The figure came into the light. Its face was whiter than the marble of the palace walls. Arya recognized the race—he had seen one of them before in the pit. It had been incredibly difficult to defeat. The figure looked at Arya's unsettled expression and then glanced at Savignya.
"Welcome, Savignya. You are just in time. This is why I like you; you are never late. And this must be the new lad causing all the commotion in Bhuva Mandala?" The figure turned its gaze back to Arya, smiling. "Come with me."
The tone was calm and polite, but something about the figure was deeply unsettling.
"Thank you, Lord Trishan, for accepting my request on such short notice," replied Savignya.
Savignya and Arya followed Trishan, the secretary of the state. As they walked behind him, Arya suddenly remembered the name of this race—Kalrath! Yes! He looked at Savignya, who subtly gestured for him to stay quiet.
At the end of the hall, a wide door opened to reveal a vast terrace. From here, nearly the entire city was visible. The terrace was adorned with lush plants and trees, creating an absolutely stunning view.
Suddenly, a familiar shadow appeared. A man they both knew. The shadow turned and smiled at them. Sharvas!
He had reached the state head before them. "Ah, welcome, my friends. I was hoping to see you here," he mocked.
"What are you doing here?" Savignya asked.
"I'm here on official business. But I should be asking you that—what brings you here, Savignya? Are you giving Arya a tour?"
Savignya was angry but kept her emotions in check. Arya, meanwhile, was completely lost in the conversation.
"I'm here on business too. I wanted Arya to see the capital and meet the state head," Savignya replied.
"Great. Then your tour ends here. Feel free to leave, as I have an important meeting with the state head," Sharvas said with a smirk.
Savignya moved toward Sharvas, Arya following close behind, ready to confront him. But then, from the shadows, a figure stirred. A massive form sat in a chair, reading something. The three stopped in their tracks. Trishan bent his knee and bowed his head. Sharvas and Savignya followed suit. Arya, completely confused, hesitated before copying them.
A heavy uneasiness gripped Arya. The person in the chair was no ordinary human. Arya felt his hands tremble, sweat forming on his brow. It was not due to anything supernatural—just the sheer presence of this person was enough to make him want to step back.
"I have heard your cases, Sharvas and Savignya. Trishan briefed me. You both bore me. Your petty politics bore me. Stop fighting like children and solve it among yourselves. The next time you come here, I expect to hear only about business," said the shadowed figure, never once looking up from his reading.
Trishan straightened. "Understood."
Sharvas was furious but had no choice but to leave. Savignya's arrival had ruined his plan to gain the state head's support. He left, visibly frustrated, while Savignya allowed herself a small, victorious smile. She had successfully ensured that the state head remained uninvolved. She signaled Arya to rise and leave.
As they exited, Arya glanced back—his heart skipped a beat. The state head was staring right at him. Their eyes locked. The shadow's gaze was unyielding, intense. Arya felt the tension return, heavier than before.
Trishan escorted them outside. "Sharvas, remember what you have been told." Then he turned to Savignya. "And I am sorry to see you leave so soon, Savignya, but I believe your visit was a success." He then looked directly at Arya, his eyes piercing as if searching for something. After a moment, he turned and walked away.
The three of them left the castle and climbed into their chariots.
On the way back, a very confused Arya finally spoke up. "Why was Sharvas there? Who was that pale, shadowed man you called Trishan? And who was the one sitting in the chair?"
"Sharvas was here for the same reason we were. He wanted the state head's help in this war. But since we arrived just minutes later, we ruined his chances of getting support." Savignya smiled.
"Trishan is the state secretary. He is a Kalrath. He handles business, finance, and other affairs under the state head's rule. I have known him since I was a child—he is the reason I sit in the Yamsabha today," she said, looking back at the castle.
After a brief pause, Savignya continued, "Now, Sharvas must be furious. He will return and strike soon. Now that the state and its head are out of the picture, he won't hold back. He will try to crush us. We have to prepare for war."