Morning came softly to the palace of Panchal.
Not peaceful.
Never peaceful.
Steel clashed in the distance.
Training grounds.
Always.
Vedha stood by the window.
Watching.
Six years.
Enough time to understand one thing clearly—
This world was real.
And it was moving exactly toward the war she remembered.
Her fingers tightened slightly on the stone ledge.
"Princess."
A maid's voice.
Gentle. Careful.
"Your sister is waiting."
Vedha turned.
Not rushed. Never rushed.
"I know."
She walked.
The corridors were long.
Decorated.
Cold.
No one stopped her.
No one called her.
She was not ignored.
Just… not needed.
The training yard came into view.
Noise.
Energy.
Expectation.
At the center—
A child stood.
Sword in hand.
Shikhandini
Sharp stance.
Focused eyes.
Too focused.
A teacher circled her.
"Again."
She attacked.
Fast.
Precise.
Aggressive.
Not like a child.
Like someone trying to prove existence.
Vedha watched.
So it begins.
The teacher nodded.
"Good."
Then—
His gaze shifted.
"To the other one."
Silence.
All eyes moved.
To Vedha.
Expectation
Curiosity.
Doubt.
Vedha stepped forward.
Calm.
Always calm.
"A sword."
It was handed to her.
Heavy.
Familiar.
Not from this life.
She held it.
Adjusted her grip.
The teacher frowned.
"Show me."
Vedha didn't move immediately.
She looked at Shikhandini.
Their eyes met.
For the first time.
Something passed between them.
Recognition?
No.
Challenge.
Vedha raised the sword.
Not aggressively.
Not defensively.
Balanced.
The teacher attacked first.
A test.
Vedha moved.
Minimal.
Efficient.
She didn't strike.
She redirected.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The teacher stopped.
Silence fell.
Shikhandini's grip tightened.
"Why didn't you attack?"
Her voice was sharp.
Demanding.
Vedha lowered the sword.
"No need."
That was it.
Murmurs spread.
The teacher studied her.
"You fight like you're avoiding something."
Vedha's gaze didn't waver.
"I am."
A pause.
"What?"
Vedha turned slightly.
Toward the open sky.
"War."
Silence.
Heavy.
Shikhandini stepped forward.
"That's weakness."
Vedha looked at her.
Direct.
Unshaken.
"No."
A beat.
"It's choice."
Something flickered in Shikhandini's eyes.
Not understanding.
Not agreement.
Resistance.
"You were not born to choose."
Her voice dropped.
"You were not born for anything."
The words landed.
The courtyard stilled.
Waiting.
Vedha didn't react.
Not outwardly.
But something shifted.
Very small.
Very important.
She stepped closer.
Now they stood face to face.
"I don't need to be born for something."
Quiet.
"I decide what I become."
That—
Was the first break.
Not loud.
Not visible.
But real.
The teacher exhaled slowly.
"This is not a place for philosophy."
Vedha handed back the sword.
"Then it's the wrong place."
She turned,
The sound of footsteps cut through the courtyard.
Silence followed instantly.
Drupada had arrived.
His gaze went first—
To Shikhandini.
Approval.
Measured.
Visible.
"Well done."
Just two words.
Enough.
Then—
His eyes shifted.
To Vedha.
Paused.
Not pride.
Not curiosity.
Assessment.
Cold.
"You walk away from training?"
Vedha didn't lower her gaze.
"Yes."
A flicker of irritation crossed his face.
"Discipline is not optional."
Silence.
Then—
"Unlike others… you will need it."
That line hung.
Clear.
Not equal.
Never equal.
Vedha said nothing.
But she understood everything.
She Walked away.
No permission.
No hesitation.
Behind her—
Shikhandini didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But her eyes followed.
Burning.
Confused.
Unsettled.
For the first time—
Her certainty wavered.
Slightly.
Enough.
Vedha walked through the corridor again.
Same palace.
Same walls.
Same fate.
But now—
Something had changed.
Not the world.
Not yet.
But direction.
And that was enough.
The war had not begun…
But neither had it remained untouched.
2 Chapter in one day you're author is tired please vote and comment your views and thoughts constructive criticism is always welcomed
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