Weeks passed, and the bond between Karna and Eklavya grew deeper. Under Parashurama's stern guidance, both trained relentlessly, sharpening their skills to unimaginable levels. But training wasn't just about physical prowess. It was a crucible of character—a testing ground for discipline, integrity, and the wisdom to wield the power they sought.
Karna, already a seasoned warrior in his own right, took a deep responsibility in guiding Eklavya. Despite Parashurama's strict methods, Karna knew that true mastery lay in more than just mastering the bow—it was also about understanding the consequences of the power they wielded.
Eklavya had progressed far beyond any of Karna's expectations, his skill nearly rivaling Karna's own. Yet, something remained hidden beneath the surface: the boy's confusion about his true path, his deep longing to prove his worth despite the severe circumstances of his birth.
Karna understood this more than anyone.
One early morning, just before dawn, the stillness of the forest was disturbed only by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant calls of animals awakening. Karna sat at the base of an old tree, sharpening his sword. The air was cool with the first traces of sunlight beginning to creep through the canopy.
"Eklavya," Karna called without turning. "You've improved vastly in the bow, but now the hardest trial is not the target—it is the heart. You seek the truth, but to find it, you must face what you are unwilling to admit."
Eklavya stood behind him, still as a statue, lost in thought. His hands trembled with uncertainty.
"I've failed many times," Eklavya admitted, his voice breaking through the morning air. "I never understood why Dronacharya rejected me. Why did he refuse to train me simply because I was a Nishada? What fault was it that I did not have a teacher?"
Karna remained silent for a long moment. He understood Eklavya's pain better than anyone else in the world.
"It is not your fault," Karna said quietly. "But sometimes... it is not enough to have the best teacher. Sometimes, the real battle is deciding why you fight and what you will sacrifice in that battle."
Eklavya, though filled with doubts, knew Karna's words came from a place of true experience. Karna had long faced the sting of rejection for no reason other than his circumstances, for no reason except his untold lineage.
---
Later that afternoon, Parashurama led them to a new area of training. The ground was rocky, and the air thick with the scent of pine and earth. There, Parashurama set up new challenges. For this phase of their training, the focus was no longer solely on physical speed, but rather the art of strategy—the vital understanding of timing and control. It was clear that both Karna and Eklavya were approaching the final stages of their apprenticeship under Parashurama. The challenges they faced now could make them great, but only if they did not rush the process.
"You will now face a test of patience," Parashurama said as he handed each of them a set of throwing knives. "You will each strike the targets hidden around these trees, but you cannot see them clearly. To succeed, you must rely on nothing more than your instincts and the echoes of the world around you."
Karna tightened his grip on his weapons. He was ready—his mind honed from years of intense study. But as the test began, something unexpected happened. Eklavya, who had been silent until now, moved as though the world around him slowed. With unparalleled precision, he struck every target, his movements fluid like a predator hunting through dense foliage.
Parashurama watched in silence.
At the end of the exercise, Karna approached his fellow student. "That was incredible," he admitted. "Your instinct and your patience—both are unmatched. But... how did you do it?"
Eklavya smiled faintly, but there was a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "I know what it feels like to be judged. For being something I'm not," he said softly. "But when I train, it's not about proving myself. It's about facing myself. Understanding what truly matters."
Karna studied him. Eklavya's journey had been different, just like his own. One was marked by rejection and invisibility, the other by societal rejection and loneliness. But perhaps, they shared something profound: a desire to be seen for who they truly were, not what others deemed them.
As the training continued through the days and weeks, the personal bond between them solidified, transforming their relationship into more than that of just fellow warriors—they became true companions on a journey that was just beginning. Still, Karna knew in his heart that no amount of skill with a bow or mastery of technique could shape a man's destiny alone. There was another test awaiting them, a larger, all-encompassing test where their wisdom and restraint would be put to its hardest trial.
And it wasn't a test they could prepare for with only weapons and strategies.
---
By the time another month had passed, Karna felt the weight of the divine armor and earrings beneath his skin more heavily than ever. Yet, they were no longer simply tokens of power. The burden of keeping such a power hidden in plain sight was growing. His connection to the sun god, to Surya, had brought immense strength, but it had come with responsibilities he hadn't entirely grasped in the past.
One evening, after a long day of meditation and quiet training, Karna had an encounter with the elusive guidance that had always been there—quiet, gentle, but constant. There was something stirring within him. His intuition, connected by something unknown but felt keenly, told him that his path was soon to cross with new faces—and choices would be made.
Soon, everything would come together. And soon, Eklavya's testing under Parashurama might prepare him for his fate—a fate that Karna, too, was beginning to understand.
To be continued...