COLD OPEN – TEASER
[PALACE TREASURY – NIGHT]
A golden pedestal lies empty. Torches flicker violently. The sacred blade of Kaligarh—Khandvaastra, the royal symbol of power—is gone.
SENTRY (shouting)
The sacred blade! It's been stolen!
SCENE 1 – ROYAL FURY
[PALACE THRONE ROOM – MORNING]
Aryan stands before his father, King Samudrasen, who looks furious but frail.
KING SAMUDRASEN
The blade protected this kingdom for ten generations! How did a thief walk into my house?!
MINISTER SUDHANVA (calmly)
Perhaps... someone inside showed them the way.
All eyes turn to Aryan. Sudhanva's gaze lingers.
ARYAN (firmly)
I would never betray Kaligarh.
SCENE 2 – THE SECRET INFORMANT
[PALACE KITCHENS – LATER]
Devika and Aryan eat spiced flatbreads while whispering.
DEVIKA
I've heard rumors. The thief wore royal colors. Some even say... they bowed before leaving.
ARYAN
Then this wasn't theft. It was a message.
DEVIKA (wry)
And a really expensive one.
SCENE 3 – ASHES IN THE TEMPLE
[ TEMPLE OF VAYU – DUSK]
Aryan enters the wind-worn temple. Bhairav waits, placing ashes on the stone floor. A coded sign left by an old ally.
BHAIRAV
This mark... it's used by the Shadow Sons. Loyal once. Turned mercenary.
ARYAN
So the betrayal runs deeper. But why now?
He picks up a fragment of silk—embroidered with the Kaligarh sigil... and blood.
SCENE 4 – CONFRONTATION
[MINISTER'S CHAMBERS – NIGHT]
Aryan breaks in. He finds coded scrolls in Minister Sudhanva's room—messages addressed to... Varundev.
Sudhanva enters behind him, smirking.
SUDHANVA
Curiosity. It's the first symptom of royalty... and often the last.
Aryan tries to escape, but guards block the door. Sudhanva leans close.
SUDHANVA
Tell me, boy prince. What will your father believe? You? Or his most trusted man?
SCENE 5 – ESCAPE AND PROMISE
[PALACE GARDENS – NIGHT]
Devika appears suddenly, knocks out a guard with a frying pan.
DEVIKA (grinning)
You owe me mangoes. A lot of them.
They flee into the shadows. Aryan looks back at the glowing palace.
ARYAN
They'll try to tear us down from the inside.
DEVIKA
Then let's make sure we rise from the ashes.
CLOSING SCENE – THE MISSING BLADE
[INT. UNKNOWN SHRINE – NIGHT]
A shadowy priest places the Khandvaastra on a stone altar surrounded by runes.
PRIEST
The prince awakens. Let him come for it. Let him earn it.
[NEXT TIME PREVIEW]
"Next: Aryan goes on a journey beyond the palace walls, to claim the stolen blade—and uncover a truth that could destroy his destiny."