[Karna's POV]
It has been two weeks since, I accepted the Black Heart, and got that crazy quest. In those two weeks, I trained to have control of the black heart but it's like trying to swim against a relentless tide.
The Black Heart's power surged within me, a maelstrom of darkness and chaos that threatened to overwhelm my very soul. Every moment was a battle, a struggle to maintain control and prevent the dark energy from consuming me.
Execpt training, Being with my wives is the only respite from the storm raging within me. Their presence brought a measure of calm, a reminder of the humanity I still clung to despite the monstrous power I now possessed.
Currently, I am inside the royal court, sitting on the throne, listening to the reports from my ministers and advisors. Their voices blended into a distant hum, barely piercing through the turmoil within my mind. Each word they spoke seemed to ripple through the air, distorted by the constant thrumming of the Black Heart within me.
"Your Majesty," an advisor's voice cut through the haze, drawing my attention. "We have received word from the borders. There have been disturbances—unrest among the people. Some say they saw army camps with Kuru banners mobilizing in the distance."
My brow furrowed as I processed the advisor's report. The Kuru banners? Here in Anga? The news sparked a flicker of rage. How could I forget what they did to Mandodari? If Krishna didn't stop me that day, Their whole kingdom would likely be left in ruin.
I couldn't shake the painful memory of Mandodari's lifeless body, cradled in Draupadi's arms as tears streamed down her face, and the heart-wrenching cries of my other wives echoing in the desolate landscape.
If not for the phoenix feather that miraculously revived Mandodari, the devastation I could have wrought upon the Kuru kingdom that day would have been unimaginable.
"My lord, what are your orders?" The advisor's voice broke through my reverie, bringing me back to the present. His eyes held concern, reflecting the unease that had settled over the court.
I straightened in my throne, the weight of the Black Heart heavy within me. Despite the turmoil raging inside, I knew I had to maintain composure, to wield my newfound power with wisdom and restraint.
"Prepare the defen-"
Knock! Knock!
"Huff*Huff* I am deeply sorry to interrupt you, Your Majesty." Just as I was about to issue commands in response to the advisor's report, A soldier came running through the grand doors of the royal court, his breath ragged and face flushed with urgency. He knelt before Karna, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination.
"Your Majesty, forgive the interruption," the soldier gasped between breaths, "But Rajmata Kunti of Kuru kingdom is asking for an immediate audience with you. She claims it's a matter of utmost urgency."
The mention of Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas and my own mother in this life, brought a mix of emotions to the surface. Kunti was also the one who had abandoned me as a child, casting me into the river to protect her own reputation.
"Let her in," I commanded, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Prepare a private audience in the inner chamber."
The soldier nodded, relief evident in his expression as he hurriedly left to convey my instructions. I turned my attention back to the advisors and ministers who awaited my orders, their expressions a mix of concern and anticipation.
"Continue with the preparations," I instructed, my voice carrying the weight of authority. "Mobilize the troops, but do not engage unless provoked. I will handle this matter personally."
As my advisors began to disperse, carrying out my commands with practiced efficiency, I rose from my throne and made my way toward the inner chamber where Kunti awaited.
The Black Heart pulsed ominously within me, its dark energy swirling like a tempest, but I pushed aside the turmoil, focusing on the task at hand.
Entering the chamber, I found Kunti waiting, her expression a mask of composure that belied the uncertainty in her eyes. She rose to greet me, her movements graceful yet tinged with a hint of apprehension.
Bang!
But before she could say anything, A loud knock sound on the door interrupted the tense atmosphere, causing both Karna and Kunti to turn their heads towards the door.
As Radha maa made her way inside keeping her eyes on the Kunti lime a hawk ready to kill, She walked all the way to me and stood in front of me as if warning her opponent.
Kunti frowned as she glared back at Radha Maa, and then her gaze went to me with anger? "Who is this insolent servant, Karna? How could she-
Hiss~
"WATCH YOUR TONGUE, YOU INSIGNIFICANT WOMAN!" Radha Maa's voice cut through the air like a whip, her eyes blazing with fury as she confronted Kunti. The tension in the room escalated, thickening the already charged atmosphere.
"She is my real mother," I said but with cold fury and a sharp glance. Both Kunti and Radha Maa turned their heads to look back at me one with a look of betrayal and the other with happiness as she hugged me with all her might and kissed me a thousand times on my cheeks.
"My baby is the best," Radha Maa said with a smug smirk on her face as she looked at Kunti with undisguised triumph. Kunti, taken aback by this revelation, could only stare at us, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.
"But how?!" Kunti finally managed to speak, her voice trembling with emotion. "How can this be?"
Radha Maa stepped back from me, her eyes never leaving Kunti's face. "I am the one who raised this child, Kunti. When you abandoned him, I took him in as my own. He is my son in every way that matters."
"Anyway, What do you want from MY son?" Radha Maa continued, her tone firm and commanding. She turned to me, her gaze softening with concern. "Karna, this woman abandoned you as a child. She has no right to come here and demand anything from you."
Kunti's expression softened slightly, her gaze flickering between Radha Maa and me. "Karna, please listen to me," she pleaded, her voice tinged with regret. "I know I made mistakes in the past, but I've come here because there's a grave threat looming over both our kingdoms. We need to put aside our differences and work together."
"And you are doing that by placing an army at the borders of my kingdom and sending spies to sow unrest among my people?" I retorted sharply, my voice laced with bitterness and accusation.
The weight of Kunti's past actions bore heavily on my heart, even as I struggled to reconcile her presence with the tumultuous emotions swirling within me.
Kunti's eyes widened in surprise and dismay. "Karna, I swear to you, I did not know any such actions," she protested earnestly. "I came here seeking an alliance, not conflict. There are forces within the Kuru kingdom that operate beyond my control."
Radha Maa scoffed incredulously. "Save your lies, Kunti. You abandoned him once; now you seek to manipulate him for your own ends."
My mind raced as I tried to navigate the web of conflicting emotions and loyalties. Kunti, my birth mother, who had forsaken me in the river as an infant, now stood before me, asking for my trust and cooperation. Radha Maa, the woman who had raised me, fiercely protective and loyal, warned me against Kunti's intentions.
"Enough," I finally declared, my tone firm as I raised a hand to silence the heated exchange. Both women looked at me, awaiting my decision with bated breath.
"Kunti, whether or not you knew of these actions, the presence of Kuru banners near our borders is a threat that cannot be ignored," I stated, my voice resonating with authority. "I will investigate these disturbances personally. If it is proven that the Kuru kingdom has indeed mobilized against us, there will be no Krishna to stop me this time."
I turned to Radha Maa with a soft smile. "Let's go, I am starving."
Radha Maa nodded in agreement, her eyes still wary as she glanced briefly at Kunti before turning back to me. "As you wish, my son." Her tone softened, and she moved closer to me, a protective arm sliding around my shoulder as we began to leave the chamber.
Kunti, standing alone, seemed torn between disappointment and determination. "Karna, please," she called after us, her voice tinged with pleading. "I beg of you, consider what I've said. We cannot afford to let old grievances divide us when a greater threat looms."
I paused at the threshold, my back to Kunti, weighing her words against the turmoil within. "See yourself out of the palace, Kunti," I replied firmly, my voice leaving no room for negotiation. With that, Radha Maa and I left the chamber, leaving Kunti standing alone with her thoughts.
As we walked through the corridors of the palace, the tension that had filled the audience chamber slowly began to dissipate. Radha Maa kept a watchful eye on me, her expression a mix of concern and pride. I could sense her protective stance, ready to shield me from any threat, whether physical or emotional.
"Radha Maa," I began, breaking the silence as we walked towards the dining hall. "Thank you for standing by my side."
She nodded, her grip on my shoulder tightening briefly. "You are my son, Karna. I will always stand by you, no matter what."
Her words touched me deeply, a reminder of the unwavering love and support she had shown me throughout my life. Despite the darkness that now coursed through me with the Black Heart, Radha Maa remained a beacon of light and stability.
Entering the grand dining hall, the aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air. Servants bustled about, setting the table with an array of dishes fit for royalty. Radha Maa guided me to my seat at the head of the table, her movements graceful yet purposeful.