Chapter 20

The Celtic Druid Monastery Camp ,

West Hill,

Aberdeen , Scotland .

The stone carved plaque is next to the main gate of an old castle.

On one side of West Hill town there is a huge dense forest of fir and Ceder trees.

A narrow road of 12 miles through the forest ends in front of this old castle.

At the end of the forest is an open space of a thousand acres.

Such open spaces are called prairies. This old castle is made of granite stones in the open prairie.

The design and structure of the castle can easily be compared to Dracula's Castle.

A cold current of fear ran down the spine of Shadhin at the sight of the old castle nestled in a secluded thick forest.

From a distance, the castle looks haunted, but when someone get close to it, He realize that the castle is not deserted.

Many people can be seen in the open prairie outside the castle.

They are all busy with their works .

By looking at the people, it is clear that they are all residents of the haunted castle located in this secluded forest, because the people are all wearing similar robes.

There is a cow farm on the north side of the castle, next to the cow farm there is another chicken farm.

From outside the main gate of the castle, one can see freely, hundreds of cows graze on the thousand acres of open land outside the castle and the big sizes hens and chickens of the farm run across the open field.

Shadhin also noticed that people were cutting tall grass growing on the land and storing it in one place to feed the cows inside the farm.

The dark brown colored castle is a rectangular building with three floors.

Seeing the smoke coming out of the chimney of the fire place at the top of the sloping roof of the castle, it is understood that the fire place of the house is burning.

In front of the castle is a lush green forest and behind is the lap of the blue sea.

There is no doubt that everything is a wonderful environment.

But Swadhin knows, this wonderful environment can become terrible for him at one time.

Little is known about druids by him . Druids are kind or violent, he doesn't know .

humble and polite in terms of humanity nothing is known about them .

Without knowing anything Shadhin came to the druids to gather information.

He approached the druids without any notice to them .

Now the druids are not sure if they will accept him as a guest or drive him away.

Alighting from the taxi, Shadhin Raihan stood in front of the main gate of the castle, and asked the taxi driver to wait for him for a while.

Because if the druids don't accept him then he has to go back in this taxi.

Shadhin has a camera in his hand and a bag pack hanging on his back.

The main gate remained open, so entering through the gate, a tall figure in a black robe old man was seen approaching to Shadhin.

The man looked as ancient as this castle . The man may be 100 or 120 years old .

As soon as the mean old man arrived, he began to question to Shadhin in Scottish Gaelic language: -

fit like (hello sir) ,

Shadhin does not know Gaelic. Even if he didn't know, he could guess that he was being questioned about who he was and where he came from.

Swadhin replied to the old man in English that he was a journalist and that he was here to make a documentary story about the druids.

This time the wise old man startled Shadhin and asked in English, who gave you the address of this place?

Shadhin scolded to the old man in his mind .

That the old man knows English so well that he could have spoken to me in English first.

but old man seems to have been flirting with me.

Shadhin lied, I read in a book about druids, since then I wanted to make a documentary story about them.

When I mentioned my desire to a Scottish friend, he told me about this address.

The old man laughed and said, you will write a story about us! Wow very good, very good.

Without letting Shadhin say anything, the old man continued to babble ,

stay here with us , do you Know that people are knowing very little about us ?

People call us superstitious.

Some people say that we worship Satan.

Many people say that we are a group of crazy people.

It would be great if you write a story about us.

People will know that we are still maintaining the oldest religion in this world.

This time Shadhin was saved by the old druid accepting him as a guest.

After paying the fare to the taxi driver, he entered the castle grounds with the old man.

The old man said, everyone calls him Master Beko. Even Shadhin can call him Master Beko.

Shadhin noticed that the old man still had good strength in his body no matter what his age.

Without a stick he walks freely across the open prairie towards the castle.

Other druides are busy with their works on the open prairie.

A few eager druids left their works and tried to get a curious look at Shadhin.

What can be the purpose of the foreigner to come here ?

This is the Question of the mind of the druids .

Shadhin realized that their lifestyle was very simple.

As Master Beko spoke in Gaelic to another elder druid as he entered the castle.

Shadhin saw a curious expression on the druid's face.

Looking at him again and again, he realized that Master Beko must have warned the elder druid about something.

As haunted as the castle looks from the outside, the inside is quite the opposite.

The inside of the castle is sparkling. There is no dust anywhere.

The stone walls inside the castle have various designs, such as: fish, various animals, birds, moon, sun, trees, flowers, vines, leaves and some ancient characters.

The space in the center of the rectangular castle is carefully planted with a variety of fragrant vines and flowering plants.

Shadhin thought that it would take almost a whole day to visit the entire castle because the castle is as big as it has numerous rooms.

At the four corners of the castle there are four tall towers like lighthouses on the seashore.

Inside the castle Shadhin and the old man Master Beko keeps walking.

Shadhin does not know where old master Beko is taking him.

Inside the castle, pass through numerous balconies and corridors , after a long time and finally ,

Master Beko is brought Shadhin to a large hall room. In the fire place of the hall room is kept warm by burning the dry branches of Ceder tree to beat the cold.

A plump old man sits on a couch in front of the fire place.

Shadhin noticed, there is a huge bookshelf on one side of the wall of the huge hall.

A collection of thousands of thick books can be seen on the book shelf.

On the other side of the hall there is a long table and on both sides of the table there are chairs like twenty .

Shadhin thought, this room is probably used as a study room for the druids.

Master Beko led Shadhin to that druid sitting in front of the fire place.

As Master Beko told the sitting old druid about Shadhin, the druid shook hands with the Shadhin.

As the man held the Shadhins hand in his, Shadhin did not know why he felt a touch of absolute love at the touch of the man .

The seated old man is also handsome, tall and healthy. Shadhin told his lies again to the old man .

Said : He is a British journalist and wanted to make a documentary story about the druids.

He came here to learn about the life, religion and culture of the druids.

Shadhin is very shy to lie in front of a respectable person, but there is no way not be lied .

If the truth was told that he had come to collect A-to-Z information on the biography of the founder of a secret organization, then the druids would have kicked him out by now.

This simple-minded old man also believed the lies told by the Shadhin.

Shadhin thought in his mind, how simple believers they are. They do not guess any complexity and crookedness of his being lies .

The ancient bronze sundial hanging on the wall of the hall chimed three o'clock.

Shadhin has not had lunch yet. He is hungry, but he can't even say.

The old man sitting on the couch is called Ferik.

Feric is the High Priest or Master of the Druids of this castle.

Everyone obeys him and he decides everything about the all druids.

Shadhin knew from Ferrick that the castle has a total of sixty druids and about twenty as extras worker from the villages.

This castle has a total of 90 common rooms and a huge dining room.

The accommodation was arranged in a room next to the western tower on the third floor of the castle for Shadhin.

The medium size room has a bed . There is a small table on one side of the bed and a wall cupboard on the other side.

As soon as he opened the window on the western side, he saw the coastline of the blue sea. Although the room was nothing special, but the window on the west side caught the mind of Shadhin.

He thought, even if he can't sleep at night in an unknown place, he can spend the night sitting at the window to watching the sea.

Old Master Beko has also come up with Shadhin. He asked to Shadhin whether the room is liked or not.

Shadhin said, I liked it very much.

Old Beko laughed and said, I live in the next room. We became neighbors.

Swadhin Shrugged, that's why I see.

Old Beko said, if you don't sleep at night, I will appear to you if you call me.

And if you ever want to get up at night and see the open sea, then climb the stairs of the tower to the very top of the tower, then you will see the vastness of the open sea.

But the tower , you will never go down, because there is a dark dungeon below, where the disembodied spirits live instead of people.

Shadhin said, I Don't believe in ghosts or spirits at all .

Beko said, if you are not afraid, you can go down and see.

It will be a great experience in your life.

You can tell your grandchildren about your experience in the future.

Shadhin asked Beko, you don't have a problem going up and down the stairs at this age?

The old man said, if I can walk all day, why can't I climb the stairs!

While Shadhin is talking to the old Beko,

at that time twenty / twenty-two years old boy came and said something to Beko in Gaelic.

Beko said to Shadhin, come down Mr Shadhin, food has been arranged for you in the dining room.

Shadhin finished after his lunch and sit near Ferik in the study room.

There are many people in the study room now. Some are reading with books, some are sitting next to the fire place and making gossiping. Some are is only sitting.

Shadhin noticed that all those in the study room are 60 to 70 years old people.

From Ferrick Shadhin knew about the history, culture and religion of the druids.

The druids were the gurus or scholars of the Celtic community.

Many people also known them as Celtic prophets.

According to the Druids, Celtic is the oldest religion on this Earth planet .

People of ancient times lived dependent on nature. They understood the language of nature, because they had a close relationship with nature.

The Celtic people twenty five thousand years ago identified the four seasons of nature by observing the movements of the moon, sun, stars and wind.

By observing the stars, they could tell in which season there would be storm and in which season there would be drought.

Again by observing the sun they discovered when the longest day of the year is and when the shortest day of the year is.

By observing flowers, vines, leaves, plants and roots, Celtic people were the first to develop herbal medicine on earth.

By observing the movement of the moon, they determined the time of low tide in rivers or seas. The Celtic community was the first to create the first calendar of the lunar year.

The Druids still cling to these natural themes through their religious beliefs. To give literal form to these beliefs, they celebrate seasonal festivals.

The first Celtic community considered the moon, sun, planets and stars as gods and goddesses on earth, and later began to worship them.

Celtic seasonal festivals are held to give thanks to nature's gods and goddesses.

Shadhin listened to the history of the Celtic community as told by Ferric.

Seeing Ferric stopping, he asked how the festivals of the Celtic religion were celebrated.

Ferick started to say about the Celtic festivals .

The Celtics have a total of eight festivals a year, Ferrick continued.

These eight festivals are called Sabbatical Festivals in the Celtic language. The calendar year of the Celtic community begins on October 31st.

31st October is celebrated as the first day of the year.

This festival is called Shaimen Festival.

During this festival, the people of the Celtic community are ritually blessed by connecting with the spirits of their ancestors through meditation at night.

And during the day they make cakes and different types of cookies and distribute them to each other's houses as a harvest festival.

In America, this festival is called Halloween.

Festival Yule is celebrated on 01st of December. The Celtic religion followers welcome the morning sun on this day and celebrate this day as the first day of winter.

Celtic religion believes that on this day, the sun god is revived and returns to the earth with a new life stream.

Festival Emblic, celebrated on 1st of February. Emblic Festival is also called Candle Mash. Candle Mash is celebrated as the new day of spring season.

On this day, by making an altar in the name of the goddess of spring, lighting different types of candles, the goddess of spring is welcomed to the earth.

And the candle mash ceremony was held throughout the night.

Festival Ostara, celebrated on 21st March. Day and night are equal on this day.

This is the spring equinox of the Celtic community.

The Celtic community believed that new gods were born on this day, and men went out hunting wild animals after sunset to honor those new gods.

The turn of the game begins with hunting animals.

The Pagan Fertility Ritual begins after the banquet and feasting.

In other languages, it is also called sex ritual.

During the celebration of this event, all the participants in the event have to be naked. And have to participate in sacred fertility rituals with their partners.

Festival Beltane is celebrated on May 1st, the first day of summer. This day is considered as the holy day of marriage of gods and goddesses.

So this day is celebrated by dancing, singing and performing sex or love rituals throughout the night.

Litha festival is celebrated on 21st day of June month. On this day, the sun shines at its brightest. The day is the longest and the night is the shortest.

Lambus festival is celebrated on 1st August. This day is celebrated as the first day of cutting wheat or grain and bringing it home.

This day is dedicated to the Goddess and our Mother (Earth). During this festival, the Celtic community prepares food from fresh wheat and grains and dedicates it to the goddess Earth .

The festival Mebon, celebrated on 21st September, marks the last month of the year.

The first day of autumn begins on this date. This day is called Autumn Equinox.

Day and night are equal on this day too. But after this day, the night gets longer and the day gets shorter.

Therefore, this day is observed by the Celtic community as the dark phase of the year.

They think this time is dark or bad strength and power of the gods and goddesses increases.

And they afflict all the people and animals of the world with the freezing cold of winter.

This is how we, the Celtic people, keep our religion and faith.

From Ferric learned much about the religion and beliefs of the Druids Shadhin just being amazed .

Then Shadhin Wanted to know from Ferik about the biography of the founder of this druids castle .

Ferrick said that the founder of their monastery was also a Celtic believer and a druid .

His name is Henry Gregory Wales. He has been died for two years ago .

We are now taking care of all the responsibilities of this monastery in our own way.

When Shadhin wanted to know from Feric, who is the owner of this monastery or who is the heir of Mr. Henry Gregory Wales.

Then Ferik said, I have been told as much as you needed to know, Mr. Shadhin, there is nothing more for you to know.

Shadhin understood, Ferrick was unwilling to preach anything about Henry Gregory Wales' heirs.

He tried to reconcile the logic in his mind that in this the rule of monastery.

Is everyone forbidden to say anything about Henry Gregory Walex heirs?

Or people in this castle do not want anyone to know about their new owner?

Evidently, Ferrick was reluctant to learn anything about Henry Gregory Wales' heirs.

Ferick said to Shadhin "We are very happy to know that you are making a documentary story about us,"

Hope many people in the world will know about our religion and faith by reading your documentary story.

Shadhin said, I have many more things to know about your religion and culture.

If you help to know those more things then it will be very good for me.

Ferik said why not, of course you will get all the support from us. If you want to know more about us, you can read our religious books and read our lost history books to know in detail about the culture and religion of our community.

While Shadhin is talking to Ferick, that time Shadhin's cell phone rings .

He left his private number in London and brought the official number with him.

The official number was not given to Kuhon. But this number of Shadhin is with both

Sharlene and Danesh.

Shadhin checked the phone and saw that a message had arrived.

In the message written that Natalia left the hostel and went to a lodge in Birmingham.

A fold of thought fell on Shadhins head. Why did Natalia leave the hostel suddenly?

While he going to call to Sharlene,

Swadhin noticed that his phone had no charge and Swadhin remembered that he had forgotten to bring his phone charger.

Then Shadhin's phone Offed due to low charge.

Human danger comes as a result of human actions.

As Shadhin is now in a danger for his actions. Now he has no way to contact anyone in London.

He made a mistake that he did not bring the charger, so now he has to pay for the mistake.

He Said to Ferik, how can i be contacted from here in London?

Ferik said, of course not. You can't communicate with anyone from here.

Because none of us use any phones.

Shadhin said, then can I go to the city once? Ferik looked at Shadhin for a while with a smile and said, You have come of your own accord and will go according to the will of our Master of Masters.

Shadhin asked who is your master of masters?

Ferik said, wait, when the time will come, you will know who is our master of masters.

As long as he is not coming, visit this castle of ours. Read books and try to know more about us.

As soon as the clock in the study room struck six o'clock in the evening, a young druid come to give two mugs of coffee for Ferrick and Shadhin.

Shadhin took the coffee mug in hand and walked towards the Book Shelf.

A storm is now flowing in the mind of Shadhin.

He realizes that he is trapped by these druids who are looking like very innocent in vision.

He saw that the all thick books on the bookshelf were written in Gaelic.

Shadhin asked a druid who was reading a book on the study table, are there any books translated into English?

This druid man did not know English, so he said something in Gaelic, which even Shadhin did not understand.

From the other side of the study room, Ferick shouted, "In this castle, no one knows English except me and Master Beko, so if you want to know anything, ask me or Master Beko."

Shadhin raised his voice from his place and asked, I was asking if there is any book translated into English for me to read.

Ferrick shouted from his position to another druid who was reading a book and said something in Gaelic.

he began to search for some books that could inform him about the Master of Masters of this monastery.

Shadhin thinking why the druids stopped him ?

Shadhin realizes that he is in great danger and there is no one here to save him from this great danger situation .