Chapter 8: The Return of Old Kaifon and the Secret of the Mysterious Picture
In the previous chapter, you read that DarkZael's men had captured Kevin, but the mysterious elder defeated them with his amazing swordsmanship.
After the fight, the elder calls someone… and as soon as the other elder enters the room, Draxon's eyes widen in surprise.
It was none other than Old Kaifon — Old Kaifon, whom Draxon had seen taking his last breadth in the market.
Draxon's heartbeat quickens. His mind fills with disbelief and questions —
"How is this possible? Did I see wrong that day? Or has some big secret been hidden from me?"
Seeing Old Kaifon, Draxon was completely shocked. Doubt and confusion were clearly visible in his eyes.
The Curtain of Mystery Rises
Mysterious Elder (smiling, in a calm voice):
"Draxon... what you saw with your own eyes is not always the truth. Many times the real truth deceives the eyes."
Draxon (surprised, eyes widening):
"But... I saw him taking his last breath in the market! How is this possible?"
[The mysterious elder looks at Old Kaifon and slightly nods. Old Kaifon steps forward, with a slight smile and a calm expression on his face.]
The Secret of Old Kaifon
Old Kaifon (in a soft, clear voice):
"Yes Draxon... you should know everything. That day when we were in the market, I saw that two of DarkZael's men were watching us — the same two men whom we have just captured….
I understood that they would follow us. So I pretended to fall unconscious there… so they would think I was dead.
When you left from there, they started following you, while I quietly reached the elder's house."
Kevin (in surprise, stunned):
"Quietly? What does that mean, Old Kaifon?"
Draxon (in a low and explanatory voice):
"Kevin... Old Kaifon reached here quietly because that day he was badly wounded. His body had many injuries. He couldn't even speak if he wanted to."
Old Kaifon (with a slight smile, nodding his head):
"You are right, Draxon. I was really injured that day… had become very weak."
Draxon (in a serious tone):
"So that clue... which we found in that old house — that map and that letter — was it you who left them there?"
Old Kaifon (in a low voice):
"Yes, Draxon… I left them there. I had a feeling that DarkZael's men had surrounded you from all sides.
I wanted you to find the right path… so that your search does not remain incomplete."
Kevin (with surprise and curiosity):
"But how did you know all this? We were completely unaware!"
Old Kaifon (with a soft smile):
"When these men had captured you, I was hiding behind that same old door. From there I was listening to your entire conversation."
Draxon (startled):
"Oh! So this was the secret! We didn't even suspect a thing!"
(Draxon slowly looks towards both the prisoners, a warning shining in his eyes like sunlight.)
Draxon (in a low but firm tone):
"Do not forget them... they are the ones who tried to deceive us. Until we complete the path of truth, they will remain imprisoned."
(Kevin steps forward quickly, the mixture of anger and surprise clearly visible in his eyes.)
Kevin (in a firm tone):
"Tell us! How did you find the way to this hidden room? We had hidden the path!"
(First man, fearfully but truthfully):
"Your footprints were left behind... by following them we reached here."
Draxon (thinking, in a low voice):
"Did they reveal the secret of this house to their leader DarkZael?"
Mysterious Elder (with a calm expression):
"No... they have not told anything to their leader yet. They came straight here… and got trapped here."
(One of DarkZael's men, speaking irritably and filled with regret):
"We made a big mistake! We should have sent a message to our leader earlier!"
Draxon (with a slight smile, tauntingly):
"I wish you had shown this wisdom earlier. Now neither will your message go… nor will your dream be fulfilled."
(The mysterious elder turns to Old Kaifon and the servant, and commands in a firm tone):
"Lock both of them in the back chamber… and erase all the footprints that have been made up to here. No clue should remain."
(Draxon now turns towards the elder, waves of questions rising in his eyes. He asks in a serious tone):
"Who exactly are you? And how am I the last heir of the Azamgarh empire?"
"That special sword 'ShadowRix'… what is its secret? And how are you so skilled in swordsmanship? When will all these secrets be revealed?"
(The mysterious elder looks at Draxon with a slight smile. In his eyes, a hidden secret seemed to shine.)
Mysterious Elder (in a calm but impactful tone):
"Have patience, Draxon… you will get the answer to every question. But every truth has its own time to come forth."
Kevin (eagerly, a little irritated):
"But when will that time come?"
(The mysterious elder smiles lightly):
"Tonight… when dinner is over. Then every layer will be uncovered."
(Draxon and Kevin look silently at each other — curiosity, restlessness, and slight nervousness clearly visible in their eyes. Both slowly move towards their room.)
(As they reach the room, Kevin softly speaks, his voice filled with hope):
"Draxon… it seems a very big secret will be revealed today. Just a little more… then we'll know everything."
Draxon (in a low voice, thinking):
"Yes… the answers we have been searching for so many days, perhaps we will get them tonight."
Kevin (in a serious tone):
"We must talk to them with full respect and patience. I feel they will not tell us something ordinary… maybe they are going to reveal a great truth to us."
Draxon (a little puzzled):
"But there is one thing, Kevin… which is still beyond my understanding."
Kevin (curiously):
"What?"
Draxon (slowly, lowering his gaze):
"That elder looks like an ordinary man… but his swordsmanship… that was like a royal warrior. So fast, so precise moves… no ordinary person can do that."
Kevin (nodding, with curiosity):
"I thought the same! When he stopped DarkZael's men, it felt like some warrior from the royal court was fighting. There was no hesitation or fatigue in him."
Draxon (with a slight smile):
"We don't need to think too much… tonight we'll know everything."
---
The Restlessness of DarkZael
(While Draxon and Kevin were talking in their room, at the same time DarkZael was pacing restlessly at his hideout. Anger was clearly visible on his face. His patience was wearing thin from not getting any news from his men.)
(He angrily looked at his loyal men. Drops of sweat shone on his forehead.)
DarkZael (in a harsh voice):
"We have searched the entire city, but no trace of Draxon and Kevin was found? Where are they hiding after all?"
(The man standing in front of him spoke hesitantly.)
DarkZael's Man (in a fearful tone):
"Chief… you are absolutely right… we have checked every street, every corner… but we found no clue of them."
(DarkZael clenched his fists in anger. In his eyes was a strange mix of doubt and restlessness.)
DarkZael (frowning his eyes):
"Is it possible that my enemies have snatched them right from under my nose…?"
(Silence filled the room. Everyone started looking at each other's faces. DarkZael's breaths grew heavy.)
DarkZael (thinking to himself):
"And those two of my most trusted men… where are they?"
Second companion (softly):
"Chief… both of them had gone outside Junagarh city in search of Draxon and Kevin. But there has been no news of them since."
(DarkZael's brows furrowed. Lines of concern appeared on his face.)
DarkZael (in a serious tone):
"I suspect… that they have been captured by Draxon or that mysterious elder."
A soldier (startled):
"Chief, shouldn't we go looking for them?"
(DarkZael nodded slightly with a smile.)
DarkZael:
"No... don't worry. My men are not that weak. They know how to handle situations. If not this time, then in the next move... we will surely capture Draxon and his companions."
(Silence spread in the room. Everyone started waiting for DarkZael's next order.)
---
The Time for Truth Has Come
(The night had completely deepened. Outside, the wind was softly rustling. The flame of the burning candle in the room was trembling slightly. In its yellow light, long, scary shadows were dancing on the walls.
There was a strange silence in the room — as if even time had stopped, trying to listen to something.)
Mysterious Elder (in a soft but emotional voice):
"Draxon... Kevin... are you ready to hear the truth !
The truth... that until now was imprisoned behind closed doors which is neither separate from your past... nor from your coming journey."
(Both friends were startled. Draxon's breaths quickened. A shine appeared in Kevin's eyes.)
Kevin (in a low but spirited voice):
"We have been waiting for this moment for a long time... whatever it is today... tell us."
(A slight mysterious smile spreads on the elder's lips. He slowly steps forward.)
Mysterious Elder:
"Then come... with me."
(An old door creaks in the corner of the room. Behind it, a small chamber... where a cobweb-covered old picture hangs on the wall.
The elder takes the candle close to it. Its soft flickering light falls on that blurred picture.)
Mysterious Elder (in a soft, mysterious voice):
"This is it... the sign... connected to your blood. Your hidden truth... the one that has been hidden from the world until now."
(Draxon slowly walked towards the picture. His eyes fixed on that dusty old picture. There was deep silence in the room — only the soft sobbing flame of the candle was trembling.)
Draxon (in a low voice, in surprise):
"This... what is this...?"
(His breaths quickened. There were three faces in the picture.)
The first face — clear and familiar. The same mysterious elder.
The second face — Kevin...! Exactly the same face as now.
And the third...
(Draxon's steps seemed to sink into the ground. His heartbeat almost stopped.)
Draxon (in a trembling voice):
"This... is this me...? But... this picture seems very old... how can this be...?"
(There was a shine of disbelief in his eyes. Kevin also came near the picture. He glanced once... and his face also turned pale.)
Kevin (in a low, fearful voice):
"Draxon... this picture... it wants to tell us something... this can't be just a coincidence...!"
(For a moment, absolute silence fell in the room. The flame of the candle trembled strongly. Just then, the mysterious elder took a deep breath. In his eyes shone some old burden.)
Mysterious Elder (in a deep, emotional tone):
"Now the time has come... to know the truth.
Your real identity... your true duty... everything will unfold before you."
(The room suddenly felt heavy. Even the air seemed to stop. Draxon and Kevin's hearts started beating rapidly together. There were a thousand questions in their eyes... and restlessness for every coming word.)
:- Was it merely a coincidence that Draxon and Kevin reached this mysterious elder's house?
Or is there some old, hidden relationship between these three... which is now slowly going to be revealed?
:- Are Draxon and Kevin merely ordinary friends... or is there some big secret hidden in their identity?
The secret of this truth will unfold… in the next Chapter…
In Chapter 9…
To be Continued…