Chapter 18 : Devotee of Varuna Dev
I approached the well, brushed away the thick spider webs with my hand, and leaned over to peer inside. A profound darkness swirled within.
My gaze could see nothing but darkness, stretching as far as the eye could see. For a fleeting moment, the thought of turning back crossed my mind, but I did not waver. I discarded that cowardly thought like a piece of trash.
If I take a step back today, I will never summon the courage to take a step forward in the future. Therefore, I will never retreat.
I stepped forward, climbed onto the rim of the well, took a deep breath, and without overthinking it, jumped straight in.
I plummeted down the well at high speed, gravity pulling me violently toward its center. I barely managed to maintain my balance during the freefall.
Vines and various unknown plants were growing along the walls. And strangely enough, while the well had appeared pitch-black from above, down here, I could see everything with perfect clarity.
I kept falling and falling; I was losing patience with this endless descent.
Just how deep was this well dug? It feels as though there is no bottom to it.
I was starting to get bored; the silence was becoming unbearable. Finally, after several minutes, the ground came into view.
[ Telekinesis ]
I activated my skill. My body began to glow with a blue aura. Using my power, I decelerated my descent to ensure I wouldn't be injured upon landing.
Coming... coming... here it is.
I landed on the ground, but I had to roll to break the fall. My clothes got covered in dust and dirt, but I didn't sustain any major injuries.
I stood up and dusted off my clothes. The ground was littered with old wood, and many dried-up roots were hanging around.
I moved forward slowly. Walking over the brittle wood created a crunching sound, so I proceeded with extreme caution, keeping a sharp eye on my surroundings.
Drip! Drip!
Suddenly, I heard the sound of dripping water coming from somewhere. I realized that there was indeed water down here, though for some reason, the well wasn't filling up.
I continued step by step. After walking a short distance, I spotted a pool of water neither too small nor too big.
Scattered around the area, I saw the skeletons of several people lying on the ground.
Looking at them, one thing became clear to me: a ferocious beast lives here.
Because if a human jumps from such a height, their death is certain. I had heard from Vrishali that people sentenced to death were sent here to investigate the well.
The villagers must have realized that falling in here doesn't kill a person immediately; that is why they kept sending them.
The reason for my deduction is right in front of me: there are no signs of fractures on these skeletons.
Would anyone's bones remain intact after falling from such a height? And as for dying of hunger or thirst—if that were the case, there should still be clothes on the skeletons.
But these skeletons are completely bare.
I became alert, fully prepared to battle any unknown beast. I completely activated my psychic abilities, causing my black eyes to transform into glowing blue orbs.
Deep within the pool, a creature opened its eyes; sensing a presence, it began to rise toward the surface.
From where I stood, I watched the previously calm water of the pool begin to ripple and churn. I realized immediately that the beast was emerging.
I took a few steps back. Slowly, a colossal creature began to drag itself out of the water.
The beast walked on four legs. It possessed razor-sharp teeth, a tail as flexible as a whip, and green skin covered in protruding spikes. But the strangest thing of all was that it wore a crown upon its head.
It looks like a crocodile, but it is ten times larger than a normal one. And what is with that crown? Do animals wear crowns now?
Before I could decide on my next move, the creature stopped at the water's edge right in front of me, advancing no further. The monster-like beast opened its mouth, and to my astonishment, it could speak like a human.
"Child, why have you come here? Once you have entered, you cannot leave without passing my trial even if you are merely a child."
"I just wandered in. And you, sir—could you tell me who you are? A Rakshasa? An Asura? Or perhaps a God's pet?"
I wasn't afraid in the slightest; in fact, I was in the mood to joke around.
"You foolish child! How dare you call me an Asura or a Rakshasa? I am one of the servants of Makara, the divine vehicle of Lord Varuna."
"Oh, you are a servant of Lord Varuna's mount? Then please accept my salutations. By the way, could you tell me why you have held back the water of this well? Is there a reason for it?"
Upon hearing his identity, I first offered my respects, then inquired about the reason for the water blockage.
"I admire your courage. Despite being such a small boy, you stand before me completely unfazed, while even great warriors tremble in fear in my presence."
He continued, "As for the question you asked, I will answer it. But before that, tell me: have you come here with the intention of solving these people's problem?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "No, I didn't come here with the motive of helping anyone. It was merely my curiosity regarding this strange occurrence. I have already figured out the cause—that you are blocking the water—but I have not yet understood the reason."
"Oh? Despite being such a small boy, your heart is not pure like a child's. You do not think of the well-being of others; there is a possibility that you will grow up to be a wicked person."
He evaluated my character with a critical tone.
I was irritated by his words. "Just because I do not think about others, you have labeled me a bad person? Is thinking about oneself a crime? As far as I know, many Gods spend their days in indulgence and merrymaking, drinking wine and watching celestial dancers perform."
To be continued...