Emptiness

Chapter 09

Zeta Country

Gavero City:

She caressed the tulle of her dress and was satisfied that her dress hadn’t crumpled with how long she had been sitting.

It had been a tiring day with how early she had to get up.

Her mother had accompanied her to attend this ceremony in Zeta country.

An important day to her.

She could see the envious looks of others at the way she looked cute.

Soon….

Very soon, the cuteness comments will turn into beautifulness.

That’s what mother said anyway. And, Mother always knows the best for her.

She wasn’t anybody like the people around her.

Amy Raaga…

She was Amy Raaga.

The fifth child of Hagen Raaga.

The first child of Hagen Raaga’s fourth and last wife, Evvy Raaga.

A ten-year-old, who walked the path her mother, draws for her.

Because there was no other way to live happily in the Harem palace.

If she didn’t heed her mother’s orders, her mother would be disappointed in Amy and will not speak with her.

Amy didn’t have any option other than walk the way her mother ordered her.

She didn’t have anyone in the palace for her to trust. She didn’t have anyone other than her mother.

Amy wasn’t liked by her father, Hagen Raaga.

Amy had weak Egav in comparison to her father’s other children.

Amy didn’t get the World Synch like other Raaga children. None had expected her to get World Synch anyway since it was very, very rare for a female in the Raaga family to have the ability to World Synch.

It was the fact that she didn’t inherit the power of her mother’s side family.

Amy’s mother, Evvy Raaga, belonged to the Jour family who ruled Harkon country.

Harkon, Zeta and Vabaaga were the countries who were all allies for centuries.

The Jour family had powers just like any other royal family. The Jour’s power was to control fire.

Any Egavians can control fire and use it to an extent, like lighting an E-fire or making fire to cook and such. But a Jour can burn a forest with their fire.

Amy didn’t have any control over fire. In fact, her Egav shied away from the fire element.

Her mother, Evvy Raaga and her father, Hagen Raaga, were very disappointed with Amy.

She didn’t understand what the point of having a strong Egav was. Having strong Egav meant no control. The advantage of having a weak Egav is sharpening a small knife to perfection. She had great control over her Egav, and no one cared about how a ten-year-old had greater control over her Egav than her siblings.

All they cared about was some huge Egav most take years to control.

But it was not as if it was any use having a strong Egav or weak Egav.

She was a girl in the society, and all they cared about was who she would marry in the future and how to keep the peace treaty between countries by exchanging her like an object.

Yes, she was a ten-year-old child, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t know the cruelty of society or the sufferings of a royal woman.

Her mother and father were disappointed with her not having a strong Egav because they were worried that no prince would want a woman like her. With weak Egav, no Prince would bother choosing her when she grows up as she cannot give heirs with strong Egav to him.

That was what her worth was to her parents anyway.

Amy understood even at this young age of how unfair it was to be born as a girl in this Vabeo. She was weak and unwanted. That was what everyone thought of her.

That was why her mother was even stricter, more than other parents of girls, to be a perfect beauty everyone will want in the future.

She wasn’t weak.

She was a human. If being a human was weak, then they were all monsters.

She loved her mother despite everything, though.

She knew how her mother was always in the shadows, kept away by the Queen Raaga, the first wife of her father.

Her mother hated being a fourth wife, even though she had been Princess of the main branch of the Jour family. She didn’t want Amy to be like that too. She wanted Amy to be a queen in the future and worried about her a lot.

That was why Amy tolerated her strict parenting, for Amy knew her mother loved Amy the most.

She decided to let go of the thoughts of palace life, at least today.

Amy Raaga looked around the hall, looking at the people around her, bored out of her mind, as she didn’t have anyone here to chatter with or any of her maids whom she always discussed about the latest of fashion and the gossip of the castle.

One of her favorite time passing was, watching people.

Mother doesn’t allow her anywhere, kept safely in her room, more like a prison. All she could do to pass the time, other than how to behave like a proper girl, learning about Egav was people watching from her room’s balcony or windows.

The clearing of a throat made Amy to quickly clear her facial expression of boredom and smile the way mother had taught her.

Evvy Raaga smiled pleasantly at her, but Amy could see the frown of her mother at Amy’s actions and how Amy would get classes on how to sit still with a pleasant smile on her face in public ceremonies later.

Rule number one: Never let anyone know what you feel.

Rule Number Two: Don’t gawk openly at anyone.

And there are hundreds of rules which Amy honestly forgets most of the time.

It was tiring to be a Princess, especially a weak girl everyone thought of her as.

Strength doesn’t come from Egav. It comes from the heart, Amy.

Her grandmother had said that when she had been crying in her room when everyone belittled her as weak, not suitable for being a Princess.

She was four or five when her grandmother said those words.

Amy treasured those words even now.

Her grandmother was one of the very few who was kind to Amy.

Amy had been inconsolable when her grandmother died.

Her mother, Evvy Raaga, found her crying annoying and scolded her for being too weak.

Since when did crying have become weak?

Amy doesn’t understand most of the things society thinks about.

Well, she cannot do anything about it.

She had behaved perfectly for her mother throughout the month, just like her mother said, so that she could visit Zeta today.

It was a very important day.

That was why her mother had woken her up hours before sunrise and had warned her if she heard even a word of whining, then that was the end for her.

She didn’t let it bother her because today was one of the few days she could be happy.

She had let her mother dress her up. She glanced at her dress, hoping she didn’t get dirt anywhere, for mother will not forgive her for that.

The dress was of silver color, that matched her tanned skin, or that was what her mother said when she picked the dress for Amy.

She loved the soft tulle on her dress for how soft it was that she wanted to keep on touching it.

The fabric shone under the light and attracted the nearby people’s eyes.

The floral appliques and the embroidery of her dress were what made it attractive.

She liked the dress even though she had preferred something else in the shop because her mother had said that Amy should never choose something simple, because Amy was the Princess of Vabaaga.

Mother probably liked this dress because of the diamonds and crystals etched in the waistband of this dress, along with the hemlines, which screamed expensive that only royal people could afford.

At least the short sleeves of this dress were comfortable for her since it wasn’t full sleeves or puffed up ones like the previous times she had worn the gowns mother had chosen for her.

A crimson bow behind the back was contrasting for the silver dress, and she ignored the way it felt uncomfortable while she sat leaning against the chair.

A lady shouldn’t complain, Amy.

One of the many rules of her mother came into Amy’s mind, which she chose to ignore since it was a happy occasion.

Her friend, the one and only friend Amy had, was being crowned officially as the Crown Prince.

Nolen Ura’s Crown Prince ceremony.

He was one of the few persons who were kind to her.

He had been the only one who didn’t care about how people made fun of her for being weak or how she didn’t have World Synch, or how she didn’t have a vast core of Egav.

He interacted with her just like he did with other people, and that’s what made him to stand out.

He was Nolen Ura, the crown Prince of Zeta country.

Unlike the Raagas, he was the sole heir of Zeta and didn’t have any kind of tradition like the Raagas did for choosing a crown.

The ceremony had been over half an hour ago, and they were all waiting for Prince Nolen to change his attire after the ceremony and make an appearance with a crown.

She liked the way he treated her normally.

The only person Amy’s mother allowed Amy to interact with, hoping they would marry in the future or something.

Ewww…

She was just a ten-year old. He was her friend. Granted, they weren’t close friends or anything like how Prince Nolen and Prince Zube Jour were. She was just a friend, and she was happy with that.

She had presented Prince Nolen with a diamond brooch she had brought with the approval of mother and had given it to him earlier today.

Prince Nolen had smiled at her and had promised that he would wear them after the ceremony. She was ecstatic that he found her gift wonderful. She had gifted him in hopes that he would wear the brooch for the presentation after the crowning ceremony.

Her ceremony had been crazier than anything that had ever happened in her life.

As a Raaga, they were supposed to like the snakes, but Amy had deep fear for them, so when the snakes appeared all of a sudden, she got scared as hell and hid behind her mother.

Her mother hadn’t scolded her since she too had squealed in terror, which she is still denying, refusing to accept she had squealed in fear. But Amy knew it, though.

Compared to others’ crowns, hers was a little feminine. So, what? She was a girl, and she wasn’t ashamed of her choices.

Her crown was of a floral design. Tiny flowers joined with leaves weaved over in a circle, looking like a flower crown. Her mother didn’t say anything when she had picked this design. Amy had always liked flowers of different kinds, so it was no wonder that particular design attracted her to as soon as she saw it.

There were sudden whispers among the crowd, and she didn’t have to crane her neck like others as she was sitting in the front line. They were Raagas, the greatest ally of Uras. So, it was no wonder they attended each other’s important occasions.

It was her father’s orders to his every child to attend the ceremony, showing support to Prince Nolen as he would be the future King of Zeta.

Even if he didn’t order, she would attend this ceremony. This was her friend’s day. She knew how important it was for Prince Nolen.

The whispers ceased when Prince Nolen entered in Ura’s royal clothes, a white tunic, a brown vest over it and matching pants along with a brown cloak that reached his ankles behind. The cloak was embroidered with tiny Kogans that could be seen even from here.

As brown was the official color of Uras, which can be seen in Ura’s flags and military uniforms, it was no wonder Prince Nolen wore a brown dress since it symbolizes the power Uras have over land and soil.

The crown shone under the sunlight, making him look like a Prince out of a fairytale.

It was a happy occasion, and Amy always was happy for Prince Nolen, but not today.

Bitterness, jealousy and betrayal took over her happiness.

Over the many training classes she had with her mother, Amy did know how to keep everything inside and keep on a smile. That was helping Amy now.

Her lips were smiling yet, she felt worse inside with how jealousy was consuming her heart inside.

She had never hated anyone in her life, as she was mature for her age, unlike children of her age.

So, hate was a strong emotion that she had never felt for anyone, except….

Ziyou Raaga….

The one person she hates over anything and anyone.

Her half-brother…

The one, their father, favors above every child of his.

The one who can get away with everything.

Ziyou Raaga, the only Raaga child who had escaped living in the cruel Harem Palace and lived on his own in the central part of the castle, and was lucky to not go through harem politics every day.

The one who always ruin things for every Raaga child of Hagen Raaga.

Nothing simple happens whenever he is present.

Whether it was a choosing of a crown or a crowing ceremony, nothing would be ordinary if Ziyou Raaga was present.

The snakes that had appeared during the crown ceremony and the way the crowd cheered for Ziryou Raaga had even startled their father.

She had never interacted with him.

She wasn’t envious of the attention he had, nor was she upset about the extraordinary things that happened around her brother, Ziyou Raaga.

She didn’t care what happened to him, and she knew the feeling was mutual.

So, then, why did she hate him above everyone, one might ask.

It was because of the reason Ziyou Raaga has one thing she wishes above all….

Prince Nolen’s friendship and affection.

Prince Nolen is attached to her half-brother, Ziyou Raaga, and respects him a lot.

Prince Nolen was the only person, the only Prince who interacted with her like she was a human instead of an object.

Above all, Prince Nolen is innocent of the hardships of royal life as he is a Prince who has everything.

She liked that innocence in him.

She does everything for Prince Nolen, from getting him things he likes to writing countless letters so that he will never get lonely.

She does everything, and she only gets treated as a casual friend, but when Ziyou appears in front of Prince Nolen, his entire expression changes, and he starts to behave like the children of his age and smiles a lot.

Like how Prince Nolen had chosen to wear the brooch, gifted by Ziyou, rather than the one Amy had gifted, which Prince Nolen had promised to wear for the Presentation.

It hurt a lot that Prince Nolen had forgotten his promise to her, but what hurt the most was how he had opted to wear something that Ziyou didn’t spend any thought to buy.

Ziyou had brought this brooch by ordering his servant to buy it only because their father ordered everyone to visit Zeta with gifts.

Amy only knew about it when Ziyou’s personal servant had come to buy a brooch from the same shop she had come to pick up her gift.

She had given a design of Kogan to the jewel maker earlier. She had come to pick it up when it was finished, and she had frowned at how thoughtless of Ziyou to send a servant of all things to choose a gift. The servant had chosen a wings brooch as a gift, and the very same brooch was now on Prince Nolen’s vest.

She hated it…

She hated how her brother, Ziyou, never cared how much Prince Nolen valued him.

Ziyou had even forgotten Prince Nolen’s birthday, and it was her who asked one of her maids to write a letter in the name of Ziyou and had sent it to Prince Nolen so that he wouldn’t be sad.

She does everything for Prince Nolen’s happiness, and yet, he never sees her, just like how he came down and asked Ziyou to be present with him on the stage, along with Prince Zube Jour.

Amy could see how her other siblings, especially their eldest, Lehan Raaga, hated the way Prince Nolen only chose Ziyou to represent Raagas, just like always.

She could even tolerate the affection and respect Prince Nolen had for Ziyou if only he respected Prince Nolen and cared about his feelings.

Ziyou never cared about anyone, and the way he was politely smiling at Prince Nolen, and how Ziyou was awkward and silent on the stage even though it was a great honor to be chosen by the future King of Zeta.

Ziyou had Prince Nolen’s affection even though Amy tries hard to be even noticed…

She was tired of being ignored by everyone. She was always dismissed as a weak person, especially when Ziyou Raaga had set the bar high for every one of the Raaga children.

Ziyou doesn’t know the difficulty of being under his shadows.

He didn’t know anything, nor did Ziyou Raaga care what happened to them.

She was always a background to everybody, as if she was a side character in everyone’s life, whom everyone ignored, even her own family. But she thought she had Prince Nolen, the only friend whom she loved to share things with.

But now, even Prince Nolen had made her feel like she was nothing but a background in his life.

Amy can never forgive Ziyou for taking her friend, Prince Nolen, away.

Amy felt her heart weighing with sorrow, disappointment, betrayal and hate.

Amy felt too much, yet nothing showed on her face.

As sorrow clawed at her chest, making it harder for her to breathe, seeing both of them smile and speaking on the stage as the crowd cheered for them, Amy didn’t notice how a single hyacinth bloomed under her tiny heels.

~~~~

Ziyou glanced at how hard Nolen was concentrating on things with his Egav, trying to master lifting the rocks in front of him.

Ziyou did respect Nolen for dedicating himself to mastering his Egav, trying to master the power of Uras.

Yesterday had been the Crown Prince ceremony of Nolen, and they had arrived two days before the ceremony and will be leaving Zeta tomorrow.

Lehan and Hedek, his two eldest brothers, had already left Zeta on the King’s order. Ziyou had stayed behind so he could accompany his third stepmother, Evvy and her daughter Amy Raaga and her son, Dylan Raaga.

Zed and Tina Raaga, along with their mothers, will stay a week more in Zeta as they rarely ever visit Zeta.

So, he decided to spend his time mastering the land element.

Ziyou had mastered fire to a certain level of linia. He can easily handle the fire element, unlike other people who struggle with the basics.

Anyone starting to develop the core will begin with the fire element. The next one was the land.

The last was water, and Ziyou wouldn’t bother with it. Unlike other elements, water is the hardest ever to control. Very few could handle water, and they were all Mandanas.

A Mandan alone knows how to control water.

There weren’t many Mandanas to teach about water elements anymore. No one can learn Egav of a different field with just books. There should be someone expert to teach them. That was why Ziyou visited Harkon to master the fire element and visited Zeta to master the land element.

He had thanked Nolen’s grandfather, Zengan Ura, when he had offered to show him the basics. He was a very busy man and for him to give some of his time to a child like Ziyou was something he didn’t expect.

Nolen had joined the training in the morning today.

Zengan Ura had long gone for his duties after spending an hour with them.

Since then, Nolen and Ziyou, along with Zube Jour, have been trying to lift the rock in front of them.

Three rocks had been assigned by Nolen’s grandfather to them. The three of them had a rock of enormous size in front of them. Zengan Ura had assigned them the task of lifting the rocks at least a few meters in the air if they wanted lunch.

Zube bemoaned for joining in with Ziyou and Nolen’s practice, wanting to spend time with his friends.

Zube had trouble with the land element, so it would be impossible for Zube to even lift it a few inches in the air. Ziyou didn’t want to be mean, so he kept his comments to himself and watched them practice their Egav.

It had been a few minutes before; Ziyou had lifted the rock in the air, much to the envy of Nolen and Zube.

It was one thing he liked about Prince Nolen was that even if he was envious, he took it in a friendly, sportive manner and tried to do his own best instead of throwing a tantrum like Ziyou’s siblings.

Zube was innocent with his enviousness, as he was jealous of Ziyou only because Ziyou would get to eat his lunch, and Zube won’t unless he lifted the rock in front of him.

They had crowded him, asking how he did it. No matter how many times he explained to them, they didn’t get it. Ziyou didn’t fault them, since every element felt different to everybody. Even though Nolen had at least understood something from his explanation, Zube was a lost cause.

Ziyou had chuckled at Zube, which earned a scowl from him before Ziyou decided to let them practice alone, not wanting to disturb them, and took a seat on the bench nearby the training field.

There were guards around who were looking over the security of three of them while medics and teachers were nearby to handle if something went wrong or if they got hurt.

Ziyou leaned against the bench and looked above, closing his eyes, loving the warmth of the star, Mercos, that gave light to the entire Vabeo.

A sudden lightning feeling went through his body.

Again!

Ziyou’s white eyes opened, and he looked around, feeling that someone had been following him.

It was nothing new…

He had been afraid for a while of how he could tell that someone had been following him for a while.

But as he turned around, he never saw anyone.

Ziyou knew no one could cross past every security they had to follow him. It would be impossible to cross the security of Zeta, no matter how powerful they were. Zengan Ura wouldn’t compromise with the security of the only heir of Zeta.

Ziyou got up, ignoring the way Nolen and Zube played around, teasing each other about how neither of them couldn’t lift the massive boulder in front of them.

Ziyou moved towards the small area dedicated to tall trees near the training field in order to give some shade to the people who practice in the noon.

Ziyou waved away the guard, who tried to ask if Ziyou needed anything.

As he moved towards the forest, the feeling of being followed increased.

Ziyou had been feeling that for months.

Who was it that was following him day and night?

Ziyou can tell that it was not a human. How can a human pass the royal security and guards of Vabaaga and Zeta?

Then who was it, or what was it?

As he reached near the trees, Ziyou was stunned, speechless.

It was just a second….

A second before it disappeared.

No….

It was not possible…

How can it be possible?

There. It was right there.

Even though it was right there just for a second before it disappeared, his eyes didn’t fail him.

“Is everything alright, Prince Ziyou?”

Ziyou was startled when Prince Nolen looked worriedly at him, along with Zube Jour.

“I... Yes, everything’s fine, Prince Nolen.”

“No, I can see that you’re not ok. You go and take rest, Prince Ziyou. We will finish the training.”

“Thank you, Prince Nolen.”

“I will call a servant….”

“No, Prince Nolen. I will go on my own.”

Ziyou politely excused himself from them and moved to his room.

God!

How can it be possible?

It was a snake…..

Not just any snake…

He cannot be mistaken as there was only one kind that looked like the snake he saw.

A white snake with red eyes…

The King of Egav snakes, Yehuan….

A snake that only comes to the one who will rule Vabaaga.