6 Zoe's Mission

Well now will be the time for the truth. Rana had always liked Zoe. From the day he had seen her. But that day something else had happened. The truth about what happened was top secret. It was known only to the Emperor, the palace officers and Rana's father. That day after Rana met Zoe, he and Zolo were practising to dodge attacks when Bratt, Rana's father asked him to get some lilies for an aura ritual. And so to get the lilies that only grow in the Millennium Caves. These caves were only found to be existing after the cold war. Archaeological evaluation had said that the Millenium Caves had existed before the dinosaurs. And the caves were protected by a force far more powerful than a demon's aura. Rana rode his bike to the caves. He saw that the lilies growing outside were already picked by someone else. And so he decided to go inside the cave. Bratt had made a mistake on not informing Rana that he should not go inside the cave. As a matter of fact the cave had been fully evaluated. Legend goes that no one who enter the cave comes back alive. Rana was very lucky enough to be alive after he entered the cave. Later that evening he found unconscious near the Jiiwandan. Zoe took him to her home as she did not know where he lived. The cops recognised him to be their fellowmate's son. Rana was admitted in an hospital. When Bratt arraived the doctors told him about Rana's condition.

"His aura is fully drained. And the worst part is, he is cursed." The doctor showed a U-mark on Rana's bare back. " It is different from what we usually see in beasts and humans. This is not an usual aura blast. The mark is more like scar, like it had been imprinted with this symbol. I don't know how long it will take for your son to transform but the longer he stays here, it is more dangerous to the other patients. We need to transfer him to Katara, the village for the crused ones near the Devil's Mouth."

"Doctor, please give my son some more time. Please! He is just 9 years old." Bratt pleaded.

"Sir, I have to do my duty. Please control your emotions."

Bratt ran out the hospital with tears falling down his cheeks. He ran to the Emperor's palace. Since Bratt had saved the Emperor's son once, the Empreror owed a lot to Bratt. On seeing Bratt running towards the palace, the Emperor climbed down from the balcony and embraced Bratt.

" What is it, my friend?" The Emperor asked.

"My, son. My, son... He is cursed. Save him. Please save him." As Bratt pleaded, the Emperor's hear melted. And so he used his power to silence all the witness. To the doctor's surprise Rana never transformed.

I think he his immune to the curse. It's an supernatural miracle. Your son is saved." The doctor had said. But there was something wrong with Rana, he was never the same again. He was scared of everything. He feared anything and everything. And as a result Rana was never sent out of Roltings. His fear grew as he grew. Zolo never understood what changed Rana. When Zoe told them this, Zolo understood that Rana' curse was the reason for his unexpected fear. Zolo's fear of what might have become scared him.

"So my curse is fear? Well then it is not much of a curse, is it? Well then what does that have to do with this?" Rana asked.

"The emperor has changed a lot. Rumours are spreading that he is consulting with the dark spirits." As Zoe spoke, Tongs appeared on the enterance with a basket full of fishes.

"Seems like Dinner will be ready soon." John said. He was neither surprised to see a Kumhio in the Blood region nor was paying any attention to what Zoe was telling. As a result nobody payed any attention to him either.

"The emperor is planing to perform the Irattaruuitch ritual. And if he succeeds, not alone will he become immortal but also summon a demon." Zoe said looking like she had no clue what to do.

"Still what does that have to do with me?" Rana still didn't get his answer.

"Blood ritual needs a cursed human. Only Rana's curse cannot defend him. But the other cursed men have powers too. Your father when he came to know that the Emperor was consulting the dark spirits, he gave me a mission to spy the Emperor. He also asked me to fake my disappearance if someone finds out about the mission. I gathered as much info and evidence that I could gather. But a guard saw me sneaking around. So I had to fake my disappearance."

"So, the Emperor wants to use me for some kind of ritual. Then who killed Ganesh? And why are they trying to frame us?" Rana said.

"I don't know."

"What was in the message that my father asked me to deliver? Why didn't he just send him a virtual message?"

"Virtual messages way more easier for spying. The message was about a beast. They call it a Millennium Beast. Only that beast can defeat the Emperor's guardian. Fortunately the Emperor is not from the Dhreen lineage and so he has no aura skills. The only problem is his guardian. Ganesh had predicted that the Millennium Beast will wake up when the ultimate arise. And your father thought that the ritual was the ultimate evil and he was desperate to find the beast. That is why he sent you to Ganesh. What did Ganesh reply to the message?" Zoe asked eagerly.

"He said that I have to go after the man who killed Ganesh. He said only the killer can defeat the real enemy."Rana said.

"So we have to find the killer! He could be the beast." Zoe said.