The silence did not end.
It did not loosen its grip.
It did not soften with time.
It deepened.
Layer by layer—
Moment by moment—
It grew heavier.
The world remained still.
The snow unmoving.
The air undisturbed.
The sky silent above.
Nothing changed outside.
But within—
The trial grew harsher.
Karna stood unmoving upon the endless snow.
Eyes closed.
Shut tightly—not in force,
But in focus.
His breath—controlled.
Measured through effort.
His mind—steady.
Anchored in discipline.
But his body—
Was reaching its limit.
The pain that had once faded into the background—
Returned.
Stronger.
Heavier.
More relentless.
It did not creep in slowly this time.
It surged.
Filling every part of him at once.
His legs trembled violently now.
No longer subtle.
No longer controlled.
Each muscle strained under unbearable tension.
His thighs burned.
His calves tightened.
His knees felt as if they would give way at any moment.
His joints ached deeply.
