"Honored guests and All council leaders… please be alert!"
The guard's voice thundered across the grand hall.
"The kind-hearted… and as beautiful as celestial nymphs… the great Queen of Badallok—Neerja Devi—is entering the assembly!"
The announcement echoed through the vast chamber—
And in an instant…
Silence.
The same hall that, moments ago, buzzed like a crowded fair—
Now felt like a haunted ruin.
Still. Empty. Breathless.
As if no one was there at all.
The assembly hall was enormous.
Not a hundred… not two hundred—
It could easily seat over a thousand beings.
But today, only the most important ones were present—
Leaders of different realms, heads of ancient civilizations, and a few selected special guests.
Each one… different.
Strange.
Powerful.
Before every seat stood a small table, carefully arranged with food, drink, and writing materials. On each table rested a unique nameplate—crafted in colors that matched the aura and identity of the being it belonged to.
Yet—
Not all seats were filled.
Several powerful presences were… missing.
And that absence—
Was louder than any noise.
This was no ordinary gathering.
Different species.
Different civilizations.
All evolved… all powerful.
Far beyond human capabilities.
And yet—
Peaceful.
That was the reason they had survived for centuries without ever revealing themselves to the human world.
They chose silence.
They chose distance.
They chose peace.
Moments later—
Ambu and Queen Neerja Devi entered the hall.
Ambu quickly climbed onto the seat beside the Queen's throne, settling himself.
Neerja Devi, however—
Walked forward.
Graceful. Calm. Radiant.
She stopped before her grand throne.
And the moment she stood still—
Every single being in that hall rose to their feet.
In perfect unison.
Heads bowed.
Respect offered.
Neerja Devi looked at them—
A soft, enchanting smile on her lips.
But behind that smile—
Her mind was racing.
Most of them are here…
Her gaze scanned the hall.
But the leader of the Yakshini clan is absent…
A pause.
Rishi Raj hasn't arrived either…
Her expression tightened slightly.
No one from the Tantrik order… the Apsara civilization… even the Gandharva leaders are missing…
A flicker of concern crossed her eyes.
All of them are crucial to this Council… how can they ignore something this serious?
A deeper thought surfaced—
Or… are they waiting?
Waiting for the prophecy to begin… before they step into the light?
For a moment, doubt clouded her mind.
Then she steadied herself.
No… I'll contact them later.
Her eyes hardened.
Right now, the ones who are here need to understand.
A silent prayer rose within her—
God… give me strength. I don't know if the calm on their faces will remain… after this discussion ends.
She joined her hands respectfully.
"Welcome… to Badallok."
Her voice was calm, yet it carried across every corner of the hall.
"I, the Queen of Badallok, thank each one of you for accepting this invitation and being present here today."
She gestured gently.
"Please… take your seats."
One by one, everyone sat down.
And once they were settled—
Neerja Devi took her throne.
But before she could continue—
A figure rose.
Tall. Dominant.
The King of the Dragon Civilization.
In his hands, he held a glowing object—wrapped like a gift.
His deep voice echoed with respect—
"Queen Neerja Devi… we have brought a special offering in your honor. We hope you will accept this gift as a token from our civilization."
He bowed slightly.
"With your permission… I would like to present it."
The hall watched.
Silent.
Waiting.
Neerja Devi's expression turned serious.
"Great Dragon King… I thank you for your gesture."
A pause.
"But today… is not the time for gifts."
Her voice grew firmer.
"This gathering is far too important for such exchanges."
She looked across the hall.
"I request all of you… let us begin the सभा without delay. Let us come straight to the matter."
The Dragon King smiled faintly.
Without a word—
The gift vanished from his hands, dissolving into thin air through his power.
And he sat back down.
The moment he settled—
Another figure stood.
Draped in blue and gold robes, glowing faintly with an otherworldly aura.
He bowed respectfully.
"Great Queen Neerja Devi… we all wish to understand the reason behind this gathering."
His voice was calm, but firm.
"The message we received spoke in riddles—"
He continued,
'The winds have changed… darkness is spreading through the air… the matter is grave…'
His eyes met hers.
"It said this assembly was urgent. That your call could not be ignored."
A slight pause.
"But we seek clarity."
His tone deepened.
"What does this cryptic message truly mean? We request you… relieve us of this confusion."
Neerja Devi looked at him—
And nodded.
"Of course… Leader of the Pegasus Civilization."
Her expression grew heavier.
"But the truth is… this 'riddle' is far simpler than it seems."
A chilling pause filled the hall.
"And the very simplicity of it…"
"…is the reason we are all here today."
She rose slowly from her throne.
Every eye locked onto her.
"All Great leaders… listen carefully."
Her voice dropped—
Cold.
Serious.
"We have received news…"
A pause.
"…that the peace of this world is about to be shattered."
The words hit like thunder.
"The demon clans…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"…are preparing to unleash something terrible upon Earth."
A ripple of shock spread through the hall.
"It appears…"
She took a breath.
"…the time of the prophecy has arrived."
Silence.
Dead silence.
"And with that…"
Her voice turned grim.
"…our days of peace are over."
A storm seemed to rise within her words.
"The winds themselves are signaling war."
Her eyes burned with intensity.
"For the survival of your civilizations…"
"…you will once again have to step onto the battlefield."
The moment her words settled—
The entire hall erupted.
Faces filled with fear.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Voices overlapped—
Until suddenly, all of them burst out at once—
"WHAT?!"