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The demand or plea—one couldn't discern what exactly Antra wanted from Kalika.

Kalika, one of the children of Shakti and Shiva, had been inhabiting Kaal Loka since the day it was created by her parents. Like all her siblings, her parents had given her duties and responsibilities.

Her life was going well, living with her parents in the secluded and sacred forest deep in the heart of Mount Kailasha, where the city of Ratinagara now stands.

When she was 8 years old, she was sent to Shukaracharya's Gurukul to learn about the cosmic arts and other disciplines. But one day, everything turned upside down when a rebellion broke out—the Rakshasa clan demanded power over all the Lokas.

She was just a teenager, new to battles. She shook her head to come out from her trail of thoughts.

"Antra! Are you sure you want me to show you what exactly happened?" Kalika's voice was soft, and the pain was evident. How could her friend ask this—to relive the moment when she lost everything dear to her?

Taking a deep breath, Kalika walked towards Antra, turning her face to her. Today's sun had brought tears for everyone.

Stretching her right hand into the air, she motioned for Antra to give her hand to Kalika. "Here," she said, with a final glance, asking Antra again, "Are you ready?"

Knowing everything, Antra stood her ground and nodded back to her friend.

Antra placed her hand into Kalika's, palm facing up.

"Now, follow my voice. Keep in mind, DO NOT LISTEN TO ANY OTHER." Holding each other's hands, they both closed their eyes.

Kalika then chanted an ancient Sanskrit verse from one of her mother Shakti's old texts.

Her rosy lips whispered the words slowly at first, but they grew louder, floating in the air around them. Fire-imprinted Sanskrit words formed a circle around them, floating in the air.

Thunder rumbled in the heavens as Kalika's verses echoed in the room, and one circle after another enveloped Antra and Kalika.

Suddenly, fire erupted from the ground, creating another circle around them.

With a flick, they disappeared into thin air.

"Open your eyes, Antra," Kalika's voice called. Slowly, when Antra opened her eyes, she found herself standing alone on the ground. She looked around, but Kalika was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, she felt a thick liquid touching her feet. When she looked down, she saw a stream of blood flowing beneath her feet.

She looked up, and the scene before her was horrendous. The heavens were covered in dark clouds, and the ground was soaked with the blood of both friends and foes.

Thunder rumbled, and a piercing sound violated Antra's ears. In her disheveled state, she looked in all directions, shock and surprise taking over her.

"Kalika." She mumbled her friend's name.

"Wh-ere are you?"

"I am with you, Antra, not in physical form but in spirit. Follow my voice."

Antra nodded.

In the distance, she could see her great-great-grandparents fighting against Shukaracharya's army of Rakshasas led by King Bali. Looking closer, she could see Shiva and Shakti fighting as well.

"Antra, we cannot stay here long. We have to move on. The fifth day of battle is about to end. Before the sun sets on the horizon, you must move quickly. Look to your left; about 10 miles from here, Shukaracharya's army camp is stationed. Walk in that direction," Kalika guided her, urgency in her tone.

In the past, Kalika could see her parents but could not talk to them. Standing on the horizon, all she could do was watch them and relive the final moments with her parents.

"Kalika, I can walk 10 miles, but it will cost us a lot of time. Can you please move me swiftly in that direction and drop me there?"

"Oho, Antra, you know I cannot do that. I have dropped you in a time when the most pivotal decision was made. But to understand things clearly, you must visit Shukaracharya's camp."

"Ok, Ok, Ok. But please walk with me in your spirit form."

"Antra! You know that I cannot do that. Shukaracharya would catch me. You better keep going. I will wait outside."

Throwing her hands in the air in frustration, Antra started walking—more like jogging—towards the camp.

The thick blood clung to her bare feet. It was an open ground, surrounded by high mountain ranges to the east and a forest to the west. Shankaracharya's army camp was hidden in the east, concealed behind the ranges.

This place was unfamiliar to Antra; it was not the Matasaya kingdom or any other part of Kaal Loka. She tried to observe carefully, attempting to understand and learn more about the place. Pausing for a moment, she asked Kalika, "Where are we?"

"We are on Earth. It was a barren land before any living being touched it."

"How long ago was this battle fought?"

"A millennium ago, you could say. Even I can't count how long ago it truly was."

Antra nodded in response.

The sun began to set in the east, and the sound of a conch echoed across the field, signaling the end of the fifth day of the war. All the soldiers were retreating to their camps.

Since they had horses and other mechanical vehicles, it was easier for them to reach the camps.

"Ssshh, helpers are in the camp," Kalika whispered to Antra.

"Hmm," Antra replied.

"I think I should get inside from behind," Antra signalled to the back entrance of the tent.

But there was no response from Kalika.

Now all to herself, Antra entered the tent, this tent has beds lined up in on either side. It seems like a one of the field hospital. Seeing soldiers laying on the bed unconscious, she crossed the tent without making any noise.

"Guruji! I think it is time," a deep male voice said, causing Antra to stop in her tracks. What kind of time? she wondered.

"Raja Bali! No, you must wait for one more day," an elderly voice replied.

"But—"

"No, I said it. And you'd better not discuss these matters out in the open," the elderly voice scolded Raja Bali. What is happening? Who are they? Still lost in thought, Antra forgot that she was supposed to remain hidden from her enemies.

Hearing footsteps approaching, she quickly hid behind the curtain of the tent.

"Devyani!" The elderly man entered the tent along with King Bali. Both men, towering at seven feet tall, stood at the entrance of the tent. The elderly man wore a white dhoti, wrapped around his waist, with a white cloth draped over his shoulder, covering his upper body. His white hair was tied in a half-bun on top of his head. Several Rudraksha beaded garlands adorned his neck, signifying his spiritual stature.

Beside him stood King Bali, the mighty ruler of the Asuras and Rakshasas. Despite his lineage, he was known for his kind heart. He was clad in a red dhoti and adorned with golden jewelry, his presence exuding a powerful yet calm aura.

"Devyani!" the elderly man called out again.

A young woman with a fair complexion, embodying purity and grace, stepped forward. Her long black hair, reaching down to the ground, was tied in intricate braids. She wore an elegant, rich yellow saree that reflected her noble lineage. Her presence brought a sense of calm to the otherwise tense atmosphere.

"Yes, Pitaji," she said, bowing respectfully to the elderly man and then acknowledging King Bali with a gesture of gratitude.

"Where were you?" her father demanded.

"I was preparing medicine for the injured soldiers," she replied in a soft voice, laced with a hint of authority.

The elderly man nodded in approval.

Antra, still hiding behind the curtain, observed them closely. To her surprise, these enemies seemed no different from those in any other kingdom. A pang of confusion struck her heart. She didn't feel the anger she expected but instead felt a strange connection to them.

"King Bali, we should return to our tent and discuss tomorrow's strategy," the elderly man said. Turning to Devyani, he added, "Devyani, my daughter, assess today's damage and begin the recovery efforts for our soldiers. I will meet you in the third prahar of the night." With that, he and King Bali left the tent.

Once both men left, Devyani turned to check on her patients. But before taking a step, she glanced back with a coy smile.

"You should find a better place to hide."

Antra's eyes widened in shock as her hiding spot was discovered. She realized now that her attempt to stay hidden had been obvious to anyone paying attention.

"Don't be shy, come out," Devyani said, still smiling at the foolishness of the strange girl, though she stood firm, prepared to defend herself if needed.

However, Devyani knew better; whoever this girl was, she may have been foolish in her choice of hiding place, but not foolish enough to attack outright.

Carefully, Antra stepped out from behind the curtain. "Devi, please accept my apologies," she said, doing her best to conceal her true identity.

Folding her arms across her chest, Devyani took a few steps toward Antra, asserting her dominance. Looking directly into Antra's eyes, she said, "You think I'm a fool. Wonderful."

"I certainly don't think that," Antra replied, her voice subtly innocent in front of Devyani.

"I don't like endless talking without getting to the point. Introduce yourself," Devyani demanded, confronting the potential intruder.

"First, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your service to our men who are fighting against our enemies," Antra began, trying to be as vague as possible while staying on topic. She hadn't fully known what to expect when she asked Kalika to take her to the past. The only question that burned in her mind was what exactly happened on that last day. For years, everyone believed Shukracharya was dead and that they had won the battle.

Devyani nodded, still staring into Antra's soul, exerting her dominance over the situation.

"My name is Antra. I'm one of the helpers who came to assist the wounded soldiers," she said, offering a partial truth.

"Antra, you're here to help? Then why were you hiding?" Devyani inquired, her suspicion evident.

"I came into the tent to check on our soldiers, but when I heard King Bali's voice, I got frightened and hid behind the curtains. I was alone, and I thought they might misunderstand and throw me out," Antra replied confidently, though her voice carried a faint trace of hesitation, like that of a servant fearing reprimand.

"You should be frightened. If my father, the Guru of the Asuras, Shukracharya ji, had found you alone here, he might have incinerated you with just a glare," Devyani warned, her tone conveying the seriousness of the threat.

"Yes, Devyani Ji. I will be more careful in the future. I will always follow your instructions," Antra replied, now fully aware that the elderly man was indeed Shukracharya. She knew now that she was in the right place at the right time.

Her mind raced back to her days in the gurukul, where she learned that the last day of battle was far more brutal than all the others. The entire Asura army had been resurrected, making it nearly impossible for her side to win. This act had unleashed Shiva's wrath, causing him to open his third eye, which ultimately led to the destruction of half of the Earth. The devastation had claimed countless lives, including that of her great-great-grandmother, who had stood directly in the path of Shiva's rage.

Maybe the medicine will hold the answers to my questions, Antra thought to herself.

"Now follow me. We have a lot of work to do," Devyani commanded, her suspicion still not entirely settled. To keep an eye on Antra, she decided to take her along.

As they prepared to leave, Devyani couldn't help but notice Antra's attire—a golden silk dhoti that radiated the aura of a princess. This was no mere slave standing before her.

"Come with me to the operations room. We need to collect the map of the earth," Devyani ordered Antra. Devyani knew she was taking a gamble by bringing Antra—the intruder—into the most important room. But to catch a thief, sometimes you have to give them the key to the gold chamber.

Devyani's walk was like that of a serpent slithering its way, yet it carried the grace of nobility. As the counselor to the Asuras, she had all the venom hidden up her sleeve.

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<a/n>

So here is another chapter of Kali: The Awakening. I hope you are enjoying the story so far.

I would love to read your comments. Please share your thoughts.

Word Count: 2062