The moment the crown returned to Rudra's hands, something unseen shifted.
Not in the kingdom.
In the story of the world itself.
The system spoke with clarity it had never used before.
—
[Higher Dharma Authority Acknowledged]
[Status: Recognized Sovereign]
[Note: Actions will now echo beyond immediate timelines]
—
Rudra stood still, absorbing the meaning.
Recognition was not approval.
It was responsibility.
That night, the capital slept peacefully—but Rudra did not.
He felt the tremor like a distant drumbeat.
From Hastinapura.
The system revealed the source.
—
[Karmic Echo Detected]
[Origin Event: Dice Hall – Probability Disturbance]
[Cause: External Narrative Instability]
—
Rudra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So it begins," he murmured.
Miles away, in the Kuru court, Shakuni's dice paused for half a breath too long before rolling. No one noticed—except an old sage passing through the city, who stopped mid-step and frowned at the sky.
Back in Aryavarta, Devika joined Rudra on the balcony.
"You feel it too," she said.
"Yes."
"The story is reacting."
"It always does," Rudra replied calmly. "When someone refuses their assigned silence."
The system added new parameters.
—
[Dharma Authority Tier Unlocked: Regional Arbiter]
[Permissions:]
• Intervene at Threshold Events
• Redirect Consequences (Limited)
• Shield Anchors from Narrative Collapse
—
Rudra exhaled slowly.
He had not sought permission.
But now that it existed, ignoring it would be wasteful.
The following morning, a messenger arrived from Hastinapura.
No royal seal.
No demand.
Just a name written carefully on parchment.
**Vidura.**
The system reacted immediately.
—
[Integrity Entity Detected]
[Classification: Dharma-Aligned Witness]
—
Rudra smiled faintly.
"A conversation worth having," he said.
That evening, Anaya tugged at his sleeve.
"Bhai," she asked, "why do people argue so much?"
Rudra knelt beside her.
"Because they forget what matters."
She nodded solemnly.
"Don't forget," she said.
"I won't," Rudra replied.
The system confirmed the truth of it.
—
[Anchor Stability: Absolute]
—
Far away, dice waited in restless silence.
But now, they waited under observation.
And the one watching did not blink.
-- chapter 22 ended --