I moved on. "This TriArambh, with so much hostility brewing in them, how come they are all living together in Uttarameer?"

"They don't. They broke Uttarameer down in three equal parts. Matsyasvi and Pizaca protect their clans in such a way that none of the beasts enter their personal territory. But you know very well how it is, curiosity soars strong in young veins. They want to experience the real trouble and then face the repercussions head-on. Sometimes they tend to divert and all the Matsyasvi that rebel to fight Almourah, never usually return. Once they are gone, they are gone forever."

"He kills."

"Brutally. Almourah never let go of a chance."

"But you are here now," I asked, "Half of your clan did move from Uttarameer."

He shrugged. "King Harsh."

I dramatically cleared my throat, before he could say any further. I wasn't ready to go there yet. Although, I was aware that his topic was soon approaching, so I began mustering heavenly composure. "Extreme case of sibling rivalry, it seems. What about Sir Pizaca? Has he got any part in it?"

"He is an idiot," Ashwant said through gritted teeth. "A mischievous rogue. Clumsy, insincere, he likes to make a mockery of humans noble values. It's magic maybe but people easily tend to fall into his trap, believe his words and then lose their dignity and self-worth. Geez, all those stories about him, they aren't as funny as they are meant to be. Father used to say he could have resolved the problem between his brother and sister but no, making a fool out of someone is more essential."

I sniggered softly. "I want to know the reasoning behind this rivalry. What could have happened between them that, after all these centuries, Almourah couldn't take the high road and forgive her?"

He leaned back and stared up blakely at the roof. "Well, legend has it that we bring bad luck. Misfortune. One of the reasons why Panchayat doesn't want us to mingle with humans. This has started a thousand years ago when there was a group of men, the sailors wanting to join Almourah to learn magic from him. For this, they have to cross this reservoir where Lady Matsyasvi resides. Unfortunately, they were neither able to cross it, nor able to return alive. They just disappeared. And Lady Matsyasvi wasn't able to do anything about it."

"Is there any truth in it? Are humans still disappearing?" I asked, getting slightly worried for Celina.

He nodded. "Yes. That's why it's very rare for a human to cross the border to go to Uttarameer."

"Thought Lady Matsyasvi is powerful."

"She is. But she has weaknesses too which is the root cause for this rivalry. I still remember the story and it says that Almourah knew what was happening down there. He circulated rumors that Lady Matsyasvi had a hand in the disappearance of men. This began on that fatal day when Almourah had an argument with his sister, demanding her to let the men, wanting to cross the reservoir to join his army, live. Nobody knows what actually happened between the brother and sister but, it is believed that he does know the truth, as he is the only man who came back alive. And also with a grudge against his sister, that apart from demolishing her, he will also make every woman's life only a mere source of attraction towards men."

I grimaced. "Sounds like men versus women thing."

He gave a forlorn smile. "You are quick to make it look so frivolous."

"I am just trying to understand. Men disappear, without any reason? What, is Lady Matsyasvi allergic to men or something?"

"Can we please move on?"

"No, tell me."

"Hayden, Lady Matsyasvi is next to the Deity. It is wrong to trash-talk about her. I told you she has a weakness. But she is what she is. We gotta accept."

Amidst all that sadness, his face suddenly flushed with guilt as if he were the one killing those men. But that somehow gave away an idea of what Lady Matsyasvi must be doing with those men.

I swear. I'm a good guy. I don't have a dirty mind. I'm not thinking about it. My thoughts are as pure as gold. But damn you, Lady Matsyasvi, how powerful must you be!

My stone burned and I immediately attempted to shut my mind. I recently realized - a Samagraha can actually have more privacy by talking out loud in the open.

"Ashwant, what do you think happened thirty years ago?" I asked, finally getting to the point. I knew I couldn't afford to be more indecisive in this matter, which I thought might come in handy sometime in the future. "If Lady Matsyasvi protects her clan well, why did your elders decide to move? Was there some sort of pressure?"

"No! Of course not." He immediately said, "It was our choice. It was because of the unending wants and needs of the new generation. We lacked resources, Hayden. There were huge consequences for even a minor act of rebellion in our community. Our clan disintegrated into smaller sections. And then after several years of wait, King Harsh emerged like a Messiah and lent a hand to grant us the freedom. The section of people who were ambitious and wanted to lead a more comfortable life moved out of Uttarameer. And for it, King Harsh bore all the consequences. He went against Panchayat, he put his throne and the entire Kingdom in jeopardy for us. We are just patiently waiting for the humans to wholeheartedly accept us and grant us the official privileges as per our late king's promise."

"The promise he made thirty years ago."

"The promise he passed down to you to fulfill."

I disregarded the statement. "And now they want to go back to Uttarameer because the clan of Almourah is on the loose."

"Yes. They need someone powerful to protect them. They had faith in King Harsh and then on my father because of whom we were atleast able to sustain with minimal wages and meager employment. And now that both of them are gone..."

That triggered a dash of irritation in me. "You are forgetting that Doctor has planned everything out before he departed. Whatever the reasoning or intentions might be, but his death has not yet marked the end of everything."

"What are you talking about?"

"The stone that you are still holding in your hand."

Ashwant seemed to have forgotten of having his fist closed tight with the stone safely secured. It belonged to him now. Not even Panchayat or deity Vrindahina herself could take away his right from owning the stone. It would be better for everyone if he realized this fact sooner than later. Because, with Clan of Almourah around, the time to sit and brood was at the minimal. He was staring at it yet again for an extended amount of time and I once again broke the silence. "Ashwant, Doctor was able to trap the Clan of Almourah, so I believe you can do something similar and trap them again. And you'll have to figure out how and why you have the stone as well. Because I think Doctor is really your father. That blessing you were talking about...May be Lady Matsyasvi did bless him with you."

"Hayden I told you, no human unless allowed, can freely enter Lady Matsyasvi's premise."

"But you did inherit the stone. Doctor did do something that made you the owner of the Diamond. The stone that cannot be passed down unless you carry forth Lady Chandrika's lineage."

"What do you want to say?"

I paused, thinking. Evaluating. My brain raced so hard that it actually hurt. "King Harsh and Doctor were friends. King Harsh got involved in the separation of your clan in the name of providing you safety and human rights, thirty years ago. King Harsh made it possible to stop Almourah, again within the same time frame. King Harsh is like air. Even after being dead and buried six feet under. he is still everywhere. So I'm guessing my dear grandfather could be the reason why you are now the owner of the Diamond."

"You are saying as if it's a bad thing."

"All I am saying, that everything could have a connection. This country runs on hard bargains more than its rule of law. Isn't it possible that King Harsh magically had you be born to Doctor, shifting the thousand-year legacy of the Diamond by making you its owner? Anything is possible in Paramarashtra, so why the heck not? The clan will now possess the legendary Diamond, so that would be something. And in return...he worked his way through with lady Matsyasvi to gain a trick to trap Almourah."

He shook his head, in a way that was hard to tell if he was impressed or thinking of me as some sort of a lunatic. "How do you even come up with that conclusion?"

I shrugged and leaned back crossing my hands. "Well, I'm half Paramarashtrian, so I guess I can think like one."

"If that's what it is, then you are doing a really good job. And you can do better if you decide to become a full Paramarashtrian."

I scoffed away the idea. "Anyway, if that's not the case, if nothing as such happened thirty years ago, then something must have happened in the past one year itself. Especially since Tyrell left the academy. Especially further since...Doctor started visiting Uttarameer on a regular basis with Celina."

"Celina Hanslay?"

I nodded, looking away, thinking hard about her and trying the mind connection, just in case if she heard my voice and responded. "Where could she be? As far as I know, she is stronger and sharper than all of us combined. And I'd wager she might have already attained the answers to all of my questions. But...where is she?"

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