Time Stamp: Vikram Era: 6 Shraavana 1626 (15 July 1569), near Danapur
The aftermath of the attack left the royal convoy exhausted but relieved. They had successfully repelled the invaders with the assistance of the Danapur garrison and were now preparing to continue their trek to Patliputra. The dusk sky had turned to night, and the stars above began to glimmer, offering a peaceful background to the recent commotion.
Nayana Pala Gupta, the queen, stepped out of her vehicle to greet Aagwan, the commander of the Danapur garrison. Vardhaman, ever attentive, remained by her side. "Your Majesty, this is Aagwan, the garrison leader," he announced.
Aagwan, a tall, strong man with a commanding demeanor, bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, it is an honor to meet you. We were fortunate to arrive on time to aid."
Nayana nodded gratefully. Thank you, Aagwan. Your prompt involvement saved us from a catastrophic situation.
As she talked, Nayana had a searing pain in her abdomen. She winced, her fingers immediately moving to her stomach. Vardhaman noticed right away. "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Nayana attempted to answer but felt another wave of pain. She staggered, and Vardhaman swiftly caught up. "Someone, get a doctor!" he exclaimed.
Before anyone could react, Nayana fainted and collapsed in Vardhaman's arms. Panic swept throughout the group as they realized how serious the situation was. "We need to get her to the garrison's infirmary right away," Aagwan instructed.
The queen was carefully moved to a lighter and speedier vehicle. As they raced towards the Danapur fortress, Vardhaman couldn't help but notice a little splinter lodged in her arm, its edges interwoven with a strange material. "Could this be the cause of her fainting?" he asked aloud.
When they arrived at the fortress, Nayana was quickly escorted to the infirmary, where a female doctor, Ms. Vaidhika, was waiting. Vardhaman paused for a time, looking at the young woman skeptically. "Is she capable of handling this?" he questioned Aagwan.
Aagwan nodded confidently. "Ms. Vaidhika is very capable. She is a genius who has taken over her father's workshop. "Her abilities are unmatched."
Vardhaman lifted his eyebrow. "And she's young, unmarried? Isn't that a problem?
Aagwan chuckled. "Quite the reverse, actually. Having a young, capable, and beautiful doctor like Vaidhika around boosts morale. The trainees want to impress her, which drives them to work harder and focus more. Furthermore, her presence serves as a reminder to them that not all of the world's events are violent. There is beauty and kindness as well."
Vardhaman nodded, slightly relieved but still anxious. "If you trust her, that's good enough for me."
Inside the hospital, Ms. Vaidhika swiftly assessed the issue. "We need to act fast," she told her assistants as they prepared for the emergency delivery.
Meanwhile, inside Nayana's womb, Siddharth's system went into emergency mode. The opium-laced shard had compromised his mother, and it was now attempting to keep Siddharth alive while also planning an emergency extraction. The system took control of Nayana's body and started labor prematurely.
Nayana's body convulsed, and the medical team reacted quickly. Ms. Vaidhika guided the delivery with incredible precision and quickness. Siddharth was born just moments later, tiny but healthy. The newborn's cries filled the room, bringing a sense of life and hope amidst the tension.
Standing nearby, Vardhaman couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort. "He's born," he muttered, astounded.
Ms. Vaidhika cleaned and swaddled the baby before returning her care to the queen, who remained unconscious. "We need to remove that fragment," she told her assistants.
As they worked, the system in Siddharth's head was gradually depleted. The successful birth depleted its reserves, so it launched a shutdown sequence. "Activating backup mode," the system said internally. "Sealing memory for 90,000 hours to facilitate recovery. "Reverting intelligence to its baseline."
Siddharth's extraordinary consciousness waned, and his memories and heightened powers were locked away. His psyche reverted to that of his adolescent self, oblivious to the amazing events that had just occurred. The system went into slumber to refuel.
Outside, Vardhaman observed Ms. Vaidhika expertly extract the shard from the queen's arm. "Will she be alright?" he questioned, his concern palpable.
"She'll recover," Vaidhika reassured him. "But she'll need to rest. The opium in the fragment caused her to swoon, but we have removed it now."
Vardhaman was relieved and thanked the doctor before looking down at the newborn prince. "Welcome to the world, little one," he said softly. "You've already shown remarkable resilience."
The queen's determination and the bravery of her guards and supporters had carried them through the night. But as they continued their journey, the memory of the ambush lingered, a harsh warning of the dangers that lay ahead. With the birth of Prince Siddharth, a new chapter in their story was about to begin.
---
Nayana began to regain consciousness gradually. Her eyesight blurred briefly before clearing to see Vardhaman and Aagwan's anxious expressions. She tried to sit up but was gently stopped by Ms. Vaidhika. "Please, Your Majesty, you must rest," Vaidhika insisted.
Nayana's gaze focused on the bundle in Vaidhika's arms. "Is that...?" she inquired faintly.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Vaidhika said, holding the newborn in her arms. "Your son, Prince Siddharth."
Nayana's eyes filled with tears as she glanced at her kid. "He's beautiful," she said softly, cuddling him close.
Vardhaman and Aagwan shared a relieved smile. "We will ensure the safety of both you and the prince," Vardhaman promised.
Aagwan nodded. "Indeed. We shall quadruple our efforts to guarantee that you reach Patliputra without incident."
Nayana gazed at them with gratitude. "Thank you, both of you."
As the medical team proceeded to care for her, Nayana felt a fresh sense of hope. Despite the perils they had encountered, they had survived, and now, with her son in her arms, she was prepared to face whatever obstacles lie ahead.
Outside, the garrison was busy preparing for the next leg of the expedition. The memory of the ambush served as a vivid reminder of the risks they faced, but the birth of Prince Siddharth brought a newfound feeling of purpose and commitment.
Vardhaman, ever attentive, stood guard, his resolve unshakable. He knew the voyage ahead would be difficult, but with the queen and the young prince to protect, he was prepared to face any difficulty. The night was far from done, and the journey to Patliputra was arduous, but they would succeed together.