"Antra, first of all, sit on the bed. Your feet are burning and covered in blisters. What have they done to you?" Kalika's voice quivered with panic as she called out, "Naina! Naina!"

"Pranam, Devi!" A petite girl stood before her.

"Go fetch Vaidiya Shushrut. Tell him it's an emergency," Kalika ordered.

Naina looked from Kalika to Antra, who sat in shock, her eyes glinting with fear. For a moment, Naina froze, only to be jolted awake by Kalika's urgent call, "NAINA! GO NOW!"

"Kshama, Devi, but all the medical supplies are being used to help those injured during the storm," Naina replied hesitantly.

"What? But the Maharani told me she had control over the thunder. How did people get injured?"

"Devi, the Maharani is one of the most severely injured. While protecting the kingdom, an unknown force struck her, turning her hands and feet black and paralyzing her. Because of this, half the kingdom had to face the thunder and its aftermath." Naina's eyes filled with tears, the sadness and grief of losing everything evident on her face. "Kshama, Devi. But if you want, I can help. I have some experience with tending to injuries." Even in her grief, Naina offered her help to Kalika.

The revelation shook Kalika. As a Time Priestess, she could sense and see both the future and the past, and stop impending destruction. But once it had already happened, there was no turning it back.

The thunder had come as a surprise to her, and so had the situation with the Maharani. No one in the entire Shivaverse had the power to even touch the Maharani, let alone harm her to the point of paralysis.

Antra's cries reverberated through the chamber, sending shivers down Naina's spine. Seeing the urgency of the situation, Naina ran to the medicinal area to gather herbs, potions, and oils for Antra.

Kalika was torn. She couldn't leave Antra alone, even though she sensed great disturbances in all the lokas. The thunder was only the beginning—there was more devastation to come.

"K-Kalika..." Antra groaned, the pain unbearable. Her body began to burn with fever. Kalika held her hands, trying to lower her rising body temperature before it reached a critical point and everything around her began to burn.

"Shukara... Devyani... ahh..."

"Shhh, Antra. Please don't speak. Not right now. You're in too much pain. Let me tend to you first, and then we'll talk."

"No, Kalika. Let me speak. I know what happened in that battle." The weight of what had transpired consumed her. Antra was desperate to talk about it, to plan her next move to save her daughter.

"Okay, I will listen. But first, drink this." Kalika handed her a silver chalice filled with an herbal mixture, sending Antra into a deep slumber.

Kalika knew well the risks of putting Antra to sleep. For Antra, sleep was a curse—witches from the underworld would drag her into their caves, oppressing and torturing her to uncover the secrets of black magic.

But right now, Antra needed sleep. They could handle the situation only after Antra and the people of the Matsaya Kingdom were safe.

For now to save Antra from the witches, she has cast a spell on Antra, keeping her tied to their world only.

Naina returned with a wooden box containing herbs exported from Aranyan and potions and oils from Samudra. She carefully applied the oil around the blisters on Antra's ankles and wrists. Her hands trembled as she cared for her princess, whom she adored. Seeing Antra like this broke her heart.

"Hai Mahakaal, please forgive us all for the sins of our past. I apologize on behalf of the entire Matsaya people. Please, Mahakaal, forgive us." Naina prayed as tears streamed down her face, falling onto Antra's blisters.

Oh Maa Shakti! my Saviour,

Ashtabhuja, My mother

Where are you?

Oh the daughter of Himalaya,

We need you.

Mahishasur Mardhini

Please come save us

And burn those

Who hurt your children.

Oh Maa Shakti, where are you?

Naina's voice wavered as she sang her prayers to Maa Shakti, pouring all her faith into each note. Kalika watched, knowing that her mother, Shakti, Mother of all beings, had long turned their backs on them. Her parents had abandoned them, and Maa Shakti's blessings felt distant now, mere whispers of a forgotten past.

Kalika had tried to reach her parents many times, each attempt swallowed by the same dark void. Her calls echoed back, unanswered. The memories of her parents had become mere shadows—faded, distant, and cold. She could mourn in the corners of her heart, but she knew she couldn't afford that weakness now. Despite being far away from her, their preachings were always closed to her heart. Maa Shakti and Shiva had never taught her to be weak in such moments. Kalika, daughter of Shiva and Shakti was more than these tears. The Kalika of today didn't dwell in the past or grieve what was lost.

Wiping the tears from her face, she stood firmly on her feet, wavering at first but now steady. The palace's silent corridors felt stifling as Kalika rose to her feet. The weight of her responsibilities loomed like a storm. She needed to return to her town, to confirm whether the disturbances she feared had begun. If they had, her next steps had to be swift and decisive. But before leaving for her town she must check Maharani, "Naina, I'm leaving for Maharani's chamber. I have to check myself what had happened to her. Stay with Antra. Don't leave her side—not for even a single moment. If anything seems wrong, send word, and I'll be here in an instant. Understood?"

Her voice was steady, but a part of her ached. She didn't want to leave Antra. But duty always called louder than her heart.

Naina nodded without hesitation, her devotion unwavering. Even if Kalika hadn't spoken, Naina would have stayed by her princess's side, loyal to the last.

||ॐ||

Kalika strode through the empty corridors of the palace, surprised that no one was rushing in panic over the storm. Yet, inside her mind, the real storm raged—an intense conflict with herself.

Kalika, losing her grip on the flow of time, was on the edge of madness. How could this be happening? All the way to the Maharaja's chamber, she had tried to connect with her village, her town, her temple—miles away from the Matsaya Kingdom. Normally, she could reach them in an instant. But now, everything was slipping.

Ever since the storm, things had begun to shift. It was as though chaos had descended upon their land. Kaal Loka, once a calm and peaceful realm, was now on the brink of war. Kalika could sense it all. Blurry images flashed before her eyes—visions of possible futures, none of them clear, all of them swirling. Nothing remained static. It was as if endless futures were competing for dominance.

These fractured visions were driving her mad, clouding her mind, making it impossible to focus. It was as though someone was playing tricks on her, hindering her ability to concentrate.

Shaking her head, she strode into the Sabha with authority. Her voice carried an undeniable command.

In Kaal Loka, no one was above questioning. Even the king could be challenged, as long as it was done with respect. A common Matsayan could assert their dominance without overstepping, yet Kalika was far more than a commoner.

She was the daughter of Mahakaal and Shakti, the Head Priestess of the Time Temple, a wielder of the Kaalchakra. With a mere movement of her index finger, she could alter the course of time. Kalika's power and position were unmatched in the Shivaverse.

"Maharaja!" Kalika called as she entered his chamber. Upon stepping inside, she noticed the entire council was gathered in the Sabhagraha. Ministers, advisors, and strategists sat in the chamber, their faces tense with unresolved discussions.

The air inside the Council Chamber—Sabhagraha—was thick with unresolved debate. Strategists from all five kingdoms had gathered around a black marble table. Their voices clashed with each other, arguing about the recent storm, unaware that it was merely the tip of the iceberg. A greater war, a Mahasangram, loomed on the horizon—something only Kalika could foresee.

Her voice cut through the chaos, drawing all attention toward her.

"Maharaja, I trust you are aware of the situation," she said, accusation heavy in her tone. To Kalika, Maharaja Arjun was one of the weakest rulers Matsaya had ever seen.

She stood firm, her black cloak flowing around her, her fierce, unyielding eyes boring into the soul of the king. Her presence alone seemed to drain the room of air, leaving those present breathless.

Slowly, the arguments died down, and silence drummed in the ears of everyone present.

"What do you think we are doing here, Kalika?" Maharaja Arjun retorted without hesitation. His words were sharp and unyielding, leaving no room for further challenge.

Kalika folded her arms, shifting her weight onto her right leg, meeting his gaze head-on. "If that's the case, I see no progress. All I've heard is a bunch of baboons shouting over a banana."

The bold statement turned Maharaja's face red—red with anger.

How could Kalika, even with her rank, speak so disrespectfully in front of the entire council? It was one thing to question authority, but another to insult it.

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO US LIKE THAT?" Maharaja Arjun bellowed.

"You are but a minor goddess who serves us," mocked one of the strategists from the Samudra Kingdom. His blue-scaled skin glistened under the flickering shadows cast by the chandelier made of diyas.

Unfazed by his comments, Kalika slammed her hand down on the table with a resounding *thud*. "You don't see what I see. Forget your petty squabbles and focus on what matters—have Sushrut tend to Maharani immediately. The Mahasangram is upon us. If you don't act now, everything you hold dear will be torn from you."

Her voice, calm but piercing, silenced the room once more.

"Let Agastya handle the war preparations. You should be by your wife's side if you want to preserve the future."

Without waiting for a response, Kalika turned and left the chamber, her mind already focused on her next task—preparing for the journey to Mrityu Loka, to Earth. But first she must visit her town.