Chapter 36

"Even at school",. James continued, "he got into the bad books of some bullies."

"And what did he do to them ?" Thorace inquired.

"Broke their bones." James answered. "He also beat my sister in all the tests since he started our school, that's why she's angry at him."

"So you're scared of losing your position to kied", Vage remarked, "Do feel so frightened, Kied isn't the type who is used to take the spotlight, that doesn't mean he's shy, he's far from being timid. If you're nice to him, he will gladly take his place behind you. And he isn't the type who will take school work seriously."

"He isn't serious with his school work that he always comes first in class ?" Judith retorted.

"Just take it as a case of genetic superiority and the wide range of scenarios he's able to put his knowledge to test."Thorace explained, "If you work hard you can still beat him to the mark."

"But he always gets everything right", Judith lamented, "it's like he never fails."

"Then do the same ", Rode advised, "don't fail."

"You guys aren't being honest with her", Trident said, "behind every success are a thousand failures, better know that Judith, if you want to beat Kied, then get ready to fail."

"Did someone call my name ?!" Kied's voice rang, "l heard someone call my name !"

"Nice meal", James interrupted, "I didn't know you were such a good cook Kied."

"I don't cook", Kied denied, "the ship does."

"Okay", James whistled, "that's what I wanted to know, I'm done with mine", he said stretching himself in his chair, "what's next ? Because I feel like taking a nap."

"Not yet", Kied stopped, "are you done Judith ?" He asked.

"Did you talk to me ?" she asked, puzzled.

"Of course he did, didn't you hear your name ?" Trident snapped, "And what's so special about being called by a hothead like Kied anyway ?"

"Yes, I'm done", Judith replied, "and thank you."

"Say it macho man", Thorace joked, "a simple "you're welcome" won't do you any harm, will it ?".

"You're welcome." Kied muttered under his breath, "Equivax, can you get them in armour ?"

"Sweet !" James yelled.

"No", came Equivax's stern response.

"Why not ?" Kied asked, hoping that Equivax's reason for refusing wasn't what he was thinking. But who was he fooling ? they had one mind and he had thought correctly.

"They're your friends", Equivax stated his reason, "therefore, they're your responsibility, not mine."

"Fine", Kied sighed from his chair, "James and Judith, come with me and you too Hypernox."

"I'm coming too !" Trident yelled, following them behind as they went through a passageway which led to other parts of the ship.

"Aren't you going with them Rode ?" Vage called Rode who's paws covered his sleeping face. "It seems Calk Xan pulled the wrong string."

*** *** ***

"What's that ?" Judith asked, staring into a passageway to their right leading to a garden.

"It's none of your business", Kied said, marching forward.

Judith stopped, watching the group leave her behind, then she quietly snuck into the garden. She was amazed as she stared around her, the place was as large as a park and the flowers were exotic, some of which she had never seen or heard of. The golden fountains gushed of crystal like fluids each with a different colour, ranging from red, blue, green, silver and purple. What was this place ? Judith marvelled as she stretched her hand to pluck a rose like flower that smelt pleasantly.

"You wouldn't want Kied to find you sneaking around his garden", came Equivax's voice, "would you ?" He asked.

Judith, recomposing herself replied, "Must he be so possessive."

"You don't know what those flowers mean to him, so don't try accusing him of being selfish."

"What do I do ? I'd love to have one", she pleaded.

"Look in that jar at the side of the fountain over there, you'll find some seeds, take only as much as you need."

Staring into the Jar, Judith saw it was filled with different colours of seeds ; silver, gold, rubies, crystalline, she just couldn't name them all. Dipping her fingers into the Jar. she picked three seeds, a golden, green and purple one each.

"Excellent combination, you'll get a beautiful flower", Equivax commended, "and by coincidence you picked Kied's favourite combination of seeds."

Did she hear Equivax right ? That the seeds she had picked, were Kied's favourite combination, and how did a monster like Kied end up having a garden like this. She thought it was only people who always smiled and were social with a cheerful countenance, were the only ones who appreciated beauty.

"We can never see the true nature of things", Equivax read her thoughts, "until we look at them from within. Kied might be a bit confined but there's one thing I can assure you of, that is his loyalty."

*** *** ***

That purple seed within the grip of his palm glistened as he stared into the cosmic expanse ahead of his sailing fleet from the edge of his battlecarpet. His free hand clasping the hilt of his blade which was still in its scabbard and his rhombic shield with its ruby core flashing of a fiery red. Tergon had embarked on this voyage in order to attain the unimaginable - the gateway to the city of Norden, the astral city of rising light.

"And how sure are you that Norden is Kied's homeworld ?" His general who stood by his side asked.

"I find it somewhat hard to believe myself too, Garvey", Tergon replied, "Kied wields the power of darkness granting him the powers of a lord of the underworld and the people of Norden, as it says in the cosmic myths, only possess the Matter, Light and are of the State, Peace."

"But Kied is a full fledged Dark Warrior", Garvey contrasted, "it contradicts what we know."

"But what we know", Tergon continued, "may not be the truth."

"What do you mean by that sir ?" Garvey asked.

"Think Garvey", Tergon prodded, revealing the crystalline purple seed in his palm, "Kied is the only one known to sow these rare seeds of flowers across barren worlds and asteroids, an interesting fact which many cosmic lords haven't taken note of."

   "Therefore", Garvey probed.

   "The flowers and seeds he grows and plants are species which can only be found in the astral city of Norden and anyone who possesses them must have a connection to it, directly or indirectly. It therefore means that Kied knows something about Norden, something really precious that he hides behind the dark facade of his personality."

   "So you think Kied knows how to get to the city of Norden ?" Garvey suggested.

   "I'm thinking of this Garvey", Tergon responded, "in a completely different way. Yes, he might know the path leading to the mythical city but my instincts are telling me to delve deeper as there is more to what we already know."