Episode Two - The Call Beyond the Stars

Crystal Palace ne kabhi darr mehsoos nahi kiya tha.

Sadiyon tak uski pavitra deewarein bilkul surakshit rahi thi, Indriya Kingdom ke neeche behne wali prachin chakra energy ke karan. Lekin aaj raat… kuch alag tha.

Royal halls ke andar chamakte hue crystal pillars aise flicker kar rahe the jaise marte hue sitare. Sacred flames jo hamesha sunehri jalti thi, aaj neeli ho gayi thi. Hawa bhi ajeeb si bhaari lag rahi thi… jaise poora brahmand apni saans rok kar khada ho.

Prince Aryamaan akela balcony par khada tha, Delta Planet ke aasman ko ghurta hua.

Aaj sitare shaant nahi the.

Ek thandi cosmic hawa uske chehre ko chhoo kar guzar rahi thi, aur door aasman mein garajne wali awaaz goonj rahi thi. Delta ke protective barriers ke bahar, andhere baadal space mein aise ghoom rahe the jaise zinda ho.

Aryamaan mehsoos kar sakta tha.

Koi… usse bula raha tha.

Tabhi peeche se balcony ke bade darwaze dheere se khule.

King Viraat bina awaaz ke andar aaye.

Apne royal robes mein bhi, unki presence ek aise yoddha ki thi jo sab kuch dekh chuka ho—civilizations ka uthna aur girna. Unki chandi jaisi aankhen Aryamaan ko gehraai se dekh rahi thi.

“Tumne bhi mehsoos kiya,” Viraat ne dheere se kaha.

Aryamaan mud gaya.

“Kya ho raha hai, father?”

Kuch pal ke liye king chup rahe.

Phir wo aage badhe aur aasman ki taraf dekhne lage.

“Hazaron saal pehle,” Viraat ne shuru kiya, “jab Indriya ek shaant rajya nahi tha, tab poori galaxy jung mein doobi hui thi. Puri-puri planets jal gaye the power ke liye. Raje apas mein ladte the taaki wo prachin energy ko control kar sakein.”

Aryamaan dhyaan se sun raha tha. Usne Dark Age ki kahaniyan suni thi… lekin apne father se kabhi nahi.

“Ek aisi shakti thi,” Viraat ne aage kaha, “jisse sabse shaktishaali rulers bhi darte the.”

Unka chehra andhera ho gaya.

“The Void.”

Naam sunte hi mahaul aur thanda ho gaya.

“Ye koi army nahi thi,” Viraat bole. “Ye ek andhera tha—corrupted chakra energy se janma hua. Ek aisi shakti jo planets, dimaag… aur hatta ki aatma ko bhi nigal sakti thi.”

Aryamaan ne bhauhen sikodi.

“Lekin Void to sadiyon pehle khatam ho gaya tha.”

Viraat ne dheere se sir hila diya.

“Koi bhi andhera kabhi poori tarah se marta nahi.”

Tabhi achanak balcony ke aas paas ke crystals zor se chamakne lage. Ek tez vibration poore palace mein goonj uthi, aur energy waves poore kingdom mein fail gayi.

Neeche, Indriya ke log darr se ruk gaye.

Delta Planet ke upar ka aasman dheere dheere phatne laga—purple lightning ke saath.

Aryamaan shock mein aage badha.

Storm ke beech… ek vishal symbol ubhar aaya.

Ek kaala gola, jiske chaaro taraf violet flames jal rahi thi.

Void ka prachin nishaan.

Sadiyon mein pehli baar, King Viraat ki aankhon mein darr tha.

“The prophecy…” unhone dheere se kaha.

Aryamaan ne unki taraf dekha.

“Kaunsi prophecy?”

Lekin usse pehle ki king kuch keh paate, ek zabardast energy blast ne aasman ko cheer diya. Poora palace hil gaya. Guards bhaagte hue royal hall mein ghus aaye. Alarm bells poore Indriya mein goonjne lagi.

Ek royal warrior ghutnon par gir gaya.

“Your Majesty,” usne saans lete hue kaha, “outer spiritual barrier… toot chuka hai.”

Palace mein sannata chha gaya.

Asambhav.

Galaxy mein kabhi koi bhi shakti Delta Planet ke barrier ko nahi tod paayi thi.

King Viraat ne dheere se aankhen band kar li… jaise wo is din se hamesha darte rahe ho.

Phir unhone Aryamaan ki taraf dekha.

“Brahmand ne aakhir tumhe dhoond liya hai.”

Delta Planet se bahut door, marte hue sitaron ke beech chhipe andhere mein… ek jodi chamakti hui laal aankhen khul gayi.

Wo dekh rahi thi.

Intezaar kar rahi thi.

Aur kahin na kahin, is anant brahmand mein… kismat ne Prince Aryamaan ki taraf badhna shuru kar diya tha.