Chapter 24:
THE PRINCE SHOWS HIS TEETH
Tatva- The Awakening of Elements
The Night the Palace Woke Up
The desert night lay still around the ruined mahal, but inside its walls, time felt troubled — like the air carried voices from the past. Kedar stepped deeper into the long corridor as Mayan glided ahead of him, feet barely disturbing the dust on the marble floor.
No torches burned.No lamps were lit.Yet faint light oozed from the walls, as if the palace remembered its own former glory and tried to glow from within.
Kedar’s senses stayed sharp.His instincts whispered this place has a pulse.
Mayan suddenly spoke without turning back.
> “When you walk through memories, don’t trust your eyes, Kedar. Stories buried in stone sometimes prefer to stay buried.”
Kedar frowned.“Are you warning me… or threatening me?”
Mayan laughed softly — too soft, too smooth.
> “Neither. You intrigue me, that’s all.”
---
The Hall of Unseen Servants
They entered a wide hall lit by flickering blue fire on cracked pillars. The air smelled faintly of camphor, but beneath it lingered something metallic — almost like blood.
A set of doors at the other end blocked their way.
Mayan gestured dramatically.
> “A prince never opened doors himself. They did.”
He snapped his fingers.
Ten silhouettes formed out of the dust on the floor.Their shapes human-like… but wrong.Limbs too long.Faces blurred.Bodies faint, jittering between real and illusion.
Kedar’s hand instinctively tightened, prana simmering at his fingertips.
Mayan shook his head gently.
> “No need for violence. They are just memories… shadows of servants long gone.”
The shadows approached the huge doors and pushed them open in perfect synchronization.
But as they passed Kedar, one of the shadows paused… and looked at him.A distorted face, shape barely held together, whispered:
> “Prince… forgive us…”
Kedar froze.“What did it say?”
Mayan tilted his head innocently.
> “They don’t speak. Memories have no tongues.”
He walked on.
But Kedar knew what he heard.
---
The Court of Bones
Beyond the doors lay a vast circular court. Once it must have been dazzling — a place of music, colors, carved pillars.
Now it was a cemetery.Stone seats broken.Walls scarred.Bones scattered across the ground in neat rows… almost arranged, almost respectful.
But every skull faced the throne.
At the far end of the court sat an ornate throne carved of black marble, cracked but regal.
Mayan walked ahead and ran his fingers over the armrest with a sigh of nostalgic pride.
> “My father sat here once. A king feared across three kingdoms. I… was supposed to sit here after him.”
Kedar stepped closer, but didn’t sit.He could feel something wrong — a silent pressure pushing behind his eyes.
> “You said your father exiled you.”
Mayan’s smile twitched.
> “He said I lacked discipline. Strength. And perhaps… the temperament of a king.”
He sat on the throne with a strange elegance — like he belonged there, and like the throne belonged to him.
He clapped his hands.
The bones in the hall shuddered.
Every skull turned toward Kedar.
A cold shiver crawled down his spine.
> “Let me show you,” Mayan whispered, “what my kingdom looked like before the dark force cursed me.”
---
The Mirage Begins
A ripple spread across the bones — like wind on water — and the entire hall changed.
Bright colors poured into existence.Tapestries formed over cracked walls.Musicians appeared with veenas and flutes.The court filled with graceful dancers, dressed in silks of gold and blue.
The palace came alive.
Only Kedar remained anchored in the ruined reality.
He stared, breath tight.
None of these people were real.He knew it.
But they moved with life — breathing, smiling, whispering.
And at the throne…
Mayan was no longer the dusty, cursed figure.
He wore regal armor, a shining crown, eyes burning with authority.
> “This is what I deserved,” the prince-illusion said.“This is what was stolen from me.”
Kedar’s jaw clenched.“Show me the truth, not this dream.”
Mayan’s smile grew sharp, cruel.
> “The truth?Then look closer.”
He flicked his fingers.
The illusion shifted.
The dancers’ faces sank inward.The musicians’ arms elongated.Their eyes hollowed.
Silk turned to tattered flesh.Jewels to dried veins.
One by one, every illusion collapsed into grotesque corpses.
And then—
Slowly… creepingly…
All their heads turned toward Kedar.
---
A Whisper of the Dark Force
Mayan stood up from the throne, shadows clinging to his limbs.
> “My fall was orchestrated by a power far greater than kings or kingdoms.A force you have only glimpsed… in your nightmares.”
Kedar felt a familiar chill.
A whisper.A voice he thought he’d forgotten.A darkness he had sensed once before…
But no name.Not yet.
Just the presence.
> The same presence from the night at Dhumaparvat…the same shadow watching him since childhood…
His fists tightened.
“Why is that force after me?”
Mayan grinned — too wide, too deep.
> “Ah… that, Kedar, is the mystery.And perhaps the only reason you’re still breathing.”
The illusions melted away like wax under heat.
The ruined court returned.
Only Mayan and Kedar remained — along with a lingering sense that the darkness itself had just looked at him.
---
The Prince’s Invitation
Mayan extended a hand.
> “Let me show you more.The palace is full of rooms… memories… truths you can’t yet bear.”
His eyes gleamed.
> “Walk deeper into my world, Kedar.Let me peel away who you think you are.”
Kedar stared at the hand.
Every instinct screamed that this path would lead him into horrors worse than physical wounds.
But he stepped forward anyway.
> “Fine. Show me.”
Mayan’s smile widened.
> “Good. The game begins now.”
To be continued.....
The desert night lay still around the ruined mahal, but inside its walls, time felt troubled — like the air carried voices from the past. Kedar stepped deeper into the long corridor as Mayan glided ahead of him, feet barely disturbing the dust on the marble floor.
No torches burned.No lamps were lit.Yet faint light oozed from the walls, as if the palace remembered its own former glory and tried to glow from within.
Kedar’s senses stayed sharp.His instincts whispered this place has a pulse.
Mayan suddenly spoke without turning back.
> “When you walk through memories, don’t trust your eyes, Kedar. Stories buried in stone sometimes prefer to stay buried.”
Kedar frowned.“Are you warning me… or threatening me?”
Mayan laughed softly — too soft, too smooth.
> “Neither. You intrigue me, that’s all.”
---
The Hall of Unseen Servants
They entered a wide hall lit by flickering blue fire on cracked pillars. The air smelled faintly of camphor, but beneath it lingered something metallic — almost like blood.
A set of doors at the other end blocked their way.
Mayan gestured dramatically.
> “A prince never opened doors himself. They did.”
He snapped his fingers.
Ten silhouettes formed out of the dust on the floor.Their shapes human-like… but wrong.Limbs too long.Faces blurred.Bodies faint, jittering between real and illusion.
Kedar’s hand instinctively tightened, prana simmering at his fingertips.
Mayan shook his head gently.
> “No need for violence. They are just memories… shadows of servants long gone.”
The shadows approached the huge doors and pushed them open in perfect synchronization.
But as they passed Kedar, one of the shadows paused… and looked at him.A distorted face, shape barely held together, whispered:
> “Prince… forgive us…”
Kedar froze.“What did it say?”
Mayan tilted his head innocently.
> “They don’t speak. Memories have no tongues.”
He walked on.
But Kedar knew what he heard.
---
The Court of Bones
Beyond the doors lay a vast circular court. Once it must have been dazzling — a place of music, colors, carved pillars.
Now it was a cemetery.Stone seats broken.Walls scarred.Bones scattered across the ground in neat rows… almost arranged, almost respectful.
But every skull faced the throne.
At the far end of the court sat an ornate throne carved of black marble, cracked but regal.
Mayan walked ahead and ran his fingers over the armrest with a sigh of nostalgic pride.
> “My father sat here once. A king feared across three kingdoms. I… was supposed to sit here after him.”
Kedar stepped closer, but didn’t sit.He could feel something wrong — a silent pressure pushing behind his eyes.
> “You said your father exiled you.”
Mayan’s smile twitched.
> “He said I lacked discipline. Strength. And perhaps… the temperament of a king.”
He sat on the throne with a strange elegance — like he belonged there, and like the throne belonged to him.
He clapped his hands.
The bones in the hall shuddered.
Every skull turned toward Kedar.
A cold shiver crawled down his spine.
> “Let me show you,” Mayan whispered, “what my kingdom looked like before the dark force cursed me.”
---
The Mirage Begins
A ripple spread across the bones — like wind on water — and the entire hall changed.
Bright colors poured into existence.Tapestries formed over cracked walls.Musicians appeared with veenas and flutes.The court filled with graceful dancers, dressed in silks of gold and blue.
The palace came alive.
Only Kedar remained anchored in the ruined reality.
He stared, breath tight.
None of these people were real.He knew it.
But they moved with life — breathing, smiling, whispering.
And at the throne…
Mayan was no longer the dusty, cursed figure.
He wore regal armor, a shining crown, eyes burning with authority.
> “This is what I deserved,” the prince-illusion said.“This is what was stolen from me.”
Kedar’s jaw clenched.“Show me the truth, not this dream.”
Mayan’s smile grew sharp, cruel.
> “The truth?Then look closer.”
He flicked his fingers.
The illusion shifted.
The dancers’ faces sank inward.The musicians’ arms elongated.Their eyes hollowed.
Silk turned to tattered flesh.Jewels to dried veins.
One by one, every illusion collapsed into grotesque corpses.
And then—
Slowly… creepingly…
All their heads turned toward Kedar.
---
A Whisper of the Dark Force
Mayan stood up from the throne, shadows clinging to his limbs.
> “My fall was orchestrated by a power far greater than kings or kingdoms.A force you have only glimpsed… in your nightmares.”
Kedar felt a familiar chill.
A whisper.A voice he thought he’d forgotten.A darkness he had sensed once before…
But no name.Not yet.
Just the presence.
> The same presence from the night at Dhumaparvat…the same shadow watching him since childhood…
His fists tightened.
“Why is that force after me?”
Mayan grinned — too wide, too deep.
> “Ah… that, Kedar, is the mystery.And perhaps the only reason you’re still breathing.”
The illusions melted away like wax under heat.
The ruined court returned.
Only Mayan and Kedar remained — along with a lingering sense that the darkness itself had just looked at him.
---
The Prince’s Invitation
Mayan extended a hand.
> “Let me show you more.The palace is full of rooms… memories… truths you can’t yet bear.”
His eyes gleamed.
> “Walk deeper into my world, Kedar.Let me peel away who you think you are.”
Kedar stared at the hand.
Every instinct screamed that this path would lead him into horrors worse than physical wounds.
But he stepped forward anyway.
> “Fine. Show me.”
Mayan’s smile widened.
> “Good. The game begins now.”
To be continued.....
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