Shadows.
Shadows stretch across the land as Bishan Singh and his four loyal companions wander in the desert, their armors worn out and their bodies tired. In their mind, only one thought exists: Rest.
"Hukum!" one soldier shouts, pointing towards a freshwater lake in the distance. "There-shelter!" Bishan Singh halts, he raises his palm, ordering his soldiers to halt. His eyes then began their work, scanning the area for any possible threats.
"The area looks fine but we shouldn't allow our exhaustion to cloud our senses. Be alert!" Bishan Singh announces as he leads his men towards the lake.
With weapons drawn, the unit reaches the lake, their tired eyes feeling joyful since a while. As they dismount from their horses and kneel down to drink water, the distant sound of hooves strikes the air, cutting their hopes of rest short.
"Alert!" Bishan whispers as his men draw out their swords.
The danger is never far.
It was always lurking beneath the shadows...
"Hukum Singh has captured Karamgarh fort", Bishan's words catch his mother's full attention.
"I never doubt his capabilities," his mother remarks. "However, that bastard... he isn't to be trusted",she says with concern.
"I know, Ma, but I don't think the King will ever put me under his command. He knows... about us", Bishan says, firm in his belief.
"I hope so, dear!" his mother replies as she hugs him. "Shubh Yatra!" she adds proudly.
With teary eyes but steady heart, Bishan says goodbye. He hugs his mother tight. She looks proud but there's worry in her eyes. Her hands shake a little on his back. His sister stands close, quietly crying, trying not to make a scene. His little nephew watches silently, face serious and hard to read.
Bishan feels heavy inside but doesn't show it. He takes one last look at his family before getting on his horse. Their faces stay with him as he rides away-pride, sadness, and a bit of fear all mixed together.
The road ahead offers no comfort for the pain of bidding farewell to a family you might never return to. The path is narrow going between sharp hills. Big rocks stand on both sides as if they are waiting to unleash their suppressed anger on each and every passerby. Dust flies with each step of the horses. The Sun burns above, not comforting but still a symbol of hope.
The hellish route surprisingly leads to heaven. Or at least, that's what the people call Devkar - a mighty and majestic kingdom that has been home to legends for centuries. Allies respect it, enemies fear it and strangers admire it.
As he rides through the barren wastelands, Bishan's thoughts drift back to Devkar-not as a kingdom, but as a wound. Years ago, his family had been exiled, disgraced by the very court they once served. Public humiliation, cursed by each and every citizen and banished far away so that even their shadows couldn't reach the kingdom.
He remembers the struggle that followed: working through every insult, every rejection, until he earned the respect of man who didn't know his past. But the pain never left. Even now, with command and armor on his shoulders, the old humiliation is still there. Lost in thought, he barely notices how far he's traveled-physically and emotionally.
After hours of travelling, Bishan notices the small villages-indicating the sign of lives. But streets are eerily empty as if everyone has vanished. He understands that he has reached the edge of the kingdom. However something feels wrong.