Sri Lanka, an island steeped in ancient traditions and breathtaking landscapes, is home to a wealth of stories. Amidst the dense jungles and forgotten temples, one legend reigns supreme—the tale of the Yakshini.
The Yakshini, or female spirit, is said to be a seductive creature who lives in the wilds, often mistaken for a beautiful woman. She is a spirit of the night, a being who lures men into her grasp with promises of beauty and pleasure. But beneath the allure lies her true nature: a deadly, malevolent force that feasts on the very life force of those she seduces.
I arrived in Kandy, a city tucked in the central hills of Sri Lanka, where the legend of the Yakshini is still spoken of with caution. It's said that she can take the form of any woman, any dream, and sometimes even an innocent girl. But those who fall prey to her will never return.
I met Rohitha, a local historian, who agreed to tell me more about the creature that haunted his ancestors' tales. "The Yakshini has been in our folklore for centuries," he told me. "She is an ancient spirit, cursed by the gods for her cruelty. Some believe she was once a beautiful princess who was transformed into a monster for the sins she committed."
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Rohitha and I ventured to the Sigiriya rock fortress, a towering structure built on a massive rock, dating back to the 5th century. It is here, amidst the ruins of an ancient civilization, that the Yakshini is said to have once roamed.
We set up camp near a forgotten temple, where the air was thick with the scent of jasmine and sandalwood. As night fell, the jungle became eerily silent. I could hear nothing but the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Then, I heard it.
A soft, melodic laugh, so sweet it could have been the wind itself. But there was something wrong about it.
A figure appeared before me—a tall woman, clothed in flowing white. Her beauty was otherworldly, her eyes deep pools of darkness. She smiled, and I could feel an unnatural pull toward her.
"What do you seek, traveler?" she whispered.
I felt a strange warmth spread through my chest, a sensation that made my heart race. I could barely remember my own name, let alone why I had come here.
It was only when I looked into her eyes, deep and fathomless, that I remembered the warnings. I tried to step back, but my legs felt heavy, and my body moved against my will.
Suddenly, I saw Rohitha standing behind her. His eyes wide with terror, his lips trembling. He gasped, "You cannot trust her. She is the Yakshini!"
In that moment, everything became clear. The beauty, the allure—it was a trap. A deadly one.
I broke free of her gaze and ran, but the forest seemed to shift around me, the trees bending and twisting. I could hear her footsteps, light and graceful, following me in the darkness.
I stumbled out of the jungle, breathless and terrified. Behind me, I heard the faint laughter once more, this time tinged with malice.
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Rohitha met me at the edge of the jungle, pale and shaking. "You were lucky," he said. "Very few escape the Yakshini's grasp."
We left the ruins quickly, heading back to the city. "Some legends are more than just stories," Rohitha murmured. "They are warnings, cautionary tales from a time when spirits walked among us. The Yakshini is still out there, waiting in the shadows."
As we departed Sri Lanka, I couldn't help but wonder how many others had fallen prey to the enchantress of the night. Was it just a story? Or did she truly walk the earth, seeking those who dared to enter her domain?
To be continued...