The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and burning torches. Shadows danced against the trees as Avantika led Shivudu deeper into the dense forest. The path was treacherous, winding through thick underbrush and steep slopes, yet Avantika moved like a shadow—silent, precise, and unyielding.
Shivudu, despite his strength and agility, could feel the weight of the night pressing upon him. But it wasn't fatigue that clouded his mind—it was curiosity. The more Avantika spoke of Mahishmati and its suffering, the stronger the pull in his chest became. As if some invisible thread was drawing him toward a fate he had yet to understand.
The Tyranny of Bhallaladeva
The forest eventually opened into a valley where a massive river stretched toward the horizon. In the distance, illuminated by moonlight, Shivudu could see the faint outlines of towering walls—the great city of Mahishmati.
Avantika stopped by the riverbank, gazing toward the city with a mixture of hatred and longing. "Beyond those walls," she said, her voice laced with bitterness, "our people suffer. Bhallaladeva, the usurper, sits upon the throne like a vulture, feeding on the blood of his own kingdom."
Shivudu frowned. "One man controls an entire empire?"
Avantika scoffed. "Not alone. He has an army. Generals who would kill their own kin for his favor. But his greatest weapon is fear."
She turned to him, her piercing eyes searching his face. "That's why we fight. Not just for revenge, but for freedom. If we free Devasena, we give Mahishmati hope."
Something in the way she spoke stirred Shivudu. "Tell me about her," he said.
Avantika's gaze softened, just for a moment. "Devasena is not just our queen. She is the soul of Mahishmati. Even after twenty-five years in chains, she refuses to break. She has suffered, but she still stands. We have lost kings, armies, and cities—but as long as she endures, so does our cause."
Shivudu's mind raced. A queen who had been held captive for longer than he had been alive? A ruler whose strength alone kept the rebellion alive?
His hands clenched into fists. "Then we must free her."
The Hidden Resistance
They pressed forward, deeper into the valley until the land itself seemed to shift. The trees grew taller, their branches intertwined like shields, and the very air carried a sense of defiance. Then, with a subtle gesture from Avantika, a hidden door in the earth swung open.
Shivudu followed her inside, descending into a vast underground chamber lit by torches and fire pits. The walls were lined with weapons—swords, spears, bows, and shields—all meticulously maintained. In the center of the chamber, warriors gathered, discussing battle plans over a massive stone table.
Eyes turned toward them as they entered. The moment Avantika stepped forward, a massive warrior approached—a man with a thick beard and scars across his face. His voice was deep, laced with authority.
"Who is he?"
"A traveler," Avantika replied. "He climbed the waterfall."
A murmur spread through the chamber. Warriors exchanged glances, some skeptical, others intrigued.
"No one has ever climbed that waterfall and lived," a young rebel muttered.
The bearded warrior studied Shivudu for a long moment. "What do you want?"
Shivudu met his gaze without hesitation. "I want to fight."
A few rebels laughed, but the bearded man remained silent. "Fighting is easy," he said. "Surviving is not. You don't know our struggle. Why should we trust you?"
Shivudu took a step closer, his voice firm. "Because I may not know your struggle, but I know what it means to climb toward something greater. I have spent my life reaching for the impossible. And now that I'm here, I won't turn back."
The warrior studied him, then turned to Avantika. "We move at dawn. If he slows us down, he dies."
Shivudu smiled. "Fair enough."
A Promise of Battle
That night, as he prepared for the coming mission, Shivudu stood by the river, gazing toward the city of Mahishmati.
He had spent his whole life feeling as if he did not belong. And yet, standing here, preparing to fight for a kingdom he had never known, he felt something unfamiliar—purpose.
Avantika joined him, her expression unreadable. "You don't seem afraid."
Shivudu smirked. "I don't know how to be."
She studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Tomorrow, we infiltrate the city. It will be dangerous."
Shivudu exhaled, his fingers brushing against the mask that had led him here. "Good. I was getting tired of climbing."
Avantika almost smiled. Almost.
As the moon hung high in the sky, Shivudu closed his eyes. He did not yet know that the battle awaiting him would be far greater than he had imagined.
And soon, he would come face to face with the past he had forgotten.