Wars did not begin with arrows.
They began with words.
Arya learned this on the road back to Mahismati.
The duel at Hastinapura was never meant to end in blood, but its echo traveled faster than any blade. By the time Arya crossed the eastern hills, rumors had already hardened into stories.
"The prince of Mahismati challenged Karna."
"Karna crushed him."
"No—Arya retreated."
Each version served a purpose.
None were true.
Arya listened in silence.
Lies do not need accuracy. They need belief.
[Information Distortion Detected]Narrative Influence: Hostile
Passive Skill Activated: Measured CommandReduces impact of misinformation on allies.
Arya exhaled slowly.
So this is how it starts.
Mahismati's gates opened without ceremony.
The king waited.
He did not ask questions immediately.
He simply watched his son dismount, dust-stained, eyes calm.
"Speak," the king said at last.
Arya bowed once.
"There will be war."
The words landed heavily.
The council convened before dawn.
Generals, ministers, spies—all summoned.
A map lay spread across the floor.
Arya stepped forward.
"The Kauravas will not attack openly," he said. "Not yet. They will fracture alliances, weaken trust, and provoke border conflicts."
A general scoffed. "Speculation."
Arya looked at him.
"Three merchant routes have already been disrupted."
Silence followed.
"How do you know?" the general demanded.
Arya did not answer.
The system pulsed faintly.
[Strategic Projection – Passive Active]
Prediction Accuracy: High
Arya continued.
"The lie will come first. Then the justification. Then the war."
Meanwhile, in Anga—
Karna listened.
Duryodhana paced, frustration thinly veiled.
"They twist the story," Duryodhana said. "They say you hesitated."
Karna clenched his jaw.
"I did not lose."
"I know," Duryodhana replied smoothly. "But they must believe you won."
Karna frowned.
"Why?"
Duryodhana smiled.
"Because heroes inspire fear."
[Fate Reinforcement – Karna]External Influence: Deepening
Far away, Arya felt the tug.
The lie is being fed.
The first blood was small.
A Mahismati patrol ambushed near the river.
Three dead.
No banners.
No witnesses.
The message was clear.
[Hostile Action Registered]Conflict Status: Shadow War
Arya stood over the bodies.
"They wanted us angry," a general said.
Arya shook his head.
"They wanted us reactive."
He straightened.
"We will not give them that."
[Decision Logged]Strategic Dharma Maintained
Reward:Emotional Control +1Reduces rage-based decision penalties.
Arya felt the cold clarity settle in.
That night, a spy knelt before him.
"Hastinapura spreads word that Mahismati fears Karna."
Arya smiled faintly.
"Good."
The spy blinked.
"Good?"
"Fear makes them careless," Arya replied.
He ordered no retaliation.
No threats.
No declarations.
Instead, Mahismati strengthened supply lines.
Moved troops quietly.
Prepared.
[Kingdom Stability Increased]
Hidden Effect:Enemy impatience rising.
In Anga, Karna grew restless.
Why did Mahismati not answer?
Why did Arya not react?
The silence gnawed at him.
Is he mocking me?
Karna rode hard.
He trained harder.
But doubt crept in.
Not of his strength—
Of his enemy.
One evening, Karna asked Duryodhana quietly.
"Why does Arya not answer?"
Duryodhana's eyes flickered.
"He is afraid."
Karna did not respond.
The answer felt wrong.
[Emotional Dissonance – Karna]
Alignment Strain Detected
Arya felt it across the distance.
Good.
But he did not smile.
The first official message arrived soon after.
A sealed decree from Hastinapura.
Accusations.
Demands.
Insults dressed as diplomacy.
The king crushed it in his fist.
"Shall I answer with steel?" he asked.
Arya shook his head.
"Answer with truth."
The response was brief.
Calm.
Public.
Mahismati denied the accusations—and invited neutral observers.
The court murmured.
"This shows weakness," one minister warned.
Arya met his gaze.
"No. It exposes lies."
[Information Warfare Initiated]Advantage: Mahismati
That night, Arya stood alone.
The system spoke softly.
[Threshold Approaching]First Open War Decision Imminent.
Arya looked toward the dark horizon.
This is still the lie.
The war hasn't begun.
In Anga, Karna stared at the same horizon.
Something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too controlled.
"Why do I feel like I'm being led?" Karna muttered.
The sun did not answer.
But somewhere, a prince who chose silence sharpened it into a blade.