Hollow World Theory

Part 8:

Part 8:

Five months passed after that night when Kiaskin had dinner with Giosa. They learned more about each other as time went on. And the more they learned, the closer they got. As Kiaskin learned more about Giosa, he started to question how they got the title Heartless. Every time they both talked, Giosa didn't show any signs of heartlessness. Sure they didn't express their emotions greatly, but they still showed signs of feeling. He had yet to learn about the reason behind that title.

"Prince Kiaskin?" Asked Shora. Kiaskin snapped out of his thoughts. He looked at Shora across the Pouka board, a game that she and her siblings brought to play. "It's your turn now."

"Oh, right. My apologies." Kiaskin replied. He picked a round glass piece and dragged it along the line to reach the circle where Shora's piece was. Unfortunately, Shora tapped Kiaskin's piece, indicating it was now in prison. She picked up his piece and put it in a bowl filled with more glass pieces. She looked back at Kiaskin.

"Are you alright, Kiaskin?" Asked Shora. "You look distracted."

"I'm alright." Kiaskin confirmed. "I was just thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Shora inquired.

"Giosa." He said, grabbing another one of his pieces.

"What about her?" She asked. Kiaskin put his piece next to a circle on the board.

"I have been wondering why they are called 'Heartless'. I mean, they don't show their feelings too greatly, of course, but they still show feeling." Kiaskin said. Shora then made her next move.

"I don't know too much about the title..." She said. "But uncle Giosa said that many children called her that because they didn't understand why her feelings didn't show too much. Overtime, the childrens parents have started calling Uncle heartless. But it doesn't bother uncle that much anymore. They're used to it."

"... I see." Kiaksin replied. Shortly after he said that, Sern rushed into the room giggling. He hugged Kiaskin immediately. "Oh, hello, Sern."

Sern giggled as he let go of Kiaskin and went to his sister. He showed her something. It looked like another Shoufa bug. It was a firey color this time.

"That's a very pretty shoufa, little brother." Shora acknowledged with a smile. Kiaskin smiled as he looked at the two, when he realized that he hadn't seen Neris in a while. The last time he saw him was when Neris said he was going outside, and that was three hours ago.

"Sern, have you seen Neris?" Kiaskin asked. Sern looked at him, then shook his head saying no. "Alright. We should probably look for him."

"You're right." Shora said as she stood up. "He's been gone for a while."

A few minutes later, Kiaskin, Shora, and Sern went outside where the front gate was. Near the front, there was a Wendigo sentinel, 'sleeping' until something wakes it up. Further from the front was Giosa as they were training, strengthening their limbs as they practiced combat with their weapon. Sern shrieked in delight as he waved 'hi' to Giosa. Giosa turned and waved back. Kiaskin smiled at Giosa as they looked at him. Giosa gave a hint of a smile to him. When they turned back, however, a huge creature growled and grunted in the distance.

Coming fast was a greuble, a mining creature from the Fifth Kingdom: the kingdom of beasts. On the greuble, was a long, floppy eared beast man messenger. He stopped past Giosa before turning his ride around to face them.

"Ervin, what are you doing here?" Giosa asked. Ervin looked at them, seriously.

"I have a message from the other kingdoms." He replied. "They are coming to the Third Kingdom for an audience with you."

Giosa opened their mouth slightly in shock before asking Ervin a question.

"When will they be here?" They asked. Ervin frowned in concern.

"In three weeks. They are growing impatient." He answered. Giosa looked down, then sighed slightly.

"Thank you, my friend." Giosa replied. Ervin nodded then urged his grueble forward. After a moment of Ervin leaving, Giosa put their weapon down, and turned to come inside the castle. Kiaskin, Shora, and Sern looked at them in concern.

"Uncle Giosa?" Shora asked, gaining their attention. "What's going on?"

"The other kingdoms... requested an audience with me." Giosa put an emphasis on 'requested', when really they forced an audience with them.

"Is it about the fires?" Kiaskin asked. Giosa nodded.

"Most likely." Giosa replied. They went back into the castle after answering his question. Sern held his sister more tightly as he felt a little scared. Shora patted his head in comfort. At that moment, Neris came running.

"I saw Ervin. What happened?" He asked, as if worried.

"The other kingdoms want to talk to our uncle." Shora replied. Neris looked worried at her answer. They all look at the castle, knowing that kingdoms were most likely displeased with Giosa. Worried about how they will handle the other kingdoms anger.