Episode 16: It's The Same Child

Malaes had passed out, but her mind couldn't rest easy. The pain of her loss gnawed at her, causing her to wake up after hardly fifteen minutes. Nearby, Yesdar stirred as well, his body aching. He wasn't sure what had happened. The disorientation made him feel more pain. He saw Griswa sitting in front of him, and immediately, a flood of questions burst forth.

"What happened? Where are the others? How did we end up back in the caves?" Yesdar's voice was filled with anxiety, his words overlapping in his rush for answers.

Griswa remained silent, his gaze steady but heavy with unspoken burdens. Yesdar, noticing Malaes by his side, felt a pang of worry seeing her so silent and upset. Her usual jolly demeanor seemed lost in an abyss. His tension grew.

"Is everything okay?" Yesdar inquired eagerly, his worry evident.

Griswa stayed quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Then he began to speak. He recounted everything that had transpired, detailing how they had ended up back in the chasm. Malaes, not wanting to hear, turned her back slightly, trying to block out his words. But the pain was too overwhelming to ignore. She closed her eyes tightly, squeezing out tears she couldn't hold back, yet refused to look at Griswa or Yesdar, hiding her agony.

Yesdar, feeling a surge of anger and frustration, tilted his head down, hiding his expressions. His fists clenched, knuckles white with tension. "Griswa, you bastard! Who are you?" he spat out, his voice trembling with fury.

Griswa looked puzzled. "What?"

"How can you say they all died? So cold-heartedly, in front of her?!" Yesdar's voice rose, his anger flaring. "We don't know if all of them really died or not. So many of them weren't even there with us when we were escaping. Without seeing anything, how can you say they all died?"

Griswa's eyes met Yesdar's, filled with sorrow and determination. "They are dead, Yesdar... I know why. I am sorry to say it, but I have to be straightforward."

"No!" Yesdar shouted, his anger not subsiding. "Don't make conclusions. You didn't even look back to see them dead. How do you know?"

"Yesdar," Griswa replied calmly, though his voice carried the weight of his own sorrow. "You are not in your right mind right now. Your emotions aren't letting you accept the obvious truth..."

Before Griswa could finish, Malaes interrupted, her voice thick with sobs. "Stop it, both of you!" She wiped her tears, her eyes red and puffy. They both turned to look at her, their arguments cut short by her pain. "But Malaes, how does he know?" Yesdar questioned again, his voice softer, tinged with desperation.

"Let's ask him..." Malaes replied, her voice trembling but resolute. "...to be a little more reasonable."

Yesdar and Malaes faced Griswa, their eyes pleading for answers that could make sense of their suffering.

Griswa sighed deeply, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him. "Who am I truly? What are my intentions?" He repeated their questions, buying a moment to collect his thoughts. His gaze softened as he looked at his friends, understanding their need for clarity.

"I am not just a soldier or a leader," Griswa began, his voice steady but filled with an underlying emotion. "I have been knowing about these Yahunyens for longer than you can imagine. My knowledge and skills come from years of battling my own self, understanding their tactics, and learning how to survive their brutality is just too easy."

Malaes and Yesdar listened intently, their eyes fixed on Griswa, absorbing every word.

"When the Yahunyens attacked, I knew the odds were against us. I had to make a quick decision to save as many as I could," Griswa continued, his voice heavy with the memory of that desperate moment. "I made sure you two were safe because I knew you were vital to our cause. We have lost many, but we cannot afford to lose hope."

"Yesdar," he said, turning to face him directly. "I understand your anger. You want to believe that our friends are still alive, but we must face reality. I didn't see everyone fall, but the circumstances... they left little room for survival."

Yesdar's anger began to waver, replaced by a sorrowful acceptance. He struggled with his emotions, wanting to lash out but also knowing that Griswa spoke the truth.

"What do you mean by knowing why they're dead?" Malaes asked, her voice quiet but demanding answers.

Griswa took a deep breath. "The Yahunyens don't just kill their enemies. They make sure they are utterly destroyed. The makeshift battlefield we left was covered in their soldiers. Anyone who didn't escape with us was likely overwhelmed. They don't take prisoners who are rebels, plus Malaes, why don't you understand the obvious? We all fell from a great height, the remaining who were not with us that time, would have been either captured and killed or maybe the same happened with them, just like us... just we couldn't see."

Malaes closed her eyes, her heart breaking at the harsh reality. The image of her father, their comrades, all overwhelmed by the merciless Yahunyens was too much to bear. Her body shook with silent sobs, tears streaming down her face.

"We fought bravely," Griswa continued, his voice filled with a mix of pride and sorrow. "But sometimes, even the bravest fight cannot overcome large numbers and brutality. I had to get you both to safety, which was also unfortunately the only possibility."

Yesdar looked at Griswa, his anger giving way to understanding. "But how did you manage to save us?" he asked, the question heavy with both curiosity and a need for reassurance.

Griswa's eyes met Yesdar's, filled with a determination that seemed unbreakable. "I used something I knew. Something that I was born with, though I learned over the years. My goal was to get you both out, to ensure the fight could continue through you, if you want to."

"What do you mean, you have been 'knowing Yahunyens' though? Why were you the only one who was conscious in that situation?" Malaes inquired.

Griswa sighed, turned his back, went near the opening of the cave and turned his head to look back. In the next moment he asked a very simple question to both of them for answering Malaes' two questions...

"Do you guys believe in Gods?"

END OF PART 1

The city of Fentah was awakening to the early dawn, its streets still quiet as the first light of the sun painted the buildings darkly bright. In the heart of the city, the grand palace stood tall and imposing, its vast halls echoing with silence. Inside the throne room, Horozonday sat on the throne, his expression one of calm anticipation. He had been there for a while, waiting for the messenger to arrive with news from Shiyahval. The chamber, illuminated by the soft morning light streaming through the high windows, was empty except for him.

Horozonday's mind was a maelstrom of thoughts. He needed to know if Walith had succeeded in taking down the rebel group. The air was heavy with tension, the silence almost palpable. Finally, the sound of footsteps echoed through the chamber, and the doors creaked open to admit the messenger.

The messenger's footsteps reverberated off the marble floors as he approached the throne. He bowed deeply before Horozonday, then straightened up, his expression a mix of apprehension and urgency.

"Speak," Horozonday commanded, his voice breaking the silence.

"My lord, your sovereignty," the messenger began, his voice steady but tinged with anxiety, "I bring news from Shiyahval. Walith's forces engaged the rebel group as planned. The attack was swift and decisive. Our soldiers overwhelmed them, and many of the rebels were taken down."

Horozonday's face remained impassive, though a glimmer of satisfaction flickered in his eyes. "Good," he said, rising from the throne. He began to leave the room, his mind already moving to the next matter at hand.

"But..." the messenger's voice halted him in his tracks.

Horozonday turned back, his eyes narrowing. "But... what?" he asked, his tone slow yet sharp.

The messenger swallowed nervously. "One dragon escaped, my lord. The soldiers on the watchtowers reported that one dragon passed through the barrier, shattering it, and managed to flee."

"What??!!" Horozonday's exclamation echoed through the chamber, his shock evident. He knew the power of Infihermion energy; it was absolute, it would cause a lot of destruction, it would destroy anything that comes in the way, even stones and metal, but not normal living beings, it was quite an enigmatic element in that way. At most to a normal living being, Infihermion would make the body ache or paralyze it or make one unconscious. Only with over exposure, the person would die. But the dragons, they were hypersensitive to it for some reason, and exposure to Infihermion was fatal to them which would result in not just their fall, but everyone in that group, and when they fall, they would die. The plan had been foolproof, based on every piece of knowledge they had.

"Who was riding that dragon?" Horozonday demanded, his eyes burning with intensity.

"The watchtowers reported seeing one rider, as much as they could see, my lord," the messenger replied, his voice trembling. "But he appeared to be a child, not fully grown."

"A child?" Horozonday repeated, incredulity coloring his voice. "I have never once heard that the rebel group had a child as their ally. I remember I was informed that one man among the rebel group was taken down three months back. What is this child? A replacement for him?"

The messenger shifted uncomfortably. "There is more, my lord. Lord Walith, his majesty had not informed you earlier, considering it a minor issue at the time, but he has commanded me to tell you now. Near the deserts of Shiyahval, a fireball struck, not so long before. It was initially thought to be a natural disaster, but it harmed no one. But later, when some soldiers went to inspect the area, they found a child wandering nearby. They took him captive and imprisoned him in the Shiyahval Slave Order."

Horozonday's mind raced. Something wasn't right. His voice tense, he said, "Wait, I remember being informed by you, that some children escaped from the Slave Order of Shiyahval. Putting all the pieces together: there was a child found near the fireball area, a child who escaped from the Slave Order, and a child in the rebel group who escaped through the barrier, riding a dragon like an expert..."

"IT'S THE SAME CHILD."

He continued, his voice a whisper now, filled with dread and realization. "A child did three of the most impossible things no simple being would be able to do."

Horozonday's worries deepened, his words slowly paced. This child represented an unforeseen threat, a variable that was capable enough to disrupt a thorough plan. How could a mere child do all this? The fireball story was too late for him.

"Idiot!", he thought of his son Walith. He needed to act swiftly.

"Messenger," Horozonday commanded, his voice resolute, "take my message to Walith immediately." The messenger quickly opened up the screen, activating a voice recording application. As the patterns of sound recording appeared on the screen, Horozonday spoke clearly and with authority.

"Horozonday Ehasor himself commands Walith Ehasor, the Chief Minister of the state of Grega, to find this fireball child and eliminate him. Do not wait for anything anymore. For six years, you have been fooled by the rebels. You couldn't catch them. This time, I give you six days, hurry."

The messenger nodded, the weight of the command pressing upon him. "Yes, my lord. I will deliver this message at once."

As the messenger hurried out of the chamber, Horozonday sat back on his throne, his mind racing with the implications of this new information. The rebels had always been a thorn in his side, but now there was a new element to consider. This child, who had done the impossible, represented a significant threat.

Extra Information:

The City of Fentah

Fentah was a bustling city in the heart of the state of Riveral, located in the southwestern part of Mackenas. Known for its modern infrastructure and technological advancements, Fentah was a hub of engineering and weapon manufacturing. The city housed the Palace of the Nobles and was famous for its innovative departments that drove progress in various fields.

The Department of Energy and Artificial Intelligence (DOEAI) was at the forefront of understanding and harnessing elemental energies from Aeartha and beyond. This department also led advancements in AI, integrating cutting-edge technology with elemental science to power the city and enhance everyday life.

The Department of Weaponries (DOW) was crucial for Fentah's economy and defense. It produced advanced weapons for inter-universal trade and supply, ensuring that Fentah remained a key player in the global and inter-universal arms market.

The Department of Aerospace Engineering (DOAE) specialized in the development of flying ships capable of space travel and inter-universal jumps. These ships were used for space exploration and the delivery of weaponries across different universes. Prominent companies like Nalens and Voiyunsa were major contributors to this department, handling the complex shipbuilding processes. Simple, normal flying ships used by the Yahunyens were manufactured here too.

The Department of Architecture (DOA) was responsible for the city's impressive structures, including the grand palace of the nobles and numerous towering buildings. The architectural marvels of Fentah were a testament to the department's innovation and expertise.

These departments collaborated closely, supporting each other to achieve ambitious projects. One notable achievement among them was the advanced water system in Shiyahval, which was first introduced in Fentah. This system, known for its efficiency and sustainability, became a model for other cities to follow.

Another achievement as we know, was The Aurora Ascendant. That was too a project out of the collaboration of all the departments.

Pronunciations:

Nalens: [NAY]+[LENS]

Voiyunsa: [VOI]+[YUN]+[SAA]