The next morning, Rudra was still sleeping and the folks of town prepared for the festival. They were celebrating the arrival of a new force to root the devil out of their lives.
Rudra woke by the sound of drums and songs.
He was offered food and worshipped like an Avatar of their deity.
A young man was chosen to lead him to the sacred place and then both of them left.
"What's your name young one?"
"It's Nishad, lord."
"No need to be formal. What's the ambition of your life?"
"I want to explore the lands far and far away, to learn the ways of life. And then at a certain age I want to return to my people and serve my mother and father."
"You are ambitious, I'll give you that much."
"But of-course I can't do that if I can't survive this day."
"I see, you have doubts regarding me."
"I'm very sorry, lord. I didn't mean that."
"Don't worry, everything is fated, as you people say. You want to fulfil your ambitions?"
"I do want to."
"Then how about you show me the direction and then walk towards your fate."
"But I might be destined to lead you to the sacred place and then die during the battle against evil."
"I told you, people are already fated no matter what decision you make. So better live your life to the fullest."
"But would that not mean running from my duties?"
"You are not needed for the upcoming event; you'll be just throwing your life and ambition."
"If you say so. I'll be leaving for my destiny then. I hope when I return my people will be flourishing once again."
"So, which way is the sacred place?"
"The place is cut off from the rest of the land. The only way is the stone bridging them. The bridge is almost in straight path, once you take a detour of the waterfall."
"It's a bit difficult to remember but I can manage that."
"Bless me, oh lord! I leave my people in your trustworthy hands and I will seek my ambition and come back again to my people."
"Very well then, do fulfil your destiny."
Rudra and the young man from the village have parted their ways and now Rudra is following the path to the sacred place.
After crossing the bridge, the sacred place was in his range of sight. But the setup looked like a normal house and a fence around it, maybe from protecting the place from wildlife intrusion. Rudra took himself in and knocked on the door. He didn't expect anyone to answer it but for his surprise someone come out.
The man seemed decent, in his thirties maybe and has quite a physique. It can't be the priest of town, Rudra thought.
"Who are you and why are you here?"
"You tell me, you knocked at my door."
"People have interesting stories about this place so, I came to look. I am Rudra. Can you give me something to eat, I am hungry too."
"Come inside."
"I didn't get your name, what is it?"
"I don't think that matters at a place like this."
"Why do you live here?"
"I am a man from city; this is my ancestral land. I come here occasionally to take a break from busy life of city."
The man slides a plate of fruits towards Rudra on the table. He smiles and said,
"Well, I've heard stories but didn't experience it by myself and besides I do not stay here for long time so, it doesn't bother me."
Rudra and the man were having a conversation and they heard a knock on the door. Rudra turned to the man,
"Were you expecting someone?"
"No, maybe it's someone like you. Quite a coincidence!
Would you please attend that?"
Rudra walks to the door.
Opens it.
But nobody is there.
"There's no one on the door."
Rudra turns to the man and the man was not there. The man was there a moment ago, where he has gone? Thought Rudra.
Before he could make some sense to all this nonsense happening around. His head was struck by a strong and heavy metal.
"What is the meaning of this?"
But still, no one around. Rudra can not make sense of anything.
He remembered something Kiri-shama told him that the deities can not be hurt by any human objects or weapon.
And especially for him that he has the strongest human form even among the other deities.
Rudra tried hard not to faint but the strike was so lethal that he gave in and fainted.
The stories about this place might be true after all as no ordinary human can deal such a damage to my divine human form, this is what Rudra was thinking in his last moments of consciousness.