THE TEARS OF KUMARI KANDAM
CHAPTRE 39

A rough afternoon breeze rattled dozens of red pomegranate jewels adorning the crown as well as Braheim's clothes. His black curly hair did not escape from the rough wind that afternoon, but Bheim did not mind at all, as long as the one braided woman who was busy practicing archery down there could still be reached by both eyes.

"Your Majesty, it's been two minutes."

Bheim sighed in response to Murat. "Well, time is cruel."

Murat cleared his throat, "The ministers, the royal physician, and the chief investigator of the kingdom are waiting, Your Majesty. Who do you want to meet first?"

"The royal tabib."

"As per your orders, Your Majesty." Murat followed Braheim leaving the top of the king's palace.

After calming his mind for two minutes at his favorite place, Braheim again struggled with the atmosphere of his work space that was suffocating. There are already many important people who climb the waiting room, waiting to turn to face Braheim to convey anything related to the welfare of the people of Kumari Kandam.

"The royal physician suddenly has another more urgent matter, Your Majesty. He left this." Murat gave a paper roll to Braheim.

"He didn't say anything?"

"No, Your Majesty," replied Murat.

Bheim was silent for a moment. "There are ninety-one returning concubines who must be sent home, but do not announce until I finish sorting. Because I need not only an intelligent and barren concubine, but also one that benefits my people."

"As per your orders, Your Majesty."

Bheim gave the scroll to Murat. "Check their family background again. Defend the ones with the Chhed*, the trained soldiers, as well as the most weapons of war. The rest immediately returned with the other ninety-one. Next, allow the chief investigator of the kingdom to enter."

*Chhed* is a well that has very clear water, does not recede even in the dry season, and can store food and drink for dozens of years without making it stale*.

Murat simply bowed in obedience to Braheim's orders, and walked quickly away from the mysterious workspace to call the chief investigator of the kingdom. While continuing to increase the speed of his steps, Murat endlessly praised Braheim's intelligence and foresight in every way. It is undeniable that Braheim is indeed the example of a true king.

"According to his confession, Gaana* is very powerful, Your Majesty. Since becoming his accomplice, he had not found a single way that could really kill Gaana."

*Gaana* the saint-soul-eating creatures living in Mook* Forest*.

Bheim just nodded his head listening to the report from the chief investigator of the kingdom. "Slamour, starving Gaana is the only way for now, Your Majesty," the chief investigator of the kingdom said.

"You're right. What else did he say?"

The chief investigator of the kingdom turned over his notebook. "How Gaana controls his victims, Your Majesty. Sometimes Gaana controls through voice, but not infrequently Gaana also possesses the body of her victim."

"Is there any particular reason the damned creature chose to control by voice rather than possess the body of its victim?"

"Hamba is not sure he can answer, Your Majesty. Because he only argues, "the chief investigator of the kingdom replied hesitantly.

Braheim changed his sitting position. "Let me hear it."

"If that's what you want, Your Majesty."

The head of the royal investigation read out the results of his interrogation with Haala's father. According to Haala's father's confession, Gaana would only control by voice if her victims included special people such as wandering ascetics, psychics, Mausam*, and others similar. But if the victim was weak, Gaana could instantly possess her body in the blink of an eye.

*Mausam* is a weather and season controller*.

"alright. You can go."

The chief investigator of the kingdom bowed to Braheim. "Long live, and be bound always, the sun of Kumari Kandam."

"Murat, let the ministers in."

According to Braheim's orders, the ministers were now lined up in front of him. Since the order to find a way to call the nomads was handed down, the ministers diligently faced Braheim to reveal the results of their respective searches. To this day, however, none of the ministerial search results have been approved by Braheim because they are considered ridiculous.

"So, how to call a tribe of nomads other than a thousand roasted sheep, a thousand naked women, and a thousand jewelry chests?"

"There is one last way, Your Majesty," the security minister replied to Braheim.

"Say. I can't wait to curse."

The defense minister cleared his throat, "In the fairy tale it is mentioned that the wandering tribe only came of their will, Your Majesty. That means they don't fulfill anyone's call."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Except for those who are seriously ill" the security minister said.

"There is one place in the fairy tale that is said to be the place where the wandering tribe appears. We just need to get over there and bring those sick la-"

"Are you facing me without your head? You want to send those who are sick to a place that takes four days of travel and is inhabited by thousands of vultures?" sidelines Braheim to the defense minister.

"But we cannot survive just by starving Gaana, Your Majesty. We must try all means to minimize the loss of life. We have to kill Gaana immediately."

The security minister nodded to the defense minister. "Those who are sick are willing to be sent there, Your Majesty. They want to help you end the pain in Kumari Kandam's land."

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

"Grandfather, what's wrong? Why come without telling me before?"

"Laasya disappeared," Haala's grandfather replied to Haala.

Haala looked surprised. "Laasya was last seen joining us for dinner" Haala's grandfather added.

"Eat dinner? But, Laasya doesn't like dinner."

Grandpa Haala is moving. "Then from that. His attitude was strange since a few days ago."

Haala went back to silence, reluctant to ask this and that for fear of hearing the grandfather's answer. In an anxious tone of voice, Haala's grandfather said that not only did Laasya often join the family dinner, but also often sang foreign songs, and even often decorated and wore many fragrances.

"Could it be that Laasya has been controlled?"

Grandpa Haala turned to Haala. "Whatchu mean? Laasya has been controlled? By who?"

*FLASHBACK ON*

"Gaaa. You've been controlled by Gaana."

"Yes, you're right. Even in the future, he managed to control your sister" Princess Gaurika said.

"What's? Laasha?"

Princess Gaurika nodded. "Even in the end your sister's body is fused with Gaana. That's what Daxraj Natesh's real purpose is to turn the clock around. Because he can't kill Gaana who lives in your sister's body."

*FLASHBACK OFF*

"Sin' gaana."

The anxiety on Haala's grandfather's face was instantly replaced by fear, shortly after hearing Haala's short answer. The holy soul of Laasya had clearly been devoured by Gaana, and her body, taken over by Gaana to do something heinous. Haala invites the grandfather to join her in search of Laasya and as soon as possible cure her, however.

Grandpa Haala shook her head. "It's not healed. But murdered."

"How could grandfather do such a terrible thing to his own granddaughter?"

"When a person's soul is partially eaten by Gaana, he becomes mute. When a person's soul is eaten away by Gaana, he becomes ashes. But when someone is possessed by Gaana, he only lives in a shell" Haala's grandfather replied.

Haala. "No. Laasya is not dead. We just need to get Gaana out of her body. Then after that I'll find a potion to cure him."

"There are indeed many potions for pausing death, but no potions for reviving the dead. Even if you ask the nomads. They won't be able to touch her."

Haala wiped her tears rough. "The wandering tribe is the greatest tribe in the world. I'm sure they have any potion. And again, how did grandfather know they couldn't concoct a certain potion without making sure of it?"

"Because they're not God, Haala."

Haala flinched, and was instantly silent. His tears were unceasingly spilling, the tightness in the hallways of his heart continued to grow, and the fact that there was only one God in the world made his footing even weaker. Laasya has been dead since her attitude changed a few days ago. Haala understood that, but still could not accept it.

The last words of Princess Gaurika Chander of Narak. Gaana managed to control Laasya, both at this time in the future. The grandfather's steady intention to kill Laasya was not cruelty, but necessity. Gaana must be killed before she can take back innocent souls.

But how could Haala could hurt the body of his only puppet sister. Suddenly united anger and innocence took control of Haala's conscience. Haala is determined to protect Laasya until she meets Daxraj and asks him directly about the existence of potions that can revive the dead.

"I will protect Laasya until I succeed in making sure that the potion does not exist in this world."

"By sacrificing more innocent souls?" ask Haala's grandfather.

"I'll try to prevent him from getting food."

Grandpa Haala shook her head again. "Just the opposite, Haala. You gave him a chance to get more food."

"I told you I'd try to prevent him from getting food!"

"Then I finished Kumari Kandam because of your futile efforts." Grandpa Haala left the waiting room of the warrior palace.

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

Reluctant breath sounds loud to each other with a shout of annoyance. Around the golden-shelled turtle pond, several prospective concubines were looking for a bustle. They are tired of waiting for the results of the second stage election exam which almost two weeks no signs will be announced.

Kumari Kandam, supported by many strict rules, added to the boredom of the charming women. What they want is always fulfilled, but still the boredom continues to follow. Until one of the candidates for a prankster concubine discussing famous rumors never cool.

Starting from the rumors about King Kumari Kandam who secretly fell in love with his war commander. The king's adviser Kumari Kandam reportedly visited the queen's palace at midnight. And the appearance of Queen Kumari Kandam that makes the prospective concubines curious because they have never once revealed the trunk of his nose.

"What's? So His Majesty Braheim likes men?"

The sixtieth concubine candidate shook his head at the seventieth concubine candidate. "The commander of Kumari Kandam's war is a woman."

"intriguing. But if there is no evidence, are we not just incited by gossip made by people who like to read erotic books?"

The ninety-ninth concubine candidate was widened in response to the eightieth concubine candidate. "Even if there is clear evidence, I will not believe it until my eyes prove it."

"Yes. Youre right. I guess it's just gossip. Even if it wasn't gossip, His Holiness Braheim would have just gotten tired of making love to his queen. Because wherever it is, a king's love is only for his people."

The seventieth concubine candidate turned to the sixtieth concubine. "You forgot there is a law in Kumari Kandam that states that men and women who have sex before marriage will be sent to Baadal*?"

*Baadal* is one of the sacred lakes in Kumari Kandam. It is said that Baadal was guarded by a giant fish named Ghinauna. Those who soak in Baadal will be purified from the rest of human filth, the rest of the food and drink, or the poison that settles in the body. But Ghinauna is known to be unfriendly, so very few people can soak there*.

"Direful. Turns out Kumari Kandam is hell."

"No. There is still heaven in Kumari Kandam. Look, over there." The eighty-term concubine candidate pointed at something.

The other three would-be concubines spontaneously followed the pointer of the eighty-pointed concubine candidate. Seen from a distance, Braheim had just come out of his palace with the diekori Murat. The bored face of the four prospective concubines was immediately changed radiantly, when he saw the figure of King Kumari Kandam who looked unusually handsome with his robe of greatness.

"I can feel it, His Majesty Braheim's defense is very strong."

"You're right. It seems that destroying the defense is not enough just to sit on his body," said the ninety-ninth concubine candidate to the eightieth concubine.

"Murat's counsel is quite handsome, isn't he?"

"Defense Counsel Murat also seems no less powerful," replied the sixtieth concubine candidate to the seventieth concubine candidate.

"I heard that Counselor Murat had a special relationship with Her Majesty the Queen. Some have seen Counselor Murat visit the queen's palace at midnight."

The ninety-ninth concubine candidate was back. "Whoever made this rumor, he's really a fan of erotic books. His Highness Braheim liked his war commander. Advisor Murat visited the queen's palace at night. Then what else? They fuck until dawn? Silly."

The eightieth concubine candidate was also widened. "But I'm curious about the appearance of Her Majesty the Queen? Why did he never show up?"

"I've seen Her Majesty by accident."

The three prospective concubines turned to the seventy-year-old concubine, patiently waiting for an answer to their curiosity about the appearance of Queen Kumari Kandam. At that time the seventieth concubine was looking for her personal servant who never returned from the royal kitchen. And that's when the seventy-year-old concubine accidentally crosses paths with Jihan.

"... She is very beautiful, but also very strange. I just wanted to say hello, but he ran. He was like a frightened person," added the seventieth concubine.