...A Son.
Carter and Esmond were walking through the streets to the Summoning Square in the second city, watching the drones install sewage pipes and roads to buildings with furniture and décor.
It all made Esmond feel amazed by the abilities and technical skill of the drones but there was a setback to their brilliance which bothered him.
His turmoil was spotted by Carter, who understood why Esmond looked so stressed suddenly.
"Even if they can't exactly go out and speed up the work… we can use them discreetly of course…
Have you thought about examining the cloaking system you got and see if we can apply it to the drone?"
Carter had hit the nail on its head with his question as Esmond pulled up the cloaking system schematics in the System Interface.
Staring at the notes, code, and designs of the cloaking system, for up to 10 minutes, until Esmond found something they could work with to make some adjustments to the cloaking system so he could add it to the drones.
But before he really got into his new project, they arrived before the Summoning Square in front of the grand palace.
The colour schemes the two had decided on adorned the walls and building, creating both a glorious symbol for the royal family, but it also the scarlet blood at their feet from the battles through the purple darkness of space that fills their coffers with gold and wealth to keep their people clean and healthy.
.
"What do I need to do?"
"Just stand in front, over by the stand at the front of the square, near the palace walls.
Stand their and summon the Zadris people…"
Esmond followed Carters instrictions to a tee, however standing on the small platform that wasn't any taller than a couple inches off the ground.
However, it was made from the same marble that was carved and cut for the Summoning Square.
Standing on the small platform, a small window popped up in his System Interface,
[Summon Zadris People]
[Ratio: Predetermined - Locked]
[Summoning Amount: 100]
[Does Host accept?]
Not wanting to wait a moment more, Esmond clicked accept, but as the golden light flashed in front of his eyes and began to dissipate, the form of the Zadris people came into Esmonds line of sight and thus began the internal panic he long tried to hold back.
"Don't worry… I've got you…" Carter's hand on his shoulder, helped reassure him as he small tears welled in his eyes, watching the Zadris people appear and realise their loved ones were right beside them when they awoke in a weird place.
Esmond could tell everyone here had someone that longed for appear beside them, as he watched families break down and cry in each other's arms.
Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, everyone…
.
"Ah, I didn't expect that…
It looks like the system has summoned the Zadris people from 'those' days, Esmond…
These are just a drop in the ocean of people that were… gone… back then…"
Esmond understood things weren't normal when he saw emotion in everyones eyes.
For some reason, Esmond expected the system to summon Zadris people randomly who had no memories of their past, but instead it summoned those from his past…
Those who were massacred and treated like livestock…
He struggled to understand why the system would do such a thing, but before he could wonder off, someone called out to him from the crowd of Zadrisians.
.
"Dd-dddiddd you brrinng us hereee?"
The mans voice broke from the tears and joy of seeing his wife and daughters once again.
He long lost everything that meant to him and now he finally opened his eyes, and they were standing before him.
It was impossible to believe, but he caught out the man far away who looked much different to them, even from the energy coming off the stranger, he felt peaceful and friendly… something they had long thought never existed in the world beyond their people…
Everyone soon started looking in Esmonds direction, pleasantly surprised by the emotions coming off his natural aura that made them feel like he was a long-lost friend.
Seeing the smiles and faces full of emotion, Esmond found it hard to breath as the memories of his past came to the surface, but then from nowhere, the last person he expected to hear, spoke up.
.
"Yes… my son brought you all here.
My child, Esmond Manston…"
Ruby said aloud, walking towards Esmond while lovingly holding her husband's hand.
They were out on a little walk after Ruby found out where Daniel was hiding, and they felt like checking on their boys.
Seeing the heavy emotion affecting their boy, Ruby spoke up, not knowing what her boy had gone through in his past to nearly break down as such, however she would always be there when he struggled.
No matter what.
.
"Mom! Dad!
What are you both doing here?"
"Silly, we were walking around and decided to come and see you baby…
Are you ok honey…?"
Ruby stepped forward and held her Esmond, worried he might break in her arms if he continued to look so hurt.
"Son… you've already told us everything…
We've even moved into the 'space' or whatever it is, but it is amazing…
Whatever it is, we will always be there for you Esmond.
Never forget that."
Esmond smiled as he nodded, with tears running down his face.
After a kiss from his mother and a hug from his father, Esmond stood up tall, like he was standing before his subjects…
His stance was enough to catch everyone's attention as they all quietened down with all their questions, they were asking one another and stared in Esmonds direction, hoping for some answers.
.
"First and foremost, you have been summoned after your deaths I believe and brought before me, here, within the space that I control…" there was visible tension on many of the peoples faces hearing that the man before them brought them here after their deaths, which meant he was incredibly powerful.
Nothing that they could fight against.
"I do not wish to bring anyone harm, nor will I force you to do anything you don't want to…
In fact, I want to apologise for my actions… for failing you… and the rest of your kind in my past life as the… as the…. As the one that led to your downfall…
Crown Prince… Esmilic Von Trozika…
I'm so sorry…"
Esmond fell to his knees, tears gushed down his face as he remembered the pain and suffering of the past.
The memories of his child being taken away…
His wife… the love of his life, being sold like merchandise by his family.
A great betrayal that haunted Esmond even after who knows how many lifetimes that came after…
.
Ruby and Daniel were heartbroken seeing their child in such grief and wanted to be by Esmonds side, however Carter held them off, telling the two that they couldn't interrupt Esmonds healing as it had affected him for lifetimes.
"If you interfere now… it'll do more harm than good.
This is something he has suffered from for too many lifetimes…
Just please listen to me if you both tell me to call you mom and dad… please listen to this other son when he tells you that his brother needs to let his grief out… all of it…"
Daniel and Ruby won't to rebuttal Carter, but hearing the cries of their boy and knowing the tight grip Carter had on the two, all they could do was sit back and watch their son wail in pain, smashing his head against the hard white marble stone till it cracked from repeatedly being smashed in.
Blood flowed from Esmonds forehead as his cries slowly died down, but the light from his eyes were going away, like the damage to his soul was resurfacing after all this time…
.
"Mister…
Mister… are you that shining prince knight?!
Are you him?!
Prince Esmilic?"
Esmond couldn't look the little girl in the eyes as there was too much pain in them so he just nodding his bloodied head, as the blood dripped off his face.
"… Thank you, mister Prince!
I got my Mama and Papa back!
Look!"
The little girl with fair skin and bright straw hair grabbed a hold of Esmonds hand to get his attention as she pointed towards her family.
Esmond slightly turned his head and looked through his messy hair, filled with blood and dirt.
He could see a mother and father fearfully looking at their daughter, worried she might be hurt…
Esmond could tell that pain all came from his actions.
It was enough to deter him from continuing to look any further, but the little girls' words caught his attention as he looked at her with disbelief written across his face.
.
"I remember when Mama and Papa were gone… because some bad people came…
When they were gone, I thought I would be next, but you saved me!
The prince with golden locks with a shine of silver.
You broke through all those bad guys, even though you were badly hurt… you never stopped. Not once.
I cried and cried as I saw you fall many times, but you got up again and again, just to save poor old me and the other children from the small town…
I never saw you again after that day… but thank you for fulfilling my one promise I asked of you back then!"
The little girl jumped into Esmonds arms, uncaring of the blood and filth all over him, all while Esmond thought back to the memory of the small child…
…
..
.
"Mister…. Missterrr… could you pro…mise… me one thing…"
"Sure… I'll make it so…"
Esmond was struggling to keep his eyes open as the pain continue to affect his movement in the air.
He had a couple kids in his arms, holding on him for dear life, having been rescued from kidnapping as galactic forces came to take them away.
However, there was one girl in his arms that tried to protect him when a shot came for his back and instead hit her delicate body.
Her blood completely covered Esmonds arm and chest as he held her close and tried his best to fly through the air without harming the other kids.
He wanted to save her, but it looked like he might not make it…
Not wanting to give up hope, he continued to talk with the little girl with natural light strawberry hair.
.
"Can… you take me… to mama… and papa…"
"…
Of course… I promise… when you open your eyes next… you will see them again."
Esmond looked at the cute girl in his arms, struggling to breathe through the pain with a gaping hole to the side of her chest.
"Thank… you…" a smile that broke a piece of Esmonds soul was left across her bloodied face as she took her last breath and passed away in his arms…
…
..
.
Remembering those times brought up an aching pain in Esmonds chest, but it was gone seeing the bright smile across that girls' face he always believed he failed so long ago.
Letting her return to her parents, who fantastically wiped the blood and dirt off their daughter, making sure to look for any harm that might have happened to her.
"Mister… I mean Crown Prince-"
"Please… I am not the Crown Prince no more… I'm just… Esmond Manston… a son."
"Well Mr Manston… what became of our people? Do you know?
What happened to the Royal Family?"
Many questions were asked by the Zadris people who wanted to know what became of their race and people, with many of the 100 summoned losing their lives during the early days of the invasion.