Before the crown of shadows touched her head, darkness first came dressed like light and planted a seed with the words it said.
~~~~~
Her every attempt failed. Nothing answered Gyanwati anymore.
Not the wind.
Not the earth.
Not God.
Her palms trembled with frustration. She had tried ancient chants, sacred diagrams, meditated, forgotten hymns from the oldest scrolls. She had fasted. She had stayed awake through nights. She had cut her skin and let drops of blood fall on the ritual, hoping something would awaken. Hoping for her powers to come back.
Nothing did.
The forest no longer responded to her presence.
Her mother came to her one evening, quietly sitting beside her.
"Child," she said with gentle anger, "repent. Accept what you did. You killed someone. Don't you miss him? He had been with us for generations. At least show some remorse. Bow your head sincerely, and I am sure your power will return… repent."
Gyanwati's jaw tightened.
"I did nothing wrong," she said. "I wanted knowledge. I wanted to grow. Why is that a sin?… Mother, I would have brought him back once I had gained more power. I wanted Mṛtyuñjaya Siddhi—I could have controlled death. And I did not want that for selfish reasons; it was for the forest, to protect God's creations."
Her mother's eyes filled with sorrow. She could clearly see her daughter's fall from light into darkness.
But Gyanwati heard only one thing:
God did this to me. He could have protected me? he could have helped me.
Anger began replacing pain.
Why should He abandon me?
Why should I suffer for wanting more?
That night,The moon was thin and red. The air felt strange, she was walking into the forest and… wind shifted.
A presence stood behind her.
She turned.
He was tall — taller than any man she had seen. Broad shoulders. A commanding silence.
He smiled friendly.
"Gyanwati."
Her breath stilled.
"You are the King of Patallok," she said coldly. "You are not someone I should speak to."
He tilted his head slightly. "And yet….here I am."
He stood in front of her with presence that was strangely peaceful to her. His face looked celestial…. clear skin, sharp features, and eyes that were deep yet soft like someone who knew far more than he revealed. There was quiet beauty about him, the kind that made it hard to look away.
His long dark hair fell neatly to his shoulder slightly moving even without the breeze. He wore golden chest plate that covered his chest, engraved with delicate patterns that shimmered in the red moonlight. A white dhoti was wrapped around his waist. Around his arms were broad golden bands.
He did not look like the epitome of darkness .
If anything, he looked like a celestial king who had simply stepped out of the heavens.
"I have heard right about you," he said calmly. "You are indeed knowledgeable. Not everyone can recognize me at the first glance."
He studied her quietly for a moment before continuing.
"You know what else I have heard about you?" he said. "You are the most powerful Aokma spirit queen of your age. Your name echoed across the three lokas. Your strength. Your brilliance. Your command…."
Her throat tightened.
"You were magnificent," he said. "And now… they whisper about your fall."
She turned away. "Leave."
But he did not.
"I am here to meet you" he said calmly "I will give you what you want."
She stiffened.
"Your God abandoned you," he said gently. "But I will never."
And for a moment Silence filled the forest.
"I will return your powers," he continued. "Stronger than before. Greater than before. I will give you a crown that fits your worth."
Her pulse quickened although she tried to hide it.
"What was your fault?" he asked softly. "Wanting knowledge? Wanting growth?"
His voice lowered.
"He want everyone to run under His command and To remain puppets?"
Her eyes flickered.
"Why should you protect humans," he continued, "when you can rule them?"
She snapped, "Enough."
But his words hit her.
Why must we always obey?
Why must we protect the weak?
Why can we not lead?
He stepped closer.
"Free will," he whispered. "You deserve it."
She turned away from him.
"You are the devil," she said. "Leave me."
He smiled.
"As you wish."
And just like that — he was gone.
But his words remained.
That night, she did not sleep.
She stared at the vast sky.
Why should we always obey?
Why should we serve?
Her original goal had been to protect. To preserve life.
But now another thought formed —
If I can rule them… would that not be greater?
The seed had been planted.
And the next evening— He returned.