Hi everyone! What's up? So sorry for being late, studies can be hectic sometimes. Thanks to Subha-Chan, CutetyHil, CRSWoodferns, Desires of autumn leaves, Heavenrider and Isha for reviewing. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
His Majesty of obscurity was wandering all over the internal cavern. Outside, owls were crying. Their screams were freezing everyone's blood. Sometimes, one or two bats could be seen beating the nocturnal wind with their expanded dark wings. The blood-chilling voices were spreading themselves from the far to the farthest. By fits and starts, winter wind was patrolling the place. Every time, a single dried leaf was falling down from the rough trees. Although moon appeared in the sky, but her rays couldn't enter into the cave fighting against all the fogs.
Inside the cave, the purple-head emperor was sitting on his usual stony throne. Beneath the holes of the mask, he was observing the breath-chocking silence in the room. Everyone was bending his respective head down. None had a single fraction of courage to speak up. The lavender orbs of the tsar were being rotated here and there, in every single minute like the eyes of a venomous cobra before attacking its prey.
"Hail Lord Boris Balkov!"
Hearing the jubilation of his name, he set his eyes on the source of the voice. A creepy smile rose came to light in his lips. Not removing his stares, he interrogated, "Tell me messenger, what's the news?"
"My lord, you were searching for a young boy to steal Draciel," He answered, joining his hands together, bowing down respectfully, "You'll be pleased to know that we've finally collected one for the task."
Everyone stood up except the leader. Twisting his moustaches, he ordered, "Alright. Bring him here, before me."
"As you want, my lord," The runner left the courtroom.
"I think my mission is going to be fulfilled finally," The king puffed his cheroot, "What do you say, ministers?"
"Pardon me, my lord," An elderly vicar curved his head downwards, "But Draciel is a very strong beast and he can't be stolen easily. We all attempted a lot to snatch him from the emperor of northern America. We've tried to kill him with his entire family. We've also showed him the temptation of wealth and power. But he's such an equitable ruler. Nothing can have melted him yet."
Everyone gasped at the audacity of the old man except his lord. Without caring at them, he continued, "So I think we better stop our attempts to gain Draciel."
At once, the lord of underground bared his sword. Despite the attempt of screaming, all gulped once. The messenger of devil approached the elderly minister and within a second, his separated head appeared on the hand of the killer. The headless body collapsed on the stony floor, spilling the blood everywhere.
None could utter a single word. A blast of air passed through the loopholes. Aiming the blade towards everyone, Boris yelled, "Is there anyone to suggest me again what I should do and what not?"
Again all heads were bowed. Grinning a victorious grin, the king asked, "So, where's the kid? He should've come here now. Or….is he afraid seeing my prowess?"
"Hiro Granger is never afraid under any condition, my lord!"
In the wheel, everybody stared at the reciter of the daring sentence. Their eyes widened, jaw dropped and cold current passed through spines. A young male blunette was standing in the center of the courtroom. His innocent brown pools were wearing a determined expression.
The expression of losing never in the lifetime.
"So your name is Hiro Granger, huh?" Boris smirked, "Nice name, kiddo. Do you know the meaning of your name?"
"Yeah," Hiro nodded, "It means generous, tolerant. And I can tolerate every single threat on my way to be the greatest son of Japan. I'm also generous to my motherland, Nippon."
"And to the enemies of your mother?"
Taking a sharp breath, the blunette retorted, "Well, being a responsible son, it's my revered duty to protect my mother from her enemies. In order to fulfill this duty, I can do anything."
"I'm proud of you, my boy," Boris seemed to be pleased a bit, "May God bless you. No matter what happens, I'll always support you. Not only I, but also everyone will be at your side forever."
"Glad to know, my lord," Hiro smiled, "I'll be grateful to you forever."
"Mention not," Boris yawned, "Now go and rest. My personal butler will show you your room. Meet me tomorrow morning at 8am. Let the court be ended for today."
"May I come in, my lord?"
From the outside of the large compartment, the little boy respectfully inquired. At that time, the king was sitting on his wooden chair comfortably, setting his gazes at the doorway as though they'd been waiting for the boy. The rarest smile was shown by him at once. In the next second, it vanished away. Sustaining his usual roughness, he spoke, "Yes, come in."
With small and slow steps, he entered into the room. It was large, maybe more than usual. The rocky walls of the room were colored in dark-purple, making the cell darker. A king-sized bed was at a corner with black velvety bedcovers and cushions which were embroidered with needlework of maroon creepers. The cabinet was annexed to the western wall with copper-colored doors. A marble-stoned table was at the center occupied with two elephant-toothed chairs. On it, there were some papers, a wooden inkpot and pens, designed with the feathers of crows and black pigeons. Above the heads, a chandelier was hanging down from the rooftop, containing a few nightlights. Some of them were still burning although it was 8am in morning. Nonetheless, it'd been good from one side as the rays of sunshine couldn't enter into the room for the heavy dark blue curtains on the crystal windows.
"Come here, my boy," Boris beckoned, "Sit on that chair."
Seeing an empty seat, the boy sat on that. Boris began, "Yesterday, your words charmed me a lot. So I've decided that I'll teach you to be the greatest citizen of your empire. For this, at first you need to return all the things to your mother that have been already snatched from her."
"Snatched?" Hiro frowned, "Pardon me, my lord, but I can't understand what you are saying."
"Look, my boy, the matter is so complicated for a little kid like you," Boris took a sip of a certain liquid from the crystal glass. Exhaling once, he stretched the goblet to him, "Wanna drink?"
Politely, the bluenette shook his head. Laughing a bit, Boris asserted, "Oh little kid, don't be nervous. This is the nectar from heaven. Just take a single sip, don't feel embarrassed."
Hesitating, he took the cup and sipped once. Boris carried on, "Hiro-San, your motherland, Nippon is a weighty kingdom. She's adorned with knowledge, art, armory skills, natural beauty, purity and what not? But nowadays, she's less powerful than the previous."
"But my motherland is enough powerful," Hiro remarked while quenching the liquid in the glass, "No country wants to claim any war against her."
"No no, not for her power, my son," Boris shook his head furiously, "Everybody loves Japan because she's friendly. But to err is human."
"But my country isn't a human being."
"I mean the emperor," Boris cleared, "when he'll make a mistake, he'll have to pay for this. So for the upcoming battles, he has to be prepared. For this, he needs enough power which can be gained from the magical beasts."
"Magical beasts?"
"Yes Hiro, your ears aren't cheating you," The lookalike of lord Indigo affirmed, "Once upon a time, Japan was enriched with different types of mystical creatures. Natural disasters, conflicts and other reasons enforced them to migrate in different countries of the world like China, America, Russia and so on. Now it's your liability to bring them back and furnish your mother in the same way in which she was previously."
"But how will I do it?" Hiro couldn't resist his curiosity, "I'm still a kid."
"You think that but the world doesn't," The purple-haired guy poured a little red wine in his glass, "Well, let me tell you an easy way. The weakest of all the sacred bit-beasts of Japan is the gigantic tortoise of the north. Currently he's located in Northern America. The emperor of that empire is a cheat. Although he's a Japanese, he cheated his motherland for his lover, the princess of the state. Now you've to revenge for that."
Hiro remained silent. Boris yammered, "I've heard that empress Judy has given birth to a baby boy there. Hope you do have enough sense to understand the fact."
The Japanese boy frowned. Screwing his eyebrows, he thought something for a while. Then, gradually, a wicked smirk appeared on his innocent face. Soon, they both burst out laughing. Their evil laughter echoed in the entire room, overflowing the quiet aura.
The queen was sitting on the rocking chair, in the balcony of her room, cradling her newborn son in her arms affectionately. The glow of morning sun enlightened his petite face with its glory. She was watching the dalliance carefully. The much she was staring at his expressions, the much she was being overwhelmed. She protectively embraced the little baby closer to her heart, closing her eyes. Two lemon-colored anonymous birds sat on the rods of the circle, chirping in their own ecstasy.
"Your Highness?"
Breaking her thoughts, she turned back to the maid, raising an eyebrow.
"A young boy wants to meet you," She informed, "He wants to work in the palace as his caretaker."
"Tell him to come here." Judy ordered, "I'll meet him."
"As your wish, your Highness." The maid left the room.
After a few minutes, a fledging, blue-haired, brown-eyed Japanese boy, around ten or eleven, entered into the room. An impeccable innocence was scattered all over his face, like the sacred water of any renowned river. The heart of the queen melted gazing at his serene manifestation.
"Greetings, your Highness." He nodded.
"God bless you," She patted his head, "I've heard that you want to work here as the caretaker of my son. Is it true?"
The boy again nodded, informing that it wasn't false.
"But why do want to work here in such a young age?" The mother of the heir of the throne of the empire queried, "You're too small to do it. Still you've to learn many things for your upcoming life."
"I know, your Highness," He politely answered, "But I've come from a poor family. My parents work hard almost shattering their bones but they can't earn according to our rights and privileges. Often my father tortures my mother as he remains short-tempered always. I've decided to eradicate all their sufferings. That's I want to work here. Will you please permit me to that?"
Hearing his words, Judy's eyes brimmed with tears. The mother rose in her for the helpless child. Kissing on his head once, she spoke, "Of course. You can stay here as long as you want. You can take care of Max and play with him. He will enjoy your company."
"Thanks a lot, your Highness," The Japanese boy exposed his so-called gratitude, "This Hitoshi will remain grateful to you forever."
The poison inside his heart woke up.
'Now Draciel will return to my mother. And I'll be the greatest citizen of my kingdom.'
"Hitoshi, take care of him," The mother advised, "I've to attend the royal court. Make sure if he isn't stirring."
"Alright, your Highness," Hiro bowed. Smiling a bit, the lady left her room.
Deeply breathing once, he glanced at the whole room. Discovering a piece of paper, an inkpot and a pigeon-feathered pen on a certain marble table, he paced towards it. Dipping the pen into the ink, he wrote something on the paper. Folding it, he kept it on the table, beneath a crystal paperweight. Then, he covered his face managing a scarf. Grabbing the asleep baby carefully, he slid his right hand under his top. Pulling out a sprayer, he consciously jumped on the sunshade. Landing on it, he leaped to another one. Finally reaching ground, he started running.
"Hey, who're you?"
He stopped hearing the question. Not waiting, he turned back, sprinkling the material inside the sprayer. As the unconscious body fell on the ground, he began to run again. Reaching the stables, he again applied the same medicine, being a bit careful in case his drug couldn't affect the horses. Grabbing a black mount, he jumped on its back, hitting his left ankle. As it received the signal, it started racing. Even the guards couldn't hold it. During this, when the baby woke up and started crying, he didn't know. Clutching the rein tightly with one hand, his another hand was holding the infant firmly closer to him.
After all, his objective was depending on it.
"It can't happen…..it can never happen," Judy buried her face amid her palms, "An innocent child like Hitoshi can never abduct my baby."
"But that is the truth, Judy," Taro kept a hand on her shoulder, "He has left a letter for us. In it, it is clearly written that he has kidnapped our child. For getting him, we need to give him…"
"Don't say that!" The empress stood up, "You can never hand Draciel to him! Never!"
"But if we don't do that, he'll kill Max!" The king yelled with equal power, "Judy, can you remember how you gave birth to him? After ten years, he has come in your life to enlighten it. Do you want to lose him so soon? So easily? And you claim yourself as the empress of the kingdom? That empress who can't protect the heir of the throne?"
"But Draciel is equally important for our kingdom!" The American lady affirmed, "He's the guardian, the protector of our empire. If we lose him, the existence of the realm will be risked. As a king, do you want to let this happen?"
The couple kept quiet for a few minutes. Then finally, Judy opened her mouth first:
"I've a plan."
"Finally you've arrived! Do you know how long I was waiting for you?"
Leaning against a shady tree at the shore of the deep river, he whistled. From a higher branch, a rope was hanging with a basket at its other side. In it, the assumed next king of America was screaming helplessly. The kidnapper was holding a pair of scissors in his hand.
"Max!" The stranded mother yelped, getting down from the back of the white mare, seeing the marooned condition of her child. She felt the ground crumbling underneath her feet. She was about to rush towards him but got hindered without hearing any word when the abductor aimed the scissors at the rope.
"Don't let your emotions getting your nerves, your Highness," Hiro mocked, "You're the Regina of America. This doesn't suit you at all."
"Please don't kill him," Judy begged, "I'm begging his life to you. Please don't snatch my child from me."
"Oh look, the greatest empress of the greatest kingdom is begging to me," He smirked, "Alright, I won't harm him. At first, give me what I have demanded."
Nodding once, Judy headed towards him with a metal bow. At the center of its metallic part, a circular amethyst was placed. The rays of sunshine from the western sky were falling down on it, making it sparkle more and more.
"Here Draciel lives," She calmly narrated, "He'll listen to you when you will call him."
"Good job, your Highness," Hiro clapped, "Now you can take him with you."
Not hearing him, picking the little figurine from the basket, she hugged it gently but deeply. Her sapphire-eyes started watering.
"Aww…how sweet…" Hiro acknowledged, "But I don't have enough time to enjoy the scene. I've to test the weapon as soon as possible."
Pulling out an arrow, he stretched the string. Placing the barb with it, he carefully observed the changes. No sooner had the whole shaft turned purple than he threw it.
"Go Draciel!"
From nowhere, a gigantic, dark-purple tortoise, wrapped with a black viper snake, appeared in front of him. His eyes gleamed at that. He couldn't believe his own eyes. Jumping in joy, he punched in the air.
"Hurrah!" He showed the flash of his teeth, "Now Draciel, let's go home."
The massive figure didn't show any sign to go home. Rather it was approaching him.
"What happened, Draciel?" The Japanese kid cocked an eyebrow, "Why aren't you listening to me? I'm your master. Go and follow my orders!"
Who listened to whom? With his paw, the big turtle lifted him up.
"What the hell happened to you, stupid turtle?" Hiro was tossing his hands and legs vulnerably, "Leave me! I say leave me!"
That worked. Hearing his pleadings, Draciel threw him towards the river. Falling in the deep water, he attempted to swim for his dear life, screaming, "Help! I'm drowning!"
Done with his job, the great tortoise returned to the bow. Lifting it, the queen happily started her journey to the castle.
'Good job, Draciel!' She murmured, 'If you weren't there, I couldn't save my child. Promise me, when he'll be the king, you'll protect him.'
Beasts couldn't talk. However, she heard a voice from the blue:
"Of course, Your Highness, of course."
"Kick him out!"
The lord Indigo showed his index finger at the doorway as the sentinels tried to drag him. Standing firmly on his position, he interrogated, "Why, my lord? What's my mistake?"
"Your mistake is not to be successful to gain Draciel!" He sternly retorted, "And Boris Balkov is never kind-hearted to those who make mistakes."
"But I've tried a lot for that!" Hiro squeaked, "I…..I risked my life for him….and you're kicking me out?"
"Did your attempts come fruitful? No, did they?" Boris questioned back, "So, there's no place for you here. Get lost!"
Hiro tried to say something but wasn't given chance as the guards dragged him out of the room. Kicking him out of the fort, they shut the doors on his face. Realizing the fact, he broke down on the floor:
'Now what will happen? Where will I go? What will I do now?'
Ah-hem...I don't know.
So, how was it? Good or bad? Pardon all the grammatical and spelling errors as I was in a hurry. On tomorrow, the engagement of my cousin is going to be held and I can't wait for that! After this chapter, I won't describe the infancies anymore. Instead, I'll present the tales after 7-8 years.
Do read and review :P
-Misty ^_^