SPIRITBINDER: The Boy Without A Mark
Chapter 86: Goddess Kali

Chapter 86: Goddess Kali

Luna woke up the next morning with a groggy stretch, brushing strands of her messy hair from her face. "Weird dream," she muttered, shaking off the lingering haze of it. The day greeted her with the familiar sounds of the village — birds chirping, distant chatter, and the clanging of pots as people went about their morning routines.

Her life had returned to its usual rhythm. House chores, errands, and chatting with the neighbors filled her days. Yet, something weighed on her mind as she scrubbed the wooden kitchen counter that morning. The house of Morvane’s grandmother had been untouched since her passing. Morvane himself hadn’t set foot there since the funeral, and Luna thought it was only right to at least tidy up the place.

Later that day, she made her way there, her steps firm with resolve. When she reached the small, weathered house, it stood solemn and quiet, its door slightly creaking in the breeze. Dust coated the windows, obscuring the memories that once lived within.

Pushing the door open, she was greeted by the stale scent of abandonment. The place was in desperate need of cleaning. Determined, Luna rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

As she swept the floor and wiped surfaces, she noticed a photograph displayed on a dusty wooden table. It was a younger Morvane, grinning widely, with his grandmother beaming beside him. The sight made Luna’s heart ache. "They look so happy here," she whispered to herself.

She resumed her cleaning, moving from room to room. While dusting a corner, she stumbled upon a large wooden box. Intrigued, she attempted to move it, but it was surprisingly heavy. "Ugh, this is impossible," she grunted. "Maybe I should just take out what’s inside first."

Pausing, she hesitated. "Oh, but these aren’t my things. Is this okay?" she wondered aloud. Then she reasoned, "Grandma wouldn’t mind. I’m just cleaning, after all."

With that, she opened the box. Inside were various household items — old linens, trinkets, and faded letters. Nothing unusual or interesting at first. As she sifted through the contents, her hand brushed against something cold and smooth. She pulled out a peculiar pendant — a stone of black and red hues shimmering faintly in the fading sunlight.

"Hmm," she muttered, turning it over in her hand. It didn’t seem particularly special, so she placed it aside and continued cleaning.

The hours slipped by unnoticed. By the time she finished, the sky had turned a deep orange, and darkness began to creep over the village. Luna wiped sweat from her brow and made her way back home, her feet dragging with exhaustion.

As she walked along the dirt path, a sudden pink glow caught her attention. At first, she thought it was fireflies dancing in the night, but the light was different — soft, radiant, and mesmerizing. The pink luminescence scattered around her like tiny stars.

"It’s beautiful," she whispered in awe.

Then, her breath caught in her throat. From within the ethereal glow emerged the mysterious woman from her dream, her form shimmering with a soft pink light. Her face was serene yet enigmatic, her eyes holding a wisdom that transcended time.

Luna’s heart raced. "You again, from my dream!" she murmured, barely able to believe what she was seeing.

The woman spoke, her voice melodic and soothing. "That wasn’t a dream, Luna. Destiny stirs, and the path you tread will soon change."

Luna’s pulse quickened. "What do you mean? Who are you?"

The glowing woman moved gracefully toward Luna, her ethereal pink light casting shimmering patterns on the ground. Despite the surreal beauty of the moment, Luna’s instincts urged her to stay wary. Her mind raced with questions.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?" Luna demanded, trying to mask the tremor in her voice.

The woman smiled softly. "You know me, Luna. I am the Goddess of Nature and Balance — Kali. One of the twelve gods of heaven."

Luna’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What? No way. That can’t be true."

But as she spoke, doubt crept into her thoughts. The woman’s radiant body glowed with an otherworldly pink aura, and Luna noticed something unsettling — she wasn’t walking but floating just inches above the ground.

"What do you mean you’re a goddess? What are you doing here?" Luna pressed.

"I’m here for you," Kali said gently.

Luna’s heart skipped a beat. "For me? Why?"

Kali’s expression turned serious. "I’m sure you’ve heard that an angel has fallen. Her absence has disrupted the balance in Baltalaha. Without her, darkness will take root and spread unchecked."

Luna frowned. "An angel... fallen? Are you talking about Meira?"

Kali nodded solemnly. "Yes. Meira was one of the ten angels who maintained harmony between the mortal and spiritual realms. But now that she’s gone, we must find a replacement — someone who can restore the balance."

"And... what does that have to do with me?" Luna asked, though a sinking feeling was already settling in her stomach.

"You, Luna," Kali declared, her voice firm yet compassionate, "are the most fitting person in Baltalaha to replace Meira."

Luna staggered back, shaking her head. "You’re joking. I’m just an ordinary village girl. I can’t replace an angel!"

"You are far from ordinary," Kali assured her. "Your heart holds a rare harmony with the forces of nature and the spiritual realm. You have already connected with energies beyond the mortal plane — the very ones that called Meira to her divine duty."

"No... this can’t be happening," she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

Kali’s gaze softened. "I know it’s overwhelming. But fate has chosen you, Luna. The time has come for you to rise and take your place among the divine."

Luna clenched her fists, her breath shaky. "I don’t know if I can do this."

"You are stronger than you believe," Kali said. "And you won’t face this journey alone. There are allies who will walk beside you, and the gods will guide you."

Luna’s heart was torn between fear and curiosity. One thing was clear — her life had already begun to change in ways she couldn’t ignore.

"Wait," Luna said, her voice firm. "Before you say anything more about me, can you explain why Meira was expelled? She was an angel — isn’t that supposed to mean perfection or something? What could she have done to deserve such punishment?"

Kali’s expression turned somber. "Meira committed one of the gravest sins for an angel — she questioned a god."

Luna’s brow furrowed. "Questioned a god? Is that all?"

Kali’s pink glow flickered subtly. "It wasn’t just her words, Luna. Meira was consumed by wrath. Her anger blinded her, clouding her judgment and driving her to defy the balance she was meant to protect. Wrath is one of the deadliest sins, even for beings like us. Her fall was decided unanimously by all twelve gods of heaven."

Luna clenched her fists. "But isn’t that too harsh? And besides... she’s dead now. Do you even know that?"

A flicker of sadness crossed Kali’s face. "Yes, we know."

"Then why?" Luna’s voice broke. "If you knew she’d die, why did you cast her down? Isn’t that just—"

Kali raised a hand gently. "Everything happens for a reason, Luna. Her fall disrupted the balance, but it was not the gods who ended her. The unbalance she caused consumed her in the end. Please don’t blame us."

Luna’s chest tightened with frustration. "So what you’re saying is... she was doomed to die either way?"

Kali’s voice was soft but resolute. "Yes. When balance is shattered, consequences follow, even for beings as powerful as Meira."

The weight of Kali’s words pressed heavily on Luna’s shoulders. She wanted to argue, to scream that it was unfair, but deep down, she sensed that fate was not a force that could be reasoned with.

Silence fell between them, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze.

Kali’s gaze softened. "I understand your grief and your doubts, Luna. But Meira’s story has ended, and now a new one begins — yours."

Luna’s breath hitched. The thought of stepping into the shoes of a fallen angel was daunting, but fate was calling her, and she knew there was no turning back.

"What if I fail?" she whispered.

"You won’t," Kali assured her. "Because you are destined to succeed."

And as the last rays of the sun faded behind the horizon, the air around them was still thick with tension when a sudden, deafening explosion shattered the quiet night. Luna’s heart jumped in shock as she whipped around toward the source of the sound. A thick plume of black smoke spiraled into the sky from the direction of Morvane’s grandmother’s house.

"No!" she gasped, her legs already carrying her toward the scene. She hadn’t gone far from the house, and dread clawed at her chest with every step.

As she neared, the sight before her made her stomach drop — flames engulfed the small house, their fierce heat licking at the wooden walls and roof. Sparks shot into the night sky, and the smell of burning wood filled the air.

Without a second thought, Luna rushed toward the blaze. "I have to save something — anything Morvane would want to keep," she told herself, her voice trembling.

Shielding her face with her arm, she forced her way inside through the smoke-filled doorway. The heat was intense, and her lungs burned with each breath, but she pushed forward.

Her eyes watered as she scanned the room. Her heart pounded wildly, knowing she had only moments before the flames consumed everything. Desperately, she grabbed whatever she could: a stack of books, the cherished photograph of Morvane and his grandmother from the dusty table, and—

The pendant.

Her gaze locked onto the spot where she’d left the black and red stone earlier. It gleamed faintly, untouched by the chaos around it. Luna lunged for it, clutching the smooth stone tightly in her palm.

"I need to get out," she coughed, the smoke thickening around her. Her body screamed for air, and her vision blurred as she stumbled back toward the door.

Just as she reached the threshold, a beam collapsed behind her with a thunderous crash, sealing the rest of the house in flames. She gasped, gulping fresh air, her heart racing.

"I can’t go back," she whispered hoarsely, guilt gnawing at her for not saving more. But she knew it was impossible now — the fire had won.

As she stood there catching her breath, something caught her attention — a low, agonized groan.

Luna’s head snapped toward the side of the house, where the shadows flickered ominously. Her eyes widened when she spotted a figure sprawled on the ground, writhing in pain.

"Who’s there?" she called, her voice still raspy.

The figure groaned again, and Luna’s blood ran cold as recognition hit her.

"Esmael?"

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