Esis

- It is true. Maybe by submitting to it, we become worn out to the bone, but that is better than having given it up. Just imagine the hurt pride, the whispers behind your back, the nostalgia of having belonged to the elite of elites, the pride and satisfaction of being a dominant and dominating others.

- Because of this, the world fights to acquire so much, they say it's for personal satisfaction, but it's mostly for the dazzle in the eyes of others, that pride that a loved one would say when introducing you to others.

- And you still don't know the best part, the higher-ups have the right to walk the aisles of the lower levels without the others being able to do anything about it, but the opposite is impossible. Knowing this, most people look at each other sideways, watching their surroundings to sickness to find out if the people ahead or behind them are not members of the upper class.

- So that was why you suggested earlier that we take the streets of the commoners.

- Yes.

- It's so terrible.

Seiran shrugged.

- It depends on the mind. Especially of those who are commoners. They think so much about this distinction that they don't know how to recognize their qualities. Neither the riches nor the advantages they possess. And in a certain sense they have more than the others. Those who are attached to duty, to the perpetuation of a pure lineage and all that, are in their way, more imprisoned than the others. Unlike yours, here life is very long, and such an "immortal" life that one is forced to spend with an unloved person becomes unbearable most of the time, and even time despite its quality is sometimes unable to change people's hearts. To never have a choice, or to have to suffer the irreversible consequences of one's own shortcomings is an abomination beyond words.

I nodded my head in understanding.

- And you, Seiran?

He winced and remained silent for a long time. I didn't know if he had wanted to confess something to me, something he must not have been very proud of, but I could also guess, although with difficulty, his true intentions.

The great royal library was in sight. Where all the stories of the magical worlds are gathered. From the smallest thought to the biggest event in history. Everything was written there, everything.

But as for the secrets of each nation, it would have been too easy to consult them without the approval of the royalty of the corresponding kingdom. Except for the general history, everything was sealed with indestructible spells and without admission. And even then, the reading of the secrets had to be revealed by a master of knowledge who, although grouped together most of the time in this city, was almost impossible to find, so much so that they were struck by the mania of changing places as soon as the desire took them, most often with the simple aim of finding a place that would offer them the peace necessary to continue their studies.

This library of an unimaginable size, carried in it all the greatest secrets of this magical universe without limits.

And each Nation had its own room, on the door, imposing and inviolable, of which was written their name and the agreement of sealing. A huge guardian eye, never resting, was installed at the top of each door to add to the protection of the rooms of the kingdoms, in addition to those unfailing spells of defense to completely guarantee the preservation of the secrets.

And soon, we stopped in front of one of them, the door of Belega, former kingdom of Preisax, Seiran's father. I was surprised.

- Seiran, why do we need to research your father's kingdom? What exactly are you looking for?

It took him a while to answer me, as it does every time I ask questions that I would describe as rather disturbing.

- What am I looking for? It's a way to cross a particular border.

- What borders?

- The borders of the kingdom of Esis.

***

"Esis."

- Right.

Seiran shook his head as he concentrated on remembering everything he knew about this lost nation.

- Seiran," I asked in a quiet voice that showed nothing.

- Yes?

I took a few seconds before I could continue.

- Tell me about Esis. I beg you.

My love turned to me. Did he feel my feelings? These feelings so deep, immeasurable, indefinite which haunted me since the beginning, which I however with all my being pushed back at the point to break me, and which now, I noted with desolation, with the only evocation of this so short name, burst out on all sides until tearing me and taking my breath. Yes, Seiran had to see it, as anyone without any doubt, whoever he could have been, would have been able to, which did not prevent my lover from revealing to me what I so much wanted to know.

- Esis," he repeated in a clear, neutral voice. The abandoned kingdom of the magical world. At least, that's what the story says, and yet, ironically, no one knows that this kingdom is the portal to the infinite world of the Zeogs.

You don't know it, Dania, but about a thousand years ago, Esis was a rich and prosperous kingdom, among others, wonderfully peaceful, a kingdom of farmers and all those who worked the land, but which nevertheless, derived its great wealth and fame from a glittering stone more precious than all others and which bore the illustrious name of idiom, meaning in the ancient Esian language - unique among the jewels. An extraordinary stone that existed only in this enchanted kingdom.

Seiran shrugged.

- And as you are equally aware, great fortune is immutably condemned to the lust of evil. It didn't help that this kingdom was ruled by foolish and repulsively naive rulers at that time, on the contrary, it only accelerated what was already inevitable. Supported by Esian traitors who also wanted the sublime and shining wealth of their kingdom, mercenaries from the neighboring nation of Emero invaded Esis and took over the exclusive trade of this jewel, which was more priceless than any other.

- No kingdom came to save them.