Sanaleipak, known across the lands as the Land of Gold, stood at the beginning of a new chapter in its long history. For many decades the kingdom had been ruled by the wise and respected Ningthou Cheithangba. Under his leadership the valleys of Sanaleipak were filled with rich harvests, trade flourished between distant regions, and the people lived in relative peace. But time eventually claimed even the strongest rulers. In his old age the great king grew weak and finally passed away peacefully within the walls of the royal palace. His death brought sadness throughout the kingdom, yet it also created uncertainty about the future of the throne. Nobles, councillors, warriors, and chiefs all wondered who would guide Sanaleipak next. According to tradition, the throne would pass to his son, but the late king had always been known for making unusual decisions. Inside the magnificent Palace of Kangthaban, the heir to the throne, Ningthou Koirengba, sat in the royal courtroom waiting for the announcement of his father's final will. Beside him sat the cunning prime minister Oja Mikapan, whose calm expression hid the many thoughts running through his mind. The hall was silent except for the faint sound of wind outside, and the tension in the room made every moment feel heavy.
As the waiting continued, a young servant named Vivik quietly entered the courtroom and bowed respectfully before the prince. He noticed the sweat on Koirengba's face and spoke with concern, asking whether the prince would like some water and a moment of rest. Koirengba shook his head firmly, his eyes still focused toward the great doors of the palace. He replied that this was not the time for rest, because the future of the throne had not yet been decided and the kingdom waited for its next ruler. Still, he asked the servant to bring him some water to ease his thirst. Vivik hurried through the palace corridors and soon returned with a golden cup filled with cool water from the royal kitchen. The prince slowly drank from the cup while the councillors whispered quietly among themselves, each wondering what the late king's final decision would be. Suddenly the large gates of Kangthaban Palace opened with a deep echo, and a royal messenger entered the court carrying a sealed scroll marked with the golden symbol of the late king. Instantly the room became silent as every noble stood in respect. The messenger stepped forward and announced that he would now read the final wish of the departed ruler.
Breaking the royal seal, the messenger began to read the message written by the late king. He declared that the great kingdom of Sanaleipak belonged to its people and that after his death the throne should not be given lightly to anyone who merely claimed it by birth. Instead, the next ruler would be the person who proved his determination by circling the entire land of Sanaleipak seven times. Whoever completed this task would be granted the throne and become the new Ningthou of the kingdom. As soon as these words were spoken, shock spread throughout the courtroom. Some councillors exchanged confused looks while others immediately saw the opportunity for power. One bold councillor stepped forward and loudly declared that the late king had spoken clearly and that anyone who completed the challenge would become king. If that was the case, he said, then there was no reason to remain in the palace waiting. With those words several councillors rushed out of the courtroom, eager to begin their journey around the vast kingdom. Watching them leave filled Koirengba with anger. He rose from his seat and exclaimed that those men had already been given lands and authority by his father, yet now they were greedy enough to seek the entire kingdom for themselves.
While the prince was still furious, Oja Mikapan remained calm and simply smiled. He told Koirengba that anger would not help him claim the throne and that the councillors were merely greedy men chasing power. Then the prime minister quietly revealed that he had an idea that could solve the problem. Curious and eager to secure his rightful place as king, Koirengba agreed to follow him. Mikapan led the prince and the remaining councillors away from the courtroom and through the palace gardens toward the sacred ground behind Kangthaban. There stood the ancient tombs of the royal ancestors who had founded the kingdom generations ago. The stone monuments rose proudly beneath the open sky, each one marking the resting place of a king who had built and protected Sanaleipak. Standing before these sacred tombs, Mikapan explained that the heart of the kingdom was not simply its land but the legacy of the ancestors who created it. If Koirengba wished to prove himself worthy of ruling Sanaleipak, he should circle the tombs of his ancestors seven times. By doing so, he would honor their spirits and symbolically circle the entire kingdom they had built.
Understanding the wisdom of the idea, Koirengba smiled and stepped forward with determination. Slowly and respectfully he began to circle the sacred tombs of the ancestors. Once he walked around them, then a second time, and then a third, while the councillors watched in silence. As he continued the ritual, the wind began to move gently across the sacred hill and the clouds above seemed to gather as if the heavens themselves were watching. By the time Koirengba completed the fifth and sixth circles, the air felt strangely powerful, and the councillors sensed that something extraordinary was about to happen. When the prince completed the seventh and final circle, a brilliant light suddenly appeared in the sky above the tombs. From that radiant light emerged the legendary heavenly ruler King Thabungton. His presence filled the air with divine authority as he called Koirengba forward and declared that the prince had honored his ancestors and proven his worthiness. With a powerful voice the heavenly king announced that Koirengba would become the rightful Ningthou of Sanaleipak.
Hearing the divine declaration, the councillors immediately fell to their knees and began celebrating the new ruler. They praised him as Ningthou Koirengba and wished him a long and prosperous reign. The newly crowned king stood proudly before the sacred tombs and looked toward the distant palace. He then announced that those councillors who had abandoned the court in greed had betrayed the throne and the legacy of the late king. Such betrayal could not be tolerated in a kingdom built on loyalty and honor. Therefore, he ordered that the traitors be executed and that their families be exiled from Sanaleipak so that no future rebellion could threaten the throne. The loyal councillors who had remained by his side were rewarded with important positions as ministers of the kingdom. Koirengba declared that under his rule Sanaleipak would become a land of peace and justice where the people could live without fear. Yet as the celebration continued beneath the sacred sky, Oja Mikapan quietly watched the new king with a faint and mysterious smile, as if he already knew that the peace promised that day would soon be tested by forces far greater than anyone in the court could imagine.