Rebellion and New Life

Chapter 27

Over the coming days, Ryuu still wondered what was going on with his Gelfling family. He missed them so much, but he was also quite distracted, learning so much about what it meant to be a Skeksis. He was seeing things and learning secrets that most other beings would never know about, aside from Mother Aughra, who might have, a long time ago.

The one thing the Skeksis didn't let him know about was their other halves, the urRu, or Mystics. They knew Ryuu would need to be told of them, eventually, but were dodging the topic for as long as possible.

The Scientist consumed one of the essences extracted from Ryuu's adoptive family for himself. Now there was just one vial left from them.

Chamberlain soon came in and had an idea. "I know my son is young and doesn't need it, but I want him to know what it's like to consume essence, too."

"Are you sure?" Tek asked.

"Yes. They owe me. Give it to me!" Sil demanded with determination.

"Fine. Here is the last one." Tek gave him the vial.

Sil whimpered and smiled. He went to go find Ryuu. He was with Ok in the library.

"SkekRyuu, I bring you something special!" Sil said with a beseeching sing-song voice.

"Oh, hi Dad. I didn't see you there. The Scroll Keeper was teaching me the letters today." replied Ryuu.

"That's good, learning to read... but here is special drink for you to have. Something we Skeksis love to have!" Sil offered him the vial.

"Thanks, Dad." Ryuu replied. "What is it?"

"New for you. Some special juice." He wasn't about to tell him just yet. He just wanted his son to taste it first.

Ok went up to him and whispered in his ear, "What is it really?" He had his doubts.

"Essence. Want him to try it." Sil whispered back.

Ryuu tipped his head back and he drank this strange beverage. He had smelled it and it was new to his senses. It smelled good. It tasted super sweet to his tongue and he drank it all the way down. It had some rejuvenation effects on him, even though he was already young.

"Hmm! This is so good, Dad. What is it?" Ryuu asked.

Sil and Ok glanced at one another. "Essence. Special kind." Sil replied.

"Essence of what?" Ryuu asked curiously. He did have Sil's curious nature too.

"Essence of Rakkida." Ok answered. He knew that this couldn't be revealed just yet. "Such pests they are. But good food resource."

"Oh, okay. First time I've tried it." Ryuu stated. "It's good, Dad! Thanks again. Now I really need to get back to studying."

"Yes. Agree. Drink will keep you going." Sil said. He left the library, happy that his son could take the essence, even though he knew not what it really was just yet. Soon, it would be revealed, just not now. He was trying to be a good parent in the only way he could. He just wanted all the Gelflings out of the way, and now they were.
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Over the cycle of the moons, Ryuu learned much and was a very good and eager student for the Skeksis. He wasn't much for the military fighting of SkekUng though. He found him very intimidating. But most of the others weren't so scary to him. Another exception was the Slave Master. He didn't like how SkekNa handled the Podling slaves either. But he never saw the Gelflings.

Ryuu was closest with his mother, La, and the Historian. He drew pictures for them both, and he was still learning to read Skeksis. All the symbols were just intriguing. Everything about the past was fun and interesting to him too.