The ship anchored in silence. No birds. No breeze. Just… the distant hum of a song echoing through fire.
Avantika stepped off first, the ocean parting gently at her feet.
Devsena followed, her sword warm against her back.
And in Vrinda's hands — the old pendant of Queen Mahisha began to glow.
Arjuna: "This is no ordinary island."
Kshetrapal Dweep was born from a curse. A battlefield where the gods once sealed away a divine flame that could purify… or destroy.
And now… the twins had returned.
Inside the island's temple, a mural began to animate.
Two twin goddesses, their hands forming the Tatva Mudra, stood above armies of light and shadow.
Between them, a crystal seal — shaped like a burning lotus.
Avantika gasped. "That's what I saw… in my vision."
Vrinda:
"The Second Seal. It will test your loyalty — not to me, not to the world, but to each other."
Suddenly — a roar.
From the heart of the temple emerged a guardian beast — half-lion, half-phoenix, eyes ablaze.
A voice thundered:
"Only one twin shall pass."
"Only one shall survive the flame."
Devsena stepped forward, rage flaring.
"I'll fight it."
Avantika held her arm.
"No. Let's do it together."
They fought side-by-side.
Fire met water. Sword met song.
When Devsena slashed — Avantika calmed the flames.
When Avantika sang — Devsena shielded her voice.
At last, the beast roared in surrender… and vanished into the fire.
The seal cracked.
The burning lotus rose, floating before them.
And just as Avantika reached for it — the sky turned black.
From above — a blade flew straight at Arjuna.
He barely dodged.
"Assassin!" Devsena shouted.
A figure cloaked in mirror shards stepped out — the same figure from Avantika's vision.
But this time, the mask fell.
And beneath it was…
Samridhi.
Vrinda's elder sister.
The one who vanished during the kingdom's fall.
Avantika:
"No… that's not possible."
Samridhi:
"I never meant to hurt you. But the prophecy… it demands a sacrifice."
Vrinda staggered back.
"You were the one who scattered the twins…?"
Samridhi's voice cracked.
"To protect them. To protect you. But the seals… they twist love into pain."
A scream broke the silence — the burning lotus split into two.
Each twin held half.
One glowed blue, the other red.
And a voice rang across the temple walls:
"The Dvandva has begun."