The Jinn Lamps of Sivana: Part 1 - A Tale Buried in Time

 

Chapter 1: The Forgotten Mountain (Year: 1880)

The year was 1880, in a land not recorded in the maps of men, hidden beyond the arid borders of the Eastern deserts. There stood a mighty mountain called Kalgar, believed by locals to be cursed. But King Sivana I, a fierce ruler of the ancient Marugat Dynasty, saw it differently. To him, it was a fortress — a sanctuary where he could store the wealth he had accumulated over three decades of war and conquest.

King Sivana I summoned hundreds of workers, artisans, and slaves to hollow out the belly of Kalgar and create a vast underground chamber—a treasure vault that would survive generations. Day and night, hammers struck stone, sweat drenched the dust, and the mountain slowly revealed its hollow heart.

Among the laborers was a slave named Yavir, who had a habit of muttering ancient hymns to himself. He claimed to be descended from a long-forgotten desert tribe that once worshipped fire and wind spirits. Many mocked him—until the day he unearthed something strange beneath a slab of granite deep inside the vault.

As his pickaxe struck, a hollow thud echoed back. With curiosity and fear, he and a few others cleared the area and found an old trunk, covered in hardened, volcanic-like mud. The material wasn't just clay — it shimmered faintly, like obsidian with veins of gold. Yavir fell silent and crossed himself in an old tribal gesture, murmuring: "This is no man's chest."

Chapter 2: Sealed in Silence

When King Sivana I was informed, he ordered the trunk to be left untouched. He had seen enough relics from fallen empires to recognize that some treasures should remain buried. He demanded that the chamber be sealed with stone, and no record of the trunk’s existence be made in the palace archives. Only five men, including the king, knew of the chest. All but the king vanished mysteriously over the following year.

Over time, whispers about "the cursed vault" circulated among the court. Some said the king had hidden a part of his soul in that trunk. Others believed it to be a divine box gifted by the gods, meant to be opened only by one who bore the blood of fire.

Chapter 3: The Curiosity of Sivana II (Year: 1905)

Twenty-five years passed. The old king was long dead, and his son Sivana II ascended the throne. Unlike his father, Sivana II was not a conqueror but a philosopher-king. He was fascinated by the occult, ancient relics, and the mysteries of life after death.

While inspecting the ancient treasure vault—now used as a ceremonial site—Sivana II came across the old trunk. Faded symbols and carvings danced across its surface, glowing faintly as if reacting to his presence. Unable to resist his curiosity, he summoned his private scholars and alchemists to examine it.

Despite all their efforts, the trunk resisted every attempt to open it—until one stormy night, as lightning shook the land and thunder roared across the sky, the lock clicked open on its own.

Inside were three lamps, each unlike the other.

1. The First Lamp was made of gold and glowed with a warm, earthly light – etched with images of forests, rivers, and human forms – it bore the emblem of Bhulok, the realm of mortals.

2. The Second Lamp, encrusted with sapphires, had blue flames dancing within – its carvings showed heavenly figures, stars, and winged beings – this was the lamp of Swarglok, the realm of celestial spirits.

3. The Third Lamp, matte black and bone-chilling to the touch, had serpentine curves and crimson patterns – it radiated a disturbing aura. This was the lamp of Patal Lok, the realm of the hidden and the damned.

Sivana II felt an unnatural pull toward the third lamp. Without informing anyone, he quietly removed the Patal Lok lamp from the trunk and hid it in a secret chamber in his palace.

Chapter 4: The Twin Jinns Awaken

The next morning, palace guards found the trunk open with only two lamps remaining. Sivana feigned surprise and told his ministers that the trunk had already been looted by time. He ordered the remaining two lamps to be kept in the royal museum, encased in crystal.

But that very night, strange things began happening.

• Winds howled inside closed corridors.

• Servants heard whispers coming from walls.

• Shadows moved on their own.

• Birds refused to nest near the palace.

The two lamps began glowing dimly at specific hours — dusk and dawn — as if alive.

Unknown to all, the Patal Lok lamp hidden by Sivana II had awakened a Jinn — a being bound to the nether realm. Unlike the Jinns of Bhulok and Swarglok, this one was ancient, cunning, and cruel. It whispered promises of eternal knowledge and unbeatable power to the young king.

He listened.

Chapter 5: The King’s Secret Pact

In the weeks that followed, Sivana II became obsessed with decoding the mysteries of the Jinn. He stopped attending court meetings and spent nights alone in the secret chamber. He began drawing symbols on the palace walls, speaking forgotten languages, and crafting rituals from lost scriptures.

He believed he could control the Patal Jinn — and perhaps, rewrite destiny itself.

But the Jinn wanted freedom.

One day, the king summoned it fully during an eclipse. The palace trembled as the Jinn emerged — a towering figure cloaked in shadow, its eyes like burning pits. The king offered his loyalty, his soul, and even his bloodline in return for ultimate knowledge.

The Jinn laughed. “You are but a child playing with fire,” it hissed.

And yet, it accepted.

Chapter 6: The Theft (Year: 1906)

Just months later, a group of foreign treasure hunters and local thieves, bribed by corrupt ministers, broke into the royal museum. The two remaining lamps — Bhulok and Swarglok — were stolen, their glass cases shattered, and smuggled across the border.

The trunk, now empty, was also taken—its ancient material fascinated European researchers who believed it to be pre-Iron Age. They had no idea what had once slept inside.

When Sivana II was informed, he said nothing. His eyes glowed faintly as he whispered:
"They have only taken what was safe. The true power… remains with me."

Chapter 7: The Beginning of the End

Over the next few years, the kingdom began to collapse. Crops failed. Rivers dried. People saw monstrous figures in their dreams. Children were born with strange marks. The land cursed itself.

Sivana II vanished one night without a trace. His palace stood abandoned for decades.

But stories persisted — of a cursed king who made a pact with something not meant for this world, and of three lamps, lost across continents, each holding a piece of reality.

To Be Continued in Part 2: "The Foreign Hunt for the Jinn Lamps"