The sound faded.
Slowly at first—
Then completely.
Swallowed by the forest.
But its meaning did not disappear with it.
It remained.
Clear.
Sharp.
Unmistakable.
A signal.
Not random.
Not instinctive.
Not something made in fear.
It had intent.
Purpose.
Direction.
Duryodhana turned his gaze toward where it had come from.
His eyes sharpened.
Focused.
Calculating.
"They're calling someone."
A brief pause.
His grip tightened slightly around his mace.
"Or warning them."
Beside him—
Karna did not move.
Not physically.
But his awareness—
Was already in motion.
It stretched outward.
Beyond the village.
Beyond the broken remains of what had just occurred.
Following something invisible.
Something subtle.
Something only he could perceive.
The faint pull—
Returned.
But this time—
It was stronger.
Clearer.
No longer distant.
"They're moving."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
Duryodhana's lips curved into a faint smirk.
"Good."
A short pause.
