The soft glow of oil lamps illuminated the ornate study of Maharaj Jagadeesan. The room was lined with shelves of ancient manuscripts and scrolls, but his attention was fixed on a heavy, leather-bound book resting on a carved wooden table. The quiet rustle of pages turning filled the air, interrupted only by the occasional chirping of crickets outside the window.

"Come in."

He called out in answer to the knock at the door of his study that had already interrupted him. Rajkumar Jayaditya strode in, his presence as commanding as ever. Draped in a dark blue dhoti with a gold-bordered shawl slung over his shoulder, his sharp features betrayed a storm brewing within. His eyes narrowed as they fixed on his younger brother. Without waiting for an invitation, he spoke.

"Do you know what your dearest nephew, Ranakrit has done this time?"

Rajkumar Jayaditya's tone was clipped, bordering on disdain. Maharaj Jagadeesan however, had yet to look up from the pages of the book he was reading.

"I can assume you've already heard. And I suppose it was Dharmesth who informed you."

Rajkumar Jayaditya's frown deepened at his brothers' impassioned tone.

"Of course, it was Dharmesth. That boy understands the importance of discipline, unlike Ranakrit, who does as he pleases. Sending Agamya and Ranadhrist to Silachetra without even consulting us? And now he has left the ashram himself, running off to Maharishi Vapushmán with Guru Prana's putra, Viresh! Is this the kind of reckless behavior you encourage, Maharaj?"

Maharaj Jagadeesan's calm demeanor remained unshaken, his dark eyes fixed on the wise words of the book. He gestured for Jayaditya to sit, but the latter refused, standing with hands behind his back.

"You are quiet as always, Jagadeesan,"

Rajkumar Jayaditya continued, his voice revealing the impatience he felt.

"Your silence emboldens him. His bravery grows unchecked because you refuse to discipline him. You let him off the hook without a proper punishment last time. And see where that is leading? He is challenging authority. Not only Guru Prana's but yours too, by acting without consultation. If you continue to be lenient, his audacity will know no bounds. He needs to be disciplined before it's too late."

Maharaj Jagadeesan let out a slow breath, his vigilant gaze drifting to his brother before returning to the page.

"Ranakrit is not reckless. He is deliberate, even in his defiance. What you see as rebellion is a calculated effort."

Rajkumar Jayaditya scoffed, hearing him and asked,

"Calculated? Sending his brothers away, leaving the ashram himself, what part of this chaos is calculated?"

Maharaj Jagadeesan closed the book with a soft thud and leaned back, his voice steady but firm.

"Ranakrit is preparing his brothers to be warriors, not just in skill but in spirit. He is preparing for war."

Rajkumar Jayaditya frowned not understanding his meaning. What war was a mere teenaged boy preparing for and why?

"Not against me, not against this kingdom, but against the fate he believes was written for him and his brothers."

Maharaj Jagadeesan's eyes were watching the flickering flame of the lamp. He seemed to be lost in a daze as he whispered the words.

"Ranakrit burns. He burns in the slow flame of Pratikop----a silent, smoldering rage born from betrayal and loss. He sees himself as the shield and the sword of his brothers, raising them to become men who can defend their honor and destiny. And in doing so, he is forging his brothers into warriors who will stand by him, not just in battle but in purpose too.
Who can aid him when he unleashes his restrained wrath."

"What are you talking about?"

Rajkumar Jayaditya asked breaking into the thoughts of Maharaj Jagadeesan. He turned his eyes back to his brother and asked,

"Have you found anything about Kashyap's death?"

That sudden question gave the eldest son of mighty Maharaj Vridakshetra a pause. Their exiled brother was living a happy peaceful life one day and on another, he died by drowning though he knew how to swim. His body was burned before any of them could reach there. Years had passed, and in spite of their efforts, they knew nothing much except what was told. It had still remained an unsolved mystery.

Rajkumar Jayaditya's eyes widened just slightly as he suspected,

"You think Ranakrit knows something?"

"No, ---"
Maharaj Jagadeesan’s lips curled into a faint smile, one that carried the weight of understanding.
"I know, he knows everything. I have known it since the first day he arrived here. I saw it in his eyes."

"Then why didn't you question him?"

"There's no use. Ranakrit won't speak. If he wanted to, he would have long ago." Maharaj Jagadeesan rose from his chair, his tall figure silhouetted against the lamp's glow.
"You saw the boy who was arrogant, grumpy and roamed around causing trouble. But I saw the boy who watched our training grounds, observed the inventory and took note of our army camps. Whatever it is, he either doesn't believe us or wants to take vengeance by himself."

Rajkumar Jayaditya’s eyes narrowed.

"And what gives him the right to take matters into his own hands? What makes him think he can take decisions of the Kaushavas fate? Or stir up trouble as he wishes?"

Maharaj Jagadeesan’s gaze grew distant, as if peering into the past.

"Their eldest brother. Even if it's just by one day, he is still the eldest. And the Kaushavas acknowledge him just like that."

Rajkumar Jayaditya was silent for a moment, his usual sharpness tempered by the weight of his brother's words.

"And you believe this justifies his defiance of tradition? His disregard for authority?"

Maharaj Jagadeesan met his gaze again, his voice quiet yet resolute.

"What you call defiance, I see as devotion. Ranakrit does not defy out of disrespect. He does so because he believes it is the only way to fulfill his duty. Punishment will not deter him. It will only harden his resolve."

Jayaditya’s lips pressed into a thin line. There was another fact buried under that no one dared to speak off. Jagadeesan was indirectly responsible for Kashyap's exile. And thus, he believed if it weren't for him, Kashyap and his family wouldn't have faced so much hardships and untimely death. And somewhere, that led him to be so soft and lenient towards Kaushavas.

"You always find a way to excuse him, Jagadeesan. But mark my words---there will come a day when his actions will bring consequences too great for even you to overlook."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room. As the door closed, Maharaj Jagadeesan sat down and leaned back in his chair, his hand resting on the book’s cover. The flickering lamp cast shadows on his face, revealing the quiet strength of a ruler who understood that sometimes, faith was the greatest discipline of all.