The young Skeksis were so thrilled to be home and being celebrated by their parents for completing their tasks. They were more than ready to just go to sleep in their own beds that they hadn't seen for nearly a trine.
It had been fun to get out and see the world beyond the castle, but at the same time, worrying about what was out there that could be dangerous and working hard for nearly every meal got to be old. They were all glad to be in safety of the castle and their parents again.
But there was one question that was nagging all the young Skeksis; what was essence and what had it been used for?
There were conversations all over the table as the Skeksis feasted, celebrating the arrival back of their kids.
Rel got to be quite impatient though with what he had on his mind. "Excuse me, Father?" he tried speaking up to So, but he was so busy with Anax that he didn't hear him.
"Mother?" Rel said.
"Hmm, yes, SkekRel?" Sil replied. Sil heard him.
"Something we all learned about out there in the world was about creatures called Gelflings and essence. What is essence?" Rel asked.
That question made the Chamberlain drop his food on the floor, thus a critter underneath the table got it. It also got the Emperor's attention as well. It also got the others' attention too. Everyone stopped what they were eating or doing. Rel had asked the question rather loudly.
They all looked at the younger brother of the heir of their emperor in shock.
"Where did you learn of this, SkekRel?" So demanded.
"We learned about it from both Skeksis that we met and their Mystic counterparts." Anax replied over his brother. So looked to him.
"And Aughra." Vak added.
The adults had never even told them of what they had dealt with the Gelflings before now. Well, it was time they found out.
"Being as young and strong as you are, you don't need worry about needing essence like we do." The Chamberlain started.
"It was a long time ago. Gelfling are no threat to Skeksis anymore." Tek said.
"But what did you need essence for?" Rel demanded to know.
"Before found out about, we were using Crystal to keep us going to remain strong and healthy." Sil explained. "Then it was found that Gelfling essence could do even better than Crystal. Only worked for short while and had to keep consuming essence."
"And now, Gelfling are so hard to come by. I will not give up my throne so easily. I will remain in charge for a long time to come." So decreed, with a hard rasp of his lungs.
The kids had never heard their father breathe quite so hard before. "Father?" Anax questioned.
"Health has gotten bad since you be gone." Sil replied. "Thanks to Darkening experiments."
"Leave out of that, Chamberlain." So warned his advisor.
"Forgive, Emperor." Sil said.
"You would be wise to stay away from Aughra and the Mystics." Zok decreed.
"Is it true that you all have counterparts too?" Lath brought up.
The adults all looked about in shock.
"Yes. We do have Mystic counterparts too, Skeklings. But we know not where they are and prefer not to know either." Ok declared.
Sil stated. "We prefer not going around them. They are not like Skeksis. Boring, old, slow, weak."
"But you wouldn't hurt them, would you?" Gok asked.
"No. They are the one creature in this world to not harm because it brings harm to us." Ok said.
"There, you have your explanation, Younglings. There will be no more talk of this. Just eat and finish your dinner. Then it's time to head to your sleeping quarters." SkekSo decreed.
They all knew better than to question their father and leader. The Skeksis all just ate in silence the rest of the time. All joy had gone out the window. Then it was time for bed.
The kids were all more than glad to be going to their sleeping quarters. They longed to see their rooms again. They could finally have some peace and quiet from each other again. It had been constantly with each other over the trine.
Each young Skeksis was thrilled to get into their bed that night and they were practically asleep the instant their head would hit the pillows. They were exhausted and their feet hurt.
The adults were shocked that their offspring had learned about what they hadn't wanted them to know about. But they had been out there in the world, and they were bound to learn some new things. They hoped they hadn't run into Gra the Heretic. They had never mentioned him to them. But he could have been mentioned by someone out there too and had just not said anything.
Now that the young ones were back, they had proved their selves worthy of being called adults. But they still had yet to figure out their job titles. They would figure them out in time.
…..
A trine later, the young ones had their titles. Even if temporary ones. Anax was still destined to be the new emperor as his father's health was still deteriorating. SkekSo was still power hungry as usual. He would be hard on his son at times in what he was teaching him how to rule their kind. He was still just a prince.
Rel had inherited his mother's ability to sing a long time ago. His title was Cantor. He also helped chose some of the best Podling slaves to sing too alongside Ekt, Yeekt, and Zok.
Lath like to come up with different soap formulas for the clan. He was named the Soap Maker.
Gok was the Chef. He had taken up his father, Ayuk's ability as well, serving food to the clan.
Ut had been put in charge of fight training recommended by his parents and the Emperor. He was known as the new Conqueror. He would one day go out into the world and be that.
Yeekt was pretty close also with Anax. They had a bond, but they weren't sure what to call it. They just had a close friendship. Yeekt was much like her mother, Ekt. A fashion designer, called the Designer for now.
Vak was called the Bookkeeper. He liked to write books and read them. He was taking after Ok a lot. Ok let his son in the library with him to help him keep track of his records and messages.
Mu had taken to wanting to learn more about the science in the lab. The Scientist thought it intriguing that one of the young ones actually took an interest in his work. But Mu was wanting to look beyond a lot more. He might have been an offspring of Na and Ung, but Tek was on their team too. Mu wanted to study dissection and such. Not so nice things to look at. The Scientist called him the Biologist and telling the emperor about it. So was fine with that. Na and Ung were mystified that one of their kids was willing to work with the Scientist.
The Skeklings were all happy to finally have their titles.
…..
Many a trine later, SkekSo's health had begun to finally go downhill even more and there were no Gelflings left that they presumed anyway for him to consume their essence. The Emperor was rapidly clinging to his power but the Skeksis could see he wasn't going to last much longer.
When the time came that the Emperor couldn't even make it to the Crystal chamber for the daily ceremony, it said that he wasn't going to be around much more. The young Skeksis weren't in there for the ceremony hence they had their youth and strength on their sides.
Anax was staying near his father's side, being like a protector of him. He would even warn his own mother and brother away if he felt he had to.
So was breathing hard, gasping for air. He tried to rest as much as he could. He didn't want to die, but the experiments with the Darkening so long ago had taken their toll on him.
Anax had been his willing son and student out of the twins. He had grown in prowess and size. He was about So's height now. He was even willing to challenge Ung in battle. Ung was a lot older than him and still strong, but Anax was younger and faster moving than he was too.
When the Skeksis clan came to see how their Emperor was doing, when finally allowed to, they knew it was the end. SkekSo had ruled for nearly one thousand trines. His rule was at its end.
Ung was one of So's most loyal subjects. He had respect for the dying emperor. He ordered everyone to bow. The others, save SkekSil, did bow.
Sil still wanted his wish granted of being the leader of the Skeksis. But So had just enough strength left in him to make sure that Sil didn't steal his scepter of office. So proclaimed that he was still emperor, but then his heart gave out and he finally died. Then, his body crumbled into dust as what happened when Skeksis died.
Even though they were ready for the emperor to die, it still seemed like a shock that he was now gone. The clan all looked at each other.
For now, Anax was the new leader. But he needed to prove it. He wasn't going to just let his father's leadership be handed over to someone who couldn't handle it.
I know I take my sweet time coming up with events for this story. I know it's been going on for a couple of years now. But for many a time, got writer's block with it and couldn't think of anything for long periods of time, or was busy with other stories. But this story is nearing its end. Perhaps one more chapter.
