Crown of the Cursed King

The forest was quiet, save for the soft whisper of wind brushing through the leaves and the gentle crackling of the lantern inside a modest hut near the riverbank. The scent of crushed tulsi and sandalwood filled the air.

Madhvi sat beside the unconscious soldier, his armor bloodied, his breathing shallow. The wound was deeper than she had seen before, an arrow laced with poison had pierced near his shoulder. She pressed her palm over it, whispering the ancient chant her father had taught her.

> "Kaya-shuddhi, prana-dhara, roga-vimochana…"

The moment was fragile—her heart unsure, her will flickering. But something inside her, a silent force of purpose, surged.

She pressed a crushed leaf over the wound and felt a faint pulse of warmth travel from her hand into his body.

Jay's breathing softened. The sweat on his brow faded. His muscles relaxed.

It worked.

She looked at her hands, astonished.

---

Vaishnav's Silent Realization

Her father, Vaishnav, entered the hut just then. He stood silently, watching from the doorway, his eyes narrowing in disbelief—not because she healed him, but because she had done it effortlessly, without even knowing the true strength within her.

> "You felt it, didn't you?" he asked gently.

Madhvi looked up, still in awe. "Yes… it felt like something flowed through me. Like… like the leaf listened to my will."

Vaishnav sat beside her, nodding slowly.

> "You gave yourself to the healing without hesitation. That's the first step… The will is not learned, it's awakened."

But in his heart, a storm was brewing. That power… that flow… that was more than just healing.

---

Return of the Prince

A sudden noise outside startled them—horses. Armor. Voices.

Madhvi rushed out, lantern in hand.

It was a search party of Vaithara soldiers, heavily armed and breathless. They had followed Jay's trail and finally found him.

"Prince Jay! He's here!"

They quickly entered the hut, lifted his body carefully onto a stretcher. Jay stirred, eyes half-opened, barely recognizing the girl who saved him before drifting into sleep again.

Before leaving, one of the soldiers looked at Madhvi with sincere gratitude.

> "You've done something not even ten physicians could. Thank you."

Madhvi nodded, unsure how to respond.

The soldiers disappeared into the night with their prince.

The hut suddenly felt very empty.

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A Warm Fire, A Heavy Heart

Later that night, Madhvi sat by the fire, staring at the spot where Jay had lain. Her fingers still carried the faint warmth from healing him.

Vaishnav handed her some food silently.

> "You did well tonight."

Madhvi smiled softly, pride dancing in her eyes.

> "For the first time… I felt I wasn't just learning anymore. I was a healer."

Her father nodded, but didn't speak. A strange sadness passed through his eyes, one she didn't notice. A part of him feared what had just begun.

They finished their meal in silence and went to sleep.

---

The Night Changes Everything

Madhvi woke suddenly, eyes wide in the dark. Something didn't feel right. She sat up and heard it—swords clashing, muffled voices, and movement outside the hut.

Her heart sank.

She grabbed her lantern and rushed out—only to witness a sight that would remain etched in her mind forever.

Vaishnav stood alone, sword in hand, surrounded by masked attackers.

His every movement was precise—graceful, terrifying, and unreal.

Madhvi had never seen her father like this.

Steel rang in the air as Vaishnav blocked and countered three attackers at once. He fought like a warrior from stories, not a humble healer.

> "BABA!"

He didn't look at her, only shouted, "RUN! Run to the army camp, now!"

Madhvi froze.

> "NO! I won't leave you alone!"

More bandits emerged from the shadows. The fight intensified.

> "GO, Madhvi! I'll follow! I promise!"

Tears in her eyes, heart pounding, Madhvi turned and ran.

She kept looking back… hoping to see her father following.

But he never did.

She kept running through the jungle. Her feet cut by thorns. Her breath ragged. The forest became darker. The wind louder. She didn't stop.

And then… she tripped over a root, fell hard onto the ground, and everything turned black.

---

[End of Chapter 2]