32. Ants, and a Storm

After three long days in the city, the river flowed gently beside the palace where Sambh sat meditating under a cluster of large, ancient trees. The palace itself was a marvel of serenity, its halls echoing with the soft murmur of water and the rustle of leaves. In the midst of this tranquil haven, Sambh was deep in meditation—seeking inner calm, seeking answers. But as he delved deeper, a faint, unexpected sound intruded upon his reverie.

Slowly, Sambh opened his eyes and peered around. To his astonishment, two tiny ants were scurrying near him on the soft grass. They moved with surprising deliberation, as though engaged in a lively conversation of their own. One ant, with a striking red hue, chattered animatedly to its plumper companion.

"Dolly! I have prepared a very fine candie for you. Its smell is so mesmerizing that it makes everyone feel ravenous," the red ant exclaimed, darting about with a sense of pride.

The other ant, a slimmer creature named Dolly, replied in a soft, dismissive tone, "Sorry, Solly, but I don't fancy candy."

Solly circled around, repeatedly glancing at Dolly from different angles as if trying to impress her. The gentle banter of the ants, so absurdly out of place in the stillness of the palace garden, made it impossible for Sambh to resume his meditation.

Irritated yet amused, Sambh shifted his focus. "I am unable to meditate with all this chatter," he muttered under his breath. Then, addressing one of the ants directly, he asked, "Can you hear us clearly?"

One of the ants paused its busy movement and responded in a surprisingly clear voice,"Of course we can! Can you hear us, too?"

Dolly added with a note of curiosity, "I always thought the trees in the giant forest could speak human language, but it seems you can communicate with us as well."

Sambh smiled wryly, replying, "I can hear you clearly, though I suppose it's because you're far from here."

Dolly's voice grew gentle, "Are you disturbed by our presence?"

Sambh sighed, his eyes reflecting the weight of his inner turmoil. "Whenever I try to meditate, memories of my past overwhelm me—of incidents since I left the monastery. This place seems to echo with voices of another time."

Just then, Solly's tone turned inquisitive. "Are you the same monk mentioned in the prophecy—the one who time-travelled?"

Sambh hesitated before answering softly, "Yes, I am."

Dolly chimed in with quiet certainty, "Then you must have an ultimate purpose for being here."

Sambh's voice grew somber as he explained, "I came here under mysterious circumstances. I only know that I was shot at the gate when I went to meet my father, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself in this new world."

Solly tilted his head, his tiny voice filled with a mix of mischief and gravity, "If you do not know your purpose, perhaps you should visit the underworld and obtain the Mirror of Fate. That mirror can reveal divine artifacts from Divine Land and allow you to traverse the past, present, and future.

It controls time, but no one can forcefully enter the pond of the mirror—only the master recognized by it may do so. You might even have to sacrifice something dear to you to enter."

Sambh's eyes narrowed as he considered the strange suggestion. "I only wanted to meet my father and find a way back to the monastery," he murmured.

Solly laughed softly, "No one has ever returned to the past, except for the citizens of Divine Land. You must be accepted by them if you are to make such a journey."

Before the conversation could deepen further, a commanding voice rang out, "Your Highness!"

The sound was clear and authoritative, drawing both ants and monk alike from their peculiar exchange.

Turning swiftly, Sambh saw Jigartala hurrying toward him. His attention was divided as he noticed the two ants scurrying into a tiny hole in the ground, disappearing as if they were never there. The sudden interruption left him both bemused and alert.

Sambh rose from his meditative posture and walked briskly toward Jigartala. With genuine curiosity and a hint of urgency, he asked, "What has brought you here?"

Jigartala paused, catching her breath as she regarded him with eyes that had seen much and carried many secrets. "I have come with urgent news, Your Highness," she replied softly, her tone measured yet intense.

"There is a disturbance in the balance of our time. Your journey, your purpose—everything is now at a crossroads."

Sambh frowned, his mind racing with questions. "Disturbance? What do you mean?"

Jigartala's gaze grew distant as she spoke, "Ever since you left the monastery, events have unfolded that threaten not only your fate but the fate of all who dwell in this realm. The mirror, the divine artifacts, even the whispers of the underworld—they all speak of a great trial ahead."

Sambh's eyes narrowed in thought. "I only wish to meet my father and return to my former life. I never expected to be embroiled in such matters."

Jigartala placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Sometimes, fate chooses us, whether we are ready or not. The answers you seek are entwined with the chaos that now stirs in the undercurrents of time."

A heavy silence fell between them as the sound of the river and the soft rustling of leaves filled the space. In that suspended moment, Sambh's heart pounded with uncertainty, and the weight of destiny pressed upon him.

Then, as if the universe itself conspired to heighten the tension, a sudden ripple ran through the air—a whisper on the wind that seemed to echo from a distant, unseen source. It carried a promise of both hope and peril, leaving Sambh with a final, unanswered question:

"What price must I pay to unlock the Mirror of Fate and discover my true purpose?"

The query hung in the air like a delicate balance between light and shadow, a cliffhanger that promised an uncertain journey ahead.

Jigartala's eyes met his, and though her words were few, they carried the weight of countless secrets.

"Prepare yourself, Your Highness. The path ahead will test you beyond measure."

With those words lingering in the air, Sambh turned his gaze toward the distant horizon, where the river merged with the unknown depths of the city. The promise of revelation, entwined with the mystery of sacrifice, beckoned him forward into the unfolding tapestry of time.

And so, with his heart filled with both determination and trepidation, Sambh stepped away from the familiar spot beneath the ancient trees.