Day: Panchami, Magha Shukla Paksha, Vikram Samvat 1658 (Fifth day of the bright half, approx. February 1501 CE)
The sun had just climbed high over the training grounds when a sharp horn echoed through the air—an urgent summons.
Senapati Harindra halted training immediately, his stern gaze scanning the horizon. Rumors had reached the palace of a violent dispute raging in a nearby village, where local landlords had clashed with peasants, threatening to spiral into open bloodshed.
Devananda met with his council swiftly. The unrest was more than a mere skirmish; it was a symptom of deeper fractures between the old nobility's unchecked power and the growing demand for justice.
"This will be the Vijaya Rakshakas' first true test," Devananda declared, resolve hardening his voice. "Their success or failure will shape the future of this realm."
At the village, tensions crackled like dry tinder. The landlords, confident in their dominance, demanded tribute and obedience; the peasants, pushed beyond endurance, sought protection and fairness.
The newly formed Vijaya Rakshakas—still young and untested—stepped into the fray. They carried not just weapons but the weight of Devananda's vision.
Under Senapati Harindra's command, they worked carefully to mediate disputes, protect the vulnerable, and enforce law impartially. Their presence brought a fragile calm but also provoked wary glances from the landlords.
Back in the palace, noble whispers grew darker. Some saw the Rakshakas as an affront, others as a threat to their entrenched privileges.
Rajah Bhanu warned his peers in hushed meetings, "If this force succeeds, it signals an end to our century-old freedoms. We must be ready to reclaim our power, by council or by conflict."
Devananda, aware of these currents, wrestled with his inexperience and the heavy knowledge from the future. Yet each challenge steeled his resolve.
"To build a kingdom of justice, old orders must bend or break. It is a dangerous path, but the only one that leads to unity," he thought, standing firm against the mounting storm.