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Through the Eyes of the Heir

  Date: 1015, May, 23.

  The first light of dawn stretched across the sky, painting it in hues of deep orange and soft gold. A thin veil of mist still clung to the palace gardens, reluctant to part as the warmth of the rising sun touched the land. From beyond the high walls, the distant calls of waking birds echoed through the courtyards, their melodies blending with the rhythmic chant of temple bells. The quiet murmur of palace servants preparing for the day formed a soft backdrop as Prince Adhitya Vivasvanthan stepped out onto the marble balcony of his chambers.

  The cool morning breeze stirred his obsidian eyes, carrying with it the lingering chill of the night. He inhaled deeply, letting the crisp air ground him before turning toward the grand mirror before him. The heavy gold ornaments adorning his body caught the soft morning light—each piece a symbol of his lineage, his duty, his kingdom. Yet, as he removed them one by one, placing them carefully on the carved wooden table beside him, he felt a strange sense of relief.

  Stripped of his princely adornments, he fastened the simple white shirt over his frame, tying it at the front with a sturdy brown thread. A leather pouch bag settled at his waist, its familiar weight grounding him. The sharp glint of his knife caught his eye as he secured it to his belt. Today, he was not the Prince of the Solar Kingdom. Today, he was just Adhitya, a man seeking clarity in a kingdom clouded by tensions.

  His grandfather’s words echoed in his mind: "The sun cannot be biased, lil’ one. You must have a vision that includes every nook and corner of this kingdom and plans for the well-being of all."

  King Jothir Bhanu had ruled with unshaken fairness, but even on his deathbed, he had whispered regrets—uncertainty over whether he had truly achieved his dream of an equal kingdom. Under his father’s rule, everything moved as it should, yet Adhitya couldn’t ignore the lingering unease. The undercurrents of discord, the weight of unspoken grievances… and every time Arkan entered the great hall, the uncomfortable shift in the air was impossible to ignore.

  If he was to rule one day, he needed to understand. He needed to see with his own eyes where everything had begun.

  With quiet resolve, he descended from his chambers. His men were already prepared, their horses restless, their eyes sharp with unspoken questions. But there was no need for words.

  Adhitya mounted his horse, gripping the reins firmly. The golden light of morning bathed the palace behind him as they set off.

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  Without knowing that a sun was waiting for him at the end of this journey—to illuminate his clouded mind.

  ---

  The Third Zone stretched before them, vast and untamed. Unlike the well-structured cities of the inner zones, this land bore the weight of survival on its shoulders. Crops stood resilient against the wind, the people moved with quiet determination, and the air carried a sense of defiance—an unspoken promise that they would endure, no matter how the world shifted around them.

  Adhitya rode ahead, his sharp gaze sweeping the landscape. Behind him, his men followed in disciplined silence, their presence like a shadow of authority in a land that had learned to distrust it.

  A scout approached, quick and efficient, bowing slightly before delivering his report.

  “Your Highness, a medical campaign has been set up nearby.”

  Adhitya raised a brow. “A campaign? For medicines?” His tone held mild amusement. “What’s their motive?”

  The scout hesitated for a fraction before replying, “Uncertain, sir. But the doctor in charge reportedly said that coming to the environment of those who are suffering is necessary for a doctor to assess the root cause. That a mere prescription cannot be based on disease alone, because each person is shaped by their surroundings.”

  A murmur passed through his men. Even in Adhitya’s own mind, the words lingered longer than they should have. It was… an interesting perspective. And wasn’t it eerily close to the reason for his own visit here?

  Still, he scoffed lightly. “Don’t be fooled by his words,” he said, his tone even. “We live in an era of shadows. This could just be a clever tactic to promote a clinic.” He tilted his head slightly, considering. “Though… as far as tactics go, it’s an effective one.”

  His men nodded in agreement.

  Then, a younger soldier, one of the more eager ones, spoke up, his expression oddly dreamy. “Sir, it’s not he but she.”

  Adhitya barely had time to process that before another soldier, more composed, added, “She is the second child of Arun Prabhu—the son of the former Minister of Food and Supplies.”

  That name pulled Adhitya’s focus sharply. Arun Prabhu? A man who had once stood at the pinnacle of the First Zone’s political elite, only to be overshadowed by Arkan—a minister of Third Zone origins who had outperformed many, securing a higher post.

  Because of that, Arun Prabhu had lost everything. His position, his prestige, and even his personal life had crumbled under the weight of his downfall. He had been ridiculed, his marriage had collapsed, and now he lived in the Second Zone instead of the First.

  And now… his daughter was here? In the Third Zone?

  Suspicion curled in Adhitya’s mind. A girl from a family that had once been at the heart of the elite, now standing among those they had once ruled over—offering medical aid? It was either an act of rebellion… or a deception.

  Before he could voice his thoughts, the younger soldier, still dazed, added, “And she’s very pretty.”

  That broke the tension. Laughter erupted among the men as they elbowed him, jeering playfully. “Ah, now we see why you’re so interested!” one teased. “You saw a beauty and lost your mind, huh?”

  The young soldier crossed his arms. “I only stated facts,” he muttered, earning another round of chuckles.

  Adhitya, however, remained silent, his thoughts shifting.

  The daughter of Arun Prabhu. What was she really doing here?

  He reined in his horse, eyes dark with intrigue.

  “Let’s go,” he ordered. “I want to see this ‘campaign’ for myself.”

  The laughter died down, and in an instant, his men fell back into disciplined formation.

  As they rode toward the camp, one thought echoed in Adhitya

  ’s mind.

  Let’s see just what kind of person this doctor really is.

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