It was raining. The woman's scream pierced the night. A child's soft cries were heard next. The healer looked at the woman who was no more and took the baby to his father. The man looked up and saw the child in her arms.

"It is a boy, warrior," said the healer.

"How is his mother?" asked the warrior.

The healer did not respond at first.

"She did not make it," said the healer.

The warrior was silent for sometime. The men around him were equally subdued.

The child was still crying. No one knew what to do. The warrior extended his hand and took his son in. He had looked at his fellow men and dropped his sword before he did so.

He did the last rites for his beautiful wife. Then with his child in arm and a few necessities with him, Avdeyu Ilnaya walked into the woods of Dandakarani to be seen never again.

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"The prince is having trouble settling down," said a maid who rushed into the chambers of the queen of Maherayae. The queen took her son into her arms. The two year old had that stubborn look. His chin had that stubborn tilt and his jaw looked broad, as usual when the boy was in a terrible state of mind.

"What has brought this on my kid? " asked Asreya.

The stubborn tilt was still there and he just shook his head even as he cuddled to his mother's side.

"Mithraos," Asreya called his name, never one to give up.

"He was crying," said Mithraos.

"Who my son?"

"Him"

The queen rocked her son to sleep wondering about what sort of dream her son had.

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Adharva ran down the grand staircase of the palace to reach the King's room. He was the middle child of the ruler of the Kingdom of Mauryae. He has two older brothers and a younger brother. After their mother's death, their father had to marry again following the council's advice.

Adharva knocked on the huge door, tears streaming down his eyes. He is not able to close his eyes. A child was in pain and he is unable to do anything. He even tried to sleep. He just can't.

His step mother opened the door. She sneered at him.

"What brings you here?" asked Dahlia.

"Father, I want to see Father," said Adharva.

"He is asleep," said Dahlia.

"Please, can I see him once," asked Adharva.

"You insolent child, do you not understand when you are being told no? Leave the premises now or I will ask the guards to escort you to your chambers," said Dahlia.

"Please," cried Adharva.

Dahlia slapped and pushed Adharva who crashed into a boy of around 17. Adharva sobbed as Rishi, his older brother picked him up. Rishi checked Adharva's face and saw the blood trickling down his mouth.

The commotion brought their father out. King Davenor saw his two boys standing outside and the second oldest was standing near the stairs.

"What is happening here?" asked Davenor. He saw Adharva's chin was bleeding.

He picked up his son from his oldest who was glaring at him.

"What happened my child?" asked Davenor.

"He was crying and I couldn't sleep. She wouldn't let me in to see you. I was scared," said Adharva.

Davenor did not say anything and Adharva fell asleep soon. He gave the child to his oldest and turned to Dahlia.

"You may leave the palace in the morning. I do not wish for you to live here," said Davenor and made sure his sons were out.

--------------

The Kingdom of Mauryae woke to the news of their King's passing. The murder shook the continent. Rishi killed Dahlia in fury for poisoning their father as she vindictively spoke of how she did it in front of the council. She claimed that she was right in doing so as the King was going to desert her.

Rishi had not given them a chance to argue and counter argue. He thrust the sword into her and she looked at the three boys and the one baby in shock as she died.

"We need to know who will be the crown prince," said the council head.

Rishi looked at the bloodied sword in his hand and at Samar, the second youngest who shook his head. He held the baby close to him and his hand was firm around Adharva.

Adharva was looking sadly at Dahlia's body laying there.

"Adharva," said Rishi.

Adharva who was unaware of it walked over to Rishi who gave him a small smile and picked him up.

-----------------

Mithraos looked on in tears as he watched his mother and father lay motionless. He sobbed but tried to be strong.

He looked around. This was the last of his family. Mithraos just sat there looking at them. At twelve, he was not grown enough to take care of the Kingdom. He looked at the minister who nodded.

There will be an interim council and the prince will be coronated after his 17 th birthday.

_____________

The war front smelled of blood. They had been fighting for three days and the fight stops at sunset. .

Mithraos watched as his head warrior sped through the enemies like a wrathful god. The man was covered in blood, but that was a usual thing.

He watched as the sword pierced through a soldier's body. Mithraos swung his sword and resumed his fight.

In the ten years since he became the King, he had done everything he could to empower his Kingdom. He has made it stronger and has fought in many wars, joining more kingdoms and making it an empire, his empire. Somewhere no enemy will dream to penetrate, no less kill the royal family. It was and is him against the world.

Mithraos turned hearing some soldiers call for the head warrior but he need not have worried. He snorted as he watched the warrior raised his sword and sliced open the man behind him with a proper twist of his sword.

Mithraos turned back in time to slice open a sword wielder's head. Wars gave him a kind of high that nothing else does.

The sound of a conch was heard and all swords were lowered as the sun lowered into the horizon.

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Adharva Malvan raised an eyebrow as he heard of the war in South.

"He is stepping out of a line when he touches our ally," said the minister Pahlan.

"Indeed," said Adharva as he looked on into the darkness.

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