'It's dangerous'
Raahi thought after hearing what Sage had told him. Not because he wants the heart of a powerful snake, but because of the information he held. Raahi already noticed that the Sage knew his mansion from the inside out. He thought that he had used some kind of power to know where he was going but now, Raahi knew that this power of Sage will be a big headache. Information is everything. Raahi is just like others, no matter how talented he is, he has one big flaw that he can't hide and many others that aren't important this time. Whereas, he knew nothing about Sage. If Sage becomes an enemy in the future, he is in for one hell of a fight.
"How much information do you know about me?"
Raahi couldn't take it any longer. He has to be prepared for possible futures and just sitting and thinking isn't going to get him anywhere.
"I hear just enough of you to get that crystal to me."
"I see"
After that Raahi thought for a moment and asked him again.
"So, what is that crystal that you want so badly"
He didn't know what Sage meant by a reaaaalllllyyy powerful snake. He thought that as long as he had powers in firearms, killing anything in this modern age is a simple task. When Raahi asked that question, Sage's smile grew even more. He felt goosebumps creeping from his hands at the sight of Sage's smile. It literary reached ear to ear. A devilish smile to be precise. After hearing Sage's little story, his concept of normal changed for the worse.
***
What we know as Earth was only one of many countless realms located in the universe. Heaven and Hell are also realms that are known to be located far above the head and far below the feet. But when a man went above head, he can only see space and far-located stars and planets for eternity. When he went below feet, he can only eat dust. But even though, those realms are known and described and the only way a person can access them is by dying and travelling through the soul. But those two aren't the only realms located in this universe. What Sage told Raahi was the origin or the cosmology of the Earth, also known as the middle realm 'Bhu-Loka'.
This Earth or Bhu-Loka was a flat realm that was located inside the centre of a sphere, between the other realms.
Above Bhu-Loka, lies 7 Heavenly realms or upper lokas. These seven lokas or realms were where the Gods reside with races far stronger than humans with peace and tranquillity.
Below the Bhu-Loka was the Netherworld or lower lokas which had seven hellish realms but was also considered as the most fertile and most beautiful landmasses than upper lokas. Unlike them, these seven lower lokas were always at war and ruled by the seven most powerful and greatest of demons. Each realm was home to a different type of terrain and species of demons.
Humans could travel these realms by the path of reincarnation but no other human methods were possible. Each realm was a whole world itself like planet Earth. But the only thing that connects these realms was a large beam of eternal light with no end or no beginning, passing through in the centre of all the 15 realms inside the sphere and connecting them.
The 'Nagas' were also one of the demon races located at the lowest of lokas known as 'Patala-Loka'. They are a proud and powerful warrior-type race that can wield magic and can able to transform from human form to semi-serpent or a complete serpent form. They also have a unique characteristic that makes them far deadlier than any other race.
They can attain even greater power for themselves by performing a ritual by mediating solitary in a harsh environment without eating or changing their position even in the slightest for 100 years. Only after that, they can produce a gem out of sheer willpower and devotion to their god.
"And now, someone from their tribe has completed that ritual and had cultivated that gem. To show his devotion to their god, he will come here, to Bhu-Loka in the coming full moon night to pray and finally ascend to power. I want you to kill him before that and bring him his gem."
Sage finally concluded his story and looked into Raahi's eyes. It had taken a little more than 30 minutes to conclude his story and not once did Raahi raise his voice or disturbed him. He just sat there closing his hands and listened to every word Sage told.
"That gem, does it have any other names?" Raahi asked one of his doubts after hearing about this magical gem.
"Yes. It is also known as Nagmani or Nagamani"
Sage also understood Raahi's interest in this Nag-mani. it can give the Nagas a second chance. Not only Nagas but other races can also get a second chance in life. Before Raahi voiced his other doubt, Sage spoke.
"Humans can't use Nagmani's power as it requires mana child. Humans of this day and age can't wield mana. Only exceptions like me can."
That crushed all of Raahi's hope to completely heal Sara. When reading mythological books, he already found out about Nagas and Nag-mani. it was brief, but it told everything Raahi wanted. A miracle to cure his wife. But the problem was that the book didn't tell about the place where they live or how to get that nag-mani.
"Don't worry child. As I told you, I can cure your wife completely if I have that nagmani."
Raahi's eyes shone a little when he heard what Sage told, but there was clear seriousness on Sage's face as he continued.
"But remember child. No matter what, you 'have' to kill him after taking nagmani. Even if you leave him after getting him on his last breath or give him a mortal wound, you have to make sure he dies and decapitate his head just to be sure. If you leave him alone even for a second, he can come back to take revenge and curse you and everyone in your family for eternity."
Raahi's eyes widened for a moment as he heard this. 'Eternity is not a light word. If he can get up even after receiving a mortal wound, he has to be far stronger than any human. I have to be careful not to underestimate him.'
"So, how can I kill him? I believe I can't compare him to human standards."
"*He*. You are fast to learn" Sage smiled after Raahi asked his question.
"You are right. Remember, Humans, are the weakest of all races in this lokas. Nagas like him have crocodile-like skin, power like elephants, eyes as hawks, agility as fish, and pride like an ocean. If you underestimate him even in the slightest, you are the one who is going to be killed"
Just thinking of killing him is turning more and more difficult for Raahi as he listened to Sage.
"Do I even have a chance of killing him?"
"No. you can't kill him alone. But, that's why I am here."
'So, he's even helping me in killing him' Raahi's distrust about Sage receded a little after hearing that he was helping. Sage continued to speak.
"I hear we are short in time child. He'll be coming in seven days on the night of the full moon, To the temple of nagas inside the forest. We have to give him a kind welcome."
One thing that Raahi didn't take into account after listening to the whole story is how Sage knew about all of this. All he thought about now is that finally, he has a chance to save Saara.
***
In a place further than any human can reach, in the lowest of the realms in the Netherworld, in the region where the Nagas live, in the thick forest filled with monsters and snakes of various sizes and patterns, inside the biggest and most ancient of the tree, was where a lonely snake slept. That snake had a head that was at the height of an average man, its body colliding over the biggest branch located near the top of the tree and still touching the ground with its tail. Its dark charcoal colour scales with a hue of gold radiating all over the body was giving an ominous and powerful divine aura that anyone would feel if they entered the forest.
But that aura suddenly increased 10 fold when that snake started to awake. Its eyelids slowly opened to reveal black and gold eyes. Its mighty body jerked a little and started to roll over the whole tree. Slowly but surely, it was coming close to the ground. When that giant snake finally descended to the ground, it took one long yawn that showcased its mouth which contained its two fangs and a jaw full of sharp teeth. It looked around to see if there was something or someone but the area around that tree was spacious and empty.
When it's confirmed that there was no one serious enough to deal with, it collided itself and started to shrink at a visible pace. It shrank until it was the size of a human. It hissed a couple of times and then it turned into the most beautiful woman in the realm.
She looked like she was in her early twenties who is not too long or not too short. Her black hair was short and curled near the edges. Her skin was fair and smooth like caramel. Her lips were red and seductive which can make anyone drool over. Her sharp eyes were cat-like with golden iris. She wore a golden-coloured thin cloth with a feather design that barely covered her large round chest and reached to the edges of her cheeks which looks more like a tattoo. She also wore golden armour that covered her whole back and below her chest area.
With a beautiful and seductive voice, she spoke with a smile and started to walk towards the forest.
"Hya~ Finally he's returning. I must be there to welcome him."