Chapter 6 - Children of Valrick (2)
"Are you mad!?" Naja exclaimed, her eyes wide. 'Jeru truly lost his mind'
"Well, perhaps a bit," he chuckled as he saw Najamel grow furious, but her curiosity was obvious as she gazed at the majestic pyramid her father had built.
"So, what do you say?" Jeru whispered into her ear playfully, like a mischievous devil.
Smack* He received another smack on the head.
"Jeru?! Father said we shouldn't go inside the pyramid, it's blasphemous!" Najamel glared at her brother, clutching the stone stick tighter.
"But aren't you curious as well? What lies inside that pyramid, what secrets does it holds?!" Jeru tried to persuade her, his excitement still evident in his eyes.
"But, Father said..." Najamel's resolve wavered, torn between her curiosity and her father's warnings. She had grown up with the influence of an atheistic mother, and her faith wasn't as strong as that of a normal Valerusian. Did God really live in that Pyramid?
"Come on! Let's just take one peek, and no one will know! It will be only the two of us who knows."
"Let it be three people." Another voice entered the room with a smile.
"Bryce!" Najamel and Jeru exclaimed in surprise.
The fourth prince, Bryce, entered the scene with a relaxed expression. A nonchalant smile.
Jeru became even more excited; going alone would be scarier, but at least going with someone he knows would give him more courage. At least he wouldn't be the only one who would be reprimanded if they got caught.
As for danger? Jeru didn't think too much about it. After all, who could be scarier than their Father, the strongest man who commanded the nine mythical beasts?
"When will we go?" Jeru asked, his certainty evident that this little adventure was a done deal.
"Jeru!?" Najamel called out with a conflicted expression. She couldn't help but think about the idea that had been plaguing her since childhood.
Bryce sat in a chair beside Jeru, his colorful exoskeleton with black, red, purple, and white hair making him the most unique among all the siblings, his horn spiraling into a halo above his head. He looked exactly like Valentina, Emilio's writer friend. He had a fang like teeth. Oval face with elegant arched eyebrows, and brown eyes, The only difference is the hair.
"Well, we should ask big sister first, can we go?" Bryce stared at Najamel with puppy eyes and clasped his hands together. "Jeru, together with me." He then signaled Jeru, who immediately understood.
"Big sister Naja! Please!" Jeru pleaded, acting like a cat seeking food. He didn't like calling Najamel big sister because he felt small, so why should he call her that? But desperate times require desperate measures!
Najamel looked at the two idiots begging with soft puppy eyes, and then calling her big sister was like the straw that broke the camel's back.
"Fine, but we are only going to take a peek, not touch anything." Najamel said with a huff. Bryce and Jeru then hugged each other and did a cartwheel in celebration.
Najamel smiled brightly, seeing her two brothers being so silly. 'What can she do? How can she resist these two idiotic, precious brothers of hers? What would they do without her?'
"When will we go?" Jeru asked again, a little calmer now. Finishing doing cartwheels.
"Well, we can't really go when mother and the others will be searching for us if we go missing, and they will eventually find us before we even reach the Pyramid." Najamel said with worry, crossing her arms.
"Well, we have a lifetime opportunity starting tomorrow." Bryce clenched his fist with his eyes squinting, looking like a man with a plan.
"Tomorrow, father, big brother Rico, big brother Gaz, and mother will do the inspection themselves to search for the new city's location to be established."
Najamel couldn't help but feel surprised. Why them? Why can't the nine beasts inspect the place themselves? His father could command them to do it for him.
"Father said that this is part of the test. The nine beasts of wisdom, together with him, will be the judges to determine who will be worthy to be the leader of the new city." Bryce explained while taking a seat.
"And as for why mother is joining the test? It's just because she loves challenges. Typical of her, she can't stay in one place," Bryce shook his head, "Mother is the real troublemaker, all of us are just cheap imitations."
Najamel and Jeru sighed in agreement, realizing their mother was indeed the real troublemaker among them.
"Do you think mother has tried going inside the Pyramid?" Jeru asked while tilting his head and holding his chin.
"Yes, no doubt." Najamel and Bryce nodded with certainty. With that brain personality and brain, no doubt she would have sneaked into the pyramid.
"So, there is indeed no danger." Jeru clapped, realizing a eureka moment. Although he didn't consider danger fully, it doesn't mean it's non-existent. He was 80 percent sure there was no danger, and now he was 90.
"So, even when entering the house of God, she still didn't believe in him?" Najamel said with a tone as if she had discovered a peculiar fact. She felt that something wasn't right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She wanted to disagree and think this through, but the other two dismissed her thoughts.
"Who cares, Mother is fine, so it should be fine if we go there." Jeru said confidently, looking at the pyramid with yearning eyes.
---
The day of departure arrived, and the king rode on the majestic golden lion's back. "You are getting stronger, worthy enough to command me," the golden lion's deep and proud voice echoed. Valrick smiled and patted its head.
The queen excitedly rode the elegant white spider, "Beautiful one, be careful, you should restrain yourself," the white spider's tone was motherly, calm, and warm.
"Let's go!" The Queen mother cackled without restraint, flicking her hair.
The first prince, Rico, rode the lizard with two serpentine heads. "Hiss, why so serious? Smile for the crowd, little prince," the red snake said with a snarky and taunting voice.
"Brother, let him be. I apologize, Crown Prince," the blue head said with an elegant and classy voice. "Sister, why are you always on his side? I wonder why?" The red head moved his head like a snake, teasingly looking at her.
"Quiet, Father would be displeased," Rico sternly said, and the two heads fell silent.
The second prince, Tragaz, rode the moonlight fox. "Little friend, I hope you find what you seek on this journey," the fox's voice was ethereal and soft, as if whispering into one's ears. Tragaz enigmatically smiled as he looked at his father.
"For Elion!" Valrick shouted, the sound reverberating through the ears of Valerusians like a drum.
"Elion!" The crowd enthusiastically roared, their combined shouts almost reaching the heavens, all the way to the Eternal Star at the peak of the Pyramid of God.
The Elder Council rode on the back of the largest beast, the mythical turtle. They set off with the people sending them off with praise and congratulations. It was a crucial mission for every Valerusian—a new city was to be established, who cannot be excited?.
This is to show the might of the Vale Kingdom and spread God's glory over the lands.
---
Jeru's excited eyes couldn't be hidden; he couldn't contain himself and already wanted to go to the pyramid immediately. However, he knew better. It would be wiser to do an investigation and plan first. His tail wagged like that of a dog.
"Jeru, do you really think this is a good idea?" Najamel couldn't help but question the idea once again, fidgeting with fear and caution. She felt that something was wrong.
"Najamel, are you scared now?" Jeru teased her, causing her to jump and glare at him.
"Who's scared? Me? I think it will be you who is scared when I smack you with this stick." Najamel threatened, taking out the stone stick.
Jeru evaded the stick and started to run again. 'Father said I shouldn't hit girls. Isn't that unfair?' Jeru mused, but he definitely shouldn't hit Najamel; she was a crybaby and a snitch.
While running around the castle, Jeru finally managed to shake off Najamel and found himself at Bryce's room. 'Let's first start with a plan.Two heads are better than one.' Jeru thought.
He unceremoniously opened the door without even knocking and saw Bryce doing something "questionable."
By questionable, it means Bryce was looking at a scroll without any visible letters.
Bryce was frowning, his expression turning pained as he closed the scroll while breathing heavily.
"What've you got there?" Jeru leaned into the doorframe, arms crossed.
Bryce jumped like his tail had been stomped on. "Elion God, will you please knock!" he exclaimed, trying to hide the scroll on the table with his body.
"I knocked, but you didn't hear it." Jeru lied, grinning mischievously, and then entered without permission, he jumped onto the bed like a diver.
"Really?" Bryce wasn't entirely sure, but he believed Jeru since he had been focused on "something." Bryce then scolded Jeru. "Go out of my room! Now!" while pointing at the door.
Jeru buried his head into the pillow, using his tail to indicate "No."
Bryce tried to grab Jeru's tail to throw him out, but the moment he got close, Jeru used his tail to choke Bryce and pull him down onto the bed, putting him into a headlock.
"Do you want to do this the easy way or my way?" Jeru tightened his grip on Bryce's head. He had noticed what Bryce was doing and was asking him indirectly about it.
"Arrogant brat." Bryce used his feet to push both of them into the wall, passing through it like a bulldozer, and making them fall from the second floor of the castle where Bryce's room was located.
Jeru was disoriented from the violent attack; he hadn't expected Bryce to do something so drastic. It hurt Jeru a lot, causing him not to immediately stand up, clutching his head.
The servants heard the commotion and rushed to the scene.
"I'm sorry, everyone. Please don't disturb us; we are having a spar," Bryce said, not holding back, as he punched Jeru with full force. Jeru dodged despite feeling dizzy.
*Boom!* The ground cracked, splitting like a spider web.
Jeru then stood up with a flip and immediately assumed a fighting stance he had personally created.
Bryce knew he stood little chance against Jeru. Jeru might act lazy, playful, and annoying, but deep inside, he was arrogant and proud, just like the rest of them.
That's why Bryce raised his hand, indicating defeat.
Jeru grinned and sent a straight jab, not falling for Bryce's tricks.
Bryce evaded it, and the spar continued.
From beginning to end, Bryce barely put up a fight. Jeru dominated him, displaying his father's fighting style with smoothness and precision, and then shifting into Tragaz's flexible attacks and daring counterattacks, even combining them.
Bryce was a good fighter himself, but compared to Jeru, he was nothing. Within just a few minutes, the garden was destroyed because they didn't fight in the training ground. The environment couldn't contain such a fierce battle.
"Bryce, dear brother, it's your loss." Jeru smiled, looking at the kneeling Bryce. Jeru crossed his arms, looking fine, while Bryce looked bloodied, with his exoskeleton cracked and blood flowing through it, his halo above his head torn apart. It was brutal, savage, and not a normal sparring, but those who knew Jeru understood that he never pulled his punches. The only person he couldn't beat in a spar was his father.
"If Father is number 1, then I am number 2." Jeru said matter-of-factly, without a hint of pride or joy.
Bryce looked at Jeru, wondering why he hadn't competed to fight for the crown, considering his level of strength and talent.
"I know it's my loss; you can look through the scroll to see for yourself." Bryce said, defeatedly standing up from his kneeling position. A servant brought him a cane, and he began to walk with difficulty. 'The gap of talent is too much.' Bryce couldn't help but feel dejected. The other servants quickly moved to fix the damaged area, as if they were already used to such incidents.
"What's the point of doing it the hard way?" Jeru murmured as he jumped to reach the hole in the second floor. He then saw Najamel unconscious in Bryce's room, with the scroll lying beside her.
"Najamel, what's the matter?!" Jeru immediately grabbed her, trying to wake her up. He knew something was wrong with the scroll, and that's why he hadn't looked through it immediately.
Thankfully, Najamel woke up immediately, clutching her head.
"I opened the scroll, and then... and then... I don't remember." Najamel shook her head, indicating her confusion and disorientation.
Jeru then carried her to the bed, examining her condition. Thankfully, she looked fine.
"You should rest for a while." Jeru patted her head, concerned for his silly big sister.
Jeru then shifted his attention to the scroll and picked it up. Taking a deep breath, he opened the scroll abruptly. At first, he didn't see anything, and then suddenly, he saw something akin to text, but he couldn't comprehend it.
And then, he felt his consciousness being drawn into an illusion.
He saw the birth of galaxies, the death of stars, and darkness surrounding everything. Then, he saw a distant light approaching him steadily.
Instinctively, he knew that if that light reached him, he would burn and lose consciousness. He hurriedly tried to break free through sheer willpower and successfully escaped the illusion, finally seeing the text. It was a name, although he couldn't read it, he knew it was a name. He closed the scroll immediately.
"It's a name, isn't it? It's Elion." Jeru heard Bryce at the door, looking better now as if he hadn't been injured earlier.
"You drank a healing potion?" Jeru asked, and Bryce nodded in response. A healing potion was created from the Blood of the Golden Lion, and if a person drank it, all their external and internal injuries would heal.
"You got the scroll from the pyramid?" Jeru asked for confirmation, as he had suspected Bryce had gone to the pyramid, and that's the reason for the spar.
"I'm sorry, Jeru, I went inside two years ago." Bryce suddenly dropped a bomb out of nowhere.
Jeru was shocked that Bryce had gone there and no one had found out about it.
"You went there when you were 14?!" Jeru raised an eyebrow, showing his surprise, his eyes wide as he held the scroll tightly while his tail strengthened up.
"I already investigated it brother. There are no guards around the pyramid, and no one even dares to approach it. I asked the people, and despite their curiosity, all the Valerians have one thought: never enter." Bryce spoke with a grave tone, unlike his usual self.
I wonder why neither I nor anyone else thought of going inside the pyramid. We knew it was God's residence, but has anyone seen God, or has anyone seen what's inside that pyramid?"
Jeru couldn't help but feel intrigued by Bryce's daringness. Instead of being more cautious, Jeru became more daring and wanted to explore further. Courage is contagious apparently.
"The Leviathan sleeps beneath, and that's why I am cautious about wandering inside the pyramid." Bryce said with a trembling voice as he recalled the sound. It was more menacing, heavier, and even more intimidating than the 9 mythical beasts or even their father himself.
Jeru shivered at the thought that there was something scarier than his father. Yet, instead of being more cautious, he became more determined to explore.
Bryce then showed Jeru a map of the pyramid. "The pyramid has around 99 floors. I didn't include the underground part because I fear the Leviathan sleeping beneath the pyramid. You can hear its snores the moment you reach the stairs leading to the underground levels."
"The 96, 97, 98 floor are the only ones that have something, it was filled with exotic animals, live or dead, exquisite artworks that depicts a civilization not ours but someone else, and I knew this was "Mankind" that father was talking about, the one he wanted us to be like."
Jeru gawked at what he heard from Bryce. For some reason, he was thankful that Bryce told him "spoilers," saving him the effort of looking through every floor.
As for why Bryce went inside, Jeru knew why, but he didn't want to bring it up because Bryce was searching for a way to increase his talent. Despite Bryce's respect and fear over his father, the need to prove himself is stronger than anything else.
"Let's go tomorrow when Najamel is fine. Father and the rest will take a week or even months before returning." Jeru stood up, waved his hand, and walked out.
"You go explain it to Najamel; I'll be preparing for tomorrow."
Jeru then gripped his hands while looking toward the pyramid in the distance.
---
At the top of the pyramid, a simple room lay with nothing inside except a scroll and a large floating light.
The floating light moved like water, as if it had noticed something.
"This is getting interesting." Emilio whispered, closing the scroll.
Author here, I hope everyone's having a great day.
Comment if you have any questions, or offer any praise or critical review, I will improve.