Mud-brick walls breathed monsoon life, sesame oil lamps flickering wheel-shrine devotion. Radha's khichdi simmered copper-soft, cumin perfume weaving axle-grease tang from Adhiratha's chariot bench outside. Jute cradle swayed ceiling beam, tiny brass Surya murti watching infant-me with lotus-gaze. No palace silk—this sutaputra hearth forged Apex steel.
Ganga's sapphire milk hummed core-serene, Sovereign Constitution locking growth invincible. Surya's paternal ray forehead-warm, Supreme Solar Sovereignty rippling veins solar-mapped. Pink Mohini haze teased charm-seal edges—celestial ensnarer dormant, village girls yet unaware. Jaipur PG flashbacks faded: instant noodles → Radha's dal reality. Canon curses? Crit fuel.
Radha hovered, monsoon-rich lullaby raag-weaving: "Nindiya re, swarna-kumara... Ganga-maiya's gift to Radha's dukh-banjh goha." Face lined tender riverbank years, eyes lotus-deep instant mata-love. Adhiratha doorway-framed, callused fingers twisting reins: "Surya-narendra... charioteer hands unworthy."
Side Quest Pulse: [Toddler Hearth – Walk/Talk/Feats by Week's End. Progress: 20%. Auto-Grind: Passive Crit Breathing x10M]
Day 3 - First Words
Radha nursed gentle—mortal milk warm, system crit-alchemizing to essence-burst. Gummy lips parted, voice crystal-chime beyond infant gurgle: "Ma...ta...ji."
Radha's lota clattered. "Swami! Putra spoke! Day three—deva-krupa!" Crushed embrace, tears salting cheek. Adhiratha knelt, forehead earth: "Radha-putra... guru-kripa."
Emotional swell hit—first mortal bond post-gods. Supreme Charm latent leaked pink haze, enchanting instant. Radha's eyes glazed bhakti; Adhiratha's loyalty radar pinged system-green.
[Feat Crit: First Words (Dharma Bond). 10M Surge → FAMILIAL DHARMA ANCHOR UNLOCKED!]
Effect: Adoptive Kin +10M All Gains/Buffs. Loyalty Radar: Radha 100% | Adhiratha 100%.
Day 5 - First Steps
Cradle-roll deliberate. Clay floor generations-packed firm—feet touched: CRACK. First step spiderwebbed fissures outward, earth groaning mini-quake. Radha shrieked joy-terror: "Bhumi devi roothi! Putra's step—Vishnu avtaran!" Adhiratha steadied beam—dust sifted.
Five steps circled hut—horses outside whinnied alert, dal-pot rattled boil-over. Final flex: firewood stack (adult arm-thick logs). Chubby palm gripped—SNAP—split mid-air palm-heel, chips orbiting solar wind.
Radha prostrated; Adhiratha chanted Rigvedic sun-hymns forgotten.
[Side Quest Peak: Toddler Hearth Conquered! Reward: Physique Tier - Infant Godling → Toddler Titan. Skill: Earth-Step Pulse Lv.1]
Village Whispers Begin
Neighbors peeked dusk-windows: "Adhiratha's fortune! Swarna-bacha walks fire-splits!" Village headman arrived lantern-lit: "Suta anomaly? Kuru scouts hear mela-time."
Eklavya Glimpse (Age 4)
Forest-edge dusk, Nishad boy tracked tiger-spoor—lean frame, hawk-eyes piercing. Spotted hearth-glow, tiny figure earth-cracking steps. Archer Eye innate stirred: "That glow... guru-fire?" Forest-shadow retreated—Ch11 recruit seeded.
[Epoch Hearth – Karna (Week 2 Dawn)]
Vitality: Sovereign ∞+ | Might: Titan EX | Charm: Supreme Latent | Skills: [Earth-Step Pulse] | Familial Net Active.
Cliff: Royal messenger dusk-horn: "Grand Mela—prodigy trials. Suta entries welcome." Radha clutched me protective: "My sun... mela mockers come."