha already knew how much she wanted to go outside this forest and he didn't want to stop her.

"Yay!!! thank you little Sesha!", Nagini was ecstatic. She went ahead and embraced him. She gave him a light peck on his cheeks.

Currently, Sesha was only seven years old and Nagini had taken an appearance of a nine year old. So the scene of her embracing Sesha was extremely cute to the point that it could even melt the old sage Rudra's heart had he been witnessing it.

She let go of Sesha after a while.

"Little Sesha, now that I've taught you this art, let's head out. I shall escort you back to your master."

Sesha and Nagini returned to the lake where Sesha promptly resumed his cultivation in Aghor Yoga. After Sesha had gone to the closed door training, Nagini turned to the old sage.

"This Nagini has never liked you old sage. If honorable father hadn't explicitly forbid Nagini to bear any grudges towards you, Nagini would've already killed you or perished trying. These are Nagini's true feelings. As such, Nagini has no reason to ask anything of you but she asks you nonetheless. Take care of little Sesha for her. He is this Nagini's only friend."

Saying these words, Nagini left without waiting for Rudra's reply.

After she had left, Rudra sighed, "Such a troublesome girl.". He then went back and resumed his meditation.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note:

If you find any errors, please comment so that I could fix them.

If you like my work then I'd be honored if you could rate it / review it.

Also, if you any suggestions / constructive criticisms, I'd be glad to receive it.