Chapter 7 - Elsin Boul

Ku Yong Empire

Ku Yong Palace

"You saw it yourself??" The news was so good Elsin could hardly believe it to be true when his attendant spoke.

"No, sir." As she always did, Elsin's attendant, Maia, responded quietly, avoiding eye contact by directing her gaze directly onto the floor of his office. He did not know if she feared him or hated him. He'd never done anything to hurt the girl, in his opinion and there was nothing particularly interesting at his feet.

Still, she would rather stare at my shoes than look me in the eye.

Elsin was none too thrilled about the girl the Emperor assigned to attend his needs and whims. She was pretty in the face, with curves and tits most men would fawn over. But, there was something about her. He didn't know what it was, but there was something about the way she acted while in his presence that made him want to hate the very fiber of her being.

Perhaps it was because he only allowed her to wear see-through clothing in his room and office that gave reason for her sheepish nature. It may have been the fact that he forced her to wear slave chains around her neck and wrists. Or perhaps the many sexual favors he had forced upon her since she came into his service.

'Whatever her reason, she pisses me off. They said she was trained!!'

"Ugh." Elsin sighed in disgust. "Tell me more. How did it happen?"

"I'm sorry, Your Eminence, I was not present. But I did speak to a member of the Imperial Guard, who assisted in the capture." Even she could not hide the excitement in her voice upon mentioning this Imperial Guard. Elsin found himself sucking his teeth when he heard her excitement.

"But they were sure?" Despite his attitude toward the girl, his excitement was not something he could downplay. His pupils dilated wide, his hands shook and his voice cracked something abnormally high when he spoke. "We are sure these people are Rai Jin?"

"That was the impression I was given, yes, sir."

Elsin smiled, resolute and content with the results of his calculations and planning. Somehow, he had predicted that Rai Jin would come seeking peace of their own accord when the virus spread as rapidly and uncontrollably as the red rain had allowed. He was glad to have it have happened so soon after its incursion.

"Sir," Maia continued to speak, much to Elsin's annoyance. "I was also-"

"You never seemed to understand the value of silence," he cut her off, midsentence. "What more could there possibly be for someone like you to say to me?" His rhetorical question was accompanied by a strong and terrifying glare, and the steady -tap- -tap- -tap- of shoes against hardwood flooring.

"I-I understand, sir," clasping her hands together she retreated from Elsin's room. Glad to be rid of the girl's presence, Elsin slumped into his chair, longer feeling the need to appear proper for the sake the nuisance placed in his personal court.

He rubbed his temples, attempting alleviate the migraine building in the back of his eyes. He found himself tortured by these headaches more and more often since the plague. It frightened him at first. He'd spent several days after his first headache testing his own blood, unsure of whether or not he'd been affected. It was only after the plague had come and gone for more than 7 days that he was reassured, knowing that he would not become a victim.

The pain subsided, though not by much. It was however enough for him to continue his business, absent interruptions. Elsin turned to his desk and grabbed the book he'd been using for research. Trial and Error, by Reyamon Elias was the oldest book in his possession. He prided himself on being the only man on Caust with an original copy.

The book claimed to be an autobiography of a man who was called the Rai Jin's King. It was, however, written off as fiction, as the events that took place in the work contradicted much of what historians knew about the era of which the book was written. In addition scientist and scholars of Caust deny the existence of such a breed of man.

Elsin opened the book to his bookmarked page, and read.

'42. The next year was filled with wonder. The crops flourished, and cattle were plentiful. Ayamon and I had begun rebuilding Argot as we envisioned it. A land where Rai Jin like ourselves could freely exist, without fear of persecution or discrimination.

'It seemed we were doing good for all races of Caust. It was only when we decided to build the arena once more, that society as we knew it began to crumble. During the opening match of the games Ayamon hosted to promote the opening of the stadium, a group of men, none of them displaying signs of Rai Jin blood within them attempted to assassinate Ayamon in his seat above the crowd.

'I remember he urged me not to retaliate. But he was my son. What father would allow such a slight to his blood and heir go unanswered? After the short interrogation of the would be assailants, we discovered they had been sent by the leaders of Boralis, a group of degenerate wastes who fancied themselves royalty, calling themselves The Five Minds. As the Rai Jin's chosen leader, I gathered an army of 1000 men, and together, we marched on their city.

'The Boralisean people surrendered within a day's time of our assault. Their casualties already among the thousands. The Five Minds remained defiant to their end. They holed themselves in a library within their high tower. It took Ayamon only minutes to subdue them. As they turned the city over to us, my men scoured their library to find extensive research on Rai Jin and the connection to our race and the Lily.

'I must credit them at least for the amount of knowledge they'd managed to gain about our kind from across the seas. But the knowledge they held as a people was far too dangerous to my kind to ignore.

'I ordered Ayamon to destroy their city, and every man, woman, and child within its walls. The boy refused me and left his post absent leave, taking with him his royal guard and my scythe. I never retrieved that weapon. It was a damn good one.'

Elsin sat back into his chair, and rubbed his temples once more. Straining his eyes to read had done the dull pain in his head no good.

"This is real." The capture of real Rai Jin was the ultimate confirmation for him. He knew for sure now that the stories he had learned as a child to teach moral lessons were nonfiction. A feeling of euphoria overtook him as he laughed with glee.

"I knew it! When the Red Clouds washed over the sky.. I just knew it!!" he shouted to no one in particular. But anyone within the hall heard him for sure. He was tempted to dance and continue shouting in happiness, but his celebration was interrupted with a loud -bump- -bump- -bump- on his door.

"Who is there?" his previously joyous tone had returned to one of irritation. Though he could not see the person on the other side, he sent a menacing glare in their direction.

"It is Gregory," a deep, raspy voice answered from the other side of the door. They had only been introduced recently, after Elsin's induction into the Emperor's court, the highest honor a regular citizen could achieve in Ku Yong, but before he recited the doctrine that made him the Emperor's Will.

"Please, enter." Elsin said, attempting to sound graceful.

The door opened and Gregory stepped into Elsin's office. From the moment he saw Gregory, Elsin felt deeply jealous of the man. He was tall, with dark skin, and a handsome face. He clearly worked hard to tone his body, and seemed to be constantly surrounded by women, even while he guarded his Emperor.

Gregory quietly shut the door behind him, and walked further into Elsin's office to stand in front of his desk.

"How can I assist you today, Gregory?" Elsin asked him, conjuring the best polite smile he could muster.

"I'm here to help you, your imminence." Gregory's response was vague, but spoken bluntly.

"How so?" Elsin raised his eyebrows his smile reducing to an odd frown.

"I passed your servant girl, Maia, on the way here." Gregory answered, for the first time since he entered the room, he made eye contact with Elsin. There was no clear expression for Elsin to read on his face. But he could tell, Gregory was not a man keen on him.

"And?" Elsin asked. Though he practiced on it day and night, working to make himself presentable for the people, the persona of royalty he'd cultivated began to slip. "What's that supposed to mean to me?" he barked sarcastically, almost mockingly. As if I should care about something so trivial. His displeasure at the mention of the girl was apparent on his face.

"She was visibly upset, your imminence. When I inquired as to why she confided with me the reason for her anxiety." It seemed to Elsin that the man was maneuvering his way around the whole of the reason he was in his office. His eyebrows began to crease, his fingers impatiently tapping against his desk.

"Is there a reason you are telling me this?" Elsin asked. He no longer attempted to speak like those of royalty. Instead speaking like any other commoner of Ku Yong. Gregory seemed amused. A childish smirk threatening destroy his otherwise unwavering stature.

"It would seem, she was asked by the Emperor to speak with you regarding matters that recently took place in the throne room." Gregory was clearly enjoying himself. "She however, was unnerved by what punishment she might receive for failing to complete her entire assignment."

"She has already reported the capture of the Rai Jin. I have already been made aware of the situation." Elsin responded shortly.

"Yes, but she was also to tell you of orders given to you through her by his highness himself." Gregory finally made his point clear. His words had nearly sent Elsin into a panic. He remembered the girl trying to speak to him before he dismissed her. He needed only let her speak to know it was the Emperor who guided her tongue. Now I have to hope his orders weren't time sensitive.

"Were the orders relayed to you?" Elsin asked Gregory, his voice cracking at the end of his sentence.

"They were." Gregory responded, his words taut.

"And?"

"I believe you were to report to the Emperor's chambers immediately. This order was issued nearly and hour ago if memory serves." Gregory seemed almost smug as he answered.

Elsin jumped to his feet, and hurried towards his office door, neglecting to dismiss Gregory, and fast as he could, he tore through the halls of Ku Yong Palace, to his liege's bedroom. It had only taken him moments to get to the Emperor's room. He knocked, soft and timid, fearful of how the Emperor might respond to his tardiness.

"Enter." Emperor Josiah Wales' voice rang loud and clear from the other side of the door. Elsin placed his hand on the doorknob, and twisted it open. When he entered the room, the Emperor was dressed in only his robes, his left leg was crossed in front of him. To Elsin it looked like his liege was picking at his toes. Elsin's eyebrows rose a few centimeters. He had not expected to ever catch the Emperor in such a natural state.

Without even looking up to see Elsin, the Emperor chastised him. "Please, Elsin. Remove the dumbfounded look from your face." Emperor Wales was none to pleased with him. His voice was callous. A tone he more often heard Wales use with his firstborn. "Why did you not answer my summons when the girl was sent to you?"

Though he asked it in a seemingly nonchalant manner, Elsin could hear the irritation scratching at his throat.

"I apologize, Your Highness." Elsin bowed his head, "My attendant neglected to mention your summoning." He wouldn't mention to the Emperor that he dismissed her before she'd had a chance to tell him.

"I expect she will be properly punished for her negligence, yes?" Emperor Wales response was instantaneous. He held true to his reputation. The Emperor continued to pick at his toes, never once looking up to make eye contact with Elsin. Disrespectful as he found the act, Elsin made no attempt to speak on the matter. He did however, throw a menacing glare at the top of the Emperor's head.

"Yes, of course." Elsin responded. He shuddered at the thought of Maia or Gregory telling the Emperor the full truth of the matter. Trivial it may have seemed, but lying directly to the Emperor was not a thinv punished lightly.

I'll have to speak with them both, to insure our stories or aligned.

"Good." Emperor Wales said, short and simple. "You were called here today to discuss the future of my Empire. And equally importantly, your future." The Emperor leaned forward, uncrossing his leg, and finally looking his Will in the eye.

"My future?" Elsin's voice raised several octaves above normal. The Emperor's gaze was stern. It was a look Elsin thought would be better given to the prince.

"Yes." Again, short and simple. "You have been given a high position. The highest position any boy just receiving a degree could hope for."

Emperor Wales stood, and walked to an end table not far from his bed. From the table he lifted one of the many glass bottles and turned it to read the label.

"I'm honored sir,-" Elsin began, only to find his words cut short.

"Your honor means little to me." The Emperor spoke coldly as he uncorked the bottle he'd chosen, and tilted it into a crystal glass, then repeated the motion into another. "My concern lies in what you will do with the opportunity I have so blessed you with."

"Sir?" Elsin was confused at best.

"Where do your true interest lie?"

"My interest," it was a question Elsin did not know how to answer. Fear that he might give the wrong response kept his tongue still.

"Yes, Elsin." Emperor Wales' tone was nonchalant. He put one of the glasses into Elsin's hand, and walked back to his bed, and aggressively placed himself back onto it. He never looked away from Elsin, even as he took a long deep drink from his own glass. "Do you serve Ku Yong, or do you serve yourself?" the Emperor asked him.

"I live to serve you, and this great city." It was the answer Elsin was sure his Emperor would want to hear.

A skeptical eyebrow raised on the Emperor's forehead. "Is that right?"

Elsin didn't quite like the patronizing tone the Emperor used when he gave his rhetorical response.

"Would you rather I said otherwise, your Highness?" Elsin said through pursed lips. The Emperor stared into his eyes for a moment before letting out a small chuckle.

"Lighten your mood, boy. I'm glad you feel that way." The tension Elsin thought was there, dissipated in a brief moment. "I have a task for you. Something I would only trust to my Will."

"I will do whatever you ask of me," Elsin knelt on one knee, and crossed his arm across his torso, placing his fist on his chest. It was a motion he'd seen the Imperial Guard, the Emperor's personal escorts, make when receiving orders from their liege lord.

"I believe this to be true." The emperor stood, placing his glass onto the end table. He walked to Elsin and placed his hand on his head. "Go into the city, then to Maide. Visit every medical establishment within the Empire's domain."

"What will I do there?" Elsin asked the Emperor, his head bowed low.

"You will show the Scholars of Medicine how to detect the Rai Jin gene within the human body." The Emperor removed his hand from Elsin's head and walked to gaze from a window behind his bed. "Have every man, woman, and child in Ku Yong and the Ku Yong Empire tested, and apprehend any of those who may be one of them."

"As you command." Elsin stood, and quickly walked towards the exit door.

As he touched the handle of the door, "Elsin," the Emperor called to him.

Never taking his hand from the handle, Elsin craned his neck to look his Emperor in the eye.

"Sir?" his tone timid.

"Ku Yong is forever greater because of your service. Continue to serve faithfully, and we will rise above the world together."

Without giving response, Elsin opened the door, and exited, leaving the Emperor to himself. As he walked down the hall towards his own room, he giddily laughed, glad that he had not angered the Emperor, and even more so glad that he was entrusted to continue working in his name.