Chapter Thirty-five: IMMORTAL

"Immortals. They have a life span. Aren't they mortal? Doesn't that make them mortals."

Kiara asked Prof Rigaro as she sat on a stool beside him. The professor was busy working on a microscope which looked like a usual microscope as seen on Earth. He placed a sample on it. Soon it projected an image in the air. The professor twisted the slide to get a better view. Finally satisfied by the results, he answered her," they can't be killed by normal means. Hence they are immortal. They have a very very long lifespan though,"

"And you know this, HOW?"

"Don't count the seeds. Just know that they too can die from old age. And look at this,"

"What is it?"

"Your gene structure,"

"What?"

The image projected was a strand of DNA. Tiny molecules could be seen in it. It was unbelievable to see such minute things under a normal-looking microscope.

"Wow!"

"And now look at my gene structure,"

The prof put another slide. It was almost same. With slight differences in colour.

"And watch this one. It is a slide of a normal human being,"

The third slide's image was very different. The gene structure was rudimentary. Not at all distinct like a double helix. It has meshed around in a very crude way like a child attempted braiding.

Kiara was confused. Her gene structure was similar to Rigaro. It was what the shape of DNA should be. Even a child knows it. Then what does it mean when he showed the third slide.

"You are an immortal."

"What? Are you kidding? Then you are an immortal. That's absurd."

"No. It's not absurd. I'm an immortal. You saw the difference yourself."

"That… Then everyone from Earth will become immortal. That's absurd. Ridiculous."

"Earth? One thing I'm sure that you are not from this planet and certainly not from North town. It's astonishing how you get through inspection, and your race and attributes were not detected at all."

Kiara's thoughts were all over the place. She got caught, she was in trouble, and a cherry on the top was that she was already in a lab. Does that mean she will become lab rat? It's like she was a lamb who willingly came to a slaughterhouse.

Rigaro flicked her forehead. "Relax, I will not cause you harm. But be careful. Others won't be considerate". He returned the slide to Kiara.

"Be careful not to leave behind trails of your gene."

He further added, "Gene structure is not a definite proof of being immortal. I approach you because I knew you were immortal. Then I realize you had no idea about it. So will you tell me where exactly did you come from? Are you from the world of gods?"

"I am not from the world of gods. I am from Earth. One day, our plane crashed, and we realized we have crossed many dimensions and were in this world,"

"Earth. I have never heard of it. It should be where Gods lived or maybe on an entirely different plane. But people do not just cross over with a plane crash,"

"Beats me. I was not the only one. There were more than 250 people. You can not say I am delusional." Kiara thought to herself, 'As much I want it to be a delusion.'

"But that guy. Aarav was it? He is not an immortal. You are."

"Hn. What makes you say that?"

"It's my gift. I can see the image of the soul. Your soul is golden with bits of black threads. I can't tell what image is it. But only immortals have either golden or black souls. And you have both."

"…," Kiara had no words to show her confusion.

"If you are wondering, your friend has a purple soul with a very distinct wolf form. He will grow up to be very strong. Even you will not be his opponent."

Saying it, Rigaro took out a heavy book from his space ring and shoved it into her hands. Kiara stumbled from the weight of the book. It was a theory on souls.

She flipped the pages of the book. Just as Rigaro mentioned, every human had a soul. Each soul was of different colour and shape. It also mentioned the colour of immortals soul. Which colour was better could not be determined. The soul with more distinct soul image was considered strong. Those having weak colour and indistinct form could die prematurely. There were even detectors which can show the soul image.

Few places had these devices. One was SOUL agency, few famous academies and some research organizations.

Kiara went through the book. She remembered the warning Rigaro gave her. Shula also said that she was different from others. So he placed an enchantment on her. Did he also saw her soul image? He was a heavenly dragon. So it was highly possible. But she got caught.

Kiara could not focus anymore in the lab. She grabbed the book and left for home.

All the way, she was nervous. Rigaro said it was because of his gift he could tell that she was immortal. What if there were people on the road that have that ability. Frantic, she bit her nails.

"Calm down. Take a deep breath. You can not do anything about others. If you get attacked just kill them. Yes, just fight back. Don't forget you have OP abilities." She was nervous all the way. When she reached home, she headed straight for bedroom and rolled up in a bun. Aarav was already at home.

"Hey! What's up?"

By the time he said she was burrowing in the bed. Aarav walked in.

"Hey, you OK?" Pulling on the sheets he asked her.

"I'm screwed," Kiara replied in a muffled voice from under the sheets.

"Why? Did you break something in the institute?"

"NO,"

Kiara came out of the sheets with tears brimming her eyes tugging at his heart.

"What happened?"

"I got caught,"

"Go on,"

She narrated the whole incident. Aarav was also worried. He didn't think the immortal theory was absurd as he had seen the incident in the temple town. Maybe that deity was really inside her making her look like immortal.

Even, Shula said she was alright. She was still the same Kiara. She was not replaced by the deity or whatever. If it was trying to possess her, he will go to the ends of the world to save her if he has to.

"Don't worry. Rigaro gave you that book. There might be some solution. Let's check it out together. You don't have to step outside until we find a solution. Alright?"

Aarav very well knew her fears. She will stay strong and think rationally when it did not include her. She can even help you out if she's not the one suffering. When it's on her, she was like every other girl. He liked her both sides. When she was confident and determined and also at times when she was vulnerable.

He wanted to protect her in both her state. He wanted her to rely on him more.

They spent all night reading the book, discussing over it and debating over it. The next day, he applied for leave from duty for both of them. When he came back home, Kiara was bend over the table, still attached to the book.

"Did you eat something?"

"Hnn,"

Kiara was engrossed in reading. Her response meant nothing. She probably had not moved an inch since he left. He quickly made congee for both of them. She would not be able to eat anything anyway.

He came with two bowls of congee and placed one on the table. He put a marker and closed the book. "Eat first."

Kiara made a stupid face and then hurriedly took the bowl and wolfed down the food. She had to slow down as she could hardly eat that way. She was a certified-slow-eater. After lunch, they got back to business.

The book mentioned various things about the soul. It had mentioned a few methods to train soul power. It was easier to understand as they had done that before when Shula taught them. It mentioned that training their soul power can even hide the traces of their soul image. There was a theoretical proof that training the soul to such level can even fool the detectors and those with Seer abilities.

"If we can reach such level, it is possible to hide the soul image. Is that even possible? It says it is only theoretical."

"You should try it. It is the only possible way we can find. Maybe Rigaro also found only this way. Shula would have done something if there were any other way. He had also told you to keep practising."

Kiara remembered Shula's advice and the days she had procrastinated. She did not know any better before. Now, she knew the reason, she had to give her best on it. She put aside the book and thought about the amount of time will it take to control her abilities. Her spiritual power had increased a lot. She had not practised these days, leaving a lot of disobedient spiritual power in her. She got up from the chair and went inside the bedroom to practice. She can not want to waste any more time.

Aarav breathed a sigh of relief. They finally figured out something. Unlike Kiara, he had not put off practice. He had put his gift to full use in his work. He had told Jeremy about his ability, and they were working on the peculiar ageing case together.

He was still an apprentice. He had not had much authority. Because of his gift, he was getting recognized, but he was still the youngest guy. He needed an officer with him all the time. The case was going nowhere. But they still had a chance to solve it. Earlier, there was not even a trail to follow.

"Beep Beep,"

There was a beeping noise coming from Aarav's chest pocket. It had his ID card. He took it out to see the message 'Fourth victim found'.