Victory.
The moment the war ended, overwhelming joy filled their hearts. The entire empire erupted in celebration. Drums echoed, conches roared, and the name of Ariyan spread like wildfire across the land.
Janatharangan himself honored Ariyan, lifting him above all others, praising him as the very reason behind their triumph.
Soon after, a royal decree arrived—as was tradition.
On an auspicious day, Janatharangan would be crowned as the new king of the vast Preta Desam.
Before the coronation, the final rites for Adhiran and Vajrasenan were completed.
Then, before an army of over a hundred thousand soldiers, Janatharangan was crowned king.
Even then… his father, the great emperor, did not appear.
Instead, the revered sage known as the Guru Chakravarthi performed the coronation.
Standing before all, Janatharangan declared,
"The one who brought us this victory—Ariyan—shall from this day onward serve as the Senathipathi, the supreme commander of our armies."
Cheers thundered across the kingdom.
Ariyan stepped forward… and accepted the title.
Alli's heart filled with joy.
But not everyone was pleased.
Kichakan.
Though now a prince, his arrogance only grew stronger. Power had consumed him.
In his cruelty, he ordered the imprisonment of Adhiran's wife and his daughter, Chandravathi.
When Janatharangan heard of it, he immediately objected.
"This is wrong, Kichaka. They have no part in this war. Release them."
Though Kichakan obeyed outwardly… the fire of arrogance within him did not fade.
Meanwhile, Chandravathi and her mother, already broken by loss, trembled in fear.
Ariyan approached them.
"Do not be afraid," he said firmly."As long as I live, no harm will come to your lives… or your dignity."
His words gave them strength.
Days passed.
As always, Ariyan and Alli met at the riverbank.
That day, Alli looked at him and asked,
"You are a great warrior, aren't you?"
Ariyan smiled faintly. "Do you doubt it?"
"No… I don't doubt that," she said. "But do you have the courage to tell my father that you love me?"
Ariyan didn't hesitate.
"If I decide to say it, I will stand before him without fear."
"All right," she replied. "Then say it."
He paused.
"This is not the right time."
Alli's expression changed.
"I heard you killed thousands in the war. Did you ever think about their families? Their wives… their mothers… their sisters?"
Ariyan remained silent.
"I'm not saying war is wrong," she continued. "When enemies attack, we must fight to protect our people."
"But this war…" her voice trembled,"…was for a throne."
"For power, we turned our own people into enemies."
She looked into his eyes.
"Do good for even one person, Ariyan… and you will feel a happiness no conquest can give."
"The reason I fell in love with you…" she whispered,"…is because you help even the simplest people without hesitation."
The next day, a secret message arrived for King Janatharangan.
He read it… but spoke to no one about its contents.
Instead, he rushed to meet the emperor.
That night—
Alli stood outside her chamber, gazing at the moon.
Suddenly, a soft sound.
She turned.
Ariyan had entered through the window.
She smiled faintly. "So… you've gathered the courage to come to my chamber now?"
They spoke quietly, under the silver glow of the moon.
After a while, Ariyan said, "It's late. You should rest."
As he left, something caught his eye—
A strange light… glowing from the highest tower of the palace.
Curious, Ariyan made his way there.
With great effort, he climbed to the top and opened a narrow window.
And what he saw—
Shocked him.
Inside the chamber…
Sat the emperor.
Kaaldhiran.
But… not as a normal man.
He had three heads.
His form was terrifying, surrounded by swirling flames. He floated in the air, deep in meditation, while countless strands of mystical energy circled around him.
Ariyan's heart pounded.
So this is why he never appears in the court…
The next morning—
Chandravathi was on her way to the temple.
Suddenly—
Kichakan blocked her path.
With madness in his eyes, he drew his sword and struck.
But before the blade could reach her—
Clang!
Another sword intercepted it.
A mysterious warrior stood between them.
Before Kichakan could react—
Both his arms were severed.
He fell to the ground, screaming in agony.
The news reached Janatharangan.
His rage knew no bounds.
"Find him!" he roared. "Whoever cut my son's arms—bring me his head!"
In the royal court, anger burned like fire.
Seeing Chandravathi, Janatharangan's fury turned toward her.
"For you, my son lost his arms! Cut off her hands first!"
Alli and others protested—but he did not listen.
Soldiers moved toward Chandravathi.
But suddenly—
A sword flew through the air and struck the ground before her.
Everyone froze.
Because that sword…
Belonged to Ariyan.
He stepped forward, standing before Chandravathi.
"Touching her… is the same as touching me," he said coldly.
Janatharangan's eyes darkened.
"Ariyan… you dare defy me?"
"My king… what you are doing is wrong. She has committed no crime."
"Are you opposing me?"
"I will not support injustice."
Silence fell.
Then—
"From this moment," Janatharangan declared,"you, Chandravathi, and her mother… have no place in this kingdom. Leave at once!"
Without another word, Ariyan left the kingdom… taking them with him.
Deep within the forest, they built a small hut and began a new life.
Back in the palace—
Alli was shattered.
Unable to eat… unable to sleep…
She sat alone by the river, lost in sorrow.
One night—
As Ariyan and the others sat outside their hut, shadows moved.
Suddenly, attackers emerged from the darkness.
Ariyan fought them fiercely.
But in the chaos, one of them lunged toward Chandravathi—
A flaming torch struck him down.
Another warrior had appeared.
He fought alongside Ariyan, and together they defeated the attackers.
As the dust settled, Chandravathi stepped forward.
"It was him… he saved me that day too."
Ariyan turned to the stranger.
"Who are you? Why do you keep saving us? What is your name?"
The man let out a deep, echoing laugh.
And then he said—
"My name… is Bermi."