The sun was set to rise and Vibhakara hadn't slept a wink during the night. He had been up studying the war tactics by going through the war books that were based on the history of Agnidhra. Although, the writers had exaggerated a bit on the heroic deeds of the former warriors, they had mentioned quite a few extraordinary ideas. The small details which one couldn't focus on during the trainings could be covered up by reading these books.

He heard faint footsteps outside his room and smiled in response as he knew it was just Anala. Anala thought she had been sneaky enough to go out of the castle unnoticed but she failed. Though, Vibhakara would admit that she had quite skills to blend in with the background till one day. When she was 14, Vibhakara had been roaming the corridors as he couldn't sleep that night and had almost missed her had it not been for the sound that her bracelet made. At first, Vibhakara thought it was some foolish invader but soon realized that any invader wouldn't know the royal secret ways in and out of the castle. After following her quietly and reaching the secret place, Vibhakara had been impressed. Not to reveal her secret, he had never once mentioned that he knew about her whereabouts.

Although, once in a while he would follow her out just to make sure she was unharmed. He couldn't let any harm come in his baby sister's way. She was too precious for him to lose over anything in the world. He knew that she was brave and could stand up for herself but, sometimes he couldn't help it. He blamed it on his brotherly instincts.

No one could ever forget how great Anala was as a warrior. The first time Anala had held a sword was when she was seven years old. Vibhakara had never felt more prouder when she swung the sword at a teenage boy who had been harassing another girl. The sword belonged to Vibhakara and after that moment he had insisted his mother to get Anala some proper training. Anala had been so excited on her first day that she almost toppled the master in a hug. Vibhakara looked at Anala and his chest swelled in pride and honour.

A warrior like her deserved the weapons that showcased her strength and power. Vibhakara remembered the sword he had specifically forged for her and smiled lightly. He decided he would present it to her later in the day. Noticing that she had mounted her stallion and was making her way back towards the castle, he decided to do the same.

~~~

Swinging his sword at one of the opponent, Vibhakara blew out a breath. Guru Jatadeva had increased the training five times and wouldn't accept any mistakes. Clutching the sword tighter in his hands, Vibhakara blocked the blow with his shield. Kicking the other opponent, he pierced the another one with his sword in the chest. With a flick of the sword, he cut the incoming arrow in two pieces. He could see Guru Jatadeva in his periphery standing uptight with no emotions in his eyes. No one could ever understand Jatadeva.

Jatadeva was the most cruel as well as caring man at the same time. At the age of sixty, he still had more strength than any other man in the kingdom. He could easily take Maharaj Gauravadeva out even though the latter was a prominent warrior. The reason why Jatadeva was the head of the royal army and was appointed to train the warriors himself. Jatadeva's words were-" If you haven't experienced pain, you can't give it to others. For a warrior, it was important to feel the pain and not give up."

Vibhakara sliced the throat of the opponent and ducked quickly when he heard the hum of the bow string. Narrowly missing the incoming arrow, he threw his shield in the air and kicked it hard sending it over to the two arrow shooters making them fall to the ground. Three opponent crowed him and almost cornered his six foot self. Vibhakara kept his patience and gaining his whole strength he shouted,"Argh!" before gripping two men by their throats and picking them up in the air and kicking the third one hard with his leg. Vibhakara smashed the heads of the two opponents on the ground and stood up. Noticing that no opponent was left, he turned towards Guru Jatadeva for his approval. The nod was so minimal that Vibhakara almost missed it.

"You are done for the day. Now go and rest." That's all Jatadeva said placing a hand on Vibhakara's shoulder before making his way out of the training ground. Vibhakara sighed in happiness and swiped the sweat from his forehead before heading to the next training ground. Leaving the healers to mend to the injured opponents.

~~~

Vibhakara was more than anxious as he waited for Anala to arrive at his room. Pitaji had summoned him a message that he had asked Anala to meet him. Gauaravadeva knew about his little gift and wanted to give both of them their privacy. The doors of his room opened and in stepped his beloved sister Anala. She looked beautiful in her red and maroon lehenga. The colour suited her personality and her fierceness.

Anala questioned him looking curios"Bhrata, aap humse milna chahte the? Kya baat hai?" (Brother, you wanted to meet me? What's the matter?)

Vibhakara chuckled at her curious self and walked over to her ,"Ha, choti. Hum tumhare liye ek taufa laaye hai. Aao hum aapko dikhate hai." (Yes, little sister. I got you a present. Come with me, I'll show you.)

Anala rolled her eyes at his nickname -choti meaning small. She wasn't at all small with her five foot nine frame. Nonetheless, Anala placed her hand in his and walked to the adjoining room. There was a stand in the center of the room with a velvet cloth covering it whole. She couldn't guess what it was because of the covering. They both neared the stand and Vibhakara stood a little bit back. He nodded at her to go forward and open her present. She questioned him with a nod but, he just shook his head.

Anala moved forward and slowly lifted the cloth. The cloth felt soft in her hand and she finally got rid of the cloth. Her heart almost stopped beating for a second as she saw the beautiful sword placed on the stand. The fire from the torch reflected the sharpness of the sword and it gleamed like a diamond.

She turned to her brother, who just stood there smiling,"This...this is....how did you? This is for me?"she stumbled over her own words and was mostly awestruck.

"Yes,choti. This is for you. The Arigian steel sword is all yours. It is a gift for your seventeenth birthday." Vibhakara picked up the sword from the stand and placed it in her hand.

Anala looked at him with eyes full of tears. She smiled at him and a tear rolled down her cheeks. Vibhakara swiped the tear and looked at her with adoration. She hugged the sword to her chest and not believing that she was the owner of the Arigian steel.

Quickly, placing the sword on the stand she jumped to hug Vibhakara. Catching him off guard, he hugged her back trying not to lose his balance. Laughing loudly at his baby sister's childishness, he hugged her back tighter and patted her head. Getting out of the embrace, Anala picked the sword and turned to leave the room.

"Don't forget to name it, Anala. Every sword deserves a name." Vibhakara said loudly. She nodded at him and quickly left the room. Vibhakara smiled in happiness and carried on with his daily works.

Vibhakara handed the librarian the books and got the new ones. Checking once again to make he had all the books, he smiled at the librarian and took his leave. Entering the corridor, he immediately noticed the changes with the way his door was closed. Placing the books on a nearby table in the corridor, he gripped his sword in his right palm.

Making sure that he made minimal noise, Vibhakara opened the doors of his room. Nothing seemed out of place, as he entered his work place. All the windows of his room were open and wind breezed through it, giving the room a cool sensation. But, whoever had entered his room had made a mistake by leaving the doors of his bedroom open. Vibhakara always made sure to close the doors. Or, maybe they were purposefully left open-he thought.

Parting the curtain, he walked in to find a semi naked woman sprawled across his bed wearing the tails of a mermaid. He could tell that the tails were fake as they were worn over a skirt. The semi naked woman looked at him with lustful eyes and placed her hands on her bare breasts momentarily breaking his stance.

"Kaun ho tum?"Vibhakara exclaimed as his hand found its way towards the scabbard ready to take the sword out of it. As his hand gripped the sword, a hand was placed on his shoulder. He turned to look at the person standing next to him and found Dagon looking at the woman.

"MahaPradhana aap?"Vibhakara was confused with the Maharaj's MahaPradhana's appearance.

"Isn't she a beauty?" Dagon said nodding at the woman, who in turned winked at him and angled her body so it was on full display. Vibhakara wasn't blind and couldn't deny that the woman was indeed beautiful. But, her beauty didn't make out the reason of her and Dagon's presence in his room at such late hours.

"What is going on, MahaPradhana?" he urged him but didn't get any reply. Dagon just stood there taking in beauty.

Another figure came out of the curtains and Vibhakara's senses increased. The figure was dressed in woman's clothes but had the masculine built. The figure walked towards the semi-naked women and bent on their knees and placed their hands on the woman's shoulder as if showcasing her. On turning their head,Vibhakara realized that the figure was an eunuch.

"Wouldn't you like to have her, Rajkumar?" the eunuch asked Vibhakara.

"Oh, I would be lucky to be with him, Bahiska."the woman replied giggling.

Dagon walked over to the bed and sat behind the woman, caressing the mermaid tail. "This is Janana, Rajkumar. The beauty in the five-kingdom wanted by many but all she wants is you." Bahishka uttered in seduction. Janana just giggled at her words.

"What the fuck is she doing here? Why the fuck is anyone of you here? What's with the mermaid tail thing? Answer me!" Vibhakara spilled out in anger and drew his sword in front of them. Not moving too forward so that he could easily run out of the room through his bedroom door, he urged them.

" Why don't you take a sit, Rajkumar?"the eunuch started walking towards him with a sweet look but, Vibhakara just swung the sword in her direction and that haltered her steps.

"Do you know how the royal armour is made, Rajkumar?"Dagon stood up from his position and roamed around.

"What does that has to do with this?"Vibhakara questioned him back.

"Oh, it has everything to do with my naïve Rajkumar."Janana the semi naked woman winked at him and his gripped tightened at her words of choice.

"Maybe, it's time you knew how the kingdom works."Dagon said looking out of the window and Vibhakara just stood there confused.

~~~

Vocabulary-

Guru- Master.

Pitaji - Father.

Kaun ho tum? - Who are you?

Rajkumar - Prince.

Aap -You.

MahaPradhana – Chief Minister.