Mystery of the Cosmos: Episode 3

EPISODE 3

It was a beautiful morning in the kingdom of Talkita. Sol rose from the bed and admired the sleeping figure of his wife.

"We've been married for a while and you keep staring at me like you want to gobble me up"

"I'm simply thanking the cosmos for giving me such a beautiful wife. Is that wrong?"

"Even if I have borne you no children?"

"Feri....."

"We can't keep avoiding the topic Sol. I've been hearing rumours......They want to get you a new wife. They say a harlot cannot bear the king a heir"

"Feri, don't listen to them. I don't care about your past. I love you for who you are"

"I read your constitution Sol. It says if the Queen doesn't bear a heir in three years, they would get you a new wife. If you don't accept it, the queen would be killed. Is that true, Sol?"

"Feri...."

"Tell me the truth Sol. Is it true?" Her demeanor changed in an instant, her voice cold and threatening. Sol couldn't look her in the eye.

"Yes. The ministers were talking to me about it. They have already prepared a new wife for me"

"Do you know what my tradition does to men with multiple wives, Sol? They are cut to pieces, starting from their family jewels. And as for the noble women that were married out, they shall be returned promptly to their kingdom and their marriage annulled. The kingdom of Ataliya accepts no disrespect to their women"

"What are you saying Feri?"

"I'm saying if you choose to abide to your constitution then I will abide to mine. I've suffered far too much to be stupid"

After their arguments, the next time the couple saw each other was in court. All the ministers were assembled and everyone of them had blank expression. 

Sol's expression was somber while Feri's was unreadable. They sat beside each other and court began.

"Your majesties, the case brought before the court this day is of your lack of heirs" The Minister of the right started speaking.

"Don't we have other important issues to deal with, Minister Pakri?"

"Your majesty, with all due respect, you have been postponing this issue long enough. We persuaded you for a long time before you got yourself a wife. Do we have to beg again for you to give the kingdom a heir?"

"Minister Pakri, why don't you go straight to the matter and stop beating around the bush. You have already arranged your eldest daughter to be married to the king, yes? Stop dragging the matter" Feri says with a sneer. 

The Minister held his self righteous appearance but Feri was having none of it.

"This is why we don't allow men to rule in Ataliya. You are still too inadequate to play this game with me"

"This isn't your kingdom Lady Feri. We have rules and traditions here. Besides you were a harlot, you have no right to speak" Minister Liyu interjected. 

Feri simply smiled. 

"You are right on both accounts. That's why I'm returning to my kingdom. My mother already offered to make the Governor"

"Feri, please don't go. Don't leave me. Please, we can make this work"

"I was a fool to ever believe that at the start. In the end, a kingdom ruled by men isn't anything more than trash. This is goodbye Sol"

"The King should've married the golden angel instead of you. You were always a threat to this kingdom. She was obedient, loyal and gentle. She was also young and more beautiful. She would've made a better queen" Minister Liyu mocks. 

Feri stops in her tracks and her magi erupted from her body, engulfing her in a second. Invisible tendril snake around her fist and her eyes are filled with rage.

"I spend three years, listening to your whims, your mockery, your prejudice, jealousy and obvious stupidity. This is what I get? You've reached a new low Minister Liyu, using my friend against me. I'm finally going to rid the cosmos of you" Feri snarls.

A tendril of her magix shoots out and catches Minister Liyu by the neck, lifting him up. His eyes were filled with fear as he couldn't fight back. She was just too overwhelming. 

"Feri, please, if you have any love left for me in your heart, please let Minister Liyu go" Sol pleads.

Feri glances at him and her eyes soften. She lets Minister Liyu go and he falls to the ground.

"I have let him go. This is the very last favor that I will do for you King Sol. After this, all our ties are severed. 

Minister Liyu, I leave you with a gift. 

A warning to all of you. Any who disrespects me or my friend again, would meet with the reaper before the sun goes down" Feri finally says.

A tendril shoots at them faster than they could blink and hits Minister Liyu in the neck. He cries out and is immediately surrounded by the other minsters.

When the commotion cleared, Feri was nowhere to be found. Where she formerly stood was a messenger who held a letter with a seal that belonged to the Queen of Ataliya. 

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Diqa was the leader of the Principality. She was a witch herself, the most powerful the Principality had ever produced. She was stone faced and harsh, leaving everyone to give her a wide berth.

Beside her bed sill was a letter given to her by her beloved Alea. It was crinkled because she kept reading everyday and she would smile to herself every time.

Sol had told her all about Alea's heritage and she was shocked. Nevertheless, Alea was like a daughter to her and she cherished her so very much.

"Lady Diqa, you have a letter" a voice called from outside her door. She slipped out of her bed, into her robe and walked bare foot to the door.

The messenger delivered the letter and left. She was surprised to see the letter had the royal seal of Ataliya. She ripped it open and read it with urgency. After going through it for a while, she realized she couldn't decipher the language.

The Principality had a large library that collected all sort of books from anywhere they could find. They sought knowledge and ways to increase their craft.

Diqa walked through the hall leading to the library in silence, her footsteps echoing. She pushed the doors open and stepped into the library. Like usual, it was crowded with various students, studying and researching. They kept their head lowered as she passed by and couldn't utter a word.

She went into the restricted area and the students could finally breathe freely. She excused an aura that scared them even as witches.

In the restricted area were secret texts that could cause chaos if they got out in the world. There were records of things that have happened for millennia, from minute details to huge events.

She walked to a section filled with texts on ancient languages. She picked them out and began to search for one that matched the one sent by Kohra.

It took her the whole day but she finally found a match. She opened the dusty scroll fully and tried to translate. It was very difficult so she decided to take it back to her quarters to study it. 

The library was deserted when she came out. She paid it no heed and walked to where her quarters were. On the way, her path was blocked by a group of witches.

"Can I help you with anything ladies?" She asked calmly. Her purple eyes burned with a cool flame, scaring them a little.

"Lady Diqa, you have paid no heed to our plans of taking over the continent. We have the power and resources. We can easily carry it out. We just need your approval"

"You all claim to be sages but I've never seen a more foolish bunch. Do you think the continent is that weak? You've gone through the archives and still underestimate the power of the god hunter? We may have conquered other continents but our power is no match for the top brass here. Out of my way you fools" 

They clear the way and she walks through. They are angry but she doesn't care. It's only a matter of time before they try to get rid of her. She herself doesn't want to rule over such a conceited bunch but she respects her master's wishes.

The summons from Kohra sat on her night stand, beside the letter from Alea. She has decided to go to the kingdom of Ataliya the next day.