As silence rang inside the head of Jeevan, he slowly opened his eyes. He was still falling deep into the abyss, the light slowly fading in the distance. He made up his mind.
'At my very last moment, I have no one on my side, not even a soul to cry after I die. Even if I disappear, the world will still function. The sun will rise, and it will set as well. I'm not important anymore. I love you, Grandpa. Thank you for everything.'
Now he was able to move and open his eyes freely. Even though his body was permitting him to do whatever he wanted now, Jeevan closed his eyes and let his body go limp. His mind was completely filled with tranquility. It seemed like everything had already been decided, and he accepted it.
The air rushed past his ears, and he heard only that sound for a while. But in a tiny corner of his mind, he still thought about surviving this. His logical brain, however, said not today because it was all over.
While his mind wandered through the tranquil forest of untamed thoughts, he heard water droplets falling one by one. He slowly opened his eyes while falling. His eyes widened, and fear once again took control of his mind and body.
"Not again. Where am I? Am I dead? I'm completely confused, and wait..."
He was standing in the middle of vast still water. His clothes were completely wet, and even his movements did not cause any disturbance to the water. The water was so still that it reflected everything from the sky and the beautiful colors of a relaxing evening sunset.
He slowly got up and checked his body. There were no signs of blood or pain from the claws of the pet. He felt relaxed, and the environment was like a lullaby sung by his mother.
'Wow, I guess this is heaven! So nice. I don't feel any pain, and that stupid snow and ice... I'm free from it. But I still feel something odd about this place.'
He looked at the sky. He was shocked, and his face was once again filled with terror and confusion.
"No way! That dull star is in the sky!"
This made Jeevan believe that somehow he was still tied to that thing and the planet.
Slowly, the water began to ripple. The ripples spread all over the place except for the ground on which he was standing. He became nervous. The world slowly started to shake, and the shaking constantly increased. He felt like he was about to fall, but by waving his hands around, he managed to balance himself for a while.
He looked at himself in the still water beneath his feet. Instead of the water, his own reflection rippled. He was confused by the place itself.
Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed throughout the area.
"On the command of my master, I am here to tie you up with the sacred rope. Obey my master or face death!"
Jeevan lost his cool and screamed,
"What do you want? Am I a toy for all of you to play with? First the crow, then the pet, and now you and your unknown master. Who cares? Show me yourself and show me your master!"
Jeevan was ready to face the consequences of his speech because of all the suffering he had gone through these past days. More than anything, he desperately wanted to go home.
"What? No reply? As usual, you people. I should have just obeyed my grandpa. He told me only one thing—don't use any of my inventions. Now look at me. I'm being asked to obey some unknown master."
The voice returned again, this time with a serious tone.
"You foolish soul, kneel before my master arrives, or else..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Jeevan screamed again.
"I know who you are talking about. It's that Keeper. He is your—"
At that instant, a flash of light struck his eyes.
The next second, he found himself on the ground with blood flowing from his mouth.
He turned his head and saw a woman dressed in black and blue armor. A sword rested at her hip. Her hair was completely black. She removed her helmet and walked toward him. Her eyes were blue, and her hair waved in the air.
She looked like a cinematic knight.
Her blurred figure slowly became clear to Jeevan.
"How dare you call my master by his name? How can I permit such disrespect?"
As she spoke, she drew her longsword and prepared to cut off his neck.
Then she heard a voice.
"Oh, my lovable Spade, don't cut his neck."
She trembled upon hearing it and immediately lowered her sword.
Jeevan was confused and slowly stood up.
"Fool, at least now kneel before my master."
Only then did he notice the pain in his stomach. He realized she had punched him so hard that he vomited blood.
He finally stood up and knelt down. Bowing his head, he remained there, exhausted.
He heard a snap of fingers.
"Oh, my dear Spade, you are hurting him. He is a poor soul."
The pain in Jeevan's stomach slowly faded.
He lifted his head while remaining kneeling. Once again, he saw the pet flying in the distance toward something that looked like a mountain.
He shifted his focus toward it. It was far away.
Turning to his right, he saw the knight. She was kneeling as well.
She shook her head and turned toward Jeevan.
Afraid of everything happening around him, he tried to run, but he realized that his hands and legs were tied up.
She grabbed him, and with a single jump, covered a vast distance in an instant before landing gently.
She dropped him and returned to her loyal kneeling position.
Jeevan slowly opened his eyes. He saw the pet flying and landing on what looked like a giant hand.
He was confused by the scale because the pet itself was enormously large.
He turned toward the knight.
She stood up and placed her left hand against her chest.
"Bow down before my master, the one and only master of snow and ice, he who shaped judgment and justice. Bow down!"
Jeevan was shocked by the sheer size of the being before him.
The pet itself looked no larger than a crow in the giant's hand.
The Keeper wore black cloth covering his entire body. His sword was planted beneath his legs into the ground. His two eyes were closed, while the eye on his forehead watched everything keenly.
His body and everything around him seemed to be completely black.
His voice was ground-shaking and bone-shattering.
His appearance awakened the most primitive terrors of humankind.
"Jeevan! For the past 1600 years, only me, Spade, and the dull star remained here. We were alone. My pet had one job—to find wandering souls in my forest of ice and snow. Spade had one job—to tell me the color of the Karma Flame inside every soul. And tell me, what is my job?"
Jeevan's voice shook as he replied,
"Your job is to judge souls based on the color of the Karma Flame inside them."
"Haha! Jeevan, you are quite an intelligent and interesting soul. I was watching you all this time. Do you know why? Because all these years, the gods have abandoned me, and it is all because of Divinex. Do you know that feeling? Being replaced? Being forgotten? It can hurt more than death itself. I need revenge!"
Jeevan interrupted.
"What are you expecting me to do? I'm sorry. I think I disturbed you by coming into your forest. Whatever the case, kindly... please... I even beg you... let me leave!"
"Oh, my dear suicidal soul, don't beg, especially not in front of a GOD!"
Jeevan, confused, replied,
"What suicidal soul? Why?"
"Because you decided to rift your soul. Divinex never chose you, nor did powerful entities like me choose you. Yet you gambled with your life. Now tell me..."
"OK, enough talking. Spade, prepare for the Karma Flame interrogation!"