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THE PAWN'S REBELLION
CHAPTER 1: "ZYRON"

CHAPTER 1: "ZYRON"

Humans… What can be said of this pitiful race?

You’re all just tools conveniently placed upon my work desk. You were all created for me to put you to work. You’re all just hopeless, helpless pieces trapped in a spontaneous loop to be played according to my will.

You are nothing but insignificant pawns in the game of life. You scurry about, trapped in a cycle of meaningless repetitions with no control over your own destiny.

You live your life for others, endlessly singing their praise, scared and worried about the repercussions that come with doing otherwise.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Is that how you want to live? Trapped by the chains of the supposed concepts of fate?

Don’t you want to be able to control your destiny? To be free from the constraining cycle of life and death?

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Or do you want to toil away your life, remaining a lab rat constantly observed by the universe; knowing your every move, your every thought, just waiting for you to be proved worthless and then crushed in the inevitable?

The choice is yours…

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<<8:28 AM>>

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I’ve been called many things in life: a superiorist, a solipsist, but never boring. There’s probably never a dull moment that passed by when I’m around.

I schooled in the Academy of the Gifted. Yes, THE Academy of the Gifted—a name that came with high expectations as she prided herself on educating the most talented and driven students with a curriculum designed to challenge and inspire.

The notion was rather cheesy when you consider that so many of the students there were admitted due to political and social connections, rather than genuine talent. Sigh.

I still couldn't fathom why I got to be trapped in the same four walls as those despicable beings.

"You paid the same school fees as everyone."

Yeah, and so what? Is that suddenly a reason to get all high and mighty?

Heck, my little brother's toy collection was worth its weight in gold. Just one quick trip to the pawn shop, and I've got enough money to pay for the whole semester. Then I'll just tell my brother that his precious stuffed unicorn was off exploring the galaxy with Buzz Lightyear.

It's truly pitiful to see the state of the world today. While I'm trying to change the fundamental laws of the universe, others are doing everything they can to stop progress and hold onto the status quo.

They're out there trying to sabotage the seeds of change that this sad race so desperately needs. I wish they could see how their actions are ruining any chance for a brighter future.

"Oh well, I guess we can hope for the best."

Nonsense!

We humans are full of shitty crap, you know?

Whoever made the theory of hope was probably a hopeless romantic who didn't have a clue about the harsh realities of life.

They must have been living in a utopian dream world where everything always works out perfectly and everyone gets a happy ending. It's all just a bunch of baloney.

Oh, you think it's Zyron?

The only thing more pitiful than making up the fake idea of an encouraging concept is creating a fake being who is supposed to embody that fake concept.

Be realistic for once in your life, okay?

RING

8:30 AM

Oh, would you look at that? It's time for my favorite class of the day. Theology and Mythology. I could hear the shrill ringing of the bell down the hall, and I knew it was time for yet another dull, tedious lesson to begin.

There's nothing more entertaining than watching teachers lecture me about the existence of beings that they're oblivious of.

I'm a bit tardy, but I'm sure she won't mind.

Shall we?

After about a minute's worth of strolling, I finally got to class. Luckily enough, she had just started blabbing.

Whoopie.

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"Jaxon Storm, it's so nice for you to stop by," she nagged. "What's your excuse for being late to lectures this time around?"

"Do you really wanna know, Miss Quinn?" I sarcastically asked.

"You know what? Save it. Have your seat."

She already had enough of me without even needing to talk. How wonderfully predictable.

I took my usual seat at the center of this boring universe, where the sun shone out of my rear end and everyone could marvel at my magnificence.

"Now that we've achieved some level of order, let's see what else the Eternal Codex has in store for us,” Miss Quinn commenced.

In an unplanned synced harmony, the students, excluding myself, brought out their Codices—The key to true enlightenment and mother of all religions and mythologies.

"Let us discuss the Legend of Azuran,” she introduced dramatically. “He was a man born enlightened, privileged, and revered…”

“Blah, blah, blah, Quinny boo.” I interrupted the lesson. “Enough with the ass-kissing. Be a realist for once and admit he was used as nothing but a tool to satisfy Zyron’s selfish motive."

"I am not ass-kissing, Jaxon," Miss Quinn clarified, a look of exasperation on her face. "The legend of Azuran explains and describes a reality and truth far profounder than that which you claim to understand.

“His story doesn’t narrate Lord Zyron playing cruel tricks on his creation. It is about a journey from grace to grass and back to grace, waging suffering and pain in all its varieties and how to conquer them with faith, wisdom, and understanding. So, please stop interrupting me and let's try to have a productive class."

"Alright, alright. I won't cut in again, teach." I grumbled. "But, you gotta promise us at least a snack break in between discussions. It’s envying hearing about his wealth and unlimited access to food and its varied likes. I'm gonna get hungry envisioning them all day."

The whole class erupted in a burgeoning laughter. Even the teacher could not help but chuckle amidst her visible frustration.

"That’s okay. That’s okay. That's enough!" Miss Quinn commanded, regaining control of the class. "Now let's focus on the positive messages—words of nirvana if you must—the legend of Azuran brings forth to us in our lives."

I couldn't help but hear the words, "positive" and "Azuran" being used in the same sentence. Like bloody hell! The fuck you talking about?

"In the ancient text, Azuran explains, at the moment he regained true enlightenment, ‘To whom do I owe this ultimate form of grace? This elevated source of unending wisdom, understanding and power? Reveal yourself, Lord. Let me know who you are.’

“Azuran understood that a force greater than him outlined his destiny before he was brought forth to this earth. To be able to achieve nirvana twice was a feat in itself, and he sought to acknowledge the entity that had a stronghold upon his life. This explains that the being he yearned to know and glorify was Zyron, and all forms of benevolence flow through him.”

"Oh, fuck this already! I'm tired of this crap. Sorry not sorry." I interrupted once again, undeterred by the consequences.

"You're talking about Azuran, right?" I chuckled, questioning the true subject matter. "You mean the icon in which Zyron used as nothing more than a pawn to showcase his power over human life? Taking and restoring the destiny of his humble servant, not caring once if he felt miserable within the time frame of his pain? Correct me if I'm wrong though. You're free, sweetheart."

She chuckled nervously. I could see it in her expressions, though subtle enough that an average human would miss. I saw it all. She was sweating inside, her brain desperately trying to rack up a comeback.

"I know the legend of Azuran may not seem very positive at first glance, but there are actually many valuable lessons to be learned from him. While Azuran complains about his situation, he also has moments of clarity and wisdom…"

"Enough, Quinn! At least pick a better legend where you can find 'positive' things about the Codex, would ya?" I yelled, visibly in immense anger.

"For a change, let me be the one to lecture you. Allow me to liberate you from the agonizing stress you must be going through teaching, though you can't even do that properly either way."

With a commanding presence, I rose to my feet and began to stride around the room, like a skilled and accomplished professor. My movements were calculated and purposeful, and I exuded an air of confidence and authority.

I could see the teacher's eyes following my every move, her expression a mix of curiosity and trepidation. I paused and turned to face her, my gaze direct and unflinching. The time for games was over; it was time for some serious philosophy.

"Who exactly is Zyron?" I questioned the entire class.

"The all-mighty being we worship and adore," a lovely volunteer answered, willingly entering my den of contradiction.

"Ding ding ding. We’ve got ourselves an answer!" I cackled. "Well, news flash! For someone who is seemingly portrayed as 'all-mighty', it sure takes the mighty Padre quite some time to rid the world which He supposedly created from evil, huh? I wonder why?"

"Well, how about an all-knowing being?" Another wonderful student dared to step into the den.

"Don't even get me started with that, homie. All-knowing yet He didn't get the hunch to write the story of our lives to end up in eternal bliss with him in the life after this. I suggest getting an IQ rating before claiming any rights, okay?"

"Our omnipresent creator, then." Another glorified idiot spoke up to challenge me.

"Oh, could this get any better? I'm supposedly omnipresent, yet I can't singlehandedly simultaneously reveal myself to all the world for them to truly know that 'I alone am Zyron?'

"But what do I do instead? Simultaneously enjoy the view of women getting raped in all angles, continuously binge-watching children getting abducted, endlessly seeing people facing hardships every single freaking day as they beg on their knees and raise their hands and heads up high with their tears raining down, praising my name in the hopes for 'divine intervention?' How cute.

"Well, you wanna know what I see the great Zyron as? He's a fake. He’s an unreal mindless being who was born from the writings of a depressed man who faced hardships and thought that making up a fantasy character, who just conveniently came to be with no logical explanation, was the perfect way to condense his sorrows and worries. And now the whole world thinks the same.

"You see it in all mythologies y'all, every religion, belief, theology or whatever the fuck you wanna call it. What's the point of wrapping ourselves up in this duvet of generational lies? To threaten us with the theory of eternal suffering after death? Because if you think about it, that's the only reason why people legitimately force themselves to love someone they don't know.

"Is that how we want to live our lives? Trapped in a belief? Blackmailed with no way out? Don't you want to take the bull by its horn and ride it wherever you want to go? Or do you wanna crash land early because you're afraid to believe the big picture?

The choice is yours." I concluded my grand speech.

RING

The bell couldn't have chosen the most perfect time to have rung.

"Do have a nice day, everyone."

Of course, I had to say it. Gotta stay in character, right?

I bounced out of the class with my head held high knowing that I had accomplished my goal.

What can I say, Zy? You're not the only one who's high and mighty.

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