"You're rough, uncle. This time, I still lasted two minutes before I lost my grip."
Jiide didn't reply, but stared intently and tenderly at the young boy who was possibly his nephew if for no other reason. He was handsome with his jet-black hair and almost transparent light-gray eyes, as well as his slim, normal stature. The only serious problem was his total lack of talent.
If at least he was lazy, at worst an idiot, but he was intelligent, that was all. He had almost no talent for magic or combat, hence this trip. He didn't know what else to do for himself. All the teachers had given up too. He had no friends. He only had him, his uncle. So, as a last resort, Jiide Jeugolk opted for this solution. He only hoped with all his heart that the decision he'd made to take him to live in Maldeos would be what saved him.
"What were you doing before I came along and forced you to play magician?"
His nephew smiled at him and pointed to a huge table on which a battlefield was spread out.
"I was playing the war of the elements."
Jiide couldn't help but tense up.
"Ah, I see, Boyok and Kioppe."
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.
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