"The unknown bewilders even the calmest of minds."

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Watching the arrow pierce through the ice, the crowd fell silent. Some stared in shock, some stared in wonder, and some stared in surprise. Their eyes trailed the path the arrow had taken until they finally saw the figure of a young man, roughly around his twenties, clutching a bow and area. They were taken aback in surprise. Staring at the golden kavach embroidered on his body, they all wondered who this mysterious archer was.

Devanya looked up in surprise. Karna? That was definitely not who she was expecting. However, she neither said anything nor acknowledged him, knowing he probably had prepared a certain plan. Suddenly, the crowd's silence disappeared. Rather questions and statements of surprise graced the air.

Guru Dronacharya finally posed the question everyone had been wondering. "Why have you come here, o warrior."

Karna's stare pierced his soul. "I have come to challenge Arjun. It was fine until you stated he was the best warrior, for how can he be the best when the competition wasn't even present? I am here to represent the other warriors, who have not been given a chance to prove their skills."

Before anyone could further speak, Kripacharya intervened, for the humilation would be a shame if Arjun were to lose. He asked, "What is your parichaya, young man? You must be equal to the prince in order to challenge him."

Karna replied, "I am the putra of a charioteer, Radheya Karna."

Kripacharya intervened at once. "Karna, the Suta caste is below that of the Kshatriya. Unless you are a king or a prince, it would be improper of you to challenge Arjun."

Karna. "No, if that is the case, how can the greatest archer be declared? Valor is decided by the skill, not the caste! I will only leave if it is taken back that Arjun is the greatest warrior."

Despite his efforts, Karna was only met with failure and rejection. Hence, he began dejectedly going back. However, someone else's planning was going on, and a sudden voice stopped him.

"I, Duryodhana, Yuvraj of Hastinapur, hearby grant the land of Ang-Pradesh to Karna, thus making him Ang-Raj and an equal to challenge Prince Arjun."

Devanya upon hearing this looked with an incredulous look on her face at the one speaking. The whole ordeal seemed very suspicious, for why would Duryodhana grant the kingdom of Anga to Karna. He clearly had something going on at the back of his mind. She shot at a glance at Karna, warning him to be wary of the situation, but alas, his attention was elsewhere. For, he too was confused. However, his desire to prove himself outweighed his concern.

"Duryodhan, you have no right to grant the land of your father to any random citizen. Remember, you are hardly even Yuvraj, you hold no claim on the land." Bhishma intervened, feeling it was important for him to end this before things got too out of control.

A small chuckle was heard from Shakuni. "Of course, Mahamahim. However, Maharaj Dhritarastra has the claim on the land. Of course he will fulfill his beloved son's wishes."

Maharaj Dhritarastra hastily agreed as Duryodhan walked over to Karna. Duryodhan takes a knife and lightly cuts the tip of his right thumb. Taking the dripping blood, he smears it in a line of Karna's forehead. "Mitra, any good warrior is a good friend of mine. The promise I have given you, I will keep for my whole lifetime."

Karna, overwhelmed at this token of respect, bowed down to Duryodhana, thanking him for this. "O Mitra, even though I am not your equal, you have still accepted me. My loyalty to you shall never waver. "

And so it began, the fight between the two archers. Arrows were shot with competence, but blocked equally as well. Devanya watched with a tense breath, worried for her dear brother-like friend. A flash of gold appeared just as an arrow was about to pierce Karna. Kunti, who had not been paying much attention, suddenly fainted. She muttered, "Putra Karna," under her breath, but it went unheard by everyone.

Soon, the fight lasted till the rays of the sun finally dipped. The two warriors were unable to continue the fight, for their Dharma prevented them from continuing, and Dharma was more important to them than finishing the competition. The two warriors would have many opportunities later on to prove their skills.

Meanwhile, in Kunti's bedchamber, she finally regained consciousness. With a heavy heart, she spilled the truth to her trusted handmaid, Priyamvada. She knew she would be unable to reveal the truth, for she was worried it would only bring shame to all six of her sons. All their caliber would be disregarded, and they would be unable to reach their full potential. Saying such, she consoled herself for uttering such a big lie.

She began going back to the main room, planning to talk to Karna, when all of a sudden, she was swiped off of her feet. She looked up with surprise and saw her beloved sons at her feet. Giving them all blessings, she pulled them all into a hug. She finally reunited with her dear sons.

Holding them close to her she said, "Keep your bond together very strong, for at the end you will only have each other.

Arjun looked up and said, "Yes Mata, we are like a hand. We brothers are the five fingers, and you are the palm supporting us. We don't need anyone else."

Nakul said in between, "Yes, and Bharta Bheem is the thumb!"

Bheem looked at Yudhishthir and his mother for help, but eventually couldn't keep it in himself to not forgive his anuj, and they all started laughing.

Meanwhile, as Karna was walking back towards, Devanya came up to him. "After this long, it seems you have completely forgotten your sister?"

Karna shaken out of the train of thought looked up and smiled. "No, how could I forget you!"

Suddenly, Devanya shifted her tone into seriousness. "But Bharta, listen to me. Follow your loyalties, but don't forsake your morals and Dharma."

"But Devanya, Duryodhan has given me so much. I cannot simply forsake it all. When no one else supported me, he was there."

"But for what reason Karna? Why, he must have some other motive behind it. Only remember that your values should be clear and not befuddled."

"Don't worry Devanya, I promise, none of my decisions will ever be adharma."

But broken promises are more common than ones that are kept, and that will be proven once again, rather many times, in the future. One bad decision is all it takes to lead to a downfall through life's morals and it is all it takes to become morally grey from pure white."

(Author's Note)

Finally here with an update :) We'll finally have the first formal meeting of our two main protagonists in the next chapter. So far we've just been exploring different characters.

Vote target: Let's make it 15, shall we :)

ALSO TYSM FOR 5K READS. ILYSM <3