"Father… how did it go with…" Kuza's worried son began to bombard him with questions as soon as he heard his father's footsteps. However, when he saw his father's condition, he felt a pang in his heart, with so much anger consuming his person. He knew exactly who could hurt his father in this manner without worrying about the consequences.
In the whole of the Magic Realm, only the madman, Kuza, also known as Lord of the Magic Realm has what it takes to hurt his father and damn the consequences which would never come. He felt so sorry for his father as he burst out, "Holy goddess…father… What happened this time?"
As he declared this, Zerd immediately took hurried steps toward his father and helped him to a seat on the carefully crafted wooden double sitter, after which he shut the door with a simple thought. Urma watched in horror as Zerd moved to unwrap his wounds and start reciting some magic spells.
While Zerd was unwrapping his father's wound, he set a barrier around the house to ensure that no one could hear them from outside. However, when he was almost done unwrapping the wound, Urma shook his head gently and spoke with so much difficulty, "do..nt!"
Zerd was shocked about why his father would stop him from healing his wounds when he looks like he would bleed out at any time. The thought then clicked in his mind, "why didn't his father do it himself?… Unless…" Zerd took a deep breath to calm his trembling body before enquiring from Urma, "Did he use a sacred blade?"
Urma gave a bitter smile as he was in so much pain. He didn't wish to speak about the madman who could walk in on them at any time to finish what he had started. Urma knew that Kuza needed him alive because he needed his tracing skills to find Asura, or anyone close to the Kiyiak, if possible. However, if he discovers Zerd's skills perchance, he wouldn't mind ending him or even holding him captive so that Zerd would do his bidding without question.
Urma was okay suffering alone, but he wouldn't wish for his son to go through the constant humiliation that Kuza puts him through on a daily basis. Is it even his fault that he cannot locate a man who is as strong as Kuza, or even many times stronger? Kuza wouldn't accept that it is not the skills of Urma, but the unmatched strength of Asura that has kept him shut out all this while. Undoubtedly, Urma is extremely good at his job, he is the best there is, which was why he earned a place in the ruling council. However, Kuza wouldn't take his failure for an answer. He wanted Kuza's head on a spike no matter what.
Moreover, Zerd would not survive a day in the service of Kuza. The boy hates the madman so much that he would do anything to end his tyrannical rule that keeps choking everyone to death. Unknown to Urma, the young boy was eagerly waiting for him so he could share the news of his breakthrough with his father. The current situation however didn't seem like it could favor his earlier enthusiasm. Zerd didn't even feel the joy of breaking through anymore. All he could feel right now is bitterness, and the need to end the madman's reign as soon as possible.
Watching Urma bleeding without any chance of stopping the blood, Zerd immediately put his father to sleep by enchantment. After he was sure his father had slept, he applied an extremely potent healing ointment he brought back from the land of Keiz. It was a purplish-looking yet almost transparent substance.
Kuza forbade Urma from healing the wound, and because he used a magic blade, Urma wouldn't have been able to heal the wound unless Kuza gave permission or healed it himself. Any attempt to heal Urma would tip off Kuza, who wouldn't mind trying all means to make it worse, hence making Urma suffer.
They were not allowed to heal the wound, but Zerd could lessen his father's pain and allow him to have a peaceful rest for the night. This was exactly what he did. Zerd made some enchantments on the substance so that its potency is reduced drastically. He wouldn't wish to alert Kuza anyway. He may be strong, but he knows he isn't strong enough to stand against Kuza just yet.
In his state of slumber, Urma could feel his son connecting their energies, and prying into his mind. However, he knew Zerd wouldn't hurt him, so he slept further without attempting to wake up.
"Whew… so strong! Is he even human or a deity?" Zerd lets out an exhausted breath as he collapses beside his father's bed, with his head resting beside Urma, and his hands firmly grabbing his.
Zerd needed a good sleep to restore his magic, however, he couldn't leave his father all by himself. Consequently, Zerd and Urma slept peacefully, unaware of the presence that was monitoring them at the moment. A presence so far, yet so close.
***
"Interesting… Pretty interesting… mmmm! young man… you just caught my attention… hahaha… Let's see how far you can go… Lucky Urma!!!" With a faint smile, he returned to sleep, and this time without any interruptions.
"My Lord!... I… I discovered that…" Urma began in a stutter. However, Kuza quickly shuts him up, "The next word that comes out of your mouth had better be good news… Why else do you think you are here?"
It's been three days since Urma had tried to locate Asura. On the second day of the three-day deadline, he felt like his life was finally coming to an end, up until Zerd told him of his findings from the previous night.
"Keiz mountain… my Lord… Asura is at the Keiz mountain!" Kuza stood to his feet and declared icily, "I see you have every intention of saving your neck… but… lying to me.." Kuza paused and gave Urma a disgusted look once more, causing him to avert his eyes from the madman.
"I wouldn't dare lie to you… my Lord!" Urma declares in a low voice filled with panic. He has never interrupted the ruler since he started serving him. However, this time is different, as Urma needed to save his neck at all costs.
Kuza was intrigued by Urma's declaration, so he decided to humor the tracer for a while longer. It's not Iike he was running late for any reason
"And you found him when?" Kuza asked like he didn't care, but his undivided attention was on Urma, even though he seemed so nonchalant about the situation. He wanted to capture the most minute expression on the tracer's face.
"My Lo..rd… we… I mean… I located him yesterday evening… but… I needed to be sure." If Urma mentioned finding Ashra's location three days ago, Kuza would have his head immediately. If he could find Asura, why didn't he do it in his presence? If Urma mentions the morning before the meeting, he would seem to be making up excuses just to save his neck. Therefore, the previous day seems to be the perfect reason to save his neck.
"Why would Asura remain in Keiz when he knows I've been looking for him for such a long time… Is Asura daring me?... Mmm… Or he's hiding from me?" Kuza returns to his seat and begins to wonder why his spies never spotted Asura entering or leaving Keiz. "Or perhaps, he was scared of encountering me?"
"Get your pathetic self out of my sight!" Kuza declared after a while. Urma reluctantly walked out of the meeting room, only to realize that his wound had begun to heal, though slowly. He knew Kuza wouldn't leave this chance to torture him further, as he'll heal him, but would take his sweet time to do so.
"Hmmm… that was… Close" Urma couldn't wait to inform his son about the good news. Consequently, he took hurried steps towards his wooden house. As he hurried home, Urma could never have imagined that Zerd witnessed everything that transpired in the council hall without necessarily being there physically.
The thirty year old Zerd swore on this day that Kuza would be fed the same dose of humiliation his father had to endure all this while. Since it will be served at his hands, he might as well pay Kuza back with interest.
"I'm tired!" Kuza stands to his feet and declares, and all the councilmen scramble to exit the hall after bowing till the madman leaves the hall.
From start to finish of the meeting, not a single one of them spoke any word. The only time the ruling council had a voice was before they chose Kuza as Lord of the Magic Realm. After attaining the position, he silenced all the councilmen with one vicious act or the other. Right now, simply having different views from Kuza could cause them immediate death.
***
"Lolly…how do you feel now?... You've been out for so long… I started getting worried… Glad to see you"
***