Emptiness

Chapter 03

Zeta Country

Gavero City:

Nolen Ura was not in a good mood.

He tried to be perfect in every way possible, for the entire Ura’s fate rested upon his shoulder.

His father’s life was claimed by the cruel war.

His father, the one whom Nolen admired a lot and loved a lot, was no more.

It was his tenth birthday today, and it has been four years since his father died in the battle and that day was still fresh in his mind when his Grandfather came into his room and hugged him, shedding tears for the first time.

Nolen respected his Grandfather more than anyone, for the strong aura he emitted, like every problem will be solved just by his mere presence.

His Grandfather, Zengan Ura, who had sworn to protect Ura’s country Zeta as long as he lived, stayed behind on the order of Nolen’s father when he went to war. His father had asked Nolen’s Grandfather to stay behind and look after the castle in his absence.

His father, Sian Ura, was the pride of Zeta country. He was kind beyond words, down to earth, the exact opposite of Grandfather Zengan’s personality.

His Grandfather was crowned at the age of thirty-five when his brother passed away without any male heirs and was forced to marry at that age when his Grandfather was fond of being a bachelor. But the truth was, his Grandfather was shy and awkward when it came to romance, or that was what grandmother said to Nolen.

Nolen’s grandmother was the only person who had the guts to tease his Grandfather and get away with it without any consequences.

So when his grandfather reached sixty and was too tired to rule the country after the multiple wars he had to fight with neighbor countries when Zengan Ura was crowned as a King. So, his Grandfather had crowned Nolen’s father as the King and stayed as an advisor to him when needed.

His father was the Jem of Zeta, and people loved him more than Nolen’s Grandfather as he was more approachable and kind. In contrast, Nolen’s Grandfather might seem cold and strict but had a very kind heart inside him, which no one mostly knows about except Nolen and Nolen’s grandmother.

When Nolen’s father, Sian Ura, was crowned, he had guided the country in a good way, and in came war after seven years since Sian Ura became a King.

Nolen’s father, the previous King, Sian Ura, left Nolen’s Grandfather in Zeta, making him in charge of Nolen.

And when Nolen’s Grandfather came to Nolen’s room that day, hugging him and holding Nolen against his chest, shedding tears, Nolen understood even at that age that his father was no more.

His Grandfather was a prideful man and never showed any weakness ever in front of anybody, not even when grandmother had fallen ill and for him to cry, only one thing could do it, and that was death. Seeing how grandmother was also present in his room, Nolen guessed who had left the world. That was his father.

Nolen had felt like he had lost everything that day and it was his mother and Grandfather who had consoled him. His grandmother had fallen ill with the demise of her son’s death. She still hadn’t recovered and was on bedrest most of the time.

His Grandfather’s pain and loss were slow and deep-rooted, one which you cannot see but can feel it if you know him well. And, Nolen did know his Grandfather at least somewhat, and he can guess the rage buried inside his Grandfather, waiting to pounce back on the enemy.

For that, Nolen has to be the ruler Zeta’s country needs, and he had to be the absolute best in everything.

Nolen Ura cannot falter in anything he does.

He had to be the epitome of perfection, for there will be war.

Yes, there will definitely be war in the future. His Grandfather won’t be satisfied with letting go of the culprits who had killed Nolen’s father, Sian Ura.

His Grandfather was keeping low because of Nolen. And Nolen hated how young he was. He was holding back his Grandfather from going into war.

His fist clenched at the reminder of how young he was and how he was the reason that stopped his Grandfather from launching an attack on the people and the country that had taken Nolen’s father away by brutally killing him.

Nolen will lead the war in the future, and he cannot wait to push his enemies dead under the ground, presenting them to Vabeo.

And for that, he has to grow, and his powers have to grow.

His Egav should grow to the level of Gigan – a radius that is larger than an average Egav Linia, which is ten meter radius.

Nolen was born in the royal family, in which usually has the power in their blood to grow into Gigan. But it was up to every individual to develop their Egav into that radius.

A commoner cannot reach the level of Hegger and Moyen, let alone a Gigan.

An Egav user of Moyen level can be found primarily on military and are the majority of the persons in a royal army.

Egav users of Hegger level are the higher level people, like General and Princes and even some Kings.

You can only reach the highest power level, Gigan, only with dedication and the blood in you.

And Nolen had both of them.

His father, Sian Ura, had been an Egav user of Hegger level, like most of the Kings. It was rare for anyone to reach Gigan level but, Nolen wanted to be a Gigan one day, to lead Zeta into its glory.

His Grandfather could have become a Gigan, but his age wouldn’t let him. Such a pity. But Hegger level, the next to Gigan, wasn’t to be taken lightly either. For, Nolen knew his Grandfather could wipe the floor with hundreds of Moyen level Egav users.

Nolen shuddered, thinking about the unfortunate people who had been born without the ability to use Egav. The lowlifes.

It is said that the lowlifes are the people who were cursed by Egav for the misdeeds they did in a past life or the misdeeds they will do in their life. Such people were the ones the society secluded in places of every village called garbage.

Nolen shook his head.

Why was he thinking about lowlifes?

Nolen was going to reach the Gigan level, and Vabeo will bend to his will.

The saying of Vabeo favors an Ura wasn’t just said to flatter the Uras. The very Vabeo they stand in obeys to the command of Ura’s Egav.

The family power of Ura’s was to bend the soil, the ground, in literal Vabeo’s land.

And Nolen wanted to shake the very Vabeo till he felt satisfied when he got the revenge on the people who had killed his father.

He petted the Kogan – the royal bull species and guided it towards the stable created for them. Kogan breeds can only be found in Zeta country and mainly in the capital city of Zeta, Gavero.

He had been training with the captains how to ride bigger Kogans as he had been only riding on the baby Kogans. So, today, on his tenth birthday, his Grandfather deemed that he was ready to be trained to know how to ride on an adult Kogan.

He caressed its skin before the stable servants took it back. Nolen moved towards the central part of the castle where his room was.

He regretted not taking the day off from his training and lessons as ordered by his Grandfather. He wanted to prove to his Grandfather that he was a grown boy who didn’t whine about training and things, so he didn’t need to take this day off even if it was his birthday.

Nolen loved training, but he wasn’t in the mood today.

In the complicated life of his and his drive to be perfect in everything, the only thing he allowed himself was what other ten-year-old children like him were usually happy with.

Friendship….

He wanted to be friends with Ziyou Raaga.

Ziyou Raaga was as fascinating as he was when Nolen met him for the first time.

He was perfect and someone whom Nolen wanted to grow like, no, grow along with him.

Ziyou Raaga was two years older than him. Yet, he was powerful at the mere age of twelve. Ziyou Raaga wasn’t the heir to the throne of Vabaaga, yet he was being recognized by the people and was being respected because of his power, unlike anyone the people had seen. He had surpassed the linia level easily and was going to the Egav level of Moyen, which was not possible for that age.

Their families, Ura and Raaga, have never gone against each other for centuries. You could never find allied countries like Zeta and Vabaaga anywhere in the entire Vabeo.

It was all due to the ancestor of the Ura family, a conflict that arose centuries ago, and it was a Raaga who came in aid. And since then, an official treaty has formed in which Zeta and Vabaaga remain united, facing everything together.

There has never been a conflict rose in between their countries, so it was natural for Nolen to get to know about the Raaga family. And the more he heard about Ziyou Raaga, he gets intrigued about how a boy like him had this much power, and he wanted to get to know about him.

That was why Nolen was friendly with him whenever he visited Vabaaga and when the children of the Raaga family visited Zeta.

He had known Ziyou Raaga since his childhood, probably like when he was three or four, as they both were family friends.

And today was his birthday; he hadn’t gotten any kind of letter from his friend.

Did he forget his birthday?

No, it can’t be.

Ziyou never forgot things like this. Usually, Nolen went to Vabaaga on his birthdays to celebrate it, or the children of Raaga visited Zeta to celebrate his birthday.

Birthdays were momentous occasions where the children could mingle and form bonds. Since Nolen was the only male child in the main family branch, he was the sole heir of Ura. So, they usually spent it with him.

But this birthday he couldn’t go to Vabaaga as the villages were facing the flood problem and they couldn’t come and visit him due to the flooded villages on their way. But the King of Vabaaga sent him a letter explaining the situation and wishing him a happy birthday.

Ziyou Raaga’s sister Amy Raaga had sent him a scroll wishing him a happy birthday along with a gift. Nolen had received all sorts of gifts from everywhere, but Ziyou hadn’t wished him.

Just then, his friend ran towards him, when he was going towards his room.

Zube Jour, a prince, who was sent to Zeta to learn from them as he was not from the main branch of the Jour royal family and to maintain the alliance between them.

Jour’s ruled the country Harkon.

Zeta’s allies were Vabaaga and Harkon.

Zube stopped near him.

“Why are you running like this, Zube?”

Nolen frowned at him when Zube let go of the lessons taught by the teachers about how a Prince should behave.

“Nolen, Nolen, Prince Ziyou had sent a letter to you. Your Grandfather said it’s in your room. I just couldn’t wait to share this with you. That’s why I came to you directly instead of sending a servant.”

Nolen grinned at Zube, and catching his hand, he ran towards his room, forgetting the etiquettes and such.

Zube was a simple boy who liked the things that made Nolen happy and found happiness in that. He was a good friend who ignored the imperfections in Nolen and made him happy. Zube and Ziyou were the only ones who could call him by his name other than Nolen’s family.

He ignored the guards and soldiers on his way and entered the room. He sent the servants away as he found the scroll amid the piles of gifts on his table.

He opened it and found Ziyou wishing him a happy birthday. Nolen’s smile turned fake, and he smiled for the sake of Zube, who was now opening the different scrolls on the table, excitedly informing the things people had sent for him.

Zube doesn’t know how the scrolls and gifts go through levels of security before they even reach near Nolen’s room. His Grandfather won’t compromise even a little when it comes to Nolen’s safety, for he was the sole heir to the throne.

Zube doesn’t know much, just like how he doesn’t know it was not Ziyou’s handwriting.

It was nothing new…

Nolen shouldn’t have been disappointed. After all, he had sent countless letters to Ziyou over many days whenever he found something to share, but Ziyou rarely ever responded.

Nolen felt so lonely sometimes, and he thought Ziyou would understand, but he was wrong, it seemed. Someone had sent him a letter like Ziyou so that he won’t be upset, probably one of Ziyou’s siblings. How pathetic Nolen was!

Nolen turned away from the pile of gifts and moved outside of his room while Zube followed him, even though he was startled by the constant change in Nolen’s mood.

He cannot just sit here and wallow about his friend forgetting his birthday. Nolen was imperfect, but he will be the perfect grandson for his Grandfather.

As he walked towards the training area, Nolen didn’t notice the way the land vibrated under his steps. He didn’t notice the perfect vibration of his Egav and his friend Zube who would follow him anywhere as Nolen was busy being submerged in the imperfection he imagined his life was.

~~~~

Avarius country

Ubrax State:

Her beauty didn’t fade over the years!

Look at her brunette hair!

The audacity of her to prance here like a queen!

Shh! She will hear you and use her weird Egav!

Stop it! Don’t even utter that cursed Egav!

You have to give it to the way she is even today.

Sheesh! You’re such a man w***e!

I will take her to bed if she is willing.

Why would she even take you? She is a widow, for Vabeo’s sake! Have some respect!

Respect? Look at the way she dressed even at this age!

She is thirty-five, for Mercos sake! Don’t drool after her.

A widow? What a pity!

Look at the fox queen’s state now.

Shush…..

Hazel let the whispers slide over her ears and let them slither away instead of letting it bother her.

She wasn’t a newborn to these political battles as she had been doing just that ever since she had been a teen.

The ball was as boring as her uncle.

But she smiled at the people surrounding her and moved towards the bar counter, where they were serving drinks. She had done her best to be good as this was her distant uncle’s third, no, fourth marriage, and he was holding a ball to celebrate his upcoming marriage.

The girl was younger than her uncle, and Hazel was disgusted with her uncle and her family, who didn’t see any problem with it.

She was done for today.

As she walked towards the bar counter, politely smiling and speaking to the people in the way, a fresh bout of whispers followed her, most were about her dress.

Yes, she had worn a gorgeous dress. So what? Can’t she wear it just because her husband left the world or that she was too old for this dress?

None would say she was in her thirties, for her body remained without wrinkles and such. She was still a beauty. If she had a body like this, why not flaunt it? It was her choice. They don’t know the routines she does to keep her body young and healthy.

Shiny, soft and had a beautiful drape. That was why she had gone for satin. She preferred the soft, lustrous surface of Satin against her skin.

It was an A-line Crimson color dress that had a cowl neck along with thin, adjustable straps that went around the back to cross and tie. The beautiful long dress had a right side slit, followed by an a-line skirt.

The leg slit was a daring one, and that was what had these sheep talking.

Hazel didn’t care. It was her body, and she wanted to do what she liked.

Hazel Mandana may have lost her country and the title of Queen when her husband passed away, leaving her and their children all alone.

She had retrieved from her husband’s country as it was taken over and conquered by the enemy and she was currently staying in her father’s country, Avarius.

Like a tiger that was caged and kept for entertainment, she was back again to her father’s home and was going through the life of a royal member instead of the Queen she was.

Hazel Mandana was the envy of many people when she managed to marry Rayden Mandana, the crown prince of the entire Veron country and later became the King of Veron country when his father died. She was the woman everyone envied for the power she had and the luxuries she could afford.

Her husband died in the battle, leaving her all alone in this world and knowing that the only option would be going back to her maternal country, as her father would give protection to her and her children despite how their relationship was not on good terms.

She was the Queen of the entire Veron country, where none would dare to look at her in the eyes except for her husband. But look at her situation now.

If she had been the Queen, she would have cut the tongues that dared to speak about her. But let them talk; she wasn’t bothered by them anyway. She will have her revenge when she reaches a good position.

She grabbed a glass of drink and sipped it leisurely, savoring the burning feel against her throat, feeling good as the boring day was coming to an end.

“Bored, Sister?”

Her sister’s voice was grating as ever.

“As if you’re enjoying, Daisy.”

Daisy Holtor married to the man Jason Haltor who was the Governor of one of the states in their father’s country, Avarius.

Daisy never could get over the fact that Hazel managed to marry a Crown Prince and became a Queen of a vast nation, Veron later. But as Hazel was staying in Avarius again, Daisy didn’t leave a chance to taunt her whenever they met, mostly on occasions like this as Daisy stayed in the state her husband ruled, and Hazel stayed in the capital city of Avarius.

“I am fine here, sister Hazel.”

Sister Hazel was said purposefully to remind Hazel how she was not a Queen now. When she was a Queen, she loved the moments Daisy had to address her as Queen Mandana. But she let it go, knowing that she was not a teenager to throw a tantrum over this.

“As you say, Misses Haltor.”

Even though Hazel said in a teasing tone, Daisy did understand the dig at her status.

Who was Daisy to taunt her when she wasn’t in a better position than Hazel? Daisy’s husband already had three concubines. At least, she had been a Queen for years.

Daisy fumed silently but didn’t make a scene, knowing that their father would punish them if anything happened to ruin his status as King in front of important people here in the ball.

“Your dress is beautiful, Sister Hazel. It was the talk of the ball.”

Daisy was basically calling her a w***e in a very polite way. Hazel smiled at her younger sister, much to the irritation of Daisy.

How cute!

“Thank you, Daisy..”

Hazel said it while looking over Daisy from head to toe, showing how bland she looked and the way she had aged, unlike Hazel.

Daisy huffed, moving away from the counter.

How rude!

Hazel chuckled to herself and took another glass of alcohol before glancing at her uncle from the corner of her eyes, who was dancing happily with the bride-to-be.

She caressed her onyx stone ring, turning her back to the sight of her uncle dancing with his fiancé. Hazel closed her eyes and enjoyed the drink.

I am sorry, uncle.

But, you shouldn’t have dared to touch me in that manner.

None knew about it except Hazel and her uncle, who was the Governor of state Ubrax, looking over the state he was in charge of, a position gifted by Hazel’s father. Instead of looking for someone competent, her father gave her uncle a state to govern over.

Her uncle Chrisley Zuri shouldn’t have touched her a few weeks before, asking her to be a secret mistress to him and that he will bathe her in gold and diamonds.

She had pushed him away, and he had gone away angrily. None knew about it except her maids, who were all loyal to her that they would give her their life for the changes she had brought in their miserable life.

Maid Ryth had blinked at her few minutes before, not even nodding to indicate that the job was done. She had trained them well.

Her cute little assassins!

She smiled over the rim of her glass, opening her black eyes, the color of her soul.

For daring to touch me when I wasn’t interested, you have to pay it with your life for the crime you committed, uncle Chrisley.

A slow poison was enough. Her uncle will die within a few months, and none can trace it back to her even if they find the poison in his blood, which would have dissolved and formed into something else in his body by the time her uncle would die.

Hazel hadn’t even gone for her dark Egav that she had kept only to herself as none knew about it. People only thought of her Egav as weird but none knew the forbidden rituals she does.

She hadn’t chosen her Egav to end her uncle. Her knowledge of poison had been enough.

You’ve picked on the wrong woman, uncle Chrisley.

After all, every woman born in this male-dominated world had a hidden strength to be a warrior, and men like her uncle underestimated the power women like her had.

Even if he hadn’t touched her and angered her, he had been on her target list. After all, she cannot stay like a royal relative in the castle of Avarius till her death.

Her husband’s country was gone. So, what? She will rule her father’s country and take over it inch by inch. It was a long plan that might take years, but she will die a Queen. She refused to be like this weak woman, who was confined in the royal palace all her life.

If she feared her father like Daisy, she wouldn’t have the freedom even to wear what she liked and would live like other women in the palace. Deny it or not, she was the Queen Mandana of Veron country five years back, and she still had her people of her husband’s country scattered all over in her father’s country when she returned back. And her father can only control her to a certain extent.

She had a few months to make her moves so that her dead husband’s brother Caleb Mandana would be the Governor of the Ubrax state. After all, he was also one of her loyal subjects, and this will do her good.

Till then, she would lie low.

She raised her hand slightly in a toast to her own self, celebrating her first step in greatness.