"How many times do I have to ask all of you to open your eyes?" Antra shouted at everyone gathered in the Mantralaya Graha.

The Mantralaya Graha stood in solemnity, bathed in dim light that barely illuminated the grandeur of the room. Antra, resplendent in her golden armor, stood at the heart of the chamber. Her long, ebony hair was loosely tied in a braid that fell gracefully over her shoulder. In her right hand, she clenched a formidable sword, its blade forged from the last breath of a dying star. As she strode towards her throne, each step reverberated with the ominous sound of clanging metal, echoing through the stone walls.

Before her, a group of 100 Time Charmers stood, their responsibility to safeguard the time portals or gates to other universes. Every one of them had failed in their duty.

"Where are your voices now?" she thundered, her anger palpable.

"Antra, please, calm down," pleaded Agastaya. Antra's azure eyes blazed with fiery indignation, and her brow furrowed with frustration. Her grip on the hilt of her sword tightened, and her shoulders carried the weight of a thousand worries. She was the very embodiment of authority and power, but also of profound concern.

"Shree Agastaya, you lead our army and hold a crucial position within the assembly. Tell me, what can we do to halt this nuisance? It's spiraling out of control, and we can't afford to take risks."

"I understand, Antra. We will discuss it in tomorrow's meeting. For now, let them go. They have much work to do." Agastaya handled the situation calmly and then dismissed the meeting.

Once everyone had left the Graha, Agastya sent a messenger to summon Kalika. At this moment, only Kalika possessed the power to help Antra see through the mist. After a few minutes of anticipation, Kalika arrived. She glanced at Agastya, who signaled toward Antra.

Antra sat upon her throne, her head cradled in her hands, resting on her thighs. Lost in deep thought, she replayed the recent incident on Earth in her mind. She had come perilously close to losing him. Portal mixing had escalated to the brink of war across all lokas. Antra's primary concern was that if it wasn't halted in time, it would sever all ties to Earth.

"Antra," Kalika called her softly.

Antra looked up, her facial muscles relaxing somewhat. She rose and approached Kalika and Agastya, and both of them embraced.

"You stink," Kalika teased Antra. "Go take a bath now. It's been three days." All three of them burst into laughter.

"That I will do soon. But I need your help." Antra replied. Kalika first looked at Agastya then to Antra. There was a soft plea in Antra's voice.

"We will discuss it in our evening meeting with King. You need to relax a bit." Kalika again pressed on taking rest before the big meeting.

Finally Antra surrendered to her and left the Mantralaya Graha..

On her way all she was thinking about the incident. If she wasn't there by accident, he would have died by now. All this has happened because of the portal being opened on the wrong place and time.

If it wouldn't happen, he would have picked the correct train to our house.

When she entered the train, she was awestruck by seeing him. He was in the Pirate costume. She knew on that day, it was their daughter Aadiya's birthday. They must be having a costume party.

She wanted to hug him, kiss him and cry. It has been 3 years now. She left her family for her princely duties. She wanted to sit next to him, but she couldn't do that. Why? It will be hard for her to see him and doing nothing. So, she asked him to sit somewhere else. He denied her request. Hence, she exchanged her seat with some old lady.

At first she thought, this train belongs to the Earth. But she got the feeling there is something wrong with this train. This is not the usual Train. From the foul smell coming from the Old lady, she knew they entered in the 'Rakshasa Taal' and she is a very famous foe there. Like a Wanted person.

Everyone recognized her except him. If she didn't do anything quickly, he will be dead soon. She say her thanks to Shiva that Ryhan was safe.

She enter her chamber. She slipped out of her formal attire, letting her hair cascade freely. Her attendants had readied her bath—a luxurious pool filled with rose petals, milk, and water. Alongside were bowls of Multani mitti, while pots of curd were neatly arranged nearby.

Wrapping herself in silk, the fabric contoured to her form, casting an alluring silhouette. Easing into the pool, she settled herself. Her attendants diligently applied Multani mitti to her skin and massaged curd into her hair.

Antra, the Princess and heir to the Bhuloka, hailed from the Matasaya Kingdom where her father ruled as king, while her mother held the esteemed position of High Priestess of the Devi. The lineage of Antra's family bestowed upon all its female members the divine blessing of Devi Shakti—a fragment of the goddess residing within each of them.

As her helpers skillfully tended to her, she reclined and drifted into slumber, lulled by their soothing massages. Still thinking and worrying about Ryhan.

~NEXT DAY~

As the first sunbeams graced her face, Antra stirred awake. The room glowed in the golden hue, casting a radiant shimmer upon her skin. Her linen delicately draped her form, gently embracing her curves. Moving toward the window, she settled into a chair overlooking the Northern mountains veiled by the Aranyaka forest—the home of the Forest Goddess.

In harmony with the waking birds emerging from their nests, the city below her fortress buzzed with life. Street commotion signaled the bustling activity of the day, a reminder that it was the time for the initiation of the new army of Time Charmers.

Families sent their children to Gurukuls to master the Kalaas and Sidhis under the guidance of sages, preparing them for this championship. In the distance, preparations were already underway, a prelude to the imminent commencement. At the first sound of the Conch, signaling the event's impending start in one ghadi, anticipation rippled through the air.

Sensing the cue, Antra rose from her seat, acknowledging it was time to prepare herself for the event ahead.

#

As dawn approached during the first prahar, with the sun just peeking over the horizon, Vaishishta, the esteemed head priest serving all seven kingdoms, commenced the inaugural ceremony.

The entire kingdom brimmed with joy as crowds gathered at their grandest stadium, sprawling across an expanse of 3 yojans. Built to accommodate the entirety of the Matsya kingdom's population, this colossal arena was a hub for festivities, hosting the King's gatherings, Yagyas, coronations, and myriad ceremonies.

At its heart lay the temple of Mahakaal, revered as the Lord of Time—a formidable Time Charmer and the very architect of the Matsya kingdom. During every celebration or significant event, the chief priest, Shree Vaishishta paid homage to Mahakaal, acknowledging his pivotal role in their history.

With ancient mantras echoing through the air, Vaishishta invoked the blessings of Gods and Goddesses to safeguard all participants in the solemn ritual. Upon completing his sacred rites, he ignited the ceremonial fire bowl, signaling everyone to gather at the stadium by the second ghadi of the first prahar. This day marked the grandest celebration of the year in the Matsya Kingdom – the 'Hunting of the Best Charmer'.

Addressing the gathered crowd, Vaishishta the respected head priest of the Matsya Kingdom, expressed his privilege in hosting the season's festivity. "Suryanamah! I extend my deepest gratitude to all present here, and to our venerable king," he proclaimed. "Today, as you are well aware, we assemble to celebrate our Annual Festival, a time to recognize the most adept Time Charmers in our kingdom. This ceremony, a gift from Lord Mahakala himself, is a crucial part of our heritage, allowing us to safeguard time and the multiverse. We honor this gift during the auspicious season of Anshumaali, named after the bravest King Anshumali. Princess Antra, last season's victor in the 'HUNTING OF THE BEST CHARMER', will inaugurate today's event. Princess Antra, please do us the honor of sounding the Conch."

With the Conch's resonant blast piercing the air, the entire atmosphere vibrated in unison with the festivity. Clouds swirled above the festival grounds, gradually descending upon the land of Kaalloka, casting enchanting illusions upon every fest participant.

The origins of this festival were steeped in legend, tracing back to the ancestors of Antra. Initially, only royal family members were deemed eligible to become Time Charmers. However, about 5000 years ago, during a war between the Dark Time Charmers and Sun Time Charmers, the royal family of Kaalloka began to suffer significant losses. In this desperate hour, King Anshumaali chose to enlist the help of common folk. Aware that defeat would leave Kaalloka shrouded in an endless, deathless darkness, he and his brothers began training and empowering select individuals from each kingdom. After a century-long struggle, they triumphed over the Dark Time Charmers.

The 'Hunting of Best Charmers' is a rigorous festival, extending up to a month. During this event, contestants are plunged into strenuous circumstances and temporarily bestowed with the powers of a Time Charmer. Each season unveils unique challenges designed to assess the participants' resolve and their ability to control these extraordinary powers. A true, noble-hearted Time Charmer, one with the essence of the Sun Soul, would exercise their power only as a last resort. However, the seduction of such power is perilous; it can overwhelm one's sanity, leading them into a vortex of greed and ambition, potentially transforming them into a Dark Time Charmer.

This season, 10 participants have been chosen from all five kingdoms of Kaal Loka. The Matasaya Kingdom is the main kingdom, ruled by the direct descendants of Shiva and Shakti. Another is the Aranyaka – The Forest Kingdom, governed by the Aranyakas. The forests of Aranyaka cover most of Kaal Loka's land and are home to many whimsical creatures and incarnations. The Naagtal Kingdom, governed by Takshak, a serpent king and brother of Vasuki of Naagloka (also known as Pataal Loka), is next. The third and wealthiest is the Samudra Kingdom, the resting place of Goddess Laxmi and home to aquatic species like the Adhara and Scale Manav.

One of the last kingdoms of Kaal Loka is Ratinagargh, the sole home to the Time Charmers. This kingdom, uniquely positioned to the north of Aranyaka, endures extremes where the cold is as biting as the fangs of a winter demon and the warmth is akin to the breath of a fire deity.

As the clouds descended, wrapping the earth in a shroud of mist, the participants found themselves ensnared in the grip of sleep paralysis. Shadows danced at the periphery of their vision, coalescing into the ethereal forms of the Apsaras from Gandharbhaloka. These celestial beings, radiant in their intelligence and unmatched in beauty, began the test of temptation.

With a whisper that threaded through the mind like silk, the Apsaras' shapeshifting illusions beckoned, drawing the participants into the deep trenches of their subconscious. Here, in the labyrinth of their innermost thoughts, the struggle began.

For those who could not break the Apsaras' hypnotic lullaby, a fate as alluring as it was perilous awaited. They would be spirited away to Gandharbhaloka, a realm where time stood still, condemned to spend eons in servitude, satisfying the insatiable desires of their captors unless they could unravel the secret to their liberation—a secret buried within the very fabric of their being.

Only those with unwavering resolve and a pure soul can navigate this testing ground.

In some seasons, finding a winner is a rarity. Antra, a seasoned warrior, has been participating for 60 years. Despite her royal lineage, ensuring her victory in any contest, she, like her great-grandfather King Anshumaali, chooses to challenge her own capabilities in pursuit of excellence.

This championship has 3 stages, checking the strength of Soul, Mind and Body. The first one with Apsaras is the challenge of Mind power. The result of this challenge will come sooner. They will get the hint once the clouds turn Blue.

In the midst of ensuring that every participant was deeply engrossed in their deceptive challenges, Antra, with the weight of recent tumultuous events pressing heavily upon her heart, decided it was time to talk to her father, the king of the Matasya Kingdom. That the kingdom was under siege, not from external forces, but from within, plagued by Loka Udghatayam—unholy openings between worlds—that threatened the very fabric of their reality. The air was thick with the scent of unease, as these portals had become more frequent, disrupting the balance between the lokas.

Recently, the danger had come perilously close to claiming the life of her beloved husband, a scare that left Antra's resolve hardened like never before. She couldn't shake off the gnawing suspicion that the treachery was rooted deep within the royal family itself, or perhaps involved someone within their innermost circle of trust.

Just as Antra's resolve solidified and she was about to talk to her father, a voice, both serene and commanding, halted her in her tracks. It was Kalika, the High Priestess, guardian of the temples of Kaal, and just like Antra's own mother, a figure of immense wisdom and power. Cloaked in the sacred garments that shimmered with the mysteries of time and space, Kalika stood with an aura of tranquility that belied the immense responsibility she bore—to maintain the delicate balance of time and space across all lokas.

"The Arena will remain closed until the results of the first level are declared," Kalika announced, her voice a harmonious blend of gentleness and firm resolve. "Why don't we take this opportunity for a stroll? It would give us a chance to discuss the matter before we present ourselves to the king."

Antra's response was silent, a mere nod, yet her eyes were tumultuousseas, reflecting the storm of rage brewing within her. The source of her angerwas manifold: the delay in action, the looming threat to her loved ones, andthe betrayal that seemed to taint the very air she breathed. Yet, in thepresence of Kalika, she found herself compelled to comply, if reluctantly.

As they left the Arena, the clamor of the crowd and the echoes of the combatants faded into a hushed stillness, marking a stark contrast to the turmoil that gripped Antra's heart. The world outside seemed oblivious to the chaos that threatened to engulf their kingdom, the setting sun casting a golden hue over the landscape, offering a momentary illusion of peace.

As they walked, the silence between them was filled with unspoken words and withheld questions. Antra, despite her burning desire to confront and demand action, understood the wisdom in Kalika's approach. The High Priestess, with her foresight and understanding of the delicate balance of time and space, was not one to take such decisions lightly.