Emptiness

Chapter 04

Zeta Country

Gavero City:

Sarse…..

The name boiled Nolen’s blood like nothing else.

Sarse was a country name on another continent that could be reached only by crossing the ocean.

A country that was famous for its cruelty, barbaric techniques and the brutal Egav they had.

A country has all sorts of Egav users, from defence to healing Egav users. It’s not as if an Egav user can only use one type of Egav, but it’s just something that comes more easily to them than other types of Egav,

For example, a healer Egav user can use all sorts of spells and such using the Egav in their core. But, the healing spells comes easier to them than the ones that can be used to attack. Anyone can overcome it, but most people get used to what comes easily to them and ignore practicing other kinds of spells using their Egav, making them stuck in one place.

It’s a mistake done by many people, making themselves limited to only one option, and as their body and Egav leans on the healing side, the offensive spells will later become impossible for them to achieve.

One should be taught all spells from early age and shouldn’t restrict using their own Egav in one way. But sadly, not many know it, and even if they know it, they get tangled in their lives and ignore it, not wanting to master other things, happy with their position.

Egav is Egav. There is no healing Egav, no offensive Egav. It is up to the people of how to use it.

Sadly, as soon as people find their body affiliated to one particular branch of Egav, they pursue it, making a carrier out of it.

People with offensive and defensive Egav join the military as it has a stable income and a great way to reach higher positions and enjoy the benefits that come with the position.

Most of the families that have been dated back to centuries have some kind of special Egav in them that enables them to use powers beyond normal Egavians- the people who can use Egav.

For example, anyone can control the soil and rocks for a particular time, but an Ura can control the land for days if they are of a Gigan level. That’s the difference between other people and Uras.

Nolen didn’t want to become like them and wanted to know as much as possible. He wanted to surpass everyone and be the strongest man in the world when he became an adult.

Strong…

Stronger than even Ziyou Raaga.

Yes, Prince Ziyou was his friend, but that doesn’t mean Nolen would watch him reach above and beyond.

Nolen extended his hands again and breathed in the smell of soil, closing his grey eyes in concentration.

The sound of the animals and the surroundings faded away from his mind as he concentrated only on the Egav and the feel of it inside.

There were witches in Vabeo who used some sort of sticks and things to channel out the energy in them with gibberish words. But not Egavians.

They didn’t use any sort of things or sticks to channel their energy out.

Their Egav is a weapon, a source and the channel too.

One has to concentrate and feel the Egav inside to let it out without being relied upon anything.

The witches were just a minority of five percent, who had formed a cult and was growing day by day, fooling people around to think their way is the right way to use Egav. Thankfully, his Grandfather was smart enough not to let them in their country and build a temple of their religion.

Yes, witches have a religion of their own and a rising problem in a few of the countries.

No, no….

Nolen shook his head, not wanting to be distracted from useless thoughts.

He squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on the anger he always keeps on a tight leash….

Sarse…

The country over another continent which doesn’t have anything to do with the continent they are living on.

Efras was the continent Ura’s country Zeta, Raaga’s Vabaaga, Zuri’s Avarius and many other countries were in. Over a few months, by travelling through the sea route, you could find another continent on the east side of Efras, which is Pasrax and Sarse was one of the countries in another continent.

An ignorant onlooker could ask what Nolen Ura, a ten year old, has with the Sarse country, which was on another side of Vabeo, which would take months to reach even by taking the shortest route. But they wouldn’t know what Sarse had cost him.

His father…

His dear father, Sian Ura, was the kindest among everyone and the person Nolen valued, even more so than his Grandfather.

It all happened five years ago when a conflict between Zeta and Veron country arose. Zeta’s army, led by his father, Sian Ura, had been waging war against Veron country for months, five years back, and when they were not in good condition during the war, the Sarse people came in, taking advantage of the weak condition Zeta’s army was in during the war with Veron and executed Zeta’s people without any mercy.

Sarse was a country ruled by barbaric people as the royal family that ruled Sarse had a violent Egav. The Sarse royal members can control other people by stopping the access to their Egav and making them vulnerable. They will take advantage of it and slaughter everyone.

Nolen’s blood boiled at the deceit and the cruel way his father was killed.

The rocks he had been lifting up with his Egav crashed back, disturbing the quietness of the forest.

For Vabeo’s sake!

Nolen had lost it again.

His Grandfather had sent him away to keep control of his anger and that he would only teach him personally when Nolen knew how to turn his anger into a weapon and not let it control his actions.

It was not as if Nolen showed his anger and the things he felt outside. He rarely ever did, always focused on his training and training alone.

Nolen had never requested anything from anyone, never complained about things to his dear mother, nor did he play with his sister.

Nolen was an obedient child.

It doesn’t mean he does not feel things like hate, anger, disappointment and such.

Nolen keeps everything hidden, putting on a polite face and smile to everyone. But his Grandfather sees it all.

None could fool Zengen Ura. His Grandfather had more experience than many wise people in the Vabeo and Nolen, a mere ten year old could never fool him.

His Grandfather saw through the emotions he kept inside. Grandpa Zengen had advised him to learn to control them and not let them control him. If he kept on suppressing things, one day, everything would burst outside. He has to gain some way to let out his suppressed emotions.

And that’s why he had taken time off his duties and had come here, camping in the middle of the forest nearby the castle with two servants only. He had sent Zube off to his country and had declined Zube’s offer to join him in the forest for a few days.

Zube has a family of his own. He cannot run after Nolen all the time. And Nolen has to do it on his own.

He has to let it all out, and that was why he had been trying to lift rocks and boulders, trying to unleash his full Egav. He didn’t know what Grandfather said when he told Nolen to find some way to let his anger out.

All that came into Nolen’s mind was to train.

That’s all he ever knew.

He had been five when he had lost his father.

He had been five when his grandfather brought him to the training arena, not heeding to his mother’s pleas that he was just a child.

Nolen did understand where his Grandfather was coming from, even at that small age. He was the sole heir, and the more time it took to defend himself, the more time he was giving enemies to attack him.

So he trained, trained and trained.

He was ten now, few days had passed by since his tenth birthday, and he was still training.

Nolen raised his hands and thought of the things that made him angry.

There weren’t even ashes to dissolve in one of the many rivers that run through Zeta country. Only the story and rumors of people on the battlefield who had seen his father being burned alive remained.

Nolen didn’t even know who killed his father, to be exact, but he would get revenge on the Sarse people.

No, not only Sarse…

First, Sarse. Then, the main enemies should be destroyed, who were all scattered now, retrieved back to different countries.

Mandanas….

Oh how Nolen hated Mandanas.

The country Veron had been ruled by Mandanas for centuries, and it had been like that. The feud between Uras and Mandanas also has been going on for centuries.

And when the King of Veron, Rayden Mandana, had a fight with Nolen’s father during a formal meeting, Nolen’s father, Sian Ura, decided to wage war on Veron country with the backup of Raaga’s and Jour’s.

But during the war that had gone for months, in which half of the armies had died and remained trying to survive on both sides, the Sarse people had come in, slaughtering many people, taking advantage of the exhausted soldiers, and had conquered Veron country, making Uras to retrieve to their country without a King while shattering Mandanas all over the continent as Veron country was completely taken over by Sarse people.

The people responsible for his father’s cruel death were Mandana and Sarse.

He will not let them go.

He will not.

He will take revenge for what they had done to his father.

The rocks and boulders reached much farther in height than ever when Nolen opened his grey eyes and looked at the way Vabeo vibrated under his feet minutely.

He cannot let things like this get to him.

Hate, anger, disappointment, pain, and everything that bothered him…

Everything should be used to fuel his Egav, not be a hindrance to him.

~~~~

Country: Avarius

City: Nibea

Alan wished that he could let go of the whispers that surrounded him nowadays.

The way people talked about his mother, Hazel Mandana.

He didn’t understand why his mother’s dress was so important that it was being talked about in whispers even though a few weeks had passed by since the celebration ball.

Alan couldn’t let it go the way people talked about his mother, nor could he react in any way.

Alan chuckled bitterly, remembering how people had classified him as a cold and arrogant boy who didn’t care about things mostly.

But the truth was that he was a boy who was wearing his heart in his sleeves, baring it for people to hurt him.

But people never did understand him.

The Ice Prince…

That was what the people called him behind his back.

It was because of how Alan didn’t stay near his mother’s quarters nor speak affectionately with his siblings and didn’t cater to every wish of his maternal Grandfather.

Veron….

His father’s country….

The Mandanas had ruled it for over centuries.

And now, the Mandanas were forced to retrieve to other countries as Sarse had taken it over five years back.

Now, look at him…

He, Alan Mandana, the crown prince of Veron, was nothing but a refuge in his mother’s home country.

He didn’t have any kind of authority, nor did he have any power over people.

He was all but a Prince in name only.

His Grandfather didn’t respect him, nor did he care for him.

His mother’s father, Neo Zuri, ruled the country Avarius even at the age of sixty.

Neo Zuri was married at the age of twenty and had a son named Blair Zuri when he was twenty-one. Neo Zuri’s second child was Alan’s mother, Hazel, and his third child was also a daughter named Daisy.

Neo Zuri was crowned at the age of thirty when his father died in a battle. He had been ruling the country so far.

Neo Zuri was old, and he still hadn’t given his crown to his eldest son, Blair Zuri, even though Blair Zuri had three sons already.

None would discard him as an old man. Alan’s uncle, Blair Zuri, hadn’t even thought of asking for the throne, for Neo Zuri was a war veteran.

None could ever beat Neo Zuri when it came to battle. That was the reason Sarse wasn’t attacking Alan and his family when they retrieved back to his Grandfather’s country, Avarius.

His mother, Hazel Mandana, was a complicated human being whom Alan hated and loved her at the same time because she was his mother.

Alan loved his mother because she was the only parent he had.

He hated his mother because his mother loved Alan’s siblings more than him, which Alan didn’t know the reason why.

He had been bothered by it ever since he knew how to talk, but it had turned into a pain he got used to living with.

Alan may be nine, but he had been forced to grow up in order to survive.

He had lost his father; he had lost his home; he had lost everything the day his father died.

Now, Alan was nothing but a relative who was living under his Grandfather’s grace and a prey to many of the people who wanted to show him his place.

There were many assassination attempts on him. And if not for Anon Bradiga, who was his sole protector, Alan would be buried under Vabeo right now.

Anon Bradiga, the head Knight, the protector of his father, didn’t commit suicide like his father’s other knights, which was what the people closest to the King do when their King dies in a battle. None of his father’s Knights remained except for Anon Bradiga.

Many people scorn and disgrace the greatest protector in the entire Vabeo for living even after his King died. But Alan knew. Alan knew the reason Anon was living even if Anon didn’t say anything to anyone.

It must be because his father might have asked Anon to protect him.

To protect Alan….

Anon Bradiga was the greatest gift his father had given him.

Because….

If not for Anon, Alan wouldn’t have survived till now.

Anon Bradiga bore every taunt and every stone thrown on his name and respect, just so he could carry on his father’s last command. Alan respected Knight Anon more than he even respected his Grandfather.

The Zuri’s had welcomed them to stay, but it won’t last long as someone someday will find the presence of Mandanas unwanted.

Now his Grandfather might tolerate them, and when Alan’s uncle descended the throne, he might evict them as he had never liked Alan’s mother.

It was nothing new.

It was hard to like his mother with her cunning personality and ignorant behavior. She doesn’t like her own son. What can anyone expect from a woman like her?

Alan knew that his mother had a plan of her own, and he had no place in that.

He had to make a plan of his own.

He cannot stay here in Avarius in the future.

He was the crown prince of Veron, Alan Mandana, the son of Rayden Mandan.

He will restore Mandana’s name and conquer his homeland Veron again.

For that, he wanted to have a hold of his Egav.

That was why he had come to practice alone in the woods near the castle. It was not as if anybody cared about what he did or where he went. As long as he didn’t cause much trouble, none cared what he was up to.

He was not alone, though. Like a shadow, Anon was here somewhere in the woods, keeping guard of him.

The water fascinated him like nothing else ever did. It had a calming presence, and the feel of rain always soothed him.

Alan wasn’t saying it poetically or anything, as the water really did calm him down.

Because, it was in his blood.

The unique Egav of the Mandanas was that they could control water. Unlike many of the royal families, every Mandana cannot bend water to their will. His father was the only one who was able to control water for over a century.

And Alan wanted to take control of it, but it eluded him, refusing to respond to him.

Alan was sometimes afraid whether he would not be able to control the water to his will using his Egav. Because it was crucial for him to take control of that if he wanted to conquer his country back. But not a drop of water responded to him. It was frustrating Alan to no end.

All he had was power from his mother’s side of family.

A Zuri’s power was to throw any weapon they had coated with their Egav, and it would explode when they wanted to. Alan always had tiny daggers and knives hidden under his clothes as he could not just go anywhere he wanted with only trusting Knight Anon.

Alan had mastered the art of making the knife explode, and for that, he had to practice targeting, mostly bow and arrow, which he had done for months to achieve perfection.

He could only target for a few meters, though, for he was nothing but a child.

But this wasn’t enough.

For everyone to remember him for the Crown Prince he was, Alan had to master the power to control water.

Alan closed his eyes again, concentrating on the pond in front of him, trying to feel it with his Egav.

The water was there, he could sense it, but he couldn’t control it.

Alan had wanted to start from something small, which was why he had been trying to practice with small ponds.

Alan closed his eyes, and the ever boiling hate rose in him at the mere thought of Sarse.

And, Uras…

He will never forgive them for attacking their home country Veron without reason, which led to Sarse taking advantage of them, and his father was killed in the battle.

His father, his dear father, had disappeared into water drops as he died, leaving nothing behind, not even his ashes to bury and pray for.

Alan had nothing…

It will not take days and months but will take many years, but Alan will take his country back, for that he had to get stronger, stronger than anyone, reaching the level of Gigan one day. And even if he had to die in this process, let him die.

It was better to die like that than live like this.

He will end them before he dies, though.

Sarse and Uras have to pay for the injustice they had done his father, Rayden Mandana.

Alan closed his eyes, willing the unresponsive water to obey his Egav unsuccessfully.

Alan Mandana…

Nolen Ura…

Both were nothing but mere children, no matter how much they thought of themselves as a grown-up.

Neither Alan nor Nolen Ura knew what happened five years ago, nor did they care as the seed of hate had been sown in their hearts years before.

The war was inevitable anyway.

Blood and pain were written in their destinies already.