There was no clear signal for when the training truly began.
No command.
No announcement.
Only a shift.
Subtle at first—
But undeniable.
Karna felt it before he saw it.
The air on the training ground had changed. Not in temperature, not in movement, but in intent. The quiet discipline of the gurukul was still there, but beneath it—something heavier had settled.
Expectation.
And pressure.
He stood at the center of the field once more, the earth beneath his feet firm and familiar, his breathing steady, his posture relaxed but ready. Around him, the other disciples had already begun forming loose circles, stepping back just enough to leave space.
Not for practice.
For testing.
Duryodhana stood on the outer edge this time, arms crossed, watching with narrowed eyes. There was no smirk on his face today. No casual confidence.
Only focus.
"…So this is what they meant," he muttered under his breath.
Because today—
There would be no breaks.
No pauses between exchanges.
