They realized that the ones they saw there were not ordinary people but cruel demons. These demons were worshipped as divine guardians of the king's soul. Not only that, when the three of them looked at the demons, they appeared to be terrifying illusions. At that moment, they understood why they had been abandoned there—it was as good as being sentenced to death.
The three decided that if the demons noticed them, they would surely be killed. Therefore, they resolved to remain unseen and move with utmost caution. They traveled through the forest in the opposite direction and found a small cave where they took shelter. The tragic events weighed heavily on them, and Harold's heart broke as he thought of the boy who had lost his life for their sake. Inside the cave, they sat in silence, not knowing what to do next.
Meanwhile, in the royal palace, Rudra Senan spoke with Bimbisan, wondering why such atrocities were committed and what purpose they served. Elsewhere, Parantakan entered a secret passage in the palace that led to a vast cave. There, about twenty people were bound together. He chanted strange spells, drew a sword, and brutally slaughtered all twenty. His face was splattered with blood, and he laughed maniacally as the chamber shook with horror.
Back in the cave, Agnika Devi comforted the families of the victims. Everyone mourned the dead. Meera asked Agnika what had happened and whether their lives were in danger. Agnika reassured them: "Nothing will happen to you. You are safe. But none of you have eaten. First, take food, then we can talk." Yet no one felt like eating. Agnika explained, "In this world, one life is born while another perishes. That is the law of existence. We must accept it. I understand your sorrow, but remember—whatever mistakes we make, their consequences will return to us in some form. Accept this truth and eat."
Harold, Lorentz, and Ken later ventured out at night, unseen by anyone, to the place where the demons dwelled. Suddenly, a great light appeared—the same light Harold had seen in the palace chamber. It rose from the ground to the sky like a pillar, while the demons performed fierce rituals around it. The light turned black, and from it emerged the spirits of eight souls, which quickly vanished into a nearby valley. The three trembled at the sight and hurried back to the cave.
Harold said, "We must find out what lies in that valley. Only then can we decide our next step." Ken replied, "That is as dangerous as death itself." Lorentz added, "If not, we will remain trapped here forever. We must discover what is hidden there and escape quickly."
The next day, they explored the cave surroundings. Ken climbed a large rock and sat there, while the others searched. Behind the valley, they found a deep gorge. Lorentz and Harold wondered why Ken had not yet returned. When he finally arrived, he recounted strange happenings. He reminded them of the prophecy: "Do you remember? One night, even a small child ran to me asking what was coming. The demons are near."
The following day, they reached the gorge. It was unimaginably deep—almost as if the depth of Mount Everest itself lay beneath. Shocked, they rolled a huge boulder into it. The rock shattered into pieces and echoed loudly as it fell. Hearing the terrifying sound, the three panicked and ran toward the cave, not knowing what awaited them.