Chapter summaries Immortal Dark Tigest Girma

Chapter 23 Summary – The Murder of Ramyn Ajtaf

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Kidan watches as campus authorities lift Ramyn’s body from the ground. The fall should have broken her, but the corpse is unnaturally composed. When Kidan sees dried blood on Ramyn’s lips and two bite marks on her neck, the sight immediately recalls June’s death. Kidan breaks through the security perimeter to inspect the wounds. A chief detective from Uxlay security pulls her away and questions her. Kidan explains that Ramyn’s death matches June’s case – both victims were blood-kissed and thrown from a height. She reveals that she saw Susenyos Sagad with Ramyn earlier near the Southern Sost Buildings. Professor Andreyas arrives, and the detective emphasizes the need for solid, testable evidence against Susenyos. After the interrogation, Kidan spots Ramyn’s scarf in a tub of evidence. She steals it, making a silent promise to bring Susenyos to justice or die trying.

Key Events

  • Ramyn Ajtaf’s body is discovered at the base of the Philosophy Tower, appearing eerily unharmed.
  • Kidan examines the body and finds blood on the lips and two puncture wounds on the neck.
  • Campus police and a chief detective intervene; Kidan is forcibly removed from the scene.
  • Kidan informs the detective that Ramyn’s death mirrors June’s murder, and she names Susenyos Sagad as a suspect.
  • Professor Andreyas arrives and discusses the case with the detective, suggesting human desperation rather than dranaic involvement.
  • The detective tells Kidan she can help only if she brings hard evidence linking Susenyos to the crime.
  • Kidan steals Ramyn’s scarf from the evidence tub, vowing to use it to prove Susenyos’s guilt.

Character Development

Kidan grows more reckless and determined. Her distrust of authority deepens as she recalls how they failed June. She breaks protocol, fights officers, and steals evidence – actions that show she will cross any line to get justice. The scar from June’s death reopens, and Kidan’s obsession with Susenyos hardens into a personal crusade.

The Chief Detective is introduced as a hardened investigator who has looked into death’s eyes. He initially refuses Kidan’s help but gives her a narrow opening: bring concrete proof. His demeanor suggests he may be an ally, but Kidan’s previous experiences make her wary.

Professor Andreyas appears impatient and defensive. His comment about “human desperation” implies he wants to keep the investigation away from the dranaic community, potentially protecting Susenyos or the school’s reputation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Blood-kissing recurs as a ritualized method of murder. The symmetry between Ramyn’s and June’s deaths reinforces the idea that a pattern exists – and that Susenyos may be following a specific, ceremonial script.

The scarf becomes a symbol of Kidan’s promise and her willingness to operate outside the law. It is a physical link to the crime scene and a reminder of the victim’s vulnerability.

Trust vs. suspicion pervades the chapter. Kidan refuses to trust the detective, the professor, or anyone in authority. The crowd’s accusing stares suggest that outsiders (humans, or anyone not part of the Uxlay elite) are automatically viewed with suspicion.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter establishes the second murder as a deliberate mirror of June’s, confirming that a serial killer is at work. It provides Kidan with a concrete lead (the scarf) and a clear ultimatum from the detective. It also raises the stakes: Kidan is now an active investigator outside the formal system, putting her at odds with both the campus authorities and Susenyos. The chapter ends with a vow that drives the remaining action.

Study Questions

1. Why does the chief detective tell Kidan she can only help if she brings “solid evidence”?
He works within an institutional framework that requires admissible proof. Without testable evidence, any accusation against Susenyos – a powerful dranaic figure – would be dismissed or cause political fallout for Uxlay.

2. What does the scarf symbolize for Kidan after she steals it?
The scarf represents both her grief and her commitment. It is a tangible piece of Ramyn’s story that Kidan believes can unlock the truth. By taking it, she signals that she will no longer wait for official justice.

3. How does the description of Ramyn’s body echo June’s death, and why is that significant for the plot?
Both bodies show blood on the lips and puncture marks on the neck, and both were thrown from a height. This pattern suggests the same perpetrator and connects the two murders, validating Kidan’s earlier suspicions and giving her a stronger case against Susenyos.

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