And then something inside his memory connected. The structure. The shape. The architecture. It resembled a royal residence—almost like a palace.
Quietly, Karna reached beside him and began sketching the image from memory upon parchment. His movements remained calm but deliberate. Once finished, he stared at the rough drawing silently for several moments. Then finally he rolled the parchment and stood up.
He called one of the palace maids.
"Inform Prince Duryodhana," Karna said calmly, "that I wish to meet him."
The maid immediately bowed.
After being informed that Duryodhana was currently inside a private chamber with Shakuni, Karna followed the directions through the palace corridors himself. The deeper he walked into the inner palace, the stronger his unease became.
Meanwhile inside the chamber, Duryodhana and Shakuni were discussing matters quietly beside a large dice board spread across a low table. When the servant informed them of Karna's arrival, both looked visibly surprised.
"Karna?" Duryodhana repeated. At this hour?
Nevertheless,, they allowed him inside immediately.
The chamber doors slowly opened. Karna entered calmly. At first glance the room appeared ordinary enough—a dice board, wine cups, maps, documents.
But then Karna's eyes shifted… and froze.
At the centre of the chamber, resting upon a raised platform, was a detailed model of a palace.
And the moment Karna saw it, he recognised it instantly.
It was the same burning structure from his vision.
For a brief moment the chamber became strangely silent.
Karna stood still before the model palace, his golden eyes fixed upon the carefully crafted structure resting at the centre of the room. The oil lamps around the chamber flickered softly, their light reflecting against polished wood, ivory carvings, and miniature palace towers built with unsettling precision.
The shape.
The layout.
The corridors.
Even the placement of the balconies.
It was exactly the same structure he had seen engulfed in flames inside his vision.
Not similar.
The same.
Behind him, Duryodhana noticed his attention and immediately smiled with visible enthusiasm, completely unaware of the storm quietly forming inside Karna's mind.
"Maharaj," Duryodhana said while stepping closer, "what happened? You are staring at it as though you have seen it before."
Karna slowly shifted his gaze away from the model. His expression remained calm—too calm. Then he pointed lightly toward the structure.
"The architecture looked different," he said in a measured tone. "Is it a newly built palace or someone's residence?"
Duryodhana glanced proudly toward the model.
"That?" he replied casually. "It is the palace at Varanavata."
Karna's brows moved slightly.
"Varanavata?" he repeated quietly.
He had heard the name only vaguely before—a distant region, politically unimportant, certainly not a place worthy of such a grand residence.
Before Duryodhana could continue, Shakuni spoke smoothly from behind.
"It is a town where a grand festival is soon taking place, Dakshina Kalinga Naresh," Shakuni explained pleasantly while lazily rolling one of his dice across the table. "Our dear Pandu princes are travelling there as part of their royal duties." His lips curled faintly. "And our Maharaj Dhritarashtra entrusted dear Duryodhana with the task of building their residence personally." He sighed dramatically afterward. "See how generous my nephew is. Even after they stole away his rightful inheritance, he still works hard to ensure their comfort."
The words sounded respectful on the surface. But the bitterness beneath them was unmistakable.
Karna ignored the attempt at emotional manipulation entirely. Instead, he stepped slightly closer toward the model. His gaze sharpened quietly.
"So," he asked slowly, "you personally supervised this residence for the Pandu princes?"
Duryodhana nodded immediately.
"Yes. Why?"
Karna did not answer at once. Instead, he continued studying the miniature palace silently. His instincts screamed. Something about this entire situation felt wrong—not merely politically wrong, but something deeper. Darker.
Then finally he asked,
"When are they leaving for Varanavata?"
"In three days," Duryodhana answered without suspicion.
Karna's mind instantly began calculating.
Today was Shukla Paksha Panchami.
But inside the vision the sky had been darker, the moonlight absent—near Amavasya.
That meant the fire would happen approximately twenty to twenty-five days from now. By then the Pandavas would already be residing there. And Kunti too.
A strange heaviness settled inside Karna's chest. The image of burning corridors flashed again inside his mind—screams, heat, collapsing beams, death.
"Maharaj Karna?"
Duryodhana's voice suddenly pulled him back to reality.
"Maharaj Karna?"
Karna blinked once slowly before finally turning toward them again.
"It is nothing," he replied calmly. His voice remained steady. But internally his thoughts had already become sharp and alert.
Then after a brief pause Karna spoke again.
"Regarding the feast you mentioned earlier…" he said lightly, "would it be possible to hold it tomorrow or the day after instead?"
Duryodhana frowned slightly.
Karna continued.
"I cannot remain in Hastinapura for too long. There are matters awaiting me elsewhere."
For a moment, Duryodhana exchanged a quick glance with Shakuni. Then the Kuru prince smiled faintly.
"Maharaj," he said carefully, "you possess a divine chariot capable of reaching any kingdom within a single day." His tone remained polite—too polite. "Do you truly have matters so urgent that you cannot stay a few extra days?" Then his voice lowered slightly. "Or… does Hastinapura make you uncomfortable?"
The final question carried faint offence hidden beneath it. Karna noticed it instantly. And that alone made his thoughts deepen further. The old Duryodhana would have spoken emotionally, directly, angrily. This version applied pressure carefully—like a court politician.
Karna answered calmly.
"It is not that." He folded his hands behind his back slowly while speaking. "To escort Princess Dushala safely, I left my wife in Kashi at her maternal home and promised I would return quickly." His eyes remained steady. "That is all."
At that, Shakuni suddenly chuckled.
"What importance is there in that, Maharaj Karna?" he asked lightly. "It is only her maternal home. A daughter can remain there for weeks or even months."
Karna's expression did not change.
"Yes," he answered simply. "But our children remain in Dakshina Kalinga." His tone softened slightly afterward. "Mrinalini will miss her daughter."
There was no dramatic emotion in his voice—just straightforward honesty. But Duryodhana immediately countered again.
"It is only two more days," he said with a faint smile. "And besides… when I stayed at Kanipura, I personally witnessed the relationship among your queens." His expression became thoughtful for a moment, genuinely remembering it. "They cared for one another sincerely. The children too. Every child was treated as everyone's child." A faint warmth briefly entered his voice while recalling Dakshina Kalinga. Then he looked directly at Karna again. "I may not possess the wisdom of Uncle Vidura, but I understand enough to know when someone is making excuses."
The chamber quieted again. Shakuni watched silently now—carefully. Duryodhana's gaze remained fixed upon Karna.
"I do not see you as someone who hides behind words, Maharaj," he said. "You are a man who speaks directly. Bluntly. Even when the truth becomes uncomfortable."
Karna remained silent. And for several moments neither side moved. The oil lamps crackled softly in the background. Outside, faint palace sounds drifted through distant corridors.
Then finally Karna spoke quietly.
"You have changed."
The words came unexpectedly enough that even Duryodhana looked slightly surprised. Karna's gaze stayed fixed on him.
"The prince I met nearly two years ago would never have spoken this way."
Duryodhana blinked once. Then slowly a small smile appeared on his face.
"Is that praise or suspicion?"
Karna did not smile back.
"I haven't decided on it. Consider it a statement on observation instead."
Silence returned once more. Then Karna finally looked again toward the model palace. And this time his eyes lingered longer—long enough that even Shakuni subtly noticed it. The Gandhara prince's fingers tightened faintly around the dice.