Paramodice was imprisoned together with other criminals from the town. The prison was heavily guarded by the king's soldiers morning, noon, and night. No visitors were permitted to enter without the king's order. Anyone who dared to break the rule was beaten mercilessly by the guards before being thrown out of the premises.
Since the people of the land knew the consequence of such actions, they rarely visited their loved ones in prison. To gain permission, they would have to go through many processes at the palace: bringing food, drinks, and even a specific amount of money depending on the crime committed. Because of this, many preferred to wait until the official prison visiting day, which came only once a year.
Paramodice remembered all that his parents had taught him about the ways of God. This gave him courage and kept his focus steady. Every day he prayed and fasted, sometimes refusing the meals brought to him. His behavior amazed the other prisoners.
"Who are you, really?" they asked him. "Every day you pray to someone we cannot see, and you starve yourself as though food were poison. Tell us, what do you know that we do not know?"
Paramodice laughed gently. "I serve a living God who is always with me. He speaks to me and guides me daily. He has never forsaken me, for He has sent His angels to watch over me, day and night."
The prisoners mocked him. "We think you are going mad. We have never seen anyone around you, yet you claim He speaks to you."
"I knew you would say that," Paramodice replied with a smile. "But I feel His presence every moment. He is spirit, and no man can see Him. This same God created everything; He knows the beginning and the end. A tree does not make a forest—He is the one who made us all."
The prisoners pressed him further. "If your God is so powerful, why can't He save you from prison? Why does He let you suffer here with us?"
"My God is good," Paramodice answered. "He brought me here to fulfill destiny—both mine and yours. Sometimes the road to greatness passes through the valley of suffering. He sent me here to preach His word to you, so that you too may know Him."
The prisoners leaned closer, hungry for more. "Please, tell us about Him," they pleaded.
So Paramodice preached, saying, "There is only one God. He alone deserves our worship. He created man so that we might glorify Him. But man chose to follow the devil, one of the fallen angels. Satan deceived humanity and corrupted the earth with false gods. Yet because of God's abundant love, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, so that man might not remain a slave to Satan. Through His death, He brought redemption to mankind. It is only through His name that we can be saved—no other name."
Many of the prisoners gave their lives to Christ that day. They rejoiced, singing and dancing inside the prison. Even the palace guards were astonished at their sudden change.
Meanwhile, the king of Dakoma had a daughter, his only child. Her name was Oasi, the beloved princess. She was beautiful and humble, respected by all in the kingdom. Though she spent most of her childhood in the palace, by the time she turned seventeen, she began to long for freedom—to feel the breeze beyond the palace walls and make new friends.
Many young men desired Oasi and sought her hand in marriage. She welcomed their company but never returned their love; instead, she regarded them only as friends. As she grew older, her beauty blossomed like the morning sun, drawing even more attention.
At nineteen, her father, King Dakoma, grew concerned. "By now," he thought, "my daughter should have chosen someone. I need a man who will marry her and one day sustain my throne." So he organized a great festival called Takuta, where the bravest men would wrestle for the chance to win her hand.
On the day of Takuta, the bravest warriors of Dakoma gathered. The king welcomed the people and declared the contest open. After a long and fierce competition, a man named Sorata emerged victorious.
Yet, despite his strength, Oasi showed no interest.
"Mama, Papa," she said, "I cannot love him. I know he is brave, but he is not the one."
Her parents were troubled. "My daughter, speak your mind. We organized this festival for you because I have no son, and I am growing old. I need someone to sustain the throne when I join my ancestors."
With tears in her eyes, Oasi replied, "There is someone in my heart. I see him always in my dreams—a strong, brave warrior. He is unlike any man I know. He is different, and there is something special about him."
Her parents were astonished. "If that is the case, walk through the land. Perhaps the gods will lead you to him," they said. "A child who washes her hands clean can dine with kings."
At that time, Paramodice had spent years in prison. Now twenty years old, he too had constant dreams about a woman he had never seen—Princess Oasi of Dakoma. One day, an angel appeared to him in prison.
"Tomorrow," the angel said, "you shall meet the woman you see in your dreams. She is your destiny, and she has been searching for you."
That same day, King Dakoma issued a surprising decree: all prisoners should be released to enjoy the fresh air of the palace. This was unheard of in Dakoma, and the news shocked everyone.
The next day, the prisoners were set free to walk about. They rejoiced, seeing the light of day after so long. As Oasi strolled around the palace, her eyes fell upon Paramodice. She rubbed her eyes, thinking she was dreaming. Her maid and closest friend asked, "Princess, is something wrong?"
"That is the man from my dreams," Oasi whispered.
Her friend gasped. "But… he is a prisoner!"
At that moment, Paramodice lifted his head and locked eyes with her. The guards shouted, "Keep your head down! This is the princess!" But Paramodice could not look away. The guards rushed to flog him, but Oasi cried out, "Leave him alone! Do not touch him!"
Everyone was stunned. From that day, Oasi secretly fell in love with Paramodice. She bribed guards and sneaked away to meet him. When the king noticed her strange behavior, he questioned her.
Oasi wept. "Father, he is the man from my dreams. I love him."
The king's face darkened. "Do you know what you are saying? You love a prisoner? Worse, he is not even from our kingdom. May the gods forbid it!"
In anger, he ordered Paramodice to be flogged and thrown back into prison. Oasi fell ill, refusing to eat. When her mother, the queen, discovered the truth, she pleaded with the king, but he refused. The queen, fearing for her only child's life, secretly conspired with loyal guards to arrange a meeting.
When Paramodice entered Oasi's chamber, she rose from her bed and embraced him. Whispering into his ear, she said, "The best thing for us is to escape this palace and this kingdom."
Paramodice hesitated. "Should I run, or should I stay?