The Great Empire of Levexon: The Beginning Of The End

III

The Heir to the Imperial Throne

Isang umaga naabutan ni Empress Emeraude mula sa kanilang napaengrandeng sala ang kaniyang apong si Arren na abalang nakikipaglaro ng chess kay Zeus na personal na butler nito.

Napangiti siya at lumapit sa kanila. "Nice one, hijo..." she commented when Arren did a brilliant move that resulted in checkmate.

"Your Imperial Majesty," bati ng sampung taong gulang na si Arren sa kaniyang lola. Sabay silang napatayo ng kaniyang personal butler na si Zeus at nagbigay galang sa Empress ng Levexon Empire.

"Pwede rin ba akong makipaglaro sa'yo, Mahal na Prinsipe?" Emeraude asked sweetly.

"Of course you can, Your Majesty," mabilis na sagot ng bata sa kaniyang lola saka sinenyasan si Zeus. Nakuha naman nito agad ang sabihin ng amo kaya naman muli siyang nagbigay galang sa dalawa bago umalis at iniwan silang mag-lola.

"Wala ka bang training ngayon?" tanong ni Emeraude habang inaayos ang mga white pieces at sinimulang ihilera ang mga pawns.

"It's my rest day today," Arren answered.

"Good then," nakangiting ani Emeraude. "Sinabi ko talaga sa lolo mo na bigyan ka ng pahinga. You've been through so much since you started your training as the Crown Prince."

Arren is now Emperor in training and it is not easy as it seems. As the Crown Prince, Arren have so much to learn and much growing to do in order to be made fit for such calling. And Emperor Alaric - his grandfather - is training him hard.

He's training Arren to become powerful, to become invincible and strong. He wants his grandson to become worthy of being his chosen one. And he will surely raise him to become a person he wants him to be.

Napabuntong hininga si Emeraude. "Sa totoo lang, hangga't maaari sana ay ayaw ko munang pasanin mo ang ganong kabigat na responsibilidad. Napakabata mo pa, hijo. Hindi ang mga bagay na ito ang dapat na iniisip at inaalala ng isang sampung taong gulang na gaya mo."

"It's alright, Granny. I'm fine," ang tanging naisagot na lang ng batang si Arren na may kasamang tipid na ngiti sa labi.

Iba si Arren sa ibang mga bata. Bagama't sampung taong gulang pa lamang ay matured na ito kung mag-isip. Sa murang edad ay itinatak na sa isip niya kung anong klaseng buhay ang mayro'n siya at kung anong klase ng mundo ang kinabibilangan niya. He's exceptional, whom people are looking up to. He has the power, the wealth and the influence. He was born to rule and not to be ruled. Siya ang itinakdang tagapagmana ng trono.

His life is different from the others. His life is dark and bloody. The world where he belongs is full of brutality, cruelty and monsters who don't value human life. A world where power is everything. A world where the weak are trampled on and crushed.

He is not an ordinary person. Everyday is a battle, everyday is survival. If you are strong, you'll survive but if you're weak, you'll die. Death is normal, killing is a chore. There's no room for any stupid emotions or feelings, especially love. This is his kind of life. This is where he belongs.

Chase before becoming chased, hunt before becoming hunted, and murder before becoming murdered, iyan ang laging itinatak sa kaniyang isipan. Pinalaki siyang malakas, walang kinatatakutan at mas pinaiiral ang isip kaysa emosyon.

Muling napabuntong hininga si Emeraude at nginitian ang apo. "So let's start?"

"A five-minute game?" paghahamon ni Arren sa lola.

"Ohh," Emeraude said, amused. Bahagya siyang natawa saka gumanti ng ngisi sa apo. "If you think you can manage it," kibit balikat na sagot niya. "Sa pagkakatanda ko kasi ay hindi mo ako matalo-talo pagdating sa larong 'to,"