Ravana had not always ruled Lanka.
Before the golden city of demons rose to power, Ravana ruled over a lesser-known kingdom called Ruhana. It was only after he discovered the location of the mythical elixir—the liquid that defied death and time—that he moved his capital. He did it to maintain absolute control over the substance, ensuring no other soul would ever discover its existence, let alone use it. He feared its replication, and so, he buried its origin beneath layers of secrecy and war.
But Ravana did not want to abandon his former kingdom entirely. To preserve his past seat of power, he appointed Namkasura as its Samantha Raja—a regional vassal king who would rule in his name.
As Namkasura narrated this hidden part of history, Amar could hardly keep up. These were truths long lost to time, fragments absent even from the most sacred pages of the Puranas. What he was hearing now had never been recorded by sages or sung by bards. His mind raced to connect dots, to reconcile the legend he'd grown up with and the reality unraveling before him.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Namkasura had stopped speaking.
Only after a prolonged silence did Amar begin to sense something odd. The suffocating pressure of rakshasic air, which had been gnawing at his soul since entering this prison, was… gone. Breathing was easier. The chill in his bones had lifted.
Namkasura spoke casually, as if reading his thoughts. "I've suppressed the rakshasic energy in this room. That's why you feel better. You're welcome."
For the first time since arriving, Amar felt relief wash over him. The invisible pressure that had haunted every moment here was gone. It gave him clarity, and for the first time, confidence. With a small gesture, he willed the sacred bow on his back to shrink and wrap around his wrist, transforming into a simple bracelet.
Namkasura narrowed his eyes, letting out a low chuckle. "Getting cocky, are you? Do you truly think you can stand before me without your weapon?"
Amar smiled faintly. "If you wanted me dead, you would've killed me the moment I entered this place. But you didn't. And as for defeating you…"
His tone turned firm.
"You yourself admitted you haven't aged a day. That means you're unkillable. And yet you're still imprisoned here, eternally. Whatever power you possess, it's been sealed. And the carvings outside—they're not decorations. They're warnings. The entire structure is built to deter anyone from reaching you."
Amar stepped closer. "Besides, I've already made peace with death. If I don't get what I came for, I'm ready to die. So I don't fear you."
Namkasura laughed—a loud, thunderous laugh that echoed through the ancient chamber. But Amar saw something in that laughter: truth. The demon commander was bound here, either by force or circumstance. He needed something. That much was clear.
Amar didn't wait. "Continue your story. How exactly did Raavan trap you in this place?"
The laughter stopped. Namkasura's expression shifted, a shadow crossing his face.
"Power breeds fear," he said coldly. "Ravana was no exception. The more power he gained, the more paranoid he became. He wanted no equals—only subjects. When he realized that the miracle liquid had made me his equal… he couldn't tolerate it. So he and his brother, Kumbhakaran, conspired together. They turned on me and sealed me within this underground prison, hidden beneath my own kingdom."
Amar frowned. "But why remove you from history? You were the ruler of his old capital. You should be known. Revered."
Namkasura nodded. "Erased from memory, just like the elixir's origin. That's how tightly Ravana controlled the narrative. I was meant to vanish from the world, forgotten in the shadows of his legacy."
Amar was quiet for a moment, digesting the betrayal. Then he asked, "Now that you're free… what will you do?"
Namkasura's voice softened. "I don't know."
He looked up at the cavern ceiling, as if trying to see the world beyond.
"For the first time in eons, I have no path. I once dreamed of vengeance, but Raavan is long dead. The war I raged within my mind is over. Perhaps… I'll search for the descendants of my blood. I had a son once. Maybe he lives on in some form."
Then his gaze turned to Amar.
"But what about you? Why did you come here, of all people? I can sense the mark of the divine upon you. It's faint, but it's there. You carry the blessing of the Almighty."
Amar nodded slowly. "I belong to the Shiranga clan. We are protectors of this world. Our duty is to keep balance, to stop it from falling into chaos."
Namkasura's eyebrows rose. "A protector, hmm? Then why are you here, freeing a demon? What did you come looking for?"
Amar sighed. This part was harder to admit. "I came here because I lost."
Namkasura tilted his head.
"I lost the succession battle for leadership of my clan. My brother defeated me… and all my cousins. I was humiliated. Broken. I wanted to reclaim my honor—to rise again. That's why I came here. I hoped I could find something… anything… that would give me the power to surpass him."
He paused.
"But that was before I met you."
Namkasura's eyes glinted with amusement. "Me?"
Amar nodded. "You changed my perspective. I came here for revenge. Now I seek something greater."
The demon commander crossed his arms. "So… you still want power. But not to kill your brother."
Amar's voice was steady now. "What I want… is the miracle liquid. The same one you drank. I want to become immortal."
The room fell silent.
Namkasura stared at him for several long moments, then finally, a knowing smile curled across his lips.
"So that's your wish…" he murmured. "To live forever."