The night sky burned.
Not with stars… but with fire.
The proud lands of the Suryavanshi Clan were drowning in chaos—flames rising like furious serpents, screams echoing through the wind, and steel clashing against steel.
War had come.
And in the middle of it all…
…stood a child.
A 3-year-old boy.
Aarav.
His tiny hands trembled as he stood at the entrance of a shattered home. His wide, innocent eyes reflected the inferno consuming everything he knew.
He didn't understand war.
He didn't understand hatred.
All he understood… was fear.
"Ma…?"
His voice was soft. Lost. Broken before it could even grow.
Inside, lying against the cold ground, was his mother.
Blood slowly spread beneath her like a dark shadow.
Outside, warriors of the Chandraketu Clan clashed with the defenders of the Suryavanshi. In the distance, a third force moved like a storm—unseen, yet orchestrating the destruction.
The silent hand of the Agnivardhan Clan.
But Aarav didn't know that.
Not yet.
He stumbled forward, his small feet dragging across the floor.
"Ma… get up…"
No response.
His tiny hand touched her arm.
Cold.
Too cold.
Her eyes slowly opened.
Faint… but still alive.
"Aarav…"
Her voice trembled like a dying flame.
Tears welled up in his eyes instantly.
"Ma! I'm here! Don't sleep… please don't sleep…"
She tried to lift her hand.
It shook… weak… but determined.
Gently, she placed it on his cheek.
For a moment…
The chaos outside didn't exist.
There was no war.
No clans.
No hatred.
Just a mother… and her son.
"Aarav… listen to me…"
Her breath was breaking.
"…the world… is not fair…people you trust… may leave you…and the ones you love… may be taken away…"
A tear slipped from her eye.
"…but Dharma…"
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…never leaves you."
Aarav shook his head, crying harder.
"I don't want Dharma! I want you!!"
Her smile… was gentle.
Painful… but peaceful.
"Even if you stand alone…even if the whole world calls you wrong…follow Dharma."
Her hand slowly slipped from his cheek.
"…promise me…"
"…I promise…"
he whispered through tears.
Silence.
The fire outside roared louder.
But inside…
Everything went quiet.
"Ma…?"
No answer.
"Ma…?"
The boy who didn't understand death…
…was now staring at it.
Outside, footsteps approached.
Not of enemies.
Not of family.
Something in between.
A figure stood at the broken doorway—cloaked in shadows, bearing the emblem of the Chandraketu Clan.
Their eyes met the child.
A lone boy…
Sitting beside his mother's lifeless body.
Surrounded by ashes.
"…"
For a moment, even a warrior of an enemy clan… hesitated.
And that night—
The Suryavanshi Clan lost a child.
But the world…
Gained something far more dangerous.
A boy with nothing left…
Except a promise.