Once the ancient book was finally recovered, we unanimously agreed that it had to be taken to Akram Baba. We were convinced that only he could uncover the truth concealed within its pages—whether it revealed the history of the king or explained the mysterious spirit that had already taken three innocent lives. Whatever secrets the book contained, we were determined to learn them.
As I carried the old manuscript in my hands, an unusual feeling came over me. It wasn't merely the physical weight of the book that I sensed; it felt burdened with untold secrets waiting to be revealed. Without delaying any further, we set off together toward Akram Baba's house. A tense silence surrounded us, filled with both curiosity and unease.
When we arrived, I stepped forward and respectfully said, “Baba, we found this book inside the king’s tomb.”
Akram Baba's gaze fell upon the book, and a subtle smile appeared on his face, as though he had been waiting for this moment for a very long time. Yet behind that smile was an expression that was difficult to interpret.
“So, the book has finally returned,” he murmured.
He invited us to sit. We gathered around him while he carefully opened the fragile volume. Despite its age, the writing remained remarkably clear, as if the passage of time had preserved it for a purpose.
Akram Baba began reading aloud.
“I am King Jamshed, and I write these words so that future generations may know the truth. Stories often change with time, but this account records events exactly as they occurred.”
“Among our people lived a man named Akbar. He was widely admired for his kindness, generosity, and devotion. No visitor, poor person, or even wandering animal ever left his home hungry. His reputation for goodness was known throughout the tribe.”
“However, over time, a change began to emerge within him.”
“At first, it seemed insignificant. He became withdrawn, avoided gatherings, and often appeared lost in thought. Few paid attention to these changes, but they marked the beginning of something far more sinister.”
“Akbar gradually became involved in forbidden arts. He started seeking contact with the dead, spending nights among graves and practicing rituals associated with necromancy. What began as curiosity eventually turned into an obsession, drawing him deeper into dark magic.”
Akram Baba paused and looked at us. The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt colder, but no one dared interrupt.
He continued.
“Many believed his motives were selfish. Some suspected he sought power, perhaps even influence over the throne itself. Whatever his true intentions, his actions soon brought misfortune upon the land.”
“A strange illness spread among the people. No healer could explain or cure it. Crops withered, harvests failed, and famine swept through the tribe. Hunger and suffering became part of everyday life.”
“Yet while everyone else struggled, Akbar seemed unaffected. He remained healthy and comfortable while others endured hardship. This contrast aroused suspicion, although no one understood the cause.”
“My trusted wazir, Sarosh, began paying close attention to him. He could not ignore the fact that Akbar appeared untouched by the calamities affecting everyone else.”
“One evening, while returning from a neighboring settlement, Sarosh noticed smoke rising from the direction of the graveyard. Curious, he moved closer and saw someone sitting among the graves.”
“He called out, ‘Who goes there?’”
“The figure immediately tried to escape, but Sarosh had already recognized him. It was Akbar.”
“Driven by anger and determination, Sarosh pursued him, captured him, and brought him before me.”
Akram Baba's voice became firmer as he read the next passage.
“When Akbar stood before me, I saw fear in his eyes, yet there was also a trace of defiance. Believing that justice required proper procedure, I ordered that he be imprisoned until his crimes could be addressed lawfully.”
“But Sarosh disagreed.”
“‘Your Majesty,’ he argued, ‘keeping him alive will only prolong our suffering. As long as he breathes, he remains a threat to our people.’”
“I remained uncertain. A ruler must act according to justice, not emotion.”
“However, Sarosh allowed his anger to overtake his judgment. Without waiting for my final decision, he unsheathed his sword.”
“With a single powerful blow, he severed Akbar’s head.”
The room became completely silent as those words settled over us.
“I was furious—not only because of Akbar’s death, but because Sarosh had acted without authority. No matter how serious the crime, justice cannot exist where laws are ignored.”
“As punishment, I removed Sarosh from his position and ended his service to the kingdom.”
“Akbar was laid to rest soon afterward.”
“Yet I could not shake my fears.”
“I had seen how deeply he had immersed himself in forbidden magic. A man who had devoted himself to such dark practices would not easily find peace after death. I feared that one day his spirit might return.”
“For that reason, I ordered a record to be made predicting his return. It was not intended to spread fear but to serve as a warning for those who might one day face the consequences.”
“Following his burial, the suffering gradually disappeared. The illnesses faded, the famine ended, and prosperity returned. Once again, the tribe lived in peace.”
“But deep within, I remained certain that the darkness had not vanished forever.”
Akram Baba slowly closed the book.
The sound of its cover shutting echoed through the room with surprising weight, as if more than a story had just come to an end.
For several moments, none of us spoke.
At last, I broke the silence.
“Baba... does this mean the spirit has truly returned?”
Akram Baba looked at each of us carefully before answering.
“The king already foresaw this possibility,” he said in a calm but grave tone. “The events unfolding now were predicted long ago.”
A shiver ran through me.
Instead of solving the mystery, we had uncovered something far more troubling. The answers hidden within the book had only deepened the mystery—and revealed a danger greater than any of us had imagined.
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Author’s Note: This chapter was edited with AI assistance for grammar, readability, and flow.
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