Hastinapur slept—but its shadows did not.
At the stroke of midnight, Aryan left his quarters, wrapped in a travel cloak. Devika, though asleep outside his door, stirred.
"You're going alone?" she murmured.
Aryan smiled. "Only to the temple. I'll be back before dawn."
Devika narrowed her eyes. "If you're not back, I'll assume someone needs bleeding."
---
Temple of Dharma
The temple stood at the city's edge—older than the palace, carved from black stone, crowned with a single flame that never went out.
Statues of Yama, Chitragupta, and Dharma Dev lined the walls. The air tasted of incense and unseen truth.
Inside, Aryan stepped lightly past priests deep in meditation. No one stopped him. As if they had been told to expect him.
A cloaked figure stood before the main altar.
He turned slowly as Aryan approached.
And smiled.
---
A Familiar Stranger
"You received my message," the man said.
Aryan studied him. Sharp eyes. Composed stance. A warrior's bearing—but a scholar's gaze.
"You're not a priest," Aryan said.
The man pulled back his hood.
"I am Yudhishthir," he said. "Son of Pandu. Eldest of the Pandavas."
Aryan blinked. "You?"
Yudhishthir nodded. "I saw you in a dream—standing between fire and lightning, holding a blade not meant to cut flesh… but fate itself."
"I needed to know if the dream was true."
> System Alert:
Bond Activated: Yudhishthir (Destined Ally – Truthseeker)
Karmic Resonance Detected: Shared Dharma Ideal – +10 Karma Points
Hidden Questline Unlocked: "Balance Before War"
---
The Conversation
They sat before the sacred flame.
Yudhishthir spoke carefully. "You must understand… war is brewing. Subtly, yes. Silently. But it's coming."
"Your arrival is no accident. My brothers feel it. Krishna feels it. Even Vidura watches you."
Aryan's voice was calm. "What is it you want from me?"
Yudhishthir met his eyes.
"When the time comes, the lines will blur. Dharma won't be black or white. I need someone who can see what I might miss. Someone… not bound by our bloodline's politics."
Aryan leaned forward. "I'm not here to serve either side. I'm here to walk the path given by Shiv ji and Parvati ji. To keep balance."
"That is all I ask," Yudhishthir replied.
They both stood.
A moment passed. Then Yudhishthir pressed something into Aryan's hand.
A stone pendant, etched with a lotus and flame.
"This will grant you access to the Inner Library of Hastinapur. The records most nobles aren't allowed to see. Study them. Learn what's buried beneath our golden towers."
Aryan bowed. "Thank you."
> Quest Item Acquired: Pendant of the Flame
Unlocks Ancient Archives in Palace.
Sub-Quest Triggered: "The Secrets of Kuruvansh"
---
Outside the Temple
As Aryan stepped into the courtyard, he felt the System surge.
> System Update:
Karma: +20 (Clarity through Truth Shared)
Skill Unlocked: Insightful Listener – Boosts ability to sense hidden intent during conversations.
Divine Resonance: Parvati's Blessing Strengthened – Emotional intuition +5%
And yet… something cold brushed his senses.
> Caution: Host is now being followed.
Multiple observers detected.
Recommended Action: Non-confrontational exit.
He didn't look back. Instead, he slipped into the alley shadows and walked swiftly toward the western dorms.
---
The Eyes in the Dark
From the far roof, two cloaked men watched him disappear.
"He's clever," whispered one. "He knew we were there."
The other—older, with a cruel smile—replied, "Let him be clever. The more he learns, the more tangled he'll become."
They vanished into the dark—leaving only silence and the distant flicker of the temple's eternal flame.
---
To be continued in Chapter 11: "Scrolls of Secrets and Sons of Serpents"