The profound, all-consuming white light of the ethereal realm receded, replaced by the soft, warm glow of a candle. The sensation of floating, of being a mere soul adrift in the cosmos, was gone, replaced by the warmth of a loving embrace. Karna's soul, weary from a lifetime of conflict, was now housed in the body of a newborn baby. His mind, wiped clean of its burdens, felt a peace he had never known, a blissful ignorance that was a welcome balm to a soul scarred by suffering. He was no longer the son of the Sun God, abandoned and cursed. He was simply Karan Raymond, the third prince of a small kingdom known as Dhananjaya-Kshetra.
His new life was a world away from the one he had left behind. His father, the King, was not a ruler obsessed with war and conquest, but a gentle soul who loved his family and his people fiercely. His mother, the Queen, was not a woman burdened by a terrible secret, but a warm and doting figure who showered him with a pure, unconditional affection he had never received. His older siblings were kind and playful, and in their love, Karan found the simple joy he had always craved. This kingdom, despite its small size and weak military, was a haven of peace and prosperity. Its people lived simple, contented lives, their fields were always fertile, and their granaries were always full. It was a kingdom of tranquility, a perfect refuge for a soul seeking solace.
Yet, even in this idyllic existence, a strange undercurrent of anxiety ran through his parents. Karan would often find them whispering in hushed tones, their eyes filled with a deep-seated fear that he couldn't comprehend. He soon came to understand why. This kingdom's prosperity was not a result of hard work and good governance alone, but a carefully guarded secret treasure—the Divine Seeds gifted by the gods themselves. These seeds, when planted, could make any land fertile and yield a miraculous harvest. They were the true source of Dhananjaya-Kshetra's bounty, and also the reason his family was sworn to protect this secret with their lives. The fear in his parents' eyes was the fear of being discovered. They had created a kingdom that defied the laws of the land, and in doing so, they had painted a target on their backs. The legend of the Divine Seeds was a myth to most, but the prosperity of their kingdom was a reality that could no longer be ignored by the powerful and greedy.
At the age of five, Karan, while playing in the royal garden, instinctively reached out his hands to a dying flower. A faint, golden light emanated from his palms, a power he didn't know he possessed, and the flower miraculously bloomed back to life, its petals glowing with a vibrant hue. The King, watching from afar, was filled with a familiar dread. It was the same divine light his ancestors had described, the light of a chosen one, a light that also brought with it great danger. He knew that the powerful legacy of the Divine Seeds, and the power to wield their essence, ran through Karan's veins, a legacy that had lain dormant for generations. The King's fears were not just for his son, but for the future of his entire kingdom. He understood that this golden light would one day expose their secret, and that their peace would be shattered.
The King's fears were realized a few years later. A messenger arrived from the Ahankari Prant, a proud and powerful empire known for its arrogance and greed. They carried a seemingly innocent request for an alliance, but in their eyes, Karan's father saw a thinly veiled threat. The prosperity of Dhananjaya-Kshetra had finally been noticed. The peaceful life Karan had been promised was now under threat from a world that coveted his kingdom's hidden wealth. The messenger's words were polite, but his gaze was predatory, lingering on the lush fields and the healthy faces of the people. It was a silent demand, a declaration of intent. They would either have what they wanted through alliance, or they would take it by force.
The peace was over. The game of power had begun, and Karan was destined to be the central player. Unbeknownst to him, he was about to face a war far more complex and brutal than the one he had left behind. This time, the battle would not be for honor or dharma, but for the very survival of his family and the people he had grown to love. The karma of his past life was about to catch up to him in a world where every action had a consequence.