Pharan continued his meditation even after Khem had left on the bicycle.
However, not long after, the dog lying under the bamboo bed suddenly got up, howling and looking up towards the second floor of the house, sensing that something was about to happen, before it ran away in fear.
It's back.
Pharan called back the consciousness he had sent to follow Khem. After seeing the unfolding events, his black eyes suddenly widened, and he coughed up a mouthful of black blood.
Disaster.
This word echoed in Pharan's mind like a broken record. A pain as if a thousand needles were piercing his fingers and toes, combined with a burning sensation in his chest, made it hard for him to breathe. The clear images before his eyes were now growing dim, and his once clear eyes were now leaking blood in a disturbing manner.
What he saw in his consciousness indicated something deeply disturbing to Pharan, but the immediate concern was to find a way to reverse the dark magic curse.
It had entered Pharan's body through ingestion.
The vision reflected memories from yesterday when he had eaten Grandma-Si's steamed coconut-rice cake without much caution. That cake might have been mixed with saliva or perhaps passed over by something impure multiple times. Moreover, Grandma-Si herself possessed some magical knowledge, making it not difficult for her to cast a curse...
Now, both of Pharan's eyes, still leaking blood, had gone blind. With one hand, he groped around for the silver basin containing holy water. Despite the excruciating headache that felt like his head might explode, he couldn't afford to lie down.
Upon finding it, he placed the basin in front of him, reached out to take a candle and a lighter from a stainless steel tray, and lit it. Unable to see, he couldn't focus his meditation on any particular point, so he couldn't use his usual fire magic.
Feeling the warmth of the flame, he slowly dripped candle wax into the holy water, while moving his lips, still stained with dark blood, to chant the three Namo three times, followed by a chant to counteract the curse, both for spirits and humans that he had learned.
"Itipija Sukkhato Lokanatho Arahaṃ Patto Nānibbānasaññā..."
Meanwhile, Jett and Chan, who had to stay overnight at a temple in the province due to necessity, felt restless and couldn't sleep because they were worried about the master and Khem. By 5 AM, they got up, washed their faces, brushed their teeth, and left the empty monk's quarters to bid farewell to the abbot before heading back, even though it was still drizzling.
Jett drove back to the village using a shortcut he remembered from a past volunteer club trip, opting for this route because it was shorter than the usual path and to avoid the city's congested traffic. His heart was uneasy since morning, which only intensified his driving.
The more he thought, the harder he pressed the accelerator, causing the speedometer to climb, though to Jett, everything around seemed to be moving too slowly, contrasting with Chan's feelings in the passenger seat.
"Khun Jett, you're driving too fast." Chan said tensely, sweat trickling down his temple, something in his mind screaming that a disaster was imminent.
At that very moment, Jett saw a black dog dash out from the roadside, too close to stop in time. Both men's eyes widened in shock, and Jett made the split-second decision to swerve off the road, crashing into a large tree.
BAM!!
Back with Khem, his large eyes were wide open in terror, his heart pounding with fear more intense than ever before. The sensation of dread gripped his throat, making it hard to breathe, as if the whole world had stopped spinning in an instant.
Khem recognized this voice; it was the same one he'd heard in his dreams, the one he woke up to when he was about to jump off the balcony.
And those entirely black eyes, the nearly black-purple lips, that face he'd seen in the sketches.
Before him was the vengeful spirit that cursed his mother's family, the owner of the ancient Thai house dimension Khem had been dreaming about.
"..."
Tears streamed down Khem's cheeks as he responded in a voice trembling with both fear and anger, because even though the face was
someone else's, the body belonged to Grandma-Si.
"Why use Grandma-Si's body, what did Grandma-Si do to you?" The question made Madam Ramphueng's smile slowly fade, her neck twisted back to an angle, her eyes that were squinted now wide open, and she replied in a chilling voice that echoed across the area,
"Now. Shouldn't you be more worried about yourself?"
At that very moment, the boat rocked violently, flipping over, and Khem fell into the cold water. Although he could swim, at this moment, his arms and legs wouldn't move as he wanted them to, his eyes wide in shock.
He saw the figure of a woman in ancient Thai servant attire, with the same face as before, floating closer.
Her skin was pale like paper, revealing dark veins across her body, her eyes now mostly white with the pupils shrunken, and her dark lips still smiling.
As the face came within inches of him, the same voice whispered into his ear,
"I'm going to show you the vile things you and your family did tome."
Khem was pulled back into the dimension of an ancient Thai house once more. The scene was still in sepia tones, like an old drama being replayed.
It was the same perspective he had seen multiple times in his dreams, but this time, it seemed different because Khem could clearly hear the voices of people in the house.
Memories of someone flooded into his mind, tracing back to about four hundred years ago when this Thai house was bestowed by the king to
"Phraya Worasingh." a high-ranking official who had been appointed as the governor of a secondary city in Siam at that time.
Phraya Worasingh was the son of "Lord Phakdiwijitra" and "Lady Anantawadi" who had risen from a minor noble rank due to the influence of
"Lord Phraya Chalermsak." whose daughter "MaeYing Kesakaew" was his fiancée, and who was also a friend of the king, helping him to secure a position in the royal court.
At seventeen years old, Phraya Worasingh was a man of striking features and a tall, robust build, unmatched in this region by birth, and known for his sweet and charming speech with women. Anyone who came close to him would inevitably fall for his charm.
His reputation spread throughout the Kanchanaburi region, known as the most desirable man for young women to marry. This reputation reached the ears of MaeYing Kesakaew, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Ookya Chalermsak, a high-ranking official about to be promoted even further. Out of curiosity, as a young woman about to be married, she went to secretly observe Phraya Worasingh's face.
From the very first glance, there was an immediate infatuation and admiration for each other. MaeYing Kesakaew was determined in her heart that she would marry Phraya Worasingh at any cost.
Originally, MaeYing Kesakaew was the youngest daughter of Ookya Chalermsak, raised with indulgence, which made her quite self-willed. She used her father's rank and title to coerce Phraya Worasingh into proposing marriage to her.
At that time, Phraya Worasingh held a third-tier noble rank, his full name being "Lord Singharat". He was someone who cared deeply about his image and sought ways to advance to a higher noble rank to honor his family's prestige. Hence, he agreed to marry MaeYing Kesakaew not out of love but out of necessity, fearing gossip from the villagers. They were engaged for two years before setting a date for the wedding.
Being eloquent and skilled in negotiation, after working in the palace and becoming close to the king, Phraya Worasingh used his cunning and quick wit to climb the ranks. Just three years after marrying MaeYing Kesakaew, he was promoted to the ninth-tier noble rank and was granted the new title,
"Phraya Worasingh".
Phraya Worasingh was set on having one or two sons to continue the family's noble status and virtues, hoping they would achieve success as he had at the age of twenty, becoming a high-ranking noble and bringing honor to the family.
However, after three years of marriage, MaeYing Kesakaew had not given birth, whether to a daughter or a son. No matter what methods were tried, she simply did not conceive.
Unable to wait any longer, Phraya Worasingh married a second wife named "MaeYing Radamani", the daughter of the left minister, with the king's support. Even Phraya Chalermsak, who was known for his rebellious spirit against the monarchy, could not object or do anything.
MaeYing Radamani was much loved by PhrayaWorasingh for her decorum, composure, youth, and flattery. She soon became pregnant and
gave birth to two daughters in quick succession, but tragically, after giving birth, she could not have another child due to a mysterious accident where she fell from a balcony and died only a year after childbirth.
MaeYing Kesakaew, the primary wife, showed no interest in raising the children in place of their deceased mother, so Phraya Worasingh decided to send the girls to live with their grandparents in another nearby city.
Not long after, Phraya Worasingh took a third wife, "MaeYing Koknang", daughter of "Ong Luang Surachet". This marriage was one of obligation on her part, as she could not defy her parents' orders. Within a year of their marriage, she gave birth to a daughter named "KrongKwan".
MaeYing Koknang was known for her reserved nature and modesty.
Even though Phraya Worasingh felt disappointed for not having a son as he hoped, he never dared to show his irritation or displeasure towards her. He only named the child and returned to his duties at the palace as usual.
Two years later, a new group of servants was sent to Phraya Worasingh's residence, among whom Phraya Worasingh noticed a woman with radiant skin and beauty beyond the ordinary. Upon inquiring, he learned her name was:
'Ramphueng'
PhrayaWorasingh was greatly enamored with Madam-Ramphueng, his heart almost bursting with desire to make her his wife. He even had severe arguments with his primary wife, MaeYing Kesakaew, because he had promised not to take another wife.
Ultimately, Phraya Worasingh managed to elevate Madam-Ramphueng to be his fourth wife, as his heart desired. Not long after, Madam-Ramphueng conceived another child for him.
However, during this same time, MaeYing Kesakaew also became pregnant. This coincided with Phraya Worasingh being away for a long time due to his official duties.
MaeYing Kesakaew began to intentionally harass the servant wife, Madam-Ramphueng, in various ways. MaeYing Koknang, being in a lower position, could not intervene, as the primary wife held greater power, and she didn't want to cause trouble for her parents if the conflict reached Lord Phraya Chalermsak's ears.
Nevertheless, MaeYing Koknang often secretly sent necessary items to Madam-Ramphueng out of compassion, hoping both Madam-Ramphueng and MaeYing Kesakaew would give birth to sons for Phraya Worasingh.
When the delivery day came, both MaeYing Kesakaew and Madam-Ramphueng went into labor simultaneously. However, a terrible event unfolded: MaeYing Kesakaew gave birth to a son but the son died before seeing him, while Madam-Ramphueng delivered a healthy son safely.
MaeYing Kesakaew screamed and cried uncontrollably before fainting from the shock.
That very night, after MaeYing Kesakaew regained consciousness, she led several servants to Madam-Ramphueng's room, ordering them to hold Madam-Ramphueng while they took her child away.
Madam Ramphueng's heart sank to the pit of her stomach; she quickly shook herself free from the grasp of several servants who were holding her back and ran after MaeYing Kesakaew, fearing that what would happen next might shatter her heart.
Upon reaching the riverbank, MaeYing Kesakaew stood at the end of the pier, holding Madam Ramphueng's child. Madam Ramphueng cried out silently in sheer terror, her arms reaching out in desperate hope of reclaiming her son.
'Madam, please don't do this, return my child to me, I beg you.' pleaded Madam Ramphueng. However, MaeYing Kesakaew shook her head, rejecting the plea.
If the child of a servant in her household were to grow up and take everything that should have belonged to her own son, not to mention the gossip and accusations that would come, her life was already miserable enough. She could not let that happen.
'If my child was not to be born, neither will yours.'
With that, the baby, who was crying, was mercilessly thrown into the river right before the mother's eyes.
Madam Ramphueng's scream pierced the air, but it was soon muffled as the servants of MaeYing Kesakaew caught up to her, holding her back and covering her mouth to prevent any sound, leaving only her wide eyes filled with disbelief and tears streaming down.
This harrowing scene by the water's edge was witnessed entirely by Krongkwan, the daughter of MaeYing Koknang, who in this life, is none other than Khem and his now-deceased mother.