Four years.
Four years of silence.
Four years of storms—both within and without.
Four years of burning meditation, freezing solitude, and unimaginable will.
The disciples of Rudra—Karna, Eklavya, and Ishita—had vanished from the eyes of the world. So had Rudra himself. Each had chosen their own path, their own god, their own battlefield of the soul.
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Mount Mandarachal – The Temple of a Thousand Suns
Karna sat unmoving beneath a radiant rock, high above the clouds. His body was burned black from the relentless exposure to Surya's light. No food. No water. Only his breath—controlled, eternal.
For four years he chanted:
"Om Adityaya Namah…"
Until the very air shimmered with heat, and the sun itself halted in the sky.
And then—he came.
Lord Surya, clad in a robe of golden flames, emerged like a thousand dawns in one. "My child," he spoke, voice filled with pride, "your penance has scorched even the heavens."
Karna opened his eyes. Tears poured, not of pain, but of divine joy.
"Ask, my son. Ask for a boon."
Karna folded his hands. "I seek no boon, O radiant one. Only your blessings."
But gods do not leave the devoted empty-handed.
"Then take what you deserve," Surya said. "I grant you the Sunfire Core, a divine heart that channels my eternal heat. Your arrows will never run dry, and no darkness shall dare stand in your way, also i give you my Divine Spear *Suryashul*"
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Naimisharanya – The Forest of Eternal Stillness
Eklavya meditated alone under the Ashvattha tree. Around him, not a single leaf moved. Even the animals seemed to hold their breath in reverence.
He had uttered not a single word in four years. He had given up speech, vision, and movement—surrendering himself completely to the idea of the Hunter beyond time, Lord Narsimhaa.
And finally, when the forest grew dense with silence and time itself paused, Narsimhaa appeared—not as his fierce form, but in his form as 'Bhakt Vatsal' , smiling face, Lions mane, and burning eyes.
"You have mastered stillness. You have embraced silence. Ask what you will."
Eklavya bowed deeply. "I need nothing. Your darshan is enough prabhu."
But Narsimhaa smiled. "Then take what only you can wield."
With a flick of his fingers, he transferred the boon of Kaala-Baan: "Your arrows are silent, invisible and bends at your will shall find their target even before they are loosed, also take this *Simbha* with you as a gift" presented him a sword with curved blade that looks like a big sickle.
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The Peaks of Durga Shikhar – The Dance of Ice and Fire
Ishita stood alone in a cave of blizzards, fire and frost eternally battling around her. She meditated on the divine form of Mahadevi Durga, chanting her thousand names, offering her every wound, every breath, every heartbeat.
And on the night of the fourth winter solstice, the Devi came—robed in starlight, riding a lion that breathed celestial flames.
"My daughter," she said, "you are now more than a warrior. You are a weapon of Shakti itself, Ask for a boon beti"
"I seek no gift, O Devi," Ishita replied, eyes brimming.
But Durga gently touched her forehead and smiled. "Then receive what you are worthy of."
She granted her the *Trinetra Shakti*, a third eye fueled by Durga's power, which could invoke the wrath of the goddess herself in battle, also take my *Shakti Trishul* it will help you control that Wrath. "In your presence, even fear shall tremble."
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Mount Girnar – The Cave of the Three Flames
Rudra, the master himself, meditated in complete darkness for four years, seeking forgiveness and fulfillment of his own Gurudakshina to Lord Dattatreya—the composite deity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
He battled his ego. He burned away every last attachment. And when the time was right, Dattatreya appeared—three heads glowing in unity.
"O Rudra," the deity said, "you have already transcended. But humility such as yours must not go unrewarded."
Rudra bowed. "I came only to fulfill my vow param-guru."
Dattatreya raised his hand. "Then take what Destiny itself bestows."
And so, Rudra received the Trimarga Drishti—the divine sight to walk the three paths of creation, preservation, and destruction simultaneously.
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Return to Gokul – The World Has Changed
The four warriors—Rudra and his three disciples—now transformed, descended from their paths of penance. Twelve years had passed since they had walked away from Mahishmati. Twelve years of silence, now replaced with purpose.
Their first stop was Gokul.
But what they found brought silence again.
Empty homes. Abandoned fields. Broken swings and hollow laughter echoing on the wind.
A lone farmer greeted them with a bowed head. "You have come too late, warriors. Gokul is no more. Asuras harassed us for months. Nand Maharaj shifted everyone to Nandgaon for safety."
Without delay, they rode to Nandgaon. The village was peaceful but carried the heaviness of departure.
At the center sat Yashoda, her eyes tired but warm, and Nandlal, his face etched with concern. They rose as Rudra and his disciples approached.
Yashoda gasped, "You have returned! Our protectors…"
Nand hugged Rudra tightly. "But you come at a time of pain."
Rudra frowned. "Where is Krishna?"
Nand's eyes moistened. "He and Balram received a summons from Kansa. A messenger came with a royal invitation for a wrestling competition in Mathura. They left only a few days ago."
Karna clenched his fists. "This smells of a trap."
Eklavya nodded. "Kansa will not let them walk freely."
Ishita whispered, "Then we go to Mathura."
But Rudra raised his hand. "Okay. We will go to Mathura first. Four years have passed. Our Krishna must have forgotten us. The time of kings and warriors is rising again. Krishna will face what he must."
Yashoda placed her hand on Rudra's. "Take him back if you find him."
Rudra smiled. "He won't need saving. He is not a boy anymore. He is the Guide of Righteousness for this World"
And thus, as the wind shifted again, the four warriors turned their path east—towards Mathura. Toward the throne. Toward destiny.
The storm was coming.
And they were ready.
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