🔥 Vanyadesh: Devsena's Secret Training Ground
The palace guards believed she was in the temple.
But Devsena was not one to sit and chant.
Instead, she stood barefoot in the palace courtyard's hidden corner — a dusty ring surrounded by scorched pillars — her sword glinting in the dying sun.
Her fire mark shimmered faintly on her palm.
With each slash, sparks flew.
With each spin, her braid whipped like a burning comet.
"Again," she whispered to herself, sweat dripping down her brow.
"Again."
Samridhi watched silently from the shadows, torn between pride and fear.
She had raised this girl with love — but even she couldn't control what was waking inside her now.
"Why didn't you tell me I'm different?" Devsena finally shouted, turning toward her aunt.
"I can't hide it anymore."
Samridhi stepped forward slowly.
"Because I thought I could protect you… from a truth that destroyed your mother."
🌊 Samudra Desh: Avantika & the Voice of Water
Across the ocean, at that very moment, Avantika sat by the balcony, a small sitar in her lap, singing to the waves.
Her voice was soft, fluid — like wind moving through water.
"Raag Meghmalhar…" she whispered. "For the monsoon gods."
As she sang, the sea rose gently, a tendril of water swirling into the air… and dancing beside her like a companion.
Downstairs, the entire palace paused.
"She sings… and the ocean listens," murmured Queen Meera.
Inside the infirmary, the boy stirred.
His breathing changed. His fingers twitched.
Avantika stopped singing and looked over the balcony toward his chamber window.
A moment later…
"Where… am I?" the boy's voice echoed faintly.
Avantika rushed inside, heart racing.
And then — for the first time — their eyes met.
🩵 The First Encounter: Avantika & Arjuna
His eyes were deep — not just in color, but in memory.
He stared at her, dazed, like he had heard her voice before in dreams.
"You… you were singing," he whispered.
Avantika blushed, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"You heard that?"
He nodded slowly.
Then, he looked at her hand — the mark glowing faintly beneath her bangles.
His breath caught.
"You're… one of them."
"One of who?" she asked.
He sat up.
"The ones from the prophecy.
The daughters of Tatva."
And miles away, in Vanyadesh, Devsena's fire flared once more — this time, not from anger.
But from fate.