29) Chapter

The air inside the passage was damp and heavy, carrying with it the faint scent of earth and decay.

Every step Vishnu and Adithya took echoed faintly, their movements cautious as they ventured deeper into the shadowy tunnel.

"This place... it feels like a graveyard. No, worse than a graveyard. At least graves are quiet."Adithya muttered nervously

Vishnu, walking slightly ahead, glanced back at his friend. His face was calm, though his eyes betrayed a sliver of unease.

"Adithya, if you keep trembling like that, you'll scare off the ghosts before we even see them." Vishnu spelled with a wry smile.

"Oh, very funny. I'd like to see you laugh when something jumps out from the darkness and grabs you!" Adithya said while shooting him a look.

But their conversation was cut short when Vishnu suddenly halted. His hand shot up to signal Adithya to stop as well. A faint glow emanated from the far side of the tunnel—a fire torch mounted on the wall.

"Look. A torch. Someone's been here recently." Vishnu spelled.

Adithya squinted at the flickering light, his heart pounding. He hesitated before whispering.

"Or maybe they left it for... whoever—or whatever—comes next."

"If they wanted to scare us, they'll have to try harder." Vishnu said grabbing the torch from the height

He turned to Adithya, his was tone firm.

"Come on. We don't have time for fear. Keep close."

The torchlight cast long, wavering shadows across the tunnel walls as Vishnu led the way. The walls of the passage were etched with intricate carvings, their details made visible under the torch's glow.

"Why does everything here look like it's been designed to haunt your dreams? Look at these drawings—"

Then Adithya pointed at a particularly gruesome carving of a devil slaying the heads of some warriors.

"—they're all about destruction and misery. Who builds a passage like this? Psychopaths!"

These aren't just random drawings. They're stories... warnings, perhaps. Look at the patterns. This isn't art for art's sake. Someone wanted to leave a message." Vishnu said studying the walls intently.

"Great. Let's read their cheery bedtime stories while we're here." Adithya said sarcastically.

The passage seemed to stretch endlessly, the faint light of the torch flickering against the dark walls.

Adithya's breath was shallow as he followed closely behind Vishnu, the oppressive silence gnawing at his nerves.

"Vishnu, I swear if this doesn't end soon, I'm going to lose my mind. Or worse, find something that eats us alive."

"If you're that scared, stop talking. You'll scare myself even more than yours."Vishnu said calmy.

"Oh, great advice. Let me just ignore the fact we're walking into—"

He stopped mid-sentence as the passage end up into another wall.

Vishnu held the torch high, illuminating the wall.

On the wall it was, an enormous stone sculpture loomed—a seven-headed serpent, its bodies coiled tightly, its eyes gleaming as though alive.

The sight made Adithya freeze, his mouth falling open.

"Why... why does it always have to be something terrifying? A seven-headed snake? Really? Who thought this was a good idea for decoration?"

"It's not just decoration. It's a guardian. There should be something behind this just like the last one."Vishnu said carrefully.

"Yeah, sure, let's just poke the seven-headed death trap! Why not?"

Ignoring him, Vishnu approached the sculpture. He examined its central head closely, his fingers brushing against its eyes, which were made of smooth, polished stone. With a determined look, he pressed his palm against one of the eyes.

A low rumble began to echo through the chamber, louder than before.

Dust fell from the ceiling as the wall behind the sculpture started to split and crumble, revealing a hidden doorway. The rumble stopped, and an eerie silence fell over the room.

"I hate it when you're right. And I hate it even more when I have to follow you into whatever doom you just uncovered." Adithya spelled finally.

Adithya groaned but followed as Vishnu led the way through the doorway.

On the other side, they entered a grand chamber unlike anything they had seen before. The walls were adorned with golden carvings and ornate murals, illuminated by the warm glow of oil lamps.

The air was filled with the haunting melody of a sitar, its notes weaving through the chamber like a spell.

At the far end of the chamber sat a man, shrouded in shadows. He was playing the sitar with a practiced ease, his face calm yet inscrutable.

As the melody came to an end, the figure set the instrument aside and rose.

Welcome, Prince Vishnu -varanda . I trust the journey through my little labyrinth was... enlightening."Kalachurii king Buddharaja spelled.

Vishnu's hand tightened around the torch, his mind racing.

Before he could speak or act, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed behind him. He turned to see a young man (Varuna) entered the chamber, leading a group of armed soldiers.

"your Majesty, we've secured them."

The soldiers quickly surrounded Vishnu and Adithya, swords drawn. Vishnu remained calm, though his gaze flicked to Varuna.

Adithya, on the other hand, tried to keep his composure but was visibly trembling.

"Great. Just great. This is exactly what I was hoping for—getting caught in the enemy's lair. Perfect ending to the day."he muttered.

A grand trap, no doubt. But you've underestimated me before, and you will again."Vishnu spelled towards the king  while stuggled with soldjers who tied him up to a pillar.

"Oh, I don't think so. You see, you're not the only Chalukyan I've caught."King spelled with a light chuckle.

With a wave of his hand, the king signaled to the guards. From the shadows, they dragged forth another prisoner—Nanda, General of Prince Ereya and their spy.

Nanda knelt bound, his face pale and stricken as he looked between Vishnu and King Buddharaja. The air seemed to vibrate with the king's smug satisfaction as he toyed with his prisoners.

"Oh, poor General Nanda. So loyal, so trusting, and yet... so utterly disposable. Shall I end his misery, Prince Vishnu? Or shall I let him live long enough to see you fall?"

Vishnu glared at the king, his jaw tightening, but before he could respond, Nanda spoke, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

"My lord  what have you walked into?"

The king, amused by the exchange, waved a hand lazily. A soldier stepped forward, drawing his sword and positioning himself behind Nanda.

"Why not both? Let him watch for a moment. Then he can serve as an appetizer for your execution."

Before Vishnu could react, the soldier raised his blade. Nanda's eyes widened, and in his final moments, he locked his gaze with Vishnu.

"Don't let... them win..."Nanda whispered.

The blade came down in a swift, brutal arc. Nanda fell lifeless to the floor, blood pooling beneath him.

Adithya gasped audibly, trembling as he pressed himself against the pillar he was tied to. Vishnu clenched his fists, his face dark with rage, but he forced himself to stay composed.

"We're doomed. Vishnu, this is it. We're next."Adithya mutteres towards Vishnu.

The king rose from his seat, brushing off his robes as though nothing of consequence had just occurred.

"Now, as for you, Little prince. I've enjoyed this little game, but it's time to end it. Guards, prepare to—"

"Wait!" Vishnu shouted.

The king paused mid-command, arching an eyebrow at Vishnu's interruption. The room fell silent, save for the crackling of torches and the faint hum of the sitar strings from the king's earlier performance.

"If you're going to kill me, at least grant me the dignity of a hounarable death. I am a prince of Chalukya, not some common criminal to be butchered in chains."

For a moment, the king said nothing, his piercing gaze studying Vishnu. Then, slowly, a smirk spread across his face.

"Hounarable death, you say? Interesting. You certainly have spirit, Boy. But let me warn you—pride has been the downfall of many  fools."

He turned to his guards, motioning for them to untie Vishnu.

"Very well. I will grant you this honor. But you will face me, here and now, in combat. Let us see if the Chalukyan blood is as strong as its legends claim."

Bhaskar stood with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes fixed on the prince, while Varuna lingered nearby, his hands clenched into fists.

"My king, are you certain you wish to handle this yourself? Why not let Varuna or the guards deal with this pest? A prince or not, he's nothing but a doomed boy." Bhaskar said.

"Oh, Bhaskar, where's the sport in that? Let me have my fun. Besides, a duel with a Chalukyan prince is a rare treat." King said with smirk.

Varuna, seething with jealousy, glanced at Vishnu, his jaw tightening as he remembered Mekala's tears.

His frustration bubbled beneath the surface, but he held his tongue, aware that his father and the king would tolerate no interruptions.

"He's no warrior, just a fool walking to his grave."Varuna spelled.