Chapter 2 Agreement With Angel Rashnu
With eyes searching for that grieving voice that filled her ears, Angel Rashnu closed the big book of life in her hands and flew, following the whistling winds. She passed the Holy Maiden Daena, where she saw her talking and smiling with some new souls that had recently arrived. She flew further until she saw a woman kilometers away from the foot of the Chinvat Bridge, holding up in her hands the holy pendant from Vayu, the God of the wind.
Angel Rashnu landed gracefully in front of the warrior Carkas Queen.
“Introduce yourself, woman, and why are you here?” the Angel asked the Queen.
Queen Aradia suddenly lowered her hands and fell to her knees as she bowed her head. “My beloved Angel Rashnu, I am the present Queen of the Carkas Tribe. I am here to earnestly seek your favor for my only daughter, who is inside that carriage,” she said sincerely, pointing her finger toward the carriage nearby.
“Go on, Queen Aradia, I am listening,” Angel Rashnu said in a gentle voice.
“My daughter was hit by an arrow while fighting on the battlefield just a while ago, and it took her dear life. She is still so young and can still help our tribe and fellowmen so much. She is also my only child, which is why I am deeply grieving right now. I earnestly implore your divine help, my beloved Angel Rashnu, to deny her spirit from entering the world of the dead just yet.” Queen Aradia’s voice shook, and her tears fell like an uncontrollable flood.
Angel Rashnu was silent for a moment. “You battled with whom?” she asked softly.
“With the troop of soldiers of King Severo, my beloved Angel Rashnu.”
The Angel’s eyes darkened, as if she had heard something distasteful. Hearing the name of the tyrant King Severo made her ears ring with irritation. She had heard that name far too often from the souls passing through the Chinvat Bridge—that King Severo who was the only son of the Warrior-God, Verethragna, and the former Princess of the Persian Kingdom. He was completely different from his father, who was the savior of the weak and constantly fought against evil.
“I cannot easily give in to your request, Queen Aradia. But tell me the name of your daughter, and let me search for her inside this book of life,” Angel Rashnu replied after some thought.
“Her name is Areza—Princess Areza of the Carkas Tribe.”
Angel Rashnu opened the massive book of life and searched for Princess Areza. The Angel smiled when she learned that Princess Areza was not yet due to die and be claimed by the world of the dead. Seeing that her time was not yet up, she decided to let her live.
Angel Rashnu closed the book of life once more and looked at the grieving woman. “I will agree not to accept your daughter’s spirit into the world of the dead just yet... but under one condition,” she said.
Queen Aradia’s face lit up with sudden joy. “Thank you, my beloved Angel Rashnu! I will gladly accept any condition just to bring my daughter back to life.”
“Very well. Your daughter Areza will be given one year to return and live in the world of the living. However, she must enter the palace of the Demi-God King Severo and find a way to change his cruel heart. She must turn him into the protector of the good—the man he was destined to be as the son of the Warrior-God Verethragna. Should she fail, I, Angel Rashnu, the righteous judge of the dead, will recall her spirit, and she will be thrown into the world of the dead,” the Angel declared, raising her hand with divine authority.
Tears of happiness flowed once more down Queen Aradia’s cheeks. “Thank you, my beloved Angel Rashnu! I accept your condition, and I will make sure my daughter tries her absolute best to fulfill it the moment she wakes up.”
“She is awake now. Go, bring her home, and fulfill my condition,” Angel Rashnu stated. In the blink of an eye, she flew back toward the Chinvat Bridge.
With feet almost not touching the ground, Queen Aradia ran back to the carriage to see her daughter, followed closely by Malada, her loyal Carkas lady warrior.
When she stepped inside the carriage, she saw Princess Areza sitting upright, smiling at her as if nothing had ever happened.
Unable to contain herself, Queen Aradia threw her arms around her daughter, embracing her tightly. She laughed with pure relief, tears of joy streaming down her face.
Princess Areza looked confused as she gently tried to pacify her mother. “Hey, what’s wrong, my Queen? And where are we?” she asked softly.
Instead of answering, Queen Aradia checked her daughter’s chest for the wound. But to her complete amazement, she could neither see nor feel any trace of an arrow mark.
“You are completely healed, my daughter! Thanks to the divine mercy of Angel Rashnu!” she exclaimed.
Suddenly, flashes of the fierce battle flooded Princess Areza’s mind. “I... I didn't die, despite being hit by the arrow?” she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
“You did die, my Princess. But I sought the help of Angel Rashnu and begged her not to let your spirit enter the world of the dead.”
“And she agreed just like that, Mother?”
“She agreed, Areza, but she gave us a condition that you must fulfill. Otherwise, she will recall your spirit, and you will be lost to the world of the dead forever.”
“What is this condition, Mother?” Princess Areza asked, her expression growing guarded and deep.
Queen Aradia then explained the exact terms set forth by the righteous judge of the dead.
Princess Areza’s mouth fell open as she listened to her mother’s words.
“My daughter, you must do this to save your life,” Queen Aradia pleaded.
With deep doubt and defiance written across her lovely face, Princess Areza retorted, “Mother, just hearing the name of that tyrant King makes my heart tremble with rage! How could I possibly change him when I cannot even bear to speak his name?”
