I am hungry. Shri said inside him. Karnan shook his head in disbelief. The day couldn't have been any weirder than it already was. A wolf, lying on its haunches, licking its paws while doing telepathy. An extremely powerful art only used by the celestial clans. He sighed and leaned further into the wall near the door. Dust caked to his cheeks reminded him of his weeping, and he dug his head into his knees with shame.
What's so bad about crying? You were sad. You cried. What's there to be ashamed of?
There was one more thing. The wolf could read his thoughts, too. As if doing telepathy wasn't bad enough. He must have done some sort of huge misdeed, like mass slaughter in his previous birth. Otherwise, there was no explanation for his current misfortunes.
Shri stood. Her eyes took him in like a starving beggar. She strode toward him. With a resigned sigh, he lifted his hand for her to wrap her jaws around his forearm. Her eyes shut as she sucked his prana, for the sixth time. She'd do so until he was on the verge of falling asleep from exhaustion, and once he awakened, the cycle would restart.
That was, phew, delicious. Shri said, letting go of his arm. I am not a monster, you know. It's just that my hunger was out of my control.
"Can you please not read my thoughts? I feel violated."
She howled. This one was laughter. Long yet segmented with quick pauses, like a chuckle.
You'd have to excuse me for that, too. I haven't talked-
Karnan clicked his tongue, interrupting Shri. Legs shaking, he rose, taking the help of the wall behind him. He had to get out of this tomb. The twenty-fourth bell rang just as he regained his balance. I need to escape. He thought. Shri's ears perked for an instant. He fumed at her. She whined and looked elsewhere.
Karnan walked to the door, searching for a switch or anything to help him open it, and, like his prior attempts, he found none. It was a smooth, unblemished sliding gate, with no handle or support for any purchase whatsoever.
"Heaven curse me. How am I going to open this?" he yelled out.
I can help. Shri's rough voice grinded in his ears.
He shot her another rageful glance. She enlarged her eyes in defence. What! I didn't pry. You just said it aloud.
Karnan pounded the door. The room echoed with the thud before falling silent.
It's a yantra. Send prana into it. It should open. It will only open once, so be careful. And before you ask, how do I know all this? I don't know. Shri said flatly.
Karnan exhaled. He was grasping at straws here. The wolf's idea, although sounding insane, was worth a try. He hadn't heard of such a Yantra ever existing. He inhaled a large amount of prana. Because of his star, he couldn't store even a fraction of what those with constellations or celestials were capable of. So, he sent all the prana he breathed in into his palm. A pattern of a maze glowed a striking silver over the copper surface. On both his sides, latches clicked, and with a rumble, the door groaned open.
See! I told you so! Shri quirked behind him. She was standing, as if she'd be going out along with him. Karnan had other plans. He'd slide underneath the door and bolt. Previously, the door had quickly shut. So will it this time. Trapping the beast inside forever. He hadn't thought about this. But instinctually had decided on doing so the moment the wolf had awakened.
The door came halfway up and then began to roll down on its own, irrespective of how much prana he transferred into it. Karnan quickly ducked and took a step out.
It was good knowing you, Karnan Al Veera. I will remember your company. Shri's voice was melancholic. She sounded oddly familiar; Karnan glanced inside. She just sat there, head hung, her ears droopy. He knew what she felt because he, too, had felt it not long ago, the feeling of being abandoned.
Heavens! Karnan swore and swept back into the tomb. With both hands, he held the door from shutting off. "Get out!" he shouted.
Shri lunged. Like a storm hitting a cliff, she slammed against him. He was then dragged, and for a moment, the world became a blur.
When his senses came about. He found the sky staring at him. Was all of that a dream? His heart ached with the possibility that it might be so.
Shri's inverted head jutted into his view all of a sudden. Why isn't it night yet? And why are the sun and moon not moving? She appeared concerned. Her brows scrunched into a scowl.
Karnan stifled a smile and sat. He was weary, like he had been running with a heavy stone strapped to his back.
Hey! Shri said, hopping into his view. You didn't answer my question. Why is the sky so strange?
"What's so strange about this?" he replied, scratching his back. "It's always been like this after the great event. The celestials were made to remain in the same spot. And, the dreaded night and her monsters were all defeated to never again harass us."
Shri's jaw dropped. She took a long pause before saying, So, you mean there's always day here?
Karnan nodded.
There's no night? No full moon? No stars? Nothing?
He nodded again.
What year is this?
"5061, the year of Pisces."
Her face stiffened, chest heaving. She ambled over to a small clearing and sat, gazing at the dirt. Karnan stood and dusted himself. He stretched his back and shoulders and turned to walk away. Already a day had passed, and he was sure that the innkeeper would be hunting for him with the guards.
One gold and twain silver. That was what he wanted. He wanted to barge into Rajuma's face and give him an earful about this tip. But first, he'd need to arrange the coins. Maybe Ravim's parents might take pity and lend him some.
The thought made sense to him, and he'd be asking for a loan, not alms. He began his walk. He'd take the southern gate out of the cemetery to avoid the plated young sentry, who seemed so eager to jail him.
Paws plopped to his left. Shri trotted beside him.
Where are we going? She asked.
"You needn't follow me. Go wherever you want to." Karnan replied.
She said after a pause, I am three thousand years late for that.
He didn't reply. He wasn't an idiot to notice that Shri didn't belong anywhere anymore. But three thousand years? That would put her near the time of the calamity, when the heavens themselves had fought a great battle for dominion. The result, the harmony and order prevailing today. The constant movement of the celestials in the skies had made the land turmoil-ridden. No group could establish a strong order as the powers waned and grew as per the ebb and flow of the heavens. Day gave way to night in a cyclic order that rendered peace worthless, taking advantage of such chaos. A demon had risen. The lady of the night, she was called. A being so horrible that even emperors feared her wrath. Until the great battle, when she was destroyed along with her armies, and peace and order prevailed.
So, where are we going? She asked again.
"Why ask when you already know?" he said.
She snorted or made a sound similar to that. I haven't read your mind. So, just tell me. Where are we going?
Karnan answered with a sigh, "We need coins. We are going to ask for a loan. However, if you know anything about any buried treasure, ancient one. I am all ears."
She didn't reply.
The cemetery was designed as a spiralling vortex with paths interconnecting the circles. They were about a hundred paces from the south gate, which loomed high and derelict. The iron arch over the double doors was rusted and broken in places.
"Can I ask you something?" he said to her. Her large head swung at him. What?
"Back in the tomb. Were you really locked for 3000 years? The tomb itself is not that old."
The last thing I remember was falling asleep. When I woke, I saw you with a lot of nasty memories in my head.
Karnan grunted and asked again, "Then why were you ready to stay back in the tomb when I was leaving?"
She halted abruptly and blinked. Her eyes looked moist. Why chase belonging in a place that doesn't cherish you?
He snorted, "Poetic as it may be, O great wolf. There is no need for you to follow me."
She shook her head. We are bonded. I need your prana to stay alive henceforth. Only your prana.
Karnan scowled, "Bonded?"
She resumed her walk. Your prana channels are completely developed. It means you are above the age of fifteen. And, she paused, as if hesitating.
Karnan raised his brows at her.
And, due to the minuscule power your celestial is providing you. Your prana remains pure, and I need pure prana.
Karnan spun at her. "It all makes sense now. The mysterious key, the tomb. Me being sent here."
She gave a nod. It's all planned. Someone powerful wanted me to awaken. So they sent you.
"Meaning?"
You are rare. An oddity. Single stars never select anyone. They simply can't exert such kind of power here. In my time, too. Individuals were chosen specifically to feed me. Using a certain procedure, their prana channels were blocked temporarily.
His heart beat faster as she talked. Like a puzzle, the pieces were clicking together. The ceremony, his affliction.
When prana channels are blocked during the choosing. The individual becomes invisible to the celestials and isn't selected. So, for a year, their prana would be my nourishment, after which they can reapply for the choosing. But in your case. Some star got you. Though the effects look similar to not being picked, permanently.
"So, someone planned this?" he clutched his chest. "Somebody sabotaged my life. Just to feed you?" His throat felt heavy.
Shri whined. Now you know why I was prepared to stay back there.
Karnan breathed out the used-up prana and took in a long, fresh draft. "I was wronged because of you."
She stayed silent.
He turned to her, "Still. You owe me nothing."
She careened her head at him, quizzing him about his words. He said, "There is no gain in blaming you, and what's there to blame? You have no hand in my misfortune. Moreover, what I need the most right now are coins. I have a huge debt to pay. Whoever did this to me has succeeded. And, it must be way powerful to face any kind of justice."
Her face hardened. So, you will just let them go?
"What other choice do I have? I am powerless as of now. When I pay my debt, my family will take me back. Then, I can use their support to quest for justice. So, earning coins. That's what is paramount now."
They walked in silence underneath the broken arch. The gate was unguarded. Before them, a gully wound through a quiet block. A few children played at the mouth of the street.
Shri spoke all of a sudden. I can help you earn.
Karnan shrugged with a questioning look. She chuckled, Ever seen a pet like me?