Nearly four years passed like the turning of a page.
The land of Dakshina Kalinga, which was only a newly established kingdom and had Karna and Uttara Kalinga as backing four years ago, had begun to earn a new name among travelers and merchants.
It is no longer just a place that was gifted to the son of Suryanarayana. It is no longer just the land of Lord Surya's Mortal son.
Some called it the land of dharma.
Some called it the land of prosperity.
Some called it the land of spirituality.
Some called it the land of happiness.
And some even exaggeratedly called it heaven on earth, because it was a place with the least crime, a place where every victim gets his justice, every criminal gets his punishment, a place where there is no poverty, a place where castes don't decide one's future, but their karma decides who they want to be.
The son of a charioteer doesn't have to steer the chariot. He himself is allowed to wield the weapons and ride the chariot in the back, like a Kshatriya. The son of a stable keeper doesn't have to feed only the horses. He can ride them to the battles, like a Kshatriya. The son of a farmer doesn't have to cultivate the land. He can become a grain seller like a Vaishya. Perhaps, the only restriction is the study of Vedic, which is still restricted for the commoners. The Brahmin community is strong enough to resist Karna's policies.
*
Kanipura City;
That morning, the sun rose gently over the city, casting golden light on rooftops and temple domes.
The streets were already awake. Shopkeepers arranged goods. Carts rolled over stone paths. Priests walked toward temples with oil lamps in their hands. Children ran barefoot through alleys, laughing loudly enough to wake even the lazy dogs sleeping under banyan trees.
And in the middle of it all, Karna walked as usual, as he did years ago, just like an ordinary person. His expression was calm, almost casual, and his pace was slow enough that people could approach him without fear.
A group of elderly men sitting near a tea stall saw him first. They quickly stood up, folding their hands.
"Maharaj!" one of them said with surprise, as if Karna appearing among them was still something unbelievable.
Karna smiled faintly. "Sit," he said, waving his hand. "If you stand every time I pass, then I'll have to stop walking."
The old men chuckled, settling back down. One of them pointed at Karna's face. "You are getting thinner, Maharaj," he complained. "Do you even eat properly?"
Karna's lips curved slightly at their affection.
"I eat to survive," he replied. "But you old men want me to eat like I'm preparing for a war every day."
Another elder leaned forward, his eyes full of concern.
"How is your health, Maharaj?" he asked. "The monsoon is coming soon. You should be careful."
Karna nodded.
"I will be well. You know that my body is immune to the diseases," he said. "How is your cough by the way? Did the medicine work?"
The elder's face brightened. "It did," he said quickly. "That physician you sent is truly skilled. My wife hasn't stopped praising you since then."
Karna gave a small nod, as if it was nothing special.
As he continued walking, children ran toward him without hesitation. A few boys practically collided into his legs, laughing, and then froze when they realized who they had bumped into.
Their eyes widened in fear.
But Karna crouched down, placing a hand on one child's head.
"Are you studying?" he asked.
The boy nodded quickly. "Yes, Maharaj!"
Karna's eyes narrowed slightly. "Truthfully," he said.
The boy scratched his head and smiled nervously. "Sometimes."
Karna hummed.
"If I hear you're skipping classes, I will personally send you to the training ground with wooden spears," he warned calmly.
The children gasped.
Then they laughed, because they could not tell whether he was joking.
People watched him pass with warmth, not fear.
Because in Dakshina Kalinga, Karna was not just a king sitting on a throne.
He was a presence that walked among them.
After spending time in the streets, Karna finally returned toward the palace. The guards at the gates immediately bowed, but Karna barely acknowledged them. He simply walked through the courtyard with the ease of someone who had no need to prove authority.
As he entered the palace grounds, a loud sound reached his ears.
"Ha!"
"Again!"
"Forward!"
The shouts were sharp, disciplined, full of fire.
Karna turned his head toward the training grounds.
And smiled.
There, a large group of women stood in formation, wearing warrior uniforms. Their hair was tied back tightly. Their bodies were covered in light armor, and their hands gripped spears with firm discipline. They moved in synchronized rhythm, thrusting forward, pulling back, stepping, twisting, repeating again and again until their breathing turned heavy and their arms trembled.
Their instructor's voice rang loudly. "Do not hesitate! The enemy will not hesitate! Do you want to keep depending on the men to protect this land? Remember that protecting your motherland is not anyone's responsibility, but everyone's responsibility..."
The women shouted in response, their voices echoing across the grounds.
Karna watched them for a moment, his expression quietly pleased.
No other kingdom in the entire Bharatavarsh had anything like this.
A full unit of women warriors.
Not dancers.
Or some maids.
Not noblewomen trained secretly in palace halls.
These were real soldiers, just like men.
And standing at the front, observing them with sharp eyes, was Mrinalini, his Chief Queen and also the Commander of Women Forces of Dakshina Kalinga.
She wore armor like it belonged to her, her posture straight, her gaze cold and commanding. She walked through the lines, correcting stance, adjusting grip, pushing them harder.
"Again," she ordered.
A woman groaned, sweat dripping down her forehead.
"We already did it twenty times, Commander!"
Mrinalini's eyes narrowed. "And if you die in the battle, will you tell Yamaraj that you already tried twenty times?" she asked calmly. "Now, Again..."
The women immediately straightened.
"Yes, Commander!"
Karna chuckled quietly.
This force did not exist four years ago, and neither did Karna have any intention to create such a force. After all, which man would want a woman to protect him? He always wants to be the one to protect them.
But his opinion changed after witnessing Mrinalini when she fought against the Rakshasas. He realized that women cannot be restricted to just politics, kitchens, or some supportive roles. They can take the responsibilities of a warrior, too.
Three years ago, with Mrinalini's consent, Karna started this had selected one hundred young women from across Dakshina Kalinga. Women who were bold enough to go against social norms. Women who were tired of being told that their bodies were weak and their minds belonged only inside kitchens. Women who wanted to fight, not just in words, but in steel.
Naturally, Many families refused.
Some mocked the idea.
Some even cursed Karna for bringing "shame" into society.
But Karna did not bend.
He used Kashi's traditions as inspiration. In Kashi, maids hired by nobles were often trained in warfare, so they could protect their mistresses in dangerous times. That was normal there. It was accepted. It was practical.
Karna took that idea and expanded it into something the world had never seen.
He did not make them secret guards.
He made them full warriors instead.
At first, scholars and elders protested heavily. The court debated for weeks. Some Brahmins called it adharma. Some nobles claimed it would destroy family values. Some even argued that it would lead to rebellion among women.
But Karna had someone beside him who crushed those arguments without mercy.