The cold wind that swept through the northern mountains of Aravalli was a harsh greeting. Arjun Varma, now leading the Royal Mage Vanguard, felt the familiar bite of it, a stark contrast to the pampered halls of Indiranagar. This was a mission designed by Prince Dhruva to end him, a brutal thrust into hostile, freezing territory. But Arjun was no stranger to danger. His focus was clear: capture the barbarian warlord, gain vital intelligence, and return to expose Dhruva's insidious plot.
The Vanguard was a small, hand-picked unit, a mix of seasoned soldiers and skilled mages. They watched Arjun with a cautious respect. They knew his reputation as a prodigy in earth and wind magic, but they didn't know the full extent of his powers, nor the burning vengeance that fueled his every step.
Into the Northern Wilds: A Perilous March
The journey into the Northern Barbarian territories was a relentless test of endurance. The terrain was unforgiving—jagged peaks, deep, snow-filled valleys, and treacherous, hidden paths. The air was thin, biting cold, and the barbarians knew their homeland intimately.
Arjun, however, guided them with an uncanny sense of direction. He used his heightened Soil Whisper (मिट्टीफुसफुसाहट - Mitti Phusphusahat) to detect shifting ice bridges and hidden pitfalls, often stopping the unit just before a treacherous patch of ground. His Wind's Cloak (वायुकाआवरण - Vayu Ka Aavaran) was constantly in use, allowing him to scout ahead, a silent, blurred figure melting into the snowy landscape, returning with crucial information on enemy patrols or safe passages. His control over wind was now so precise that he could create small, localized air currents that kept the biting cold at bay for his immediate surroundings, giving his unit a slight edge in the harsh conditions.
They encountered skirmishes, swift, brutal attacks by barbarian scouting parties. Arjun's earth magic was formidable; with a cry of "पृथ्वीबंधन! (Prithvi Bandhan! - Earth, bind!)", he would erupt roots of frozen earth to trap charging barbarians, or raise Stone Sentinels (शिलाप्रहरी - Shila Prahari) to block volleys of arrows. His wind magic was equally devastating, Gust Push (प्रचंडधक्का - Prachand Dhakka) blasts scattering enemy formations, or Air Daggers (वायुकटार - Vayu Katar) taking down targets with silent precision. His unit watched him, their awe growing with each display of his dual elemental mastery.
Arjun also used his deepest secrets for reconnaissance. At night, he would quietly send forth a Whispering Guide (फुसफुसातामार्गदर्शक - Phusphusahat Margdarshak), a small, ethereal wisp that drifted unseen through enemy camps, relaying faint sounds and images back to him. These spectral scouts allowed him to map out barbarian strongholds, identify key warlords, and even detect unusual activity.
A Disturbing Discovery: The Golden Seal
Deep within a captured barbarian supply depot, Arjun found something chilling. Amidst the rough barbarian provisions and weapons, lay a crate of finely crafted, steel crossbow bolts – far superior to anything the barbarians usually possessed. More disturbing, etched subtly onto each bolt, was a small, ornate golden seal. It was a symbol of quality, often used by a network of private arms dealers and mercenaries, but what truly caught Arjun's eye was the tiny, almost invisible snake sigil entwined within the golden etchings.
This was no ordinary merchant's mark. Arjun knew it. In his past life, these very same golden seals, with their hidden snake sigils, had appeared on unusual, highly effective weapons and supplies that had mysteriously aided Dhruva's rise to power, always just when he needed them most. It was a silent signature, a mark of Dhruva's covert network, reaching even into the far-off barbarian lands. It confirmed Arjun's fears: Dhruva wasn't just observing the conflict; he was subtly fueling it, perhaps even providing advanced weaponry to Aravalli's enemies to prolong the war and increase his own perceived importance.
This evidence was crucial. Arjun carefully collected a few of the bolts, ensuring no one in his unit noticed the minute snake sigil. This was the direct link, the tangible proof he needed.
The Warlord's Stronghold: A Dire Battle
The barbarian warlord, Kargul, had fortified his main stronghold deep within a mountain cavern system, a place called Agnikund (Fire Pit). It was a natural fortress, enhanced with cunning traps and barbarian magic. Kargul himself was rumored to be a brutish but surprisingly cunning leader, wielding dark, shamanistic magic.
Arjun devised a bold plan. A small, elite group, including himself, would use the hidden mountain paths and his stealth magic to infiltrate a rear entrance, while the main Vanguard created a diversion at the front.
The infiltration was fraught with peril. They navigated hidden tunnels, Arjun using Soil Whisper to detect ancient traps and Wind's Cloak to mask their movements from barbarian patrols. They eventually reached the heart of Agnikund, a vast cavern filled with a natural geothermal vent, giving the place its name.
The battle within was fierce. Kargul's elite guards, massive barbarians wielding heavy axes, met them head-on. Arjun unleashed his combined elemental power. He used Earth bind (भूमिबंधन - Bhoomi Bandhan) to ensnare groups of barbarians, then followed with rapid Air Daggers (वायुकटार - Vayu Katar) to disarm or incapacitate them. He moved like a whirlwind of earth and air, deflecting blows and creating confusion.
Suddenly, Kargul himself appeared, a hulking figure wreathed in dark, crude shamanistic energy. He let out a guttural roar, conjuring a massive, swirling vortex of dark rock and shadow, aiming it at Arjun.
There was no time to explain, no room for subtlety. Arjun's eyes blazed. This was for Priya. This was for Aravalli. He thrust his hand forward, and a searing, focused Fire Explosion (अग्निविस्फोट - Agni Visfot) erupted. But this time, he cast it not as a direct, visible blast, but as an internal combustion. The ground beneath Kargul's dark rock vortex suddenly ignited with impossible, invisible heat. The barbarian's own spell, disrupted by the unseen, searing force, backfired violently, collapsing inward with a deafening roar of rock and concentrated fire. The shaman screamed, briefly engulfed in a flash of chaotic, internal flames, before collapsing, utterly defeated. To Arjun's Vanguard, it looked like Kargul's own unstable magic had spectacularly failed, causing an internal collapse of his spell in the volatile environment of the Fire Pit. They saw the devastating effect, but not the true hand behind it. Only Arjun knew the terrifying precision of his hidden fire magic.
As the remaining barbarians faltered, Arjuna quickly pushed his suppressed summoning abilities further. From the edges of his vision, he allowed a fleeting Lesser Guardian (छोटासंरक्षक - Chhota Sanrakshak) to manifest. It was a spectral hound, translucent and shimmering, its eyes burning with ethereal light. It appeared for only a few terrifying seconds, howling a silent, bone-chilling cry that seemed to drain the courage from the barbarians, before fading away into nothingness. It was a pure manifestation of terror, a primal fear that broke their will to fight. The barbarians, already reeling from Kargul's defeat and the "backfired" magic, were now convinced the cavern was haunted. They dropped their weapons and fled in utter panic.
The Evidence and The Escape
Kargul was captured, alive but broken. Arjun quickly searched his chambers. He found more than just the golden-sealed bolts. He found a small, leather-bound ledger, filled with coded entries detailing supply routes, troop movements, and, most damningly, a series of payments from a "Silent Broker" in Indiranagar – a broker whose financial transactions often corresponded with Dhruva's subtle court maneuvers. This was irrefutable proof of Dhruva's direct involvement in prolonging the war.
With Kargul and the ledger secured, Arjun and his Vanguard began their swift retreat. The journey back was still arduous, but now, it was imbued with a sense of purpose.
The Looming Reckoning: Indiranagar Awaits
News of the successful, astonishingly quick campaign spread like wildfire. Arjun, leading the Royal Mage Vanguard, had done the impossible. He had captured Kargul, broken the northern threat, and returned with minimal losses. The Maharaja would be immensely pleased.
But Arjun knew the true battle was yet to come. He carried not just victory, but a dangerous truth that could shatter the very foundations of Aravalli. Dhruva, hearing of Arjun's success and his continued survival, would be seething. The game was no longer confined to the shadows. Arjun had the evidence. Now, he had to play his hand, carefully, deliberately, to expose the viper who had poisoned his past and threatened his future. The phoenix had acquired its weapon, and Indiranagar awaited its fiery reckoning.