Chapter 8 - Moon Magic

Raghu's sobs had quietened down by now but Darpan was still in thought.

Moon Magic was something he thought was forbidden and dark. It was so weird. For a country that worships the Moon God; it's people were strictly against this Moon Magic.

The tales of its tremendous destructive and evil power were something every child in the country knew.

Why was Moon Magic the symbol of evil? Why did Laal Daaku's want it? How was Aroh Village involved? These questions wreaked havoc on Darpan's mind, wanting to be answered. However, he kept quiet, not wanting to pry and know something the other didn't want to tell him.

As they sat there in silence, not knowing which questions were to be asked after that shocking revelation, Raghu collected himself.

" That Moon Magic, I never knew how something could be so darned that it would bring grief everywhere it was present. If only I could turn back time- I would have never....."

Raghu trailed off after seeing the dumbfounded looks on the faces of the three young men in front of him.

" But Kaka, Wasn't Moon Magic considered Pavitra*? How could it be evil? I don't understand...."

Ashmit stopped mid sentence due to the glare from the younger Batra piercing through his eyes.

" Huh! Pavitra? That cursed thing should have never existed to begin with. It ruined all those Jadoogars, and now it'll ruin all those who covet it. I can't blame others, when it's part my fault in things ending up this way."

Raghu stared at his weak bony hands, his eyes containing the darkness his life had surrounded itself with.

Darpan finally couldn't contain it anymore. The urge to ask him the origin was clawing at his mind.

" But, Kaka. What exactly is Moon Magic? Why is it so evil if it is? Would you please tell us? "

Raghu looked at the youngster with discerning eyes when suddenly his gaze softened and he nodded with an understanding look.

" It makes sense if you didn't know. Afterall, it was around 30 years back this all even started."

He quietly corrected his posture, shifting a bit, leaning forward and taking a long pause; continued.

" The Moon Magic, it's one of its kind. A set ancient practice on how to channel the moon powers into every aspect of your life. Back then, it was considered a gift from the Moon God hence the name Moon Magic.

The practitioners who learned it were the Jadoogars. There's it's an extremely detailed manual to practice the craft of using Moon powers to enhance, beautify and elevate the abilities of one's body and life. It could be put to use in various ways."

"Is this related to the Jadoogar you mentioned before? Was he a practitioner as well?" Aryan was reminded of the previous incidence at the door. Raghu nodded and continued.

" It would have been great if it had been just that. Enhancing people's abilities, and generating positive energy. Alas,it was not. The powers of the Moon God were exemplary but when paired with the Black Summoning craft*: it was a recipe for disaster.

The then King then decided to put this idea to test and invited some Jadoogars to practice this unique craft. What they did there is beyond my knowledge, I only know it wasn't anything good. There were monster attacks, droughts, earthquakes. It was a total nightmare. Probably, people thought that they had upset the Moon God somehow and refused to burn the manual down. "

" So Moon Magic wasn't initially dark? Was it only because it was paired with dark summoning that it has this ill reputation?" Ashmit's question was a break from the way the story was going so far.

" Who knows? This story is from possibly hundreds of years ago. It may have been or may not have been. All I know is that whatever evil it had created had started to spread its roots out to the normal world. Towards the innocent people who probably wouldn't even have known what Moon Magic was.

It was indeed initially used for the growth of crops, the food , the maintenance of the nature so everything was harmonized or so they say. Hence it survived through the years with people believing it was the only way out of this disaster."

Raghu breathed out a sigh and rubbed his temple as if even the mention of the Moon Magic was hurting his mind.

" If they knew ,it was the source of their problems all along? The whole Kingdom had succumbed to the darkness and vanished by then. What remained was the cursed Manual. And what do you think happened once people came to know about it? They chased after it, of course. Greed is in human nature, afterall; Be it for money, food, luxury, women or power.

All those rich officials chased after it 'wanting the manual to nurture and enhance the world by channelling the Moon powers'. It was hidden somewhere safely until 30 years back. All hell broke loose."

" Wait , then what exactly happened 30 years back?? " Ashmit asked ,his curiosity was cute, but not at a time when discussing some past mystery.

" I don't have all details. A very limited portion of the whole thing is known to everyone. I happen to know a little more as someone who experienced it. "

All other six eyes went wide hearing this.

" It was a siege from the neighborhood countries after they found out about the hidden location of the Manual. They demanded we surrender it to them. Nobody was ready to back down. So what always has happened in these situations happened."

He glanced over at Darpan

" A War?"

" Hmmm. Correct. However it wouldn't be right to call it a war. It was an attack from all sides, merciless killings of innocent, torture spaces, forced interrogation about the location of the cursed object. I didn't even know it was was with my father until that day . Apparently the late king had trusted him to keep it safe and out of reach of these so called well wishers of the country.

He handed me that thing when he was drawing his last breath , suffering injuries from the torture he braved. Made me promise to keep it safe and ....left me.

That thing managed to destroy every single thing in its wake somehow.

I don't even know why people would want it near them?"

" Kaka, if it was with your father then... does that mean...?"

Aryan inquired. His words meant only one thing. When Raghu slowly nodded, Darpan and Aryan's heads snapped to the direction of the red cloth covered chest. So that was what it was.

Darpan felt uneasy. Something about this Moon Magic Manual gave him eerie chills and was yet enticing to him. It felt odd now knowing the thing was in the same room as him as they spoke all this time. Something that carried a hundred years worth of history and secrets. It felt as if it was drawing him towards it.

" I brought it back with me to Aroh Village and settled there; hoping to blend in with people so that I could protect this possession. What I forgot was this thing would sooner or later bring devastation and grief anywhere it was present.

It took 30 years for it to strike but when it did, it did so with such brutality no one could have imagined. Now I wish I hadn't done that and put all these people in danger. It's location is now revealed to the Laal Daaku's and they are probably looking for it now "

He took a deep breath and chugged water from the half filled cup next to the seater.

" Today too, I had thought you were Laal Daaku's looking for the last Jadoogar and the Manual. I barely managed to save myself both times but I don't think I can anymore. I might not be able to protect it afterall. If..... only Vishay had been with me now."

As soon as the words left his mouth , Aryan and Darpan's eyes went wide.

" Kaka, Whom did you just mention? Is it a close confidant of yours?"

Darpan was quick with this question. He wasn't sure of this connection so it had the benefit of doubt for now.

" Vishay.... Vishay Batra. A close friend of mine from Gurukul* days. He was an Anuj* to me and the person I trusted the most. We had to part ways after the siege from foreigners since I ran away with the Manual first. He is the only one who knows about the manual's location other than me. He....."

Raghu couldn't continue seeing the absolutely shocked and baffled faces of the boys.

" What happened? Why are... you so shocked?"

" Kaka, this Vishay Batra ,you speak of...."

Aryan started.

" You know him?"

Raghu almost jumped from his seat and coughed while in a shock of the possibility of someone knowing Vishay.

"How do you know him?"

He demanded to know at this point.

Darpan again patted at his back easing his cough fits.

" He's.....our Father."

Darpan finished.

-------------------------------------------------

1. Pavitra - the Hindi/ Sanskrit term for Pure.

2.Black Summoning craft- Basically ' Black Magic ' used to summon spirits or make the dead alive again. Also used to harm others.

3. Gurukul - I've mentioned this before but it's the ancient school system in India.

4. Anuj- A Hindi/Sanskrit term used to adress younger brothers while referencing them or younger male friends or juniors.