Chapter 9: Moon Chamber
Seriya walked through the hall with Aariv in her arms. Her steps were slow, heavy. Kaivan walked beside her, one hand clenched tightly at his side.
The Moon Chamber door came into view — simple wood, no carvings, no gold. But tall and wide enough to swallow them whole.
Two guards, small like ants against the giant door, leaned into it with their full strength. The door gave way without a creak. A cold breeze escaped the chamber and ran along the corridor. The guards dropped to one knee, heads bowed low, not daring to lift their eyes as Seriya and Kaivan passed.
They entered.
The chamber was cold. Just like the door, everything inside was plain — no designs, no decorations, just wide empty space and a stone wall that held names.
At the far end, carved into the wall, were the names of the Kings and Queens.
The first name at the top:
Aariv Vayansar and Kanima Panvara
0 AS - 96 AS (After Sagnik)
First Ancestor of the Vayansar bloodline and the founders of the Sagnik Kingdom
The most recent:
Kanan Vayansar and Saniya Thalore
4280 AS - 4342 AS
Parents of Kaivan Vayansar.
But one name stood out among them, 21st from the top, carved deeper, painted in bold red:
Aariv Vayansar and Aali Panvara
1220 AS – 1450 AS
There were one hundred and eight names on the wall.
Each pair carried stories long buried — of love, of betrayal, of loyalty.
And one name that did not have a partner and a last name — carved over another name:
Nila
2561 AS – 2590 AS
Their footsteps echoed until they reached the centre of the hall.
Everyone who followed them — the guards, priests, servants — stopped at the entrance. Heads down. Knees bent.
Kaivan, who had walked halfway through, turned back.
"Come in," he said.
No one disobeyed. They bowed until their foreheads brushed the cold floor, then rose and entered — still keeping their heads low.
The hall wasn't heavy because of its size. It was heavy because of the names.
No one dared lift their eyes.
Not because of fear.
Because of pressure.
A raised platform sat before the wall — just a few inches above the stone floor — a thin red carpet lay over it. And at the centre, a simple wooden coffin waited, open and empty.
Seriya reached it.
She hesitated for just a breath.
Then, with both arms, she lowered Aariv into the coffin.
Her fingers touched his chest, smoothing the folds of his robe.
She bent low and pressed her forehead against his cold one.
For a long time, she stayed like that — breathing him in.
As if trying to memorise him.
As if hoping, somehow, it wasn't real.
Finally, Seriya leaned in and kissed his forehead.
And stood back.
Kaivan moved next.
He knelt at the coffin. His shoulders shook once — just once — then steadied.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Only Seriya heard him.
He stood up beside her.
Four old men stepped forward — the same who had led the rites before. They carried a lid made of wood and glass.
In perfect silence, they placed it over the coffin.
Aariv's face remained visible through the glass.
They sealed it carefully, binding the edges tightly with simple iron hooks.
Then they moved back — not by standing — but by lying fully down on the ground, face flat against the cold stone, in front of Aariv's coffin.
They stayed there, unmoving, for several minutes.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Even breathing felt like a sin.
Finally, they rose, bowing once more.
When they were done, Varyan approached, pouch in hand — a pouch, heavy with gold.
He offered it to Kaivan. Kaivan took it without a word.
He and Seriya together placed the pouch into the hands of the head priest — a payment, a tribute.
The priests bowed deeply again before leaving the chamber, walking backwards until they reached the entrance.
There, Varyan waited.
He met Kaivan's eyes.
Kaivan gave a short nod.
Varyan turned to the guards at the door. One of them sprinted down the hall.
A few seconds later, the bell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
The sound rolled over the hall, sinking into the stone. Into the skin.
One by one, those who were present — guards, servants, even the youngest maids — walked forward.
Each approached the coffin in silence, stopping before Aariv's face behind the glass.
Some whispered prayers.
Some touched the edge of the coffin.
Some only stood there, heads bowed.
But none stayed long.
And none turned their back on him.
Everyone walked out of the chamber, moving backwards with their heads lowered.
Seriya stood rooted beside the coffin, her hands trembling slightly.
Kaivan didn't speak. He didn't touch her. He just stood by her side, the way he always had — steady and silent.
The bell outside stopped, the tiny crackles of the torches on the walls sounded loud.
Mira, the old maid who had been silent all this time, stepped closer. She knelt before the coffin, resting her forehead against the wood.
"My little lord…" she whispered, the words breaking in her throat.
Seriya looked down at her, her face blank. Empty.
One of the younger maids touched Meera's shoulder gently.
Mira nodded blindly, wiping her tears away with trembling fingers.
She kissed the coffin once, just above where Aariv's heart would have been. And then she let the younger maid pull her back.
They left slowly, heads bowed low.
At the entrance, they knelt and bowed once more before leaving the chamber entirely.
Seriya and Kaivan stayed by the coffin.
They didn't move.
Now, only Seriya, Kaivan, and Varyan remained inside.
Seriya blinked once, her gaze shifting to Varyan.
Varyan stepped closer, standing beside her.
She leaned in and whispered something in his ear.
Varyan's eyes widened. His breath caught for a moment.
"If we do this, it means we're the ones who started it," he said, voice low.
"No," Kaivan answered before Seriya could. "They already started it."
"But—" Varyan began.
"Doesn't matter who started it," Seriya cut him off, her voice cold. "A few silent years made them think we turned vegetarian. It's time to feed our ground with blood."
"Even if we stay quiet, they'll come sniffing around for the smell of the empty throne," Kaivan said.
"But by killing those four men, we'll be creating new enemies—" Varyan tried again.
"The Shrines chose their side," Kaivan said sharply. "Don't let your tears blind you. Danger's coming. We blow the battle horns by killing them."
Varyan looked at them.
"Position all guards," Seriya ordered. "I want everyone on high alert. Tomorrow, when we bring Aariv out to the public, I don't want a single accident."
Varyan bowed his head once and turned.
He walked to the entrance without a word.
"Varyan," Seriya called.
He stopped, looking back.
"Keep your anger and grief within you," she said. "The time will come. You'll avenge your nephew."
Varyan held his gaze for a moment.
Then he bowed at the entrance — a deep, slow bow — and walked out into the darkness.
Seriya placed her hand flat against the coffin.