~Chapter 10~

~Not even a single drop ~

Blinded by sudden light, it took a moment for my eyes to adjust. When they did, I saw a giant golden statue of a man, who I assumed was the king. Beside him stood a stone tablet engraved with words and symbols I'd never seen, but I could understand. This was the second time I had this feeling in a matter of days. What was going on?

"Oh look, chosen one, another one of those statues. Did you have enough time to make up another stupid poem?" Melody mocked.

I ignored her. It took every fiber of my soul to do so, but I did.

The streets around us were filled with people. Houses lined the streets for miles, some made of straw, others of brick. But most buildings looked worn down and ragged, like that of the orphanage. On closer look, I noticed that the people wore blank, tired expressions, as if they didn’t want to be here.

"Hey, what's that statue?" I asked.

"It's an old piece of literature written by someone long forgotten," Kimora explained.

"It's a lost language, though, so no one has been able to translate it."

"I can read them," I explained.

"What!?" they said shocked

"Yeah, we saw one of these in the forest on our way here, near an abandoned house," Melody added.

"This is truly strange. It's best not to mention this to anyone," Neptune warned.

"The king loves people with value," he added.

"But what does it say?" Kimora asked, a bit intrigued.

"It says:

‘And when the rich soil was made, and God stepped for the first time since He condemned her, He remembered.

God made His daughter to please.

Yet in her soul was a shadow of sin, and yet God still created.

Others did rise,

Bearing her flaws, her heart, her fate.

He saw humanity was chained.

But still God shaped them,Knowing their hearts could harbor ill.

For He, all-knowing, could plainly see, Who’d turn to the dark and who’d be free.

But love was boundless in Him.

He made them all, both dark and light.

And yet, one day, His all-knowing was tested.

A soul deemed lost found paths unknown.

Zora, the fallen, rejected his fate. The chains of sin broken,Turning from sin, rejecting shame.

God, astonished, in silence stood,And knew His judgment misunderstood.

No soul was alike, no fate was a chain.

Could humans rise beyond their stain?

Thus, He set forth the land of which the first bore her sacred tree.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

A test of will, of purity, would be held.

But Sina proved a point—not all righteous as He who stunned God.

Not all could turn; some sin was chained.

So he created again.

A place for rest, a place for those who could see light.

He formed the heavens and depths of hell.

So where once God stood for the first time since He condemned His daughter,A place where the soil was rich, He named this home,

For the righteous. For those who’d strived, who’d sought their best.

To heaven’s grace, the righteous soared.

And he created hall for the sinners who ignored.’"

"Who wrote that?" Melody asked.

"God," Neptune replied.

Melody laughed but stopped when she noticed Neptune wasn’t joking.

"These tablets were created based on the Great Bible that was burned at the beginning," Kimora explained.

"Why was it burned?" Melody asked.

"Nobody knows exactly why this happened, but one case stands out. Long ago, a man who could read the words went insane and claimed we were in a prison, and the only way to escape would be to dig out. He built a large staircase all the way up to the sky, where he then tried to dig through the skies. He fell and died on that day."

Melody looked at me and squinted.

"You plan on building any towers?" she said suspiciously.

"No, not really," I said dryly.

"Are you Jesus?" she said, stepping away, using her hands to hide her horns.

I ignored her and rolled my eyes.

"The castle is this way," Kimora said.

"So we all gonna ignore that Jesus just deciphered the stone thing?" Melody asked dryly. "Fine, I guess," she said as she continued walking.

"That is his truth to keep," Neptune said.

"It may be rare, but we won't question it," they both agreed.

"It was true, though. Why was I able to read that?"

We walked down the street, and even from a distance, the castle loomed over the center of town. It had gold-engraved walls, with guards lined up along them. The guards wore white uniforms emblazoned with a snake emblem, and high-quality wands were strapped to their waists. They stood stiffly, saluting as they looked out over the town.

Passing through the gates, we were met by a fat man in a suit. He had a monocle over one eye, thinning hair, and a short, stocky frame. He chewed noisily on a bone, drooling as he spoke.

"And who are you?" he said, pointing his thick fingers at me. "What’re you doing here? Kimora, who’s this little man?"

"He wishes to see the king," Kimora said, bowing her head.

The man snorted with laughter. "Oi, little lady," he said, stepping closer to Melody. "You’re a bit too gorgeous to be hanging around with this one here." He sneered, leaning his face closer to hers.

I stepped forward, worried Melody might snap. "We’d like to see the king about the morubasa herbs," I said.

"And who says you can just see the king whenever you please, you little brat?"

As I was about to speak, Melody interrupted.

"Listen here," she said, her voice firm. "We came a long way and fought hard enemies to get those herbs. I don't care if your king shits gold—we will see him and get the medicine we need for our friends." She didn’t stutter once, her eyes locked on him.

"Well, I don’t defecate gold, young lady," came a new voice, "but I like your passion. Allow them in, Miland."

The fat man moved aside, bowing mockingly as he signaled us to pass.

Kimora and Neptune bowed to their knees as the king approached, ordering them to rise and follow us into the main hall.

"Welcome to Castle Perrisal Vermont," he said. "My name is King Vermouth. You may address me as 'Your Highness.'"

The king was tall and had black locs flowing to his shoulders and a dark brown skin tone. He walked proudly and elegant. His eyes were a piercing light red, and he had a neatly groomed black beard. He wore a black-and-red cape and a golden crown so brilliant it nearly blinded me.

Behind him walked the queen, proud and elegant. She had long black hair, striking red eyes, and wore a deep red dress, red lipstick, and nails to match, crowned with a massive tiara.

"So, what brings you here, boy?" the king asked.

We moved to a grand room with a large table at its center, adorned with gold and gleaming materials. Above the table hung a large chandelier. Throne-like seats were positioned on either side for the king and queen, while we took seats in between.

"So, speak, boy. What is it you want from me?" he asked again.

"As I told the puffy man out front," Melody replied, "our friends are sick, and your kingdom is the only place we could find the Morubasa herbs—"

"Ah, yes, the herbs," the king interrupted.

"And what do you have to offer?" His demeanor shifted, becoming colder.

"Is this about gold?" I asked.

The king looked amused. "Look around you, boy. Does it appear that I need gold?"

"Then what?" Melody asked, her patience wearing thin.

The queen’s face softened. She usually looked proud and composed, but here, she seemed almost sad.

"Nothing," the king said. "There’s nothing of value you can give me—at least, not yet."

"We really—" Melody began, but he cut her off.

"I understand, child, but that is the cruel nature of life. My cup has been full for many years. Yet, even though it spills over, I will not let a single drop go to waste—not one."

He looked me dead in the eyes. "Come back when you have something of value." Then he stood to leave.

The queen followed but turned back briefly. "Leave," she said. "Go home and bury your friends—it will be easier this way." Her words were cold, yet her eyes showed compassion that didn’t match her tone.