Chapter 5– The Roar That Shook Bharatvarsh
A mighty lion's roar echoed across the land, sending a tremor through the vast kingdom of Mahishmati. Warriors training in the barracks halted their movements, ministers in the royal court glanced at each other in alarm, and even the common people paused in their daily tasks, their hearts gripped by an inexplicable reverence and awe.
Within the grand palace, the royal physician, still kneeling beside the newborn prince, trembled. His hands shook as he attempted to check the child's vitals. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he turned toward the king and queen.
"This… this is no ordinary birth," he whispered, his voice barely steady.
King Suresh stood frozen, his mind racing. He had witnessed countless battles, faced formidable warriors, and seen divine phenomena, but the sheer pressure from his newborn son was unlike anything he had ever felt. His gaze locked onto the child, who now slept peacefully, as if the earlier roar had never happened.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the palace halls. The air crackled with power, announcing the arrival of an ancient presence.
"Who dares disturb my seclusion?" A deep, commanding voice echoed.
A tall, elderly man entered the chamber, his presence alone making even the strongest warriors instinctively lower their heads. His silver hair flowed like a river of wisdom, his eyes carried the weight of countless years, and the golden emblem on his royal robes marked him as someone above all but the ruling king.
He was Vijay Raj Pratap, the former king of Mahishmati, a legendary protector of the kingdom, and an ancestor whose name was spoken with utmost reverence. For decades, he had lived in seclusion, meditating upon the past, present, and future of Mahishmati. And yet, something had forced him to leave his meditation today.
His piercing gaze swept across the chamber before settling on the newborn in Queen Bela's arms. The moment he laid eyes on the child, something shifted within him. A foreign warmth filled his heart—an emotion he hadn't felt in centuries.
He stepped forward.
The ministers and warriors present immediately bowed. Even Suresh and Bela showed deep respect.
"Father," Suresh spoke with a respectful tone, "What brings you here?"
Vijay Raj Pratap did not answer immediately. He walked toward the newborn, standing before him in silent contemplation. His fingers twitched as if drawn by an unseen force, an unexplainable connection pulling him toward the child.
"Strange," he muttered under his breath. "I have never felt such fondness for a newborn before..."
His old, calloused hand hovered over the child's forehead. A deep hum of energy vibrated through the air. His ancient eyes widened as he felt it.
"A Divine Body?" His voice carried a mix of shock and awe.
Murmurs erupted among the ministers and warriors. Divine Bodies were rare beyond imagination, blessings of the cosmos themselves. And now, Mahishmati's newborn prince had one?
Suresh nodded, his pride evident. "Yes, ancestor. My son has been born with a Divine Body. A blessing to Mahishmati."
Vijay Raj Pratap remained silent, his gaze fixed on the infant. He wasn't just looking at the child—he was seeing beyond. The karmic threads surrounding the newborn were unlike anything he had ever witnessed. Something about this child… it felt as though destiny itself had bent in his favor.
A heavy silence filled the room. Then, the old king spoke again.
"Raise him well," Vijay Raj Pratap commanded, his voice absolute. "His future will shake not just Mahishmati, but the very foundations of Bharatvarsh itself."
With those final words, he turned and was about to left the chamber, his thoughts clouded with emotions he could not yet understand.
But deep within, a forgotten bond had been rekindled—a bond from a past life that neither he nor the child could yet comprehend.
(Chapter End – Word Count: 682)
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