It was midnight, and two young men were sparring beneath the sacred tree of Diwankula. Neither displayed any bloodthirst toward the other; this was not a battle of hostility but a friendly duel—or perhaps a test between a master and his disciple. The void of darkness was momentarily pierced by a gleaming arc of light, escaping from the sword of one of the fighters. It was then revealed that these two warriors had been secretly training for quite some time.
One of them had long, flowing hair, a well-maintained physique, and remarkable agility in his footwork. He wore a sleeveless Khadi shirt, loose white pyjamas, and sturdy leather boots. A grey bandanna, intricately patterned, was tied around his head. His hands were massive, and his towering frame made him stand out among the villagers. This young man was Shailya Mahoraga, a member of the newly established Squad B and a proud descendant of the Saptavansh.
Facing him was Vahalla, in his original form—appearing no different from a human. However, he referred to himself as a Chakradhari, a warrior from a distant planet. His hair was darker and even longer than Shailya's, cascading past his shoulders. He wore a thick, long-sleeved beige shirt, fastened with crisscrossed laces instead of buttons, and light-coloured medieval French-style trousers. Despite his ancient origins, he did not appear much older than Shailya. His piercing black eyes locked onto his opponent as he firmly gripped the hilt of his sword, preparing to strike.
Shailya locked eyes with Vahalla and instantly recognized his intent to strike. Taking the bait, he sprinted toward his opponent and unleashed a powerful overhead strike. However, Vahalla effortlessly dodged the attack, moving with inhuman precision. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly manoeuvred behind Shailya and landed a solid hit. His speed and accuracy were akin to that of a seasoned warrior, each movement calculated and refined. Using the back of his sword, Vahalla struck Shailya in the chest. Shailya attempted to roll away but failed to evade the attack completely.
Without hesitation, Vahalla discarded his sword, letting it vanish into the darkness, and switched to hand-to-hand combat. He lunged forward with a powerful punch, but Shailya met his attack head-on, effortlessly blocking it. Reacting swiftly, Shailya leapt behind Vahalla, slid between his legs, and delivered a devastating punch just as Vahalla turned to face him. The impact was strong, causing Vahalla to stagger.
Shailya, exhilarated by his successful strike, momentarily let his guard down—an opening Vahalla did not waste. In a blur of motion, he retrieved his sword and hurled it at Shailya with incredible speed. As expected, Shailya's sharp reflexes allowed him to block the flying blade just in time. However, Vahalla had already anticipated this. Exploiting the distraction, he dashed behind Shailya and delivered a precise chop to the back of his head. A powerful gust of wind followed as Shailya collapsed to the ground.
Vahalla picked him up and headed back to the Mahoraga's. On his way, he noticed a few peculiar bugs—creatures that seemed far too rare for a planet like Prithvi. Without giving it much thought, he gathered the unusual insects, placed them in his bag, and zipped it shut.
"These bugs don't belong here… They're a symbol of chaos. How could they have appeared on this planet?" he pondered. "I need to investigate this. This might be a crucial clue—perhaps a sign of when or where The War is set to begin."
With that thought lingering in his mind, Vahalla continued his journey and soon arrived at Shailya's house to drop him off.
As he reached the doorstep, he paused. Just before knocking, he overheard Shailya's parents engaged in a hushed conversation. Curiosity sparked within him, and he pressed his ear gently against the door.
"Should we tell Shailya about his elder sister?" one of them asked.
Vahalla's eyes widened in surprise. Elder sister? Even he had never heard of such a thing. His mind swirled with questions, but he steadied himself, took a deep breath, and entered the house.
Vahalla was warmly welcomed into the house by Maqbir and Shailya's mother, Dakuni Mahoraga. As they settled in, Maqbir initiated the conversation.
"Are you a friend of Shailya, young man?" he asked.
Vahalla shook his head and replied, "No, I am his mentor. I am training him to become the strongest of the strong."
Maqbir and Dakuni bowed in gratitude. "Thank you for taking care of our son," Dakuni said sincerely.
Before they could say another word, Vahalla continued, his tone firm. "Aren't you curious why I am training Shailya? Even if you're not, I will tell you the reason."
Maqbir immediately shook his head and said, "We do not need a reason. We have faith in our son. Whatever your purpose may be, Shailya will rise above it. That is his nature. He has always exceeded expectations, and he never hesitates to use whatever means necessary for his growth."
Hearing this, Vahalla smiled.
"Maqbir Mahoraga, I know the truth you are hiding from your son. I know the secret behind Diwankula—the truth known only to a select few," he said coldly.
Maqbir's expression hardened. "I don't understand what you're implying, young man. Do you seek something from us? What truth are you talking about?" he asked cautiously.
Vahalla's gaze sharpened. "I seek only one thing—tell Shailya the truth about his importance. Every single detail. Do it yourself, Maqbir Mahoraga… or should I say, Maqbir of the Saptavansh?"
The revelation struck like thunder, leaving Maqbir and Dakuni visibly shaken.
Maqbir's voice trembled slightly, but he held his ground. "That's pure nonsense. How do you know about the Saptavansh?" He narrowed his eyes at Vahalla. "State your identity. Who are you, young man? No… I wonder now if you are even what you appear to be."
Vahalla took a deep breath, trying to calm Maqbir and Dakuni. "Maqbir Mahoraga, I assure you, I am not your enemy. I have come from a distant planet to save Prithvi from the destruction that The War will bring," he stated firmly.
Maqbir's mind raced. Who is this man? How does he know so much about us? Can I trust him… or is he deceiving us?
Before he could speak, Dakuni stepped forward, her voice sharp and unwavering. "Whoever you are, we don't know you. But I believe you already know that we are the Clan Heads of the Mahoragas. Are you a spy from another clan?" She narrowed her eyes. "It doesn't matter. You don't seem like a threat to me. But if you are..." Her voice turned cold. "You'll die right here."
"Dakuni, we don't treat guests this way," Maqbir interjected immediately. He then glanced at Vahalla and added cautiously, "But we still don't know who this man truly is… so I suppose your suspicion is justified."
Vahalla's expression remained composed. His voice rang with authority as he declared, "Maqbir Mahoraga, Dakuni Mahoraga, listen carefully. I am Vahalla, the Chakradhari, second only to Rakkan. At present, I hold command over this entire universe. I come from Purna Aranya. It is the duty of a guardian to know everything about his subjects."
Dakuni's hands trembled, and the glass tumbler she held slipped from her grasp, shattering onto the floor. Maqbir's eyes widened in shock.
Vahalla continued his tone grave. "As we speak, Prithvi stands on the brink of catastrophe. The battle that began a thousand years ago is reaching its climax. All the pieces are falling into place for The War—the final war. This war will cause untold devastation, not just to Prithvi but to the entire universe. As the second-in-command and the current guardian of this universe, it is my duty to prevent this from happening.
To do so, I needed someone capable, someone with the will of the Leader of the Saptavansh. I chose Shailya Mahoraga. He is the 9th Chakradhari… and my successor."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Slowly, Maqbir and Dakuni's tension eased as they processed his words.
At that moment, Shailya stirred from his slumber, his voice groggy but curious. "What's going on here? Vahalla?"
Vahalla turned to him and smiled faintly. "Nothing special."
Without another word, Maqbir motioned for Vahalla to follow him. Together, they descended into the basement.
"Have you decided whether to tell Shailya the truth?" Vahalla asked Maqbir as they descended the stairs.
"No," Maqbir responded firmly. "I won't reveal the truth to him outright, but I will guide him toward it. He will uncover it himself today at the Clan Meeting."
"That works just as well," Vahalla acknowledged. "But I should let you know—Shailya already has some knowledge about the Saptavansh and the war, thanks to a certain Akatsumi… and, of course, me."
Maqbir's expression remained unreadable. "We'll see just how much he truly knows."
Vahalla nodded in agreement.
As they continued walking, Maqbir gestured toward a door at the end of the hall. "Vahalla, do you see that room?"
"I do," Vahalla replied.
"Do you know its significance?" Maqbir asked, pausing for a response.
Vahalla examined the structure thoughtfully. "I'm not entirely sure, but it seems like a hall for discussions."
Maqbir remained silent as they approached. The sealed gate unlocked as Maqbir placed his hand on a scanner, granting them entry.
Inside, Maqbir pointed to a section of the hall. "Look over there, in the corner. There are four seats designated for the Mahoragas, yet only three clan representatives."
Vahalla's gaze followed his direction. "I assume that fourth seat belongs to Shailya."
"Yes," Maqbir confirmed. "We had already decided to reveal the truth to him."
"In a few hours, precisely when the clock strikes four in the evening, this meeting will commence. It is a rare and momentous event, held only once every decade—unless summoned earlier by the Pannival or the Leader of the Clans. However, this time, it has been preponed due to the rise of evil in the world… and the return of 'powers' that were thought to be long extinct."
Vahalla turned to Maqbir with a serious expression. "Maqbir, I have a request. May I also attend this meeting? It would greatly aid my mission."
Maqbir didn't hesitate. "Yes!" he declared.
At the Royal Palace of Parina,
"Devon, has the location of the Decadal Clan Meet been communicated to all the clan representatives?" Pannival asked, awaiting Devon's confirmation.
"Indeed, my lord. All the Clan Heads, Clan Representatives, and the Leader of the Clans have been informed about the change in location from Parina to Diwankula, along with its urgency," Devon reported.
"That's good. I believe we must leave Parina immediately to reach Diwankula on time," Pannival suggested.
"I will arrange a carriage for you," Devon said, awaiting Pannival's approval.
"Devon, I also want you to arrange carriages for the young warriors who arrived yesterday, as well as for my wife, son, and daughter," Pannival instructed.
"As you wish, my lord. However, is it wise to take so many people with us? There is a risk they could be harmed. Why take such a chance?" Devon asked, voicing his concern.
"Oh, dear Devon, I am taking my family with me to keep them safe. Parina is not secure at this moment—I strongly believe it will be attacked soon. Therefore, I want the city's security to be heightened in our absence. Also, you must accompany me to Diwankula," Pannival said with warmth and wisdom in his aged yet gentle voice.
"As you wish, my lord. I will make the necessary arrangements. May I ask one more thing?" Devon inquired.
"Yes, you may," Pannival replied.
"My lord, how do you know that Parina is vulnerable to an attack in the coming days?" Devon asked.
"It is quite simple," Pannival explained. "The ongoing serial killings within the city, the weakening of our military, the looming threat from the Muvah Army, and the recent attacks on Marinabad and Sarzapur all point to a calculated move against us. Furthermore, the Malwai Empire is the only nation that existed even before the establishment of Monde Uni. We stand as one of the strongest opponents of the Union of Nations, with our monarchy and independent governance making us a prime target. With our forces already depleted due to the Marinabad and Sarzapur conflicts, this would be the ideal moment for our enemies to strike."
"Your expertise in world politics is truly remarkable, my lord," Devon admired.
"Enough with the flattery! Hurry up—we must depart for Diwankula today," Pannival ordered.
As all the members of the Decadal Saptavansh Meet journeyed towards Diwankula, the Grands and Grandmasters awaited the arrival of Saint Torsano to begin their discussions on purging the Gobiemo Sangrieto and other nations deemed a threat to the Union of Nations.
[To be continued in Chapter 31]