Chapter 6
Except the lords, everyone in that hall was scared and shocked. Mahavir looked at his brother, asking him to step out of his deep thinking and act accordingly first. His majesty knew what to do. He let go of a long sigh and turned towards others.
To brigten up the situation, the best thing he could do was- smile. Or perhaps, only he could do that. He tugged the sides of his lips up, "We welcome you, Immortal lord Priyom Sharanga." He deligtfully said and raised his hands as if he was presenting the whole venue to him. His one smile distracted everyone from panic. Each one in the hall smiled after their king.
"We welcome you!" The audience chanted.
Priyom smiled with wrinkles on the side of his eyes, indicating his happiness, "Battles won by swinging swords, meanwhile, smile conquered the hearts." He said.
Everyone knew that the poem was in the praise of His majesty. Whenever he smiled, even the deadliest situations could get calm in few seconds.
"You flatter me." Narsimha Bharat laughed. He sighed and turned his head upwards, "Will you come or not?" He asked loudly.
Sudarshan laughed mockingly. Rishi Yajna aso laughed, contagiously.
Dojin leaned towards lordess Saundarya Devi a little as he defended himself, "I'm not laughing, senior. Like them." He raised his eyebrows and pointed at Sudarshan and Ridhi. As Saundarya turned towards them, they instantly shut their mouths.
For a moment, there was no response from the eastern pillar. Everyone remained patience.
Kuber sighed and shook his head, "She is always like that." He sat back on his seat. After him, other fellows sat too.
"Who, your highness?" Avadh asked.
"You'll know." Adarsh replied with a cheerful chuckle.
Just then, the viel of the eastern pillar moved aside and from behind, a young, lively lady flied down. She landed on both feet and acted surprised right after as if she had done that for the first time.
Well, actually. She had really been able to do that for the first time.
"Master! I did that!" She rejoiced as she looked at Saundarya Devi.
Devi Saundarya closed her eyes and sighed.
"How reckless!" Dojin tuanted, "Look at where you are."
"Dojin! Where are you manners? She is your senior." Mahavir inerrupted. The king laughed too.
"Senior! She acts even younger than me." Dojin replied as he made a face.
"What's with that face?" Mahavir rebuked, "You----"
Dojin immideately ran behind Rishi Yajna and hid himself. Mahavir was also stopped by His majesty.
"Let him be, Mahavir." His majesty chortled. Mahavir let go of a sigh and suppessed his anger.
Dojin stepped out and exhaled a long sigh, "Good to have your scoldings after a year." He still dared to smile.
The young lady, who was wearing a golden brown attire with silver jewellary, was staring at her hands with a wide deligtful smile. Her eyes were also widely opened and eyebrows were raised. She still couldn't believe she finally did that.
Saundarya Devi walked towards her and snapped her fingers right in front of her eyes, pulling her out of her own world. The girl was startled. But seeing Saundarya Devi in front of her, she immideately fell on her knees and started bowing.
"Master! It's been a long year! I missed you so much!" The girl cried.
Everyone giggled. Except for Pralay. He had no interest in any of that.
"Do you really not observe your enviornment before reacting?" Saundarya Devi scolded. Even her scoldings were soothing to ear, "His majesty is right in front of us. How dare you bow to me first instead. You----"
"Devi Saundarya." The king said quietly and suggested her to just let her be.
He could see that the girl was overwhelmed to meet her master after a whole year. She had no idea about anyone else. But, she came back to her senses and turned to His majesty. She started bowing.
"This girl has always been like that!" The king laughed merrily. It reminded him of the past.
"Its like you back in days." Lord Priyom smiled.
"Me? When?" His majesty started pretending. The immortals and the ministers laughed.
"The fifth ranked Immortal lordess, Ganga Nitya. She's a few years older than Immortal lord Dojin. Although she looks the youngest. She's disciple of Immortal Lordess Saundarya. There's a rumor that in the martial arts world, she was one of the youngest swordsplayer and was popular as well." Kuber informed.
Ganga confusingly looked at everyone. She slowly stood up. She looked like there was something that was troubling her to the point that she was unable to react to anyone.
"'What's wrong?" Devi Saundarya asked politely. She was concerned.
"Master, I..." She stopped in the middle.
His majessty knew what was up. He gave Ganga an obvious look. Ganga, awkwardly smiled and admitted, "Your majesty, I can't speak a poem on the spot. You know I am not good at that yet..."
The regular ones sighed as they expected that. It was a well known fact about her. The newcomers in the audience started chit-chatting in surprise. They weren't critisizing her, they were just shocked and were wondering. There was only one man with critics.
"Who even made her the fifth ranked poet if she can't speak a poem on the spot?" Pralay taunted.
"Aren't you talking a lot lately?" Kuber argued.
"But really though, Your highness...I...wonder too..." Said Avadh hesitatingly.
"Then...let me enlighten you a bit!" Kuber, cheerfully turned with a smile.
Pralay immideately looked at him aggressively as if he was screaming "hypocritic." Just a moment ago, he scoled Pralay for the same question, but now when Avadh asked it, he was all smiling.
"Immortal Ganga is not to be judged. She is undoubtedly, a great poet and speaker. If you read the books of poems, you will find hundreds of heart touching poems under her names." He pursed his lips, "But it is true, that she can't speak poems on the spot. If given time and required environment, she writes absolutely soul wrenching poems. For some reason, sadly, she has never been able to speak poems on the spot. But still, she deserves the position she has earned!" He claimed with full confidence.
Immortal Priyom walked towards Ganga. Ganga, fascinated and shocked to see the first ranked immortal poet in front of her, bowed immideately.
"You are a young talent. Feel the enviornment around you more, don't just observe and you will be able to acquire that level as well. But don't push yourself. Pushing yourself is never the road to poems. Remember that." Priyom said with a smile.
"Yes, lord Sharanga!" Ganga replied enthusiastically. But there was still a sense of guilt on her face. She knew that all the young kids had especially come there to witness the poems by the immortals, but she failed to give them a memory from her behalf.
Now, that the conversations were done, it was time for the grand feast to begin. But before that, His majesty wanted to recite one of his favorite poems.
"I filled my treasures with daisies and Alyssum. The bees shall never go indigent again." His majesty recited the beautiful poem. Dojin smirked. He swinged his hand towards sky and suddenly, there were beautiful red flower patals falling like feathers, very light and soft. Everyone enjoyed the view praisefully. His highness approved with a big smile.
"Coming here was worth it. Wasn't it, Pralay?" His highness looked at his friend with a smile full of hopes. When Pralay looked at him, he couldn't dare to disappoint his innocence for some reason. He just sighed and looked away with his furrowed brows going back to normal.
Kuber almost couldn't believe his eyes, "So, you don't disagree?" He danced in joy.
Angad shook his head with a wide smile. Ridhi, Sita and Avadh joined the celebration. Nakshatra didn't want to join the celebration because there was still doubts in his heart for Pralay, but he couldn't help smiling at his highness's innocence and sweetness.
Adarsh smiled at all of them. He could tell easily that Pralay was no close to being happy there. He was just helpless to be there. If his legs were working, he'd have ran away from there. But seeing a fierce man like him not giving furrowed brows anymore and just staying calm was a thing worth praising. He smiled with pure respect for him. He knew he was doing that to keep his highness's heart.
"Begin the feast!" His majesty announced. The servants and maids bowed.
The feast began. Everyone got busy meeting each other.
...
Servants and maids were serving everyone food. The prince's side was also being served. Everytime, Angad served his highness food himself I'm his mansion. So, he was doing it there as well. The feast was grand. Everyone was seated comfortably with their families and friends. Immortals were also seated respectfully and were being served. But the prnce was still behind the viel.
"Your majesty, His highess..."Mahavir whispered in his brother's ear quietly as they faced the side of price.
Narsimha sighed, "Just let him. He's wih his friends. Seems like he is enjoying there more. Once the feast is over, he can meet the immortals." He wanted to put no pressure. Mahavir nodded. They turned towards the immortals and smiled.
"Join us, Your majesty." Dojin cheerfully said. His majesty nodded and laughed.
"Sure! Sure!"
There, Pralay was also served food. He aggresively stared at the servants who had come to serve him. They fearfully filled the vessels with food and rushed away from there.
"The food looks delicious!" Sita said with excitement.
"I must admit. I did get hungry here." Avadh sighed.
"Right! Me too!" Adarsh pouted and nodded at Avadh.
His highness chuckled, "Then... what are you all waiting for?" He said and gestured at them to start eating.
They all prayed before eating and then digged in. Kuber noticed that Pralay wasn't even looking at the food. He had his brows furrowed again. He sighed and shook his head.
"You really are stubborn." The prince mumbled staring at Pralay. He put his hand on Pralay's shoulder and was gazed immideately. "You really don't trust us. Do you?" He questioned and withdrew his hand. Pralay mantained silence as if he was strongly agreeing.
"This----" Angad was about to get angry. He was calmed down by Nakshatra.
"Calm down. Not here." Nakshatra whispered in his ear. Angad gulped down his anger and pretended to smile.
This time the one giggling at them was Adarsh. Ridhi, Sita and Avadh were just busy exploring the feast food. The twins were seniors to him. So, they treated him like their younger brother. They were serving him themselves.
Kuber was wondering how to feed that stubborn animal he had got seated beside himself. They were all sitting down and there was a not so tall table in front of them. On which, all the food was served. He looked towards his plate and then Pralay. That's it! He got the solution. He smiled widely merrily. Pralay was caught off guard.
"What are you planning?" Pralay asked instantly.
Kuber pushed away Pralay's plate and took a bite from his own plate and chewed it while looking at Pralay. Pralay looked at him weirdly, not understanding what was going on. He kinda had the idea, but didn't want it to be the reality. After chewing the food properly and gulping it, Kuber opened his mouth and showed the empty inside to Pralay.
"See, its gone." The prince said while smiling.
"What's the matter wiith you?" Pralay made a "tsk" sound and looked away in annoyance.
Kuber took a piece of food from his plate and then extended it towards Pralay, "Eat this now." He said.
Pralay froze for a moment, then he looked at him, "What...?" He was confused.
"Now that I've tested the food myself for you, you can eat this. They will not poison the crowned prince. Will they? They won't poison anyone!" Kuber replied. He was eagerly waiting for Pralay to eat.
Pralay just stared at him with tensed lips for a while. Then he understood that Kuber wasn't going to give up. He looked towards others, they were all busy eating. So, he sighed and looked back at the prince. He again stared at him for a while and then defeatedly opened his mouth.
Kuber almost fainted at that moment. He fed him the food before Pralay changed his mind. Kuber had a magnificient proud smile. His chest went puffed and chin raised. He could only sigh in relief after Pralay chewed the food well and gulped it.
"Now you trust me." Kuber said teasingly.
"Feed me more." Pralay replied while looking away.
Kuber, shocked, blinked multiple times, "What?" He mumbled. "But wait, don't you have hands? Use them!" He scolded. When Pralay didn't reply and kept looking here and there, he understood that he had to admit defeat and babysit an adult. He shook his head and sighed. Deep down, he was happy.
Seeing the two of them eating from one plate and his highness himself feeding the animal, everyone was surprised.
"Can you really believe what you're seeing right now?" Nakshatra muttered while leaning towards Angad's ear. Angad was totally astonished. "Here, let me feed you too."
"Hell no! Get away!" Angad protested.
His highness was such a kind man that he'd feed the person who often looked at him with murderous glare?
"I hope he doesn't get hurt in future. In our country, we're often taught to keep peace. But will it really be worth in the future?" Angad said while looking at the prince, who was happily feeding the stubborn person beside him.
Nakshatra looked at Angad for a while, then turned his head towards the prince. What Angad said just now truly hit a spot in his heart. No matter what, he had to protect His highness. For past days, he had been suppressing his true emotions towards Pralay because of His highness. Kuber looked happy around him. Now as he looked at the condition more carefully, without letting his feelings come in between, he realised that he was actually making a mistake. He inhaled a deep breath and decided to do what he was suppossed to do from that moment. But first, filling his stomach was most important. So, he exhaled the long sigh and continued stuffing food into his mouth.
Adarsh, who was seeing both of them on his right, disappointed, shook his head while chewing on food. Then, he turned his head left, where Ridhi, Sita and Avadh were sitting. Avadh was sitting in the middle and the two sisters were telling him about the dishes on the table. Seeing them, Adarsh smiled widely. That's what he approved of and not what was going on on his right.
"He can't even feed properly." Pralay thought. But he had observed that even though Kuber wasn't good at none of the things, he still tried his best. Not to mention, he was a spoiled crowned prince. Of course he knew nothing about how to do any of those chores. Because of feeding him, Kuber couldn't even eat properly. But he still didn't bother about it much. Anyone would acknowledge his kindness at that point, if it wasn't Pralay. He looked at him with squinted eyes. He just counted Kuber as one of the fools who only knew about giving, and not taking. At least that's what he thought he believed. But deep down, he was really touched by his kind actions, otherwise he wouldn't tease him like that while still tolerating him. His mind was just not ready to accept that someone could care for someone like him.
The prince was done feeding and eating. He looked at others, they were still not done yet. So, he decided to wait until they finished their meals. He looked at Pralay, "After this, let's introduce you to the immortals. Alright? Please baheve there. At least for the sake of the cloak you are wearing." Kuber said calmly with requesting eyes. He smiled at him.
There, the immortals were done eating, except for Dojin and Ganga. Although they had gained immortality, they were still like excited kids when they saw food.
"Who will believe they're immortals?" Sudarshan said as a joke.
"Call them immortals blinded by food." Rishi Yajna added. Immortal Saundarya chuckled too.
"Seniors, I heard you." Dojin said casually while eating and not even looking at them.
"I-I didn't say anything!" Lord Sudarshan defended himself and pointed at Rishi Yajna, "Senior said so!"
"I? When?" Rishi Yajna protested. Lordess Saundarya laughed mockingly at them. Ganga didn't even bother about them. She was always in her own world.
His majesty and Mahavir were sitting together with Immortals. Although, they were laughing at their jokes but between them, a whole different topic was going on.
"Why do you think he is here?" His majesty asked his brother quietly, looking at Priyom. Priyom was just smilingly looking at other Immortals.
"How'd I know, brother?" Mahavir replied, "I can only guess that it is probably about..." Narsimha instantly looked at him. They both shared a serious mutual gaze.
After finishing eating and washing their hands, the immortals and the king were standing together to have a good conversation. It was also the time for the prince to greet the lords. His majesty cleared his throat before saying, "Mahavir, call the prince out." He said smilingly.
"Yes, Your majesty." Mahavir nodded and turned towards th eprince's section, when the viel was pulled aside and the beauiful crowned prince stepped out himself. All the immortal lords were captivated by him. He was a young graceful kind man. His face spoke for itself. His smile was so dashing. His head lowered with humbleness and stepped ahead. He slowly raised his head and eyelids, meeting with the lords. His first glance was already so beathtaking that it was enough for anyone to judge his character positively. His appearance was so loud. His eyes carried modesty and down to earthness. His smile was so courteourous which made him look so approachable and talkable. He separated his upper and lower liips, tugging them higher from both sides which showed his teeth.
"What a big smile!" Dojin remarked.
Ganga agreed by nodding. With her mouth wide open, she blinked twice in surprise.
"The prince has grown up, Your majesty." Devi Saundarya stated.
"He's as youthful as you back in days." Lord Sudarhan added smilingly.
"Ah, you flatter me." His majesty laughed.
The prince slowly took steps ahead as he squinted his eyes while smiling as if he was trying to distract them from something. Angad, who was holding the viel, instantly threw it back once Kuber was fully out. The scene behind him was not exposed at all. Angad followed Kuber and they both stood in front of the immortals.
Kuber bowed and greeted.
Every immortal coud tell there was something fishy, but they didn't want to act rude and do something out of their boundaries. Except for the first ranked Immortal lord Priyom Sharanga. He swinged his hand and immideately, the viel was pulled away, exposing the furrowed browed man on his wheelchair with two maids and soldiers behind him and a young boy in front on his left with his raised chin.
Ridhi and Sita were totally dumbstruck. They didn't expect that, but they held their emotions within and stood fearless. Nakshatra and Avadh were both mentally prepared for that. Adarsh didn't even want to bother. He just wanted to meet the immortals face to face.
"Lord,I----" Kuber was left astonished. Fearful and panicked. He gulped. He was afraid to introduce him for a particular reason. Reason being that, if a doctor like Dhanush could tell that Pralay was from martial arts world, then why the immortal lords (who themselves came fom that world years ago) couldn't? He bit his nails in fear.
"Your highness, now what?" Angad panicked too.
"Priyom!" Devi Saundarya scolded. They were both of same age, so there were almost no formalities between them.
Immortal Priyom just stared at Pralay. His hooded eyes not flinching even for a bit as if he already knew "what" was behind the viel even before it was exposed.
Dojin had not yet noticed the man on wheelchair properly. When he observed his face clearly and more precisely, the smile on his face dropped in an instant. He seemed like he had frozen suddenly. As if he could remember something.
Priyom ignored lordess Saundarya and slowly walked towards Pralay, keeping his gaze at him. He passed by the prince.
"How could he be so rude----"Devi Saundarya was going to chase him, but His majesty interrupted.
"Its okay, Saundarya." Narsimha said quietly and gave a faint smile. He also dropped the formality as he was also the same age as her. In fact, the four of them, Narsimha, Rishi, Priyom and Saundarya, were childhood buddies, or more like acquaintances. Saundarya stopped on king's order. Ganga and Sudarshan shared puzzled expressions.
Pralay's gaze fixed at Immortal Priyom, he sqiunted his eyes. It would have been considered as clearly offending the lord, if it wasn't Stambha country. People there just didn't care much about these things.
Priyom kept walking towards him. Ridhi and Sita both shared fearful expressions and Nakshatra with his junior just stood at their positions without moving an inch. Although Adarsh didn't care much about Pralay all that time, he was starting to worry because the first immortal lord didn't seem like he was there to play. He took a deep breath and held it. He couldn't afford to sigh at that point.
The worry wasn't that the immortal lord will harm Pralay. He, in any condition, wasn't going to do that. If he attacked an unarmed man, who at that time was not even able to stand on his own, what type of immortal would he be? The "immortal lords" are not even suppossed to fight anyone in the first place.
The real fear was that what if Pralay really was from the martial arts world? Stambha signed a treaty decades ago to not interrupt with the martial arts world. If they found out that there was a man from their world and also, injured at such a level, it might be the real problem then.
"Your majesty," Mahavir leaned in to his brother's ear, "What do we do?" He bit his lips.
Narsimha smirked, "Why do you think he's my son?" He whispered and raised his chin.
Just then, Kuber ran and stood between Priyom and Kuber, "Lord Priyom." he smiled widely. Angad followed his master.
Only then did Priyom took his gaze away from Pralay to Kuber. He smiled back, "Your highness, is there a matter?" He asked politely.
"Well, what could be concerning the immortal?" Kuber asked respectfully.
Mahavir finally understood what his brother meant. The prince was going to defend his friend in any situaton. "He really took after you." He said with a proud and approved smile.
Immortal Rishi sighed, "Even after all these years, he hasn't changed at all." He shook his head at Priyom.
The first immortal lord could see that although Kuber was scared, he seemed to have no intention of retreating. He was showing a genuine smile on his face. Priyom smiled at him, "Your highness, I was just trying to look at the cloak your friend is wearing. Did I somehow break a rule? Can'tI look at it?" He tilted his head in his direction.
Hearing that Kuber finally let go of the sigh he was holding. He burst out in even a wider smile, "Why not! You can do whatever you want. Who can stop you here?" He laughed looking at Angad. Angad awkwardly laughed too.
Narsimha was astounded by his son. He banged his head with palm in disappointment and sighed with closed eyes. Mahavir patted his shoulder as if in consolation. He shook his head.
"He still needs time to properly take after you."
Dojin held back on his grounds and shook his head a bit to come back to senses. It seemed like he had been through the past for a while in that moment. He forced a smile on his face.
"I'd like to have a look too. I've heard that it belonged to the late king." Dojin happily said and started walking towards Pralay.
Kuber was looking at Angad as if he was asking "what do we do?" Meanwhile Angad was just looking at him with same confusion.
Adarsh looked forward to talk to the immortals. He was ensured that the immortals wouldn't do anything to Pralay. For some reason, he felt so.
Immortal Priyom chuckled a little on the prince's childishness and walked past by him towards Pralay. Dojin was headed towards him too. On his face was an expression of a pesron who wanted to inquire something so bad that they couldn't let that chance slip away.
As Priyom and Dojin were walking closer towards Pralay, he started feeling anxious for some reason. He clenched on his fist harder while staring at Priyom. His brows got furrowed even more. Ridhi and Sita shared a distressed look.
Priyom stood in front of Pralay. Adarsh wanted to go forward and greet but he noticed that the both, Priyom and Kuber were unbotherly staring at each other. They were so invested that they didn't seem like caring about people around them. Adarsh remained where he was. Actually, he was getting invested in that as well. Why would a first ranked immortal suddenly get intereted in a person who had just appeared out of no where?
Kuber and Angad turned to look at Pralay. They saw, that the immortal Priyom just looked at Pralay with no expression.
Narsimha was anxious too. In his heart, he had accepted that Priyom was going to do something not so right. Since his childhood, he never really trusted that friend of his. He was unexpected at moments. Back then, he didn't need a reason to get on someone's nerves. Although he seemed like he had changed a lot but he could still not be sure, since he only saw him today after eight years. It was hard to judge. He quietly put his hands on his waist and turned his back towards others. Mahavir turned too. Saundarya, Rishi and Sudarshan could just look at each other with concern. Everyone was worried for their own reasons.
But luckily, when Priyom opened his mouth, everyone finally immideately let go of the breath they were holding.
"That cloak looks good on you." Priyom said and genuinely smiled. After saying that he looked at others standing beside, and behind Pralay. They all instantly bowed to greet him. He accepted their bows and smiled. His one smile faded away the tensions in their hearts. When he smiled, they felt like a cold, yet warm breeze had hit them on their faces. Adarsh was overjoyed by that experience. It was clealy shown on his face.
On the other hand, when Dojin looked at Pralay's face closely, his xpressions turned into something like a person who had made sure of something and had cleared his doubts. He looked relieved and anxious at the same time. He tugged the sides of his lips up and replied, "Right! That cloak suits him."
Hearing a familiar voice, Pralay moved his head and shifted his gaze from Pralay to Dojin. The moment he did that, Dojin immediately turned his back on him. He smiled widely at others.
The king could finally relax now, "He scared me!" He mumbled in relief. Mahavir pursed his lips in agreement.
Kuber could still not relax, until the first immortal turned as well. He almost fainted if Angad wasn't there to support him.
"What are you scared of, Your highness?" Priyom replied while smiling, "I wasn't going to eat him." He joked.
Kuber smiled awkwardly at him with squeezed lips and made a sound like "hehe."
Saundarya Devi sighed and shook her head, "I thought he was again acting up." She smiled in reassurance.
"I know, right?" Rishi chuckled in reply. Sudarshan and Ganga just looked at each other on their senior's response.
Narsimha Bharat turned and saw that everyone was sighing and shaking their heads. It was too boring for an auspicious and grand event like that. To lighten up the moment, he decided to laugh. In Stambha country, if anyone could transform a tensed situation into a relaxed one, it was for sure just the king himself. He exhaled a deep breath before doing so.
"Let's enjoy the party today!" The king laughed deligtfully and cheerfully. Only on his laugh did Ganga and Sudarshan smiled too.
Priyom smiled at him with blinking eyes as he said in surprise, "He still hasn't changed a bit..." He mumbled and walked towards his friends.
"By the way, Your majesty!" Ganga finally opened her mouth for something, "I've heard that the princess has done all the arrangements and decorations?" She asked with big curious eyes.
"Right, where is she?" Saundarya asked, "I haven't seen her in a while. I miss her."
His majesty laughed in embarrasement and looked at Mahavir as if he was asking for a help. It seemed like he had been avoiding briging her daughter up for a reason on purpose.
Rishi and Priyom looked at each other and laughed while shaking their heads off. They knew since the beginning that something was fishy.
Mahavir looked at others and spoke in his broher's stead, "She has gone to meet her fiance. He is sick and lives alone. He didn't have anyone to take care of him, so, she went there. I hope you immortals won't mind." He said politely.
Hearing that, all the immortals burst in a silent laugh.
"Why would we mind that? It's alright. Let the kids have their ways." Rishi replied.
Saundarya laughed covering her mouth gracefully. "After all, she's grown up."
Ganga nodded as she understood.
Everyone got relaxed and started talking to each other again. The moment wasn't tensed anymore.
"His majesty unknowingly saved us!" Angad quietly said and sighed.
Kuber looked at his father with gratitude and then shifted his eyes from him to Pralay, who as usual was just frowning while looking at literally nothing. Kuber got so scared at that time because of him for so many reasons. In his whole life, he had never been so scared. Or should it be said like "In his whole life, this was the first time he encountered something so scary."