Together, they approached and followed the bloody and famous battle of these two clans.
"So Boyok soldiers are shown in yellow while Kioppe soldiers are shown in blue?"
"Oh yes, that way the blood stands out."
Jiide had to close his eyes for a moment.
"It's not something that should attract you."
They sat down around the table, facing each other.
"But I haven't said everything! The young one, too, represents Boyok's gold, which Kioppe covets, while the blue one represents Kioppe's magical water, which Boyok desired so much that the two clans ruling two neighboring planets started a war that was as bloody as it was pointless."
"But it wasn't, darling."
"You bet it wasn't, Uncle, let me remind you that neither of them won."
"But their war showed the whole galaxy just how absurd, how desolate the latter is."
Zeron looked up at his uncle and offered him a sulky pout.
"Uncle, I should point out that I'm thirteen, so I'm past the age of being so naive and stupid. I know very well that this war has done nothing of the sort. Quite the contrary. Everyone will enter into conflict to get what they want, especially those with limitless greed."
Jiide Jeugolk laughed, amused, forgetting a little about his nausea, thinking that his nephew was at an age when he thought he knew it all and audacity awoke and had an extraordinary taste of beginnings.
"But don't forget, my darling, that there are good people with noble motives who have no choice but to make a difficult, even tragic decision."
The sovereign winced as he saw Zeron's expression change and darken. He had unwittingly gone to the heart of the matter.
"Good people with noble motives, eh...I get the impression you're including yourself in that, Uncle."
"Not really, darling."
"So, bringing me to live on Maldeos isn't a noble reason after all?"
"Yes, it is, and I'll tell you again, it tore me up to accomplish it, but I'm convinced it's best for you."
Zeron stood motionless for a moment, then screamed in rage and, after having idiotically shattered the battlefield, got to his feet and furiously made his way to the huge bay window overlooking the constellated space and rested his forehead on the thick glass.
His uncle followed a few seconds later.
"You know, I saw a comet pass by just before I came to see you. Did you?"
Zeron shook his head.
"It's a shame, it was so beautiful with the blue light and the sparkling furrows it left in its path."
He was silent for a moment before continuing.
"I remember there was a time when you loved comets and dreamed of nothing more than following them to see where they would take you."
"That was a long time ago."
Jiide Jeugolk laughed again at this answer, so arrogant and yet so ignorant. He was barely thirteen.
He turned to his nephew, took him by the shoulders and forced him to face him.
"I know, my darling, that you can't understand my choice. I'm so sorry myself. "
"So...!"
"But." he interrupted him, "but believe me, I've already considered everything before coming to this. I'm your family, and you're mine, I won't make a decision that won't benefit you in the best way. Never."
Jiide Jeugolk felt his heart clench in spite of himself and hugged his nephew.
It was dusk when they landed safely on Maldeos, and a procession of five vehicles awaited them.
The second-in-command of Gaazal organization himself greeted them, as was to be expected since the winged ones were Gaazal' s powerful allies and their greatest patron.
"Your Majesty?"
He was a green-skinned person of medium height, wearing a colorful tunic and a long sovereign's cloak.
"I trust you had a pleasant journey?"
"Yes, thank you."
They were settled into the central vehicle and set off, crossing the luminous city. Jiide felt a little nervous and wanted to cheer up his nephew.
"You see, darling? This is your new home. What's your first impression of the city?"
Zeron obviously didn't seem to want to answer, but he forced himself, as did his uncle.
"I see it as any city is, huge, bustling, bright and artificial."
Jiide hesitated, then decided to abandon the discussion for the moment. He could feel how upset his nephew was. He would have to leave him alone for a while to get over this real change, but he resumed their exchange on his own, much to the sovereign's surprise.
"Uncle?"
"Yes, dear?"
"I have a question..."
"I'm listening, my precious."
"Boyok and Kioppe, the sovereigns of these two respective peoples dragged them into an atrocious war with irreparable consequences, and yet they followed them anyway accepting the option of suffering, and losing everything, even their lives, why? Why not get rid of these two depraved and useless rulers, and sign an alliance, as you're about to do with our rival?"
He shook his head.
"I don't understand."
Jiide, on the other hand and feeling his nausea returning., understood very well, but getting a thirteen-year-old to understand was another matter altogether.
"I suppose for a child your age, life is black and white, but I can guarantee you it's more, so much more. And Gaazal , I believe would be able to put you through all that."
Zeron looked doubtful, but his uncle was confident, or at least he forced himself to be. With someone like him, endowed with a bit of brains but totally devoid of talent, they'd have their work cut out for them.
The head of the organization where Zeron would be staying was waiting for them in person at the gate to his territory.
He was flanked by five guards, all of whom wore night-black combat suits, while he, Zeitok, wore a golden-yellow suite and descended the steps at the sight of the emperor.
They hugged each other amicably.
"Ah, Jiide!"
"Thank you for receiving me, Zeitok."
"The honor is mine, you had a good trip?"
" Perfect. Thank you again."
He turned to his nephew.
"And this is my child, Zeron Jeugolk."
Zeitok looked down at the boy and studied him for a long time in silence.
Zeron couldn't bear the intense, scrutinizing gaze for long, and lowered his head, cautiously awaiting what would happen next.
"I see" was all the Gaazal master could say.
In fact, he could see nothing, or almost nothing. His friend had told the truth, his nephew had an intelligent face, but that was all. The rest was totally non-existent.
He was even more appalled than he'd thought...but not desperate. He would do his best and he wouldn't fail.
The interior of Gaazal was similar to a city, but more orderly, more familiar and singular.
The people were obviously of different races and sizes, but wore almost the same combat suits whose rank was distinguished by colors and symbols.
They all seemed to have mastered magic and the art of combat, but obviously at different levels.
There were people everywhere training in these two ultimate domains, but even these two domains which at first sight seemed so restricted and simple actually possessed diversity and infinite possibility.
On one occasion, shadows appeared around the Zeitok and Jeugolk, and shadow-like beings emerged from them, handed an envelope to their master who, without opening it, handed it to his second-in-command, then plunged back into their dark realm and set off again.
"They're spies, young Zeron," said Zeitok, catching his astonished and fascinated gaze.
"I've more or less guessed it. Could I be one someday?"
Zeitok raised his eyebrows, then smiled at him, a rather vague smile.
"These beings have undergone very special training in addition to their natural talents, but above all they are selected on the basis of their personality, which must possess an asse...specific characteristic."
Which you apparently don't possess, so you'll never become a spy. The implication was more than clear.
Zeron merely bowed his head and continued walking.
They now came to a park whose tenants were as eclectic as Gaazal's. They seemed to be happy, in good spirits. They seemed to be happy, fit and living in harmony.
The man in charge of the park, Professor Tengo, was a reflection of his passion. He was lean and had skin like an old bark, hair as long and lively as a hundred-year-old tree, and his outfit was a long tunic under which numerous creatures appeared and disappeared.
He didn't talk much, but as soon as someone started a discussion on his favorite subject, no one could stop him, so much so that Jiide and Zeron exchanged an amused glance.
There were many students of various ages in the park. Zeitok announced in a light tone that, starting next week, some of them would become his classmates. Some were curious about their presence, but others were not. There was, however, a group of boys who regarded young Zeron with sly, mocking eyes. The leader, who clearly stood out, turned to a huge, usually boisterous creature with beige fur, turned red and cast a spell on it, causing it to run wildly in all directions towards the young prince, who was brutally pushed back by the beast.
Professor Tengo intervened in time and calmed the beast. The culprits rushed to the scene and played innocent, claiming that they had only wanted to test a new spell that had unfortunately gone awry. The chief even helped Zeron to his feet.
"Sorry again."
Zeron smiled at him and accepted his help.
"It's nothing..."
The chef shook the hand of the newcomer who had come to crush him, then added, sibylline.
"Alas, this kind of incident will be repeated. I apologize in advance."
Jiide too heard the words of this insolent, deceitful kid, and his heart tore at the thought of leaving his young nephew so weak at the mercy of this kind of cruel, obstinate predator, but there was nothing he could do. He had to leave him here and hope again it would all be worth it.
The group continued their tour for a while, then at one point, as they crossed a huge bridge linking two gigantic buildings, explosions were heard. Curious and excited, Zeron looked around, then finding the source of all this chaos, ran to the railing. It was an open-air training exercise by two soldiers backed by their beasts.
"These creatures are called Gournouk. Specific beasts that are the companions of Gaazal members."
They were beasts three times the size of an individual, robust, fast and intelligent.
"Will I get one too, Master?" inquired Zeron, not taking his eyes off the battle scene.
"Of course, young Zeron."
This time, he turned around, all smiles.
"You hear that, Uncle, I too will have a Gour..."
But his voice died along with his smile when he realized his uncle was gone. He was gone.
Zeitok felt sorry for the lonely young man who had little to make up for it. He would never understand how such an untalented being could have been born into the galaxy's most illustrious family, whose power and magic, especially of its ruling members, was legendary.
Fate was sometimes cruel beyond description. And perhaps worst of all, the child seemed unable to accept this reality.
The ruler of Gaazal straightened up, vowing to use everything in his power to fight this fate, then took his protégé by the shoulders and consoled him.
"Come, young Zeron, I'll show you to your room myself. It's a privilege", he added jokingly, which relaxed the young boy a little.
The next evening, after dinner, Zeron went to the building where the Gournouks were kept.
He admired them with a pensive air, not noticing that the chief and his gang had followed him there and, after a quick good-night, pushed him violently to the ground.
"Why do you keep attacking me?"
"Why do you keep attacking me?" repeated the chief in the same tone, "do you hear that, guys?" he gestured to his henchmen, who sniggered along with him.
"I've done nothing to you!" insisted Zeron, who tried to stand up, but the chief pushed him back down hard.
"True, but knowing you're getting privileges simply because you're of Imperial blood makes me want to murder, so..."
"It's not my fault!"
"But it's probably your fault for being such a loser. Yes, little prince," he confirmed, seeing the young boy's expression, "everyone knows now. That you're such a loser that your uncle had no choice but to get rid of you by sending you here."
"That's not true! My uncle loves me!"
"He's ashamed of you, yes!" they refuted, bursting into laughter.
His face contorted with rage, Zeron got to his feet and threw himself at the chief. It was a fight lost in advance.
Tengo, who, as usual, was the last to check that the animals were settled in for the night, was the only one to hear the suspicious and worrying noises and ran as fast as he could. But when he reached the building of the masterless Gournouks, the sight he discovered was so abominable and distressing that he knew he'd never forget it.
"Oh no, young Zeron," the master of Gaazal's flora and fauna could only say.
"But what have you done to him?" he added in a dismayed whisper.
He never spoke of this incident to anyone, to protect his students no matter what their crime, and above all to protect himself.
$Chapter