When I finished hearing this, I broke down in intense tears. I became certain that Dumbazu was the one who killed my father. My greatest sorrow was knowing that I could never avenge him. There was a day my father said to me:
“My son, even after I am gone, never dare to attempt to defeat Dumbazu. You will never succeed against him. His mastery of sorcery is far beyond yours. You have learned nothing from my knowledge — but I will give you one protection that no creature will ever be able to harm.”
When I heard this, I asked him, “Father, why did you refuse to teach me your magical knowledge?”
His eyes filled with tears before he replied:
“Before your mother died, she begged me never to teach you sorcery. My investigations showed that if you possessed the secrets of my magic, you would never father a child in this world. I promised her, and I kept that promise.”
When I heard this, I embraced him and we wept for a long time.
Since the day Dumbazu killed my father, we never met him again. Yet he never stopped hunting me. Eventually, he left our land and conquered many nations through sorcery, defeating kings and seizing their wealth and power. He brought many kingdoms under one rule called Kailus.
Despite all his power, he never had peace because he could not kill me. He constantly sent demons and human sacrifices to destroy me — but every time I survived, it was not because of my sword, but because of the magical bracelet King Hubru wore on his left arm.
That was the root of the enmity between me and Dumbazu.
“There is only one way you can defeat him,” King Hubru said. “I must remove my magical bracelet and give it to you. With it, you will defeat him. But know this: whoever wears this bracelet, the day he removes it, he will not live more than three days.”
When King Hubru said this, we were shaken. I asked him why he would sacrifice his life for his daughter.
He wept and said:
“I have lived. I have ruled. I have wealth and children. I have tasted everything life offers. But my daughter is in the prime of her youth. She is my only one. If I die, she dies. If you do not rescue her, grief will kill me anyway.”
He removed the bracelet from his arm and handed it to me. My hands trembled as I wore it. That was the greatest mistake of my life — for I forgot that the day I remove it, I will not live beyond four days.
We bid him farewell in tears, knowing we would never see him again.
---
We went to the sorcerer Shabarus Ibn Mukaibar. He was already waiting for us, his eyes full of tears. He summoned his greatest servant — a powerful demon named Mara’il Labarus, winged with eighteen wings.
Reluctantly, the demon agreed to carry us to Kailus in eleven days instead of seventy-seven days by horse.
For eighteen days we flew across the skies without landing. Finally, we saw the magnificent city of Kailus — built entirely from pearls and jewels, constructed in the middle of a river by demons.
Strangely, the city was silent. Everyone — humans and animals — stood frozen like statues.
We entered the palace. The doors suddenly shut behind us. Laughter echoed. Demon soldiers surrounded us.
Then King Dumbazu appeared on his throne, laughing wickedly.
He mocked us, saying even the magical bracelet would not protect me. To prove it, he showed us an identical bracelet and burned it to ashes.
He ordered his demons to attack.
They overwhelmed us. I was struck unconscious. Mara’il Labarus was torn apart. Maharaz fought bravely but was slashed eighty times and collapsed.
When I awoke, I was chained with magical chains. Maharaz lay near death.
Dumbazu entered with Princess Sahira — laughing with her. I was shocked. Why would she appear relaxed with her father’s enemy?
Dumbazu declared he would kill her before my eyes since her father refused to send his head.
I smiled and told him hope never dies as long as a human breathes.
He grew furious and boasted of his unmatched strength. As he ranted, I noticed a magical pouch at his waist containing thousands of charms.
Suddenly, I lunged forward and bit one of the charms with my teeth. It burst instantly.
The magical pouch vanished. The chains binding us disappeared. His demon soldiers melted like butter.
Dumbazu froze in horror — then attacked me with two swords.
We fought for nine hours.
He was stronger. I could barely defend myself. Eventually he slashed both my thighs and I collapsed, nearly defeated.
He raised his sword to behead me —
But suddenly his arm froze.
A dagger had pierced through his back.
Princess Sahira stood behind him, trembling.
Dumbazu fell dead instantly.
I fainted.
---
When I awoke, Sahira was weeping beside me. My wounds were treated. Maharaz was still barely alive.
The people of Kailus surrounded us in disbelief. We had defeated their invincible king.
After forty days of healing, we recovered enough. I told Sahira everything about her father’s sacrifice.
She wept bitterly and embraced me.
Later she looked at me and said she wished to speak privately with Maharaz.
Surprised, I asked her:
“What kind of secret could you possibly have with my friend that I am not meant to hear?”
When I finished hearing this, I broke down in intense tears. I became certain that Dumbazu was the one who killed my father. My greatest sorrow was knowing that I could never avenge him. There was a day my father said to me:
“My son, even after I am gone, never dare to attempt to defeat Dumbazu. You will never succeed against him. His mastery of sorcery is far beyond yours. You have learned nothing from my knowledge — but I will give you one protection that no creature will ever be able to harm.”
When I heard this, I asked him, “Father, why did you refuse to teach me your magical knowledge?”
His eyes filled with tears before he replied:
“Before your mother died, she begged me never to teach you sorcery. My investigations showed that if you possessed the secrets of my magic, you would never father a child in this world. I promised her, and I kept that promise.”
When I heard this, I embraced him and we wept for a long time.
Since the day Dumbazu killed my father, we never met him again. Yet he never stopped hunting me. Eventually, he left our land and conquered many nations through sorcery, defeating kings and seizing their wealth and power. He brought many kingdoms under one rule called Kailus.
Despite all his power, he never had peace because he could not kill me. He constantly sent demons and human sacrifices to destroy me — but every time I survived, it was not because of my sword, but because of the magical bracelet King Hubru wore on his left arm.
That was the root of the enmity between me and Dumbazu.
“There is only one way you can defeat him,” King Hubru said. “I must remove my magical bracelet and give it to you. With it, you will defeat him. But know this: whoever wears this bracelet, the day he removes it, he will not live more than three days.”
When King Hubru said this, we were shaken. I asked him why he would sacrifice his life for his daughter.
He wept and said:
“I have lived. I have ruled. I have wealth and children. I have tasted everything life offers. But my daughter is in the prime of her youth. She is my only one. If I die, she dies. If you do not rescue her, grief will kill me anyway.”
He removed the bracelet from his arm and handed it to me. My hands trembled as I wore it. That was the greatest mistake of my life — for I forgot that the day I remove it, I will not live beyond four days.
We bid him farewell in tears, knowing we would never see him again.
---
We went to the sorcerer Shabarus Ibn Mukaibar. He was already waiting for us, his eyes full of tears. He summoned his greatest servant — a powerful demon named Mara’il Labarus, winged with eighteen wings.
Reluctantly, the demon agreed to carry us to Kailus in eleven days instead of seventy-seven days by horse.
For eighteen days we flew across the skies without landing. Finally, we saw the magnificent city of Kailus — built entirely from pearls and jewels, constructed in the middle of a river by demons.
Strangely, the city was silent. Everyone — humans and animals — stood frozen like statues.
We entered the palace. The doors suddenly shut behind us. Laughter echoed. Demon soldiers surrounded us.
Then King Dumbazu appeared on his throne, laughing wickedly.
He mocked us, saying even the magical bracelet would not protect me. To prove it, he showed us an identical bracelet and burned it to ashes.
He ordered his demons to attack.
They overwhelmed us. I was struck unconscious. Mara’il Labarus was torn apart. Maharaz fought bravely but was slashed eighty times and collapsed.
When I awoke, I was chained with magical chains. Maharaz lay near death.
Dumbazu entered with Princess Sahira — laughing with her. I was shocked. Why would she appear relaxed with her father’s enemy?
Dumbazu declared he would kill her before my eyes since her father refused to send his head.
I smiled and told him hope never dies as long as a human breathes.
He grew furious and boasted of his unmatched strength. As he ranted, I noticed a magical pouch at his waist containing thousands of charms.
Suddenly, I lunged forward and bit one of the charms with my teeth. It burst instantly.
The magical pouch vanished. The chains binding us disappeared. His demon soldiers melted like butter.
Dumbazu froze in horror — then attacked me with two swords.
We fought for nine hours.
He was stronger. I could barely defend myself. Eventually he slashed both my thighs and I collapsed, nearly defeated.
He raised his sword to behead me —
But suddenly his arm froze.
A dagger had pierced through his back.
Princess Sahira stood behind him, trembling.
Dumbazu fell dead instantly.
I fainted.
---
When I awoke, Sahira was weeping beside me. My wounds were treated. Maharaz was still barely alive.
The people of Kailus surrounded us in disbelief. We had defeated their invincible king.
After forty days of healing, we recovered enough. I told Sahira everything about her father’s sacrifice.
She wept bitterly and embraced me.
Later she looked at me and said she wished to speak privately with Maharaz.
Surprised, I asked her:
“What kind of secret could you possibly have with my friend that I am not meant to hear?”