Once upon a time in the ancient lands of Oshiyan, there lived a young king of unmatched grace and wisdom, where tendrils of the sun danced upon the golden spires of the palace and legends and prophecies lingered in the air like thick incense. With his majestic demeanour and devout eyes that could have held the lessons of a thousand lifetimes, King Tathya sat on the jade throne of Oshiyan, his reign resolute and his realm enveloped in an abundance of true wealth.
Alas! Not everything was peaceful in his vast kingdom, for there lurked a shadow deep, cast by the ominous words of the godly sages who dwelled in the wombs of dangerous forests far, their silver voices that the songbirds carried touched the ears of the Devgurus from his opulent court. It was whispered that inevitable darkness would shroud the kingdom's bright horizon, a figure shrouded in mystery and steeped in malevolence, destined to bring inevitable ruin and great despair to the kingdom.
This shadow being, solely known as the Poisoned One, was thought to have abilities beyond the grasp of mere mortals, and her very existence was a sign of impending doom. Her eyes would shine like rubies in the dark, her heart as dark as the black of a moonless night, and she would rise from the nadirs of darkness to threaten King Tathya's rule, her venomous touch leaving nothing but death and destruction in its trail. Flowers would fade in her shadow, sweet water would turn putrid. She would bear no fruits, death is her shadow, it is said. One should be warned of her ways for she could be death herself. The Devgurus warned all who had gathered in the court.
King Tathya's brows locked horns. He asked them as his heart grew heavy, 'if the Poisoned one could be stopped? When would she present herself and how would we know it is her?'
'It will come to us soon, the Gods will grant me a vision, I shall sit in penance, the song birds will sing again, we shall wait for their whispers, my King. We were always given answers when we needed them, nobody can change the course of destiny and time. You will reign for the longest time dear King.' Assured one of his close advisors, Devguru Karunacharya, his voice low and solemn. His beard flowed down in long whisps of silver.
A knock at the chamber door cut off King Tathya and him as he considered what the Devguru had spoken. The monarch nodded, and Karunacharya moved purposefully and resolutely, crossing the room to respond to the summon at the door.
Karunacharya opened the door and saw a young messenger with a worried expression looming on his face. The messenger clasped his hands and brought them close to his chest as he trembled with urgency when he spoke, "My lord, there is news from the borderlands. A group of marauders had been spotted close to Chandrakoota hamlet; they were far too many for the local militia to contain on their own. We would need reinforcements as there is intelligence of a much bigger attack planned by our enemies."
King Tathya's mind was already bursting with plans and methods as his eyes hardened with resolve. With a command that resounded with power, he said, " Karunacharya, we shall gather our forces. At once, we ride for Chandrakoota. Our people need us. We will retaliate strongly against these raiders. They will receive a powerful message not to mess with us anymore and to leave us alone."
His heart full of grit, the King peered out over the gleaming horizon once more deciding nothing would change this sight and that he would do everything in his power to restore peace to his kingdom, and Karunacharya hurried to carry out his orders. He was well aware that, in his capacity as King Tathya of Oshiyan, he would bravely and tenaciously confront any challenge in order to rescue his realm and subjects at any costs.
So, the stage was set for the unfolding of the prophecy, the first threads of fate woven into the tapestry of destiny that would shape the lives of all who dwelled within the kingdom of Oshiyan.
