Both men were remembering the same past… yet carrying completely different emotions from it.
Despite everything, somewhere within Ekalavya's heart, Guru Drona still existed as a figure worthy of reverence. That wound had never fully erased his devotion.
But toward Arjuna… the feeling was different.
Because while Drona had rejected him openly… Arjuna had become the reason the rejection deepened into humiliation.
Ekalavya broke the silence first.
"I heard," he said calmly, "that you have been quite active recently, eliminating Rakshasa tribes and Asuras troubling the remote regions of your Kuru kingdom."
Arjuna nodded slightly.
"And you," he replied carefully, "I did hear that you made yourself into an archer regardless of everything." His voice tightened faintly. "It is honestly… commendable."
For the first time, emotion flickered visibly across Ekalavya's face. His eyes darkened slightly. Not with rage. But with something colder. Controlled bitterness.
"Of course," Ekalavya replied quietly, "those who possess talent can still find another path… even when the first path was deliberately cut away to make room for someone else."
The words landed sharply. Not loud. Not insulting. Yet far heavier than open anger.
Arjuna's jaw tightened instantly. For a brief second, guilt flickered through him, quickly followed by defensiveness. Because even now… even after years… a part of him still believed what happened had been necessary.
Before the atmosphere could grow sharper, another voice entered calmly between them.
"Prince Arjuna."
Both men turned.
Karna approached them across the courtyard with his usual composed demeanor. Morning sunlight reflected faintly against the golden edges of his attire while palace guards instinctively stepped aside from his path.
Karna's gaze moved briefly between both archers. Then a faint smile appeared upon his face.
"I see you have already met Ekalavya," he said calmly. "Is it still awkward? It's been years since that incident…"
Neither answered immediately.
Karna seemed unsurprised by that silence. Instead, he walked toward Ekalavya naturally and placed a hand upon his shoulder with visible respect and camaraderie.
"It's nice meeting you again, Ekalavya. Maharaj Jarasandha would never stop praising you."
Ekalavya smiled with a nod. "I'm grateful to him. Maharaj doesn't hold any reservations against our tribe, just because we are the people of the jungle."
"People of the jungle are braver than we, the people of the city, as you daily face life-threatening situations from other tribes, Rakshasas, and man-eating wild animals. You deserve respect."
The conversation between them unsettled Arjuna slightly. He could see respect in Karna's words, even though Ekalavya wasn't matched either in strength or socially with Karna.
"By the way," Karna continued while glancing toward Arjuna, "Ekalavya is also now the commander of one of Magadha's elite divisions."
Arjuna's eyes narrowed faintly.
Karna continued calmly, "He created an archery corps where warriors no longer depend entirely on the thumb to shoot."
That drew Arjuna's full attention. He had thought Ekalavya practiced archery with his left hand, but this new piece of information took him by surprise.
Karna smiled faintly.
"Do you remember," he asked, "months ago in Hastinapura, when I used my other fingers to release multiple arrows simultaneously?"
Arjuna immediately remembered. The image surfaced vividly in his mind — Karna drawing several arrows at once between different fingers with terrifying control. At the time, Arjuna had viewed it simply as another display of Karna's monstrous skill. But now… a realization slowly formed.
Karna lightly patted Ekalavya's shoulder again.
"I should actually thank him for that inspiration," he said openly. "When I learned how he adapted after losing the use of his thumb…" Karna's eyes sharpened slightly with admiration. "I understood that true warriors do not stop simply because fate closes one door before them. They create another path."
Ekalavya lowered his gaze briefly. Not out of humility. But because genuine acknowledgment from Karna still affected him deeply.
Arjuna forced himself to nod politely.
"It is… impressive," he admitted.
A moment later, as if remembering something, Arjuna spoke in a serious tone.
"Ekalavya… I will not pretend the incident never happened. I do feel bad that I complained to my teacher when I saw how skilled you were. But I will not feel guilty about it. In the end, it was your choice to cut off your thumb. And I will not question my teacher's decision to ask for it."
Ekalavya blinked twice. Then a faint, calm smile touched his lips.
"I never held you accountable, Prince Arjuna. I gave away my thumb as part of my gurudakshina. But it is a pity… that the very promise which made Gurudev ask for my thumb can no longer be kept."
Arjuna's gaze flicked toward Karna. His jaw tightened. He knew exactly what Ekalavya meant — or rather, who.
"My Gurudev cannot be wrong," he said firmly. "I may not be the strongest today… but one day, I will become the greatest archer of this era."
Karna smiled slightly at the declaration.
"Having ambition is good, Arjuna. Just do not let that ambition turn into an obsession."
Arjuna frowned.
"It is not an obsession. And it is not merely ambition either. I am only trying to prove that my Gurudev's promise was right."
Karna paused. He glanced at Ekalavya, a thoughtful look settling in his eyes.
"Then how about a small competition between you and Ekalavya?"
Both men turned toward him at once.
"What?"
"Huh?"
Karna shrugged lightly.
"A friendly competition. Nothing more. I am not asking either of you to draw blood. Simply demonstrate your archery. But if you truly wish to prove you are the greatest… then you must earn acknowledgment from every skilled archer that they stand below you."
He looked at Ekalavya.
"Do you accept that your skills are inferior to his?"
Ekalavya answered without hesitation.
"I do not. Not without a fight, at least."
Karna smiled and gestured toward Arjuna.
"See?"
Arjuna clenched his fists. He looked from Karna to Ekalavya, then exhaled slowly.
"…Alright. I do not mind a friendly spar."
Karna nodded.
"Since this will be pure archery skill, no astras may be used. Only ordinary arrows. Both of you will receive a quiver with exactly one hundred arrows. The first to land a single clean strike on the other wins. No other weapons. No other combat styles."
Arjuna answered straightforwardly.
"I am ready for any kind of competition."
Ekalavya's voice was steady.
"So am I."
Karna clapped his hands once, a genuine smile appearing on his face.
"Good."
The courtyard that had been quiet only moments earlier now felt charged with quiet tension.
Karna had a pair of attendants bring two identical quivers, each holding exactly one hundred ordinary arrows. He placed one before Arjuna and the other before Ekalavya.
"As decided..." Karna said clearly. "No astras. Only ordinary arrows. The first clean strike wins. Nothing else."
Both men nodded.
Arjuna rolled his shoulders once, then looked at Ekalavya with a calm, steady gaze.
"Since I am the stronger party," he said, "I will give you the first chance to shoot."
Karna's brow furrowed for a brief second.