In a serene village by the Malika River in Kachin State, there lived a young woman named Numsha. Every day, she journeyed to the river to fetch water for her household. One fateful day, as she approached the riverbank, she noticed a handsome man sitting alone, singing a melody so enchanting it seemed to blend with the rhythm of the flowing water. The man's red, shimmering hair, piercing blue eyes, and blue-tinged lips gave him an otherworldly allure.
Curious, Numsha asked the man why he sat there alone. He replied that he often came to the river to soothe his loneliness. Moved by his plight, Numsha sat beside him, listening to his tales until the sun dipped below the horizon.
From that day on, the man returned to the riverbank daily to speak with Numsha. Their connection deepened, and soon, love blossomed between them. The man began visiting Numsha at her home, each time bringing her abundant gifts of gold. When she questioned the source of his treasures, the man revealed his true form: he was a dragon dwelling within the Malika River. To her surprise, Numsha showed no fear. "Why should I fear someone I love?" she replied.
Their bond grew even stronger. In time, they had two sons, Hkai Gam and Hkai Naw. However, the dragon father had to return to the river to maintain its balance and prevent it from flooding. Thus, the two boys grew up without knowing their father. When they were old enough, they asked their mother about him. She revealed his true nature and instructed them to call for him by tapping stones in the river.
The boys went to the riverbank and did as their mother advised. The dragon, annoyed by the persistent sound, sent a crab to ask them to stop. However, the boys, angered that their father had not come himself, captured the crab, roasted it, and ate it. The dragon then sent a shrimp, which met the same fate. With no other choice, the dragon appeared before his sons. But the boys, prepared for his arrival, trapped him by tying him to a large tree.
Confronting their father, they demanded to know why he had abandoned them. The dragon explained that his presence in the river was essential to prevent catastrophic floods. He expressed his love for them and their mother, but his duty required his sacrifice. The boys, moved by his words, released him. As an apology, the dragon gifted his sons powerful weapons: to Hkai Gam, a sword named Ndawn, sharp enough to cut through anything; to Hkai Naw, a bow and arrow named Ndan, capable of piercing any target.
Before departing, the dragon visited their mother once more, then returned to the river. Years passed, and the brothers grew into strong young men. They decided to set out on a journey to explore the world, bidding a tearful farewell to their mother.
The Journey and the Dark Bird
While traveling down the river, their father briefly surfaced to check on them. Startled by the massive creature, Hkai Gam mistook it for a serpent and struck at it with his sword, inadvertently slicing their boat in half. The brothers were separated.
Hkai Naw drifted to an unfamiliar land where he discovered a strange village dominated by a colossal tree at its center. The tree's vast branches cast the village in perpetual shade, and its people appeared lifeless, their vitality drained. Curious, Hkai Naw asked the villagers what was wrong, but no one dared to answer. Exhausted, he rested near a stable, where he overheard two stable boys discussing a sinister ritual - a child sacrificed each month to a giant dark bird in exchange for the tree's supposed blessings.
Enraged, Hkai Naw confronted the boys, forcing them to reveal the truth. The bird had tricked the villagers, planting the cursed tree that sapped their life force. Determined to save the village, Hkai Naw attempted to approach the tree but realized he could not destroy it alone. He set out to find his brother.
After a long search, he found Hkai Gam in a secluded forest hut. The brothers embraced and shared their stories. Hkai Naw convinced his elder brother to help him liberate the village. Together, they returned and began their battle.
Hkai Gam used his sword to sever the tree's massive roots while Hkai Naw protected him. As the roots fell, the tree withered, revealing the malevolent bird perched atop. The bird, enraged, attacked the brothers, but Hkai Gam severed its talons. When the bird tried to escape, Hkai Naw's arrow struck its neck, killing it instantly.
The village, freed from the bird's curse, rejoiced and hailed the brothers as heroes. From that day forward, Hkai Gam and Hkai Naw vowed to protect the innocent, earning their place in legend as the strongest warriors of their time.
The Shadow That Loomed
Yet, even as the villagers celebrated, whispers of unease began to spread. The tree was gone, the bird defeated, but a sinister darkness lingered. Strange occurrences began to plague the land, as though the bird's demise had awakened something far more ancient and malevolent. What new trials awaited the villagers, and how would the legendary brothers face this looming threat? The tale of the cursed village was far from over.
