The distortion did not go unnoticed.
It couldn't be.
Half a kingdom bending under something unseen…
Time fracturing…
Reality slipping…
This was not something the world could ignore.
But not all who noticed were confused.
Some—
Had been waiting.
Far Beyond the Kingdom
In a place that did not appear on any map—
Beneath layers of forgotten land and concealed structures—
There existed something hidden.
Not a kingdom.
Not a temple.
An order.
A chamber lit not by fire, but by shifting patterns of light.
Symbols moved across walls like living equations.
At the center—
A circular structure pulsed faintly.
Not unlike the artifact.
But far more stable.
And around it—
Figures stood.
Silent.
Watching.
One of them stepped forward.
Tall.
Composed.
Eyes sharp with knowledge that did not belong to ordinary men.
"…it has begun."
Another responded.
"…earlier than expected."
A third tilted their head slightly.
"…no."
A pause.
"…not earlier."
Their gaze fixed on the shifting patterns.
"…faster."
The patterns changed.
Displaying fragments of the event.
The palace.
The distortion.
The man who vanished.
And then—
A single figure walking away from it all.
Aditya Varma.
The room fell silent.
"…identify him."
A voice from the shadows spoke.
"Already done."
The patterns shifted again.
A name appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Different lives.
Different identities.
Different eras.
All converging into one truth.
"…Radheya."
The word was not spoken lightly.
Because it carried weight.
History.
Memory.
One of the figures stepped closer.
"…impossible."
Another shook their head slowly.
"…no."
"…inevitable."
Silence followed.
"…he's early," someone muttered.
"…or the system is failing," another replied.
The tallest figure finally spoke again.
"…how many cycles?"
A pause.
Then—
"Unknown."
"…how many anomalies active?"
Another pause.
"…increasing."
The room grew colder.
"…then we proceed."
The words were final.
"…observe?"
someone asked.
The answer came without hesitation.
"No."
Silence.
"…interfere."
The patterns shifted one final time.
Aditya's image stabilized.
Walking alone.
Unaware—
Or perhaps aware—
That he was no longer just part of a cycle.
He was now—
A target.
Miles away—
Aditya stopped again.
The wind shifted.
Not naturally.
Not subtly.
But with intent.
The Witness appeared instantly.
"…you felt that."
Aditya's eyes narrowed.
"…yes."
"…that wasn't the system."
A pause.
"…then what?"
The Witness looked ahead.
For the first time—
His expression changed.
Not calm.
Not detached.
But serious.
"…something else just noticed you."
Far away—
Hidden from the world—
The order moved.
Not in chaos.
Not in fear.
But with purpose.
Because the moment Karna stepped out of the cycle's shadow—
He stepped into something far more dangerous.
Something that had been watching long before he ever began to repeat.