Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Whispers Beneath the Palace

The sun had just risen over Indrakalpa, casting a golden glow across the palace grounds. The air was cool, filled with the scent of blooming jasmine and the hum of the morning winds. It was the start of another busy day in the kingdom, yet there was an undercurrent of unease that hung in the air. The royal family had celebrated the birth of Princess Devika with joy, but in the shadows of the palace walls, a sense of something unknown lingered.

Inside the royal chamber, Queen Vanshika stood by the window, looking out over the horizon. Her eyes were distant, her mind tangled with thoughts that wouldn’t go away. Her daughter, Devika, was growing fast, and every day, Vanshika could feel the weight of the prophecy that loomed over her. She hadn’t spoken of it to anyone, not even her husband, King Raghvendra. The words of the astrologer, Acharya Siddhesh, haunted her every moment: “She will either save this world or destroy it.”

Vanshika pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the steady beat of her heart. She had no idea what her daughter’s destiny truly held, but she knew one thing: she would protect Devika, no matter what it took. The storm that had heralded her birth seemed to have faded from the sky, but its memory lingered in her mind like a shadow.

A knock on the door broke her thoughts. She turned, wiping away the trace of worry from her face before calling out, "Come in."

The door creaked open, and in stepped Acharya Kamal, the royal tutor. His robes were a deep shade of crimson, his face calm as always, though there was a slight furrow between his brows.

“Maharani, I have come to check on Princess Devika’s lessons,” he said, bowing respectfully.

Vanshika smiled warmly at him. “Ah, yes. She’s waiting for you, as always.”

As if on cue, a small figure appeared in the doorway. Princess Devika, now five years old, ran into the room, her braid bouncing with every step. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her small hands were clutching a handful of colorful flowers that she had picked from the garden.

“Acharya Kamal!” Devika exclaimed, running to him. “I’ve brought you flowers for your hair!”

The tutor raised an eyebrow, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You’ve brought me flowers, my princess? How generous.”

Devika giggled and handed him the flowers. “You should wear them, Acharya! They’ll make you look even smarter.”

Vanshika laughed softly, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. “You spoil him, Devika,” she said, crossing the room to sit on a chair. “Now, be a good girl and sit down. It’s time for your lessons.”

“But I want to play!” Devika protested, pouting as she dropped onto the floor.

Acharya Kamal shook his head, trying to hide his amusement. “You must learn, Princess. You will need to know your letters when you are older.”

“I already know some letters!” Devika argued. “I can write my name!” She grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled a few uneven lines, proudly presenting it to the tutor.

Acharya Kamal squinted at the paper, raising his eyebrows. “Well, I suppose that is… a start,” he said, trying not to laugh. “But we must work on your form.”

“I’ll be the best at everything!” Devika declared, puffing out her chest.

“Indeed, you will,” Vanshika replied, her voice full of affection. “But remember, learning is not just about being the best. It’s about growing your mind, too.”

As Acharya Kamal began the lesson, Queen Vanshika watched her daughter carefully. The warmth of her love for Devika was undeniable, but there was also a lingering sense of worry that she couldn’t shake. Her daughter’s future, as it had been foretold, was a path full of mystery, and the prophecy that had been whispered at her birth still haunted her thoughts.

Vanshika glanced out the window again, this time her gaze lingering on the distant, dark shape of Tamas Van, the cursed forest that lay just beyond the borders of the kingdom. No one dared to enter it. The very name struck fear into the hearts of the people of Indrakalpa. The forest was known to be filled with ancient magic—dark and untamed. The villagers spoke of spirits and shadows that roamed its depths, and there were rumors that the forest was somehow tied to the royal family’s fate.

Could Tamas Van hold the key to Devika’s future? Was it possible that the very prophecy the astrologer had spoken was connected to the mysteries of that cursed forest?

Queen Vanshika shook her head. She couldn’t let her fears consume her. She would protect Devika with everything she had.

Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, King Raghvendra sat in his private chambers, going through the morning’s reports. His strong hands flipped through the scrolls, his brow furrowed as he reviewed the kingdom’s matters. There were always challenges to face—news of bandits along the southern trade routes, requests for aid from villages suffering from drought, and the ongoing issue with the ghost sightings near Tamas Van.

“Ghosts, eh?” Raghvendra muttered under his breath, his mind already drifting to the cursed forest. “That cursed place… the stories never end.”

His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Senapati Viraj, the royal general, who entered with a grim expression.

“Maharaj, there has been a disturbance near Tamas Van,” Viraj said, his voice low. “A few farmers claim to have seen strange lights in the forest at night. We’ve had to send a few men to investigate.”

Raghvendra’s expression darkened. “I want no one near that forest. Double the patrols, and make sure no one dares venture too close. I will not risk the kingdom’s safety for these… ghost stories.”

Viraj nodded. “It will be done, Maharaj.”

After the general left, Raghvendra leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. The burden of ruling weighed heavily on him, but it was his family—his wife and children—that kept him grounded. Devika, especially, was the light of his life.

But even he could feel that something was amiss. The winds had changed since her birth, the storm had come and gone, and the very air seemed thick with mystery. Was it just his imagination, or was something darker on the horizon?

Outside, the palace was alive with sounds of the day—servants working, children playing, the chatter of the market in the distance—but in Raghvendra’s heart, there was a whispering fear, a sense that his kingdom was teetering on the edge of something dangerous.

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The rest of the morning passed with the usual flurry of activity. Queen Vanshika watched Devika continue her lessons, the little girl now fully absorbed in her studies, though her attention span was still as short as her energy was long.

Later that afternoon, the family gathered in the palace garden for a small meal. The weather was warm, and the trees were full of life, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. Devika sat between her brothers, her laughter ringing out as Pradyumna, Vivaan, and Ishaan competed to make her laugh.

“You’ll have to try harder than that to make me laugh!” Devika teased, sticking her tongue out at her eldest brother, Pradyumna.

Pradyumna smiled, though there was a glint of protectiveness in his eyes. “You’re too clever for your own good, little one.”

Vivaan, ever the playful one, chimed in, “I bet I can make you laugh with my best dance moves!”

He began dancing around, his arms flailing and his feet moving in odd, comical rhythms. Devika burst out laughing, rolling on the grass.

“I knew it!” Vivaan shouted, as though he had just won a grand battle.

But it was Ishaan, the youngest, who had the most special moment with Devika that afternoon. He handed her a small, carefully wrapped bundle.

“For you, Didi,” he said shyly.

Devika opened it to reveal a necklace, simple yet beautiful. “I made it myself,” Ishaan said, his cheeks turning pink.

Devika’s eyes lit up, and she jumped into his arms. “I love it! Thank you, Ishaan!”

“I knew you would,” he said, beaming.

As the family sat together, enjoying the simple happiness of the moment, Queen Vanshika glanced at her husband, Raghvendra, who was watching their children with a proud smile. She could see the love in his eyes as he looked at Devika, the daughter who had brought so much joy into their lives.

But beneath the surface, both of them knew that something was changing. Something was coming. The prophecy, the mysterious forces beyond their control… they could feel it.

As the sun began to set and the stars slowly appeared in the sky, Queen Vanshika whispered to herself, “Please, let her be safe.”

And somewhere, deep within the heart of Tamas Van, something stirred—an ancient force, waiting for the time when it would rise.

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