A demon's warning and the ruby-filled fruits

Months, maybe years later, Vikram

Months, maybe years later, Vikram

returned. Arriving at Dharanagar at

returned. Arriving at Dharanagar at

midnight, he was stopped by the demon

midnight, he was stopped by the demon

guardian. A fierce battle followed.

guardian. A fierce battle followed.

Vikram, the warrior king, defeated the

Vikram, the warrior king, defeated the

demon and pinned it to the ground. But

demon and pinned it to the ground. But

as he was about to strike the final

as he was about to strike the final

blow, the demon spoke. "Wait, I'm not

blow, the demon spoke. "Wait, I'm not

your enemy. I'm here to save your life.

your enemy. I'm here to save your life.

You must listen." The demon then told

You must listen." The demon then told

him a chilling story. It wasn't a random

him a chilling story. It wasn't a random

tale. It was a warning. It spoke of a

tale. It was a warning. It spoke of a

powerful ascetic born at the exact same

powerful ascetic born at the exact same

cosmic moment as Vikram. This ascetic

cosmic moment as Vikram. This ascetic

was so driven by a lust for power that

was so driven by a lust for power that

he'd already conquered the underworld,

he'd already conquered the underworld,

killed its ruler, and turned him into a

killed its ruler, and turned him into a

spirit of a vetala hanging upside down

spirit of a vetala hanging upside down

from a tree in a cremation ground. And

from a tree in a cremation ground. And

now, the demon warned, this ascetic

now, the demon warned, this ascetic

planned to do the same to Vikram. His

planned to do the same to Vikram. His

life was in grave danger. Having

life was in grave danger. Having

delivered his message, the demon

delivered his message, the demon

vanished. Vikram, unshaken, retook his

vanished. Vikram, unshaken, retook his

throne and ruled with his usual wisdom.

throne and ruled with his usual wisdom.

Soon, a new, strange routine began.

Soon, a new, strange routine began.

Every day, an ascetic named Shantil

Every day, an ascetic named Shantil

would visit the court, silently offer

would visit the court, silently offer

the king a single fruit, and leave.

the king a single fruit, and leave.

Remembering the demon's warning, Vikram

Remembering the demon's warning, Vikram

was suspicious. He accepted the fruits

was suspicious. He accepted the fruits

but never ate them, ordering them to be

but never ate them, ordering them to be

stored away. One day, while inspecting

stored away. One day, while inspecting

the royal stables, the ascetic appeared

the royal stables, the ascetic appeared

as usual. This time, the fruit slipped

as usual. This time, the fruit slipped

from Vikram's hand. A monkey darted out,

from Vikram's hand. A monkey darted out,

snatched it, and smashed it open. But

snatched it, and smashed it open. But

instead of pulp, a flawless, dazzling

instead of pulp, a flawless, dazzling

ruby rolled out. Everyone was stunned.

ruby rolled out. Everyone was stunned.

Vikram demanded an explanation. The

Vikram demanded an explanation. The

ascetic calmly revealed that every fruit

ascetic calmly revealed that every fruit

he had brought contained a similar

he had brought contained a similar

jewel. They rushed to the treasury and

jewel. They rushed to the treasury and

broke open the stored fruits. Ruby after

broke open the stored fruits. Ruby after

ruby, a mountain of priceless gems

ruby, a mountain of priceless gems

poured out. A royal jeweler was

poured out. A royal jeweler was

summoned, and his verdict was

summoned, and his verdict was

staggering. Each gem was worth more than

staggering. Each gem was worth more than

an entire kingdom.

an entire kingdom.