**18 years before the main events of the story**

On the third day of the Lunar month of Shraavana, Queen Rukmini gave birth to a miracle child. After years of aching for an heir, the bloodline of King Shaktidev was blessed with a prince at last, one with a glow that hinted at the illustrious life to come. This highly anticipated tiding spread like wildfire through the kingdom.

Congratulatory messages began to pour in, as the Queen slowly recovered in her bedchamber. The toil of the last eighteen sunmarks were quickly forgotten, as her heart teemed with tender love for her first born. She held the little babe close to her chest, beautiful and healthy, mouth clutching to the tips of her bosom. She ran a light hand through his sparse soft hair.

In the room, young chambermaids fluttered about and chattered away between flapping the sheets and fluffing the pillows.

"Your highness, the prince is very well-behaved. He frets little and feeds naturally. When my Veer was born, he would keep the neighbors up all night, crying and fussing." Queen Rukmini gave Sanvi, one of the chambermaids, a hasty smile, turning her gaze back to the little boy, lest she missed too many of these precious moments.

Tanvi, Sanvi's older sister, chimed in, "My Queen, I heard the King is riding back from his expedition in haste. He should arrive in no more than one sunmark."

Indeed, moments later, the royal announcer yelled from outside the Queen's chamber, "King Shaktidev is presenting himself."

No sooner did he finish his call, a handsome and brawny man burst in through the doors.

"My Great Queen Rukmini, I deeply apologize for my absence." The ladies left discreetly.

"Not to worry, you are here now, my King." The Queen turned to the baby. "Son, your father will hold you now."

King Shaktidev had conquered countless kingdoms, great and small. Realms of the North, the South, the East, and the West bowed to his might, calling him the sovereign ruler of this land. However, as the King held the boy in his arms, his heart swelled with joy that he never felt on any battlefield. His eyes moistened with tears and his chest puffed out with pride.

"I will urgently summon the Mahaguru for the blessings and send news to the four realms." He then turned to Rukmini and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.

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Kundali, the capital city of Rakhtaprastha, erupted in cheers following the birth of their crown Prince. The city's sky was wrapped in gold banners and bunting flags, while the ground drummed with busy feet of eager residents. Some were drawing colored patterns of rangoli on their courtyards. Others were lighting clay lamps. The city bustled with activity, as if it were a day of festival. The confectionery shops raced to make the most delicious and rare sweets to mark the arrival of the heir to the throne. Children scampered around the busy streets not heeding their elders, sensing the joyous mood.

Wrapped in a white garb, an old scholarly looking man appeared from a somber cottage. His greying hair and beard both fell to his chest, burying his bony face. He walked hurriedly towards the old tower that was spurting fireworks like a fire breathing dragon lighting the dark sky. Due to his head being turned up to view the spectacle, he did not see the child who came crashing into him.

"Scram, you little imp. Don't you see I am on my way to the Royal Palace on an urgent business?! Scram!"

The 'imp' of course cared little of the old man's business, but nevertheless fled to avoid being caught by his other little friends in a game of tag. The scholarly man turned back and continued on his path, quietly muttering to himself a mental list of items to requisition from the royal inventory, for the Prince's official name giving ceremony.

A bracing and short walk later he was at the enormous palace gates. The palace sentries did not stop him on his way, noting his esteemed status in the royal household. Soon, his arrival was announced in the King's council chamber.

"Mahaguru Briharshi, regards." King Shaktidev joined the palms of his hands in a gesture of deference and bowed slightly. The Guru walked up to the King, his sharp eyes darting all over the room, stopping at the royal figure for a slight nod. Knowing the Mahaguru to be a man of few words, the king continued. "I am thankful of your immediate presence. Please, this way."

King Shakti led Mahaguru to the inner chamber, where the Queen awaited with the baby sleeping on her lap. Guru Briharshi approached the nursing mother with his chants filling the room. He rummaged through his sack and dug out some ceremonial leaves and holy water from the Pond of Eternal Sentience. He performed a small ritual to bless the prince, the official name giving and blessing ceremony awaiting. Once done, Guru Briharshi took the babe in his arms to give a proper scrutiny to its face and forehead, where the child's destiny was written.

"Do you have a name in mind, Mahaguru?"

"I do. A son born under the auspicious sign of the Sun, with a radiant glow on his face, his name shall be Suryadev."

"You have bestowed a great honor upon our son, Guruji."

The royal couple smiled and lowered their heads to show gratitude. But Guru Briharshi paid them no mind as his troubled eyes were fixed at the babe, at the black mark smudging the front half of the boy's tongue, to be exact. Right that instant, Briharshi saw a fate unforeseen even by the gods, a path converged by the paths of the past, present, and future.

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