SPOT'S POV
We could see the city's wall as we were approaching home.
Ry had already fallen asleep, and Zen was awake and holding Ry so he could sleep comfortably.
The Red Desert had ended, and green grasslands took its place. Our house was located at the edge of civilization on this world, and only one other family used to live along with us, but they have moved near the outer market as well.
Where most people burdened with servitude lived.
I stopped the vehicle, and Zen looked at me to help me with all the luggage on the Glider Bike atomus. So I handed Zen the bag, which contained the things that we brought back, and went to park The Atomus in the backyard of the house.
I parked the Atomos carefully because I did not want to wake Ryu. After parking the vehicle, I carefully got down with Ry in my arms and went inside the house.
Zen had already laid the mattress down, and I softly laid Ry on the mattress. I looked over at Zen and whispered.
"Are you hungry?".
Zeny nodded.
"Is yesterday's leftovers good enough for you?" I questioned whisperingly.
"Yes, it's Okay," replied Zen.
Zeny grabbed the plates and glasses while I heated the leftovers, added some extra veggies and water from some remaining house supplies, all boiled twice, and fried. We quickly sat down to eat. It was around 9.45 pm, so I asked how the food was. Zeny smiled back and said
"It's tasty…. Uncle Spot!!" I sensed he was telling the truth, not just because of his body language, like his cheeks being red and him gulping down the food like he was on a rush, but because of the taste, I was eating it as well, and boy, Zeny was telling the truth..
I asked..
"You want more?"
"Yes,"
Zeny was excited. I took his plate and served him more.
But this time I sensed him thinking of something, or like he remembered something…
I was going to ask what happened, boy, but exactly then Zen asked me about something that I did not know…..
"What's next, Uncle Spot?"..... how to answer this question asked by an 8-year-old boy,
So, "What do you mean by that?" I questioned back. But Zen was not bulging, he was not the old zeny anymore,
Ryu was sleeping, and Zen wanted to talk about something that I was just adjusting and adapting, and was confused about it…
While all this was going through my mind.
"I mean, what are we going to do next?"
He questioned once again.
"We will sleep," I responded, without even thinking, nervously trying to calm myself and the situation.n
As I said that he looked a little annoyed, we Fords aren't patient, I thought, while regretting the uncle joke,
"Give me a clear answer, "he demanded.
"OK, OK!!." I shrugged and continued, "We will be going to the City tomorrow. "
"To do what exactly?" he quickly questioned me. He was making me remember someone.
"I have something to take care of in the city, after that we will be visiting the Hall of Servitude to check how much we have to pay to get the mark of slavery removed from your backs" I answered by pointing towards the mark that is engraved on the backs of people who are slaves of the confederacy.
Hearing me say that, his expression brightened as it was about solving a big problem in their lives, felt like he thought his life was about being a servant to servitude, and nothing else, but finally he got to feel he could be something more than that.
"What after that, Uncle Spot? Will we go on relic hunting?"
He asked me with excitement befitting his age and brightened eyes came back again, it felt like he was my cute little zeny again.
But who told him…..
"Oh, where did you learn about relic hunting?" I asked him.
"Father told me about it. He said it was the best way to earn credits and live a good life," he answered.
"I see, was he planning to escape and do that?" I asked him, thinking back to the fact that Samuel couldn't be held down by authorities.
"I do not know that, he said that is something I can do to quickly get out of the slave colony which we used to live in," he told me with a sad look.
"Relic hunting is something that not anybody can do, it's only a dangerous job, but requires a high amount of skill and luck to earn more credits," I told him about the dangers that the Relic Hunting profession faces.
"So it is something that can change our lives," he said.
"You don't need to think about those things. I am here with you now, and I have some credits saved up, which should probably be more than enough to get you guys free," I reassured him, as I did not want to put these kids near any kind of danger.
"But I want to do something," Zeny asked me in a voice of desperation.
I did not know why he was desperate to do something, maybe because he still did not trust that I could give him and his brother a good life.
I was annoyed with that thought in my head about myself. But if he is this desperate or maybe passionate about working, I can't help but point him on a path that most can't even dream about.
So I looked him straight in the eyes and asked him, "Do you know what a Hao Warrior is?"
"No, I do not know," He replied, looking quite puzzled at my question.
I answered my question and told him about the Hao Warriors. The Hao warriors are an elite group of force that has some special privileges that no one in this confederacy has.
I continued and said, "They are some of the most respected and powerful people in the confederacy."
Our plate was empty, so we both got up and I started cleaning the plates, and continued speaking, "The Hao warriors are a group of individuals who used to rule this confederacy, but their rule ended 100 years ago."
"So, why should I become a Hao Warrior?" Zen questioned me as I was suggesting he join a group that looked to not be doing so well, but his asking a question meant he was interested.
"Let me complete,
(I said and continued.)
Their empire might have ended, but they still are a minor yet influential party in the parliament. This confederacy was known as the Hao Confederacy because they willingly let go of power and let the people form the government and laws that looked over thousands of planets."
"How do I become one?" He questioned me, with a change in his attitude as he understood the power and influence one can have if one becomes part of this group.
"You need to be talented at using the power of one's soul," I answered and continued, "Talent that you possess".
"Do I?" He looked up at me with a hopeful gaze.
The plates were cleaned, so we took our conversation along with us to the bed and lay down beside Ry.
"The process of awakening one's soul is not only painful but also long and tedious,
(I continued),
Being able to not only awaken your soul and be able to use it so soon can be considered impossible".
"But didn't I do just that?" said Zen.
"Yes, you did."
I said with a huge smile on my face, as I know my nephew is a prodigy among prodigies.
"They take in kids as young as 8 years old, so it's the perfect time for you to give their exam."
(I said and continued)
"That is another reason we are going to the City tomorrow, to know when that exam is being held on this planet."
"What would happen if I passed that exam, Uncle Spot?" He asked me.
"I don't really… know what happens after that, but as far as I know, they only have one main place where they give training to the young. But that place is like… far away from this place," I said.
"How far?" Zen questioned.
"The main capital region of the confederacy, currently the planet we are on, is near the edge of the galaxy, and the capital is near the center… So it's pretty… pretty far.."
Hearing me whisper that to him, he contemplated a few things, probably about whether he would be separated from Ry.
"Let's continue tomorrow, it's already pretty late," I continued, kissed him and Ryu good night, and closed my eyes.
narrator's pov
As Uncle Spot closed his eyes to sleep, Zen was lost in thought about their future. From today's experience, he knew that there were some changes he needed to make inside himself to make sure he and his little brother would never face any kind of pain in the future.
Late at night, Ry had awakened because of nature's call that still held sway on the Human body.
If it were before, he would have been really scared to go to the washroom alone, but he knew that his friend was with him.
He completed his business and called out to vay, but she did not appear. He closed his eyes and called out to her once again, yet he couldn't see her.
After failing one more time tried to open his eyes but could only see darkness. But he could feel the warmth of someone behind him, so he turned around and hugged the one behind him.
But the person behind him was his older brother. Who was taken aback by the sudden gesture of love coming from his little brother.
Zen asked, "What are you doing?" as he made Ry move back.
A flustered Ry couldn't utter any words as he was caught.
"What happened, Ry? What are you hiding?" Zen demanded to know what his brother was doing.
"Washroom. I went to the washroom." Ry answered.
"Then why are you standing with your eyes closed and shouting for 'Way'?" Zen inquired.
Ry was taken aback by the misunderstanding that his Brother fell for, so he said,
"I was looking for the way".
"But the room's door is just beside you…. In what way were you looking for? , What new game is this, Ryu?" Zen retorted.
"I didn't remember. You know it's only been a couple of days since we moved here, also, I was scared of the dark," Ry announced a couple of more excuses, even brought the whole world's economy into the talks in pursuit to look confident but Ryuu and Zeny both knew his reasons were not working. As Zen was feeling sleepy and didn't think much of Ryu's shenanigans, he did not want to pursue this matter anymore; he thought it was one of these silly things his brother always does. Zen held Ry's hand and led him to sleep.
But after lying down, Zen forgot he too woke up to do some… business in the washroom.
But he didn't want to get up. But he had no choice other than going and doing the business, and that's what he did.
The next day…
Our trio had breakfast and got ready to go to the capital.
As they sat in the vehicle, Spot noticed that their clothes were pretty old and not good-looking at all.
"We should probably get some new clothes." Spot stated.
The brothers nodded in agreement.
"OK, is it comfortable for you guys?" Spot asked the boys, as this time Ry was sitting in the front, and Zen was holding onto Spot's waist.
"Brother, you should sit in the front as well. Just like yesterday," said Ry.
"So that you can lean on me for support, right?" replied Zen.
"Was that a problem?" questioned Ry, completely obviously to the fact that it was a problem.
"Yes, it was and is a problem."Zen retorted.
"You can lean on me, Ry, it isn't a big deal. Also, make sure you hold on to me tight, Zen," said Spot.
"Yes, Uncle Spot," agreed Zen.
"Take out the radio, Uncle Spot," said Ry.
"The city gates aren't that far from here, Ry. We will reach it in under fifteen minutes, " said Spot, pointing towards the megastructure that they could see.
"You see that wall, it isn't far right?" stated Spot.
"That's a wall!" exclaimed both Ry and Zen.
"Well, yeah, that is a wall. It was built around eight thousand years ago. During the time of the undead kings rule," explained Spot.
The wall was so tall that it could cover their entire horizon, and it reached the clouds. After that, the slightly translucent part of it extended into the space.
"But didn't you say yesterday that you do not believe in the undead king? " asked Ry.
"I did not say that," replied Spot, and continued to clarify his words from yesterday. "I said that because believing in the existence of the undead king is a punishable offence, I just did not want to put my friend in any kind of trouble."
"Why is that, Uncle Spot? Wasn't he a good person?" questioned Zen.
"To our lineage and original inhabitants of this planet, he was a good person. But to people outside, I can just say he wasn't someone you could get along with," said Spot, and continued, "especially The Great One".
"Who is the great one?" questioned Zen.
"The great one is then one who brought justice to all natural life in this galaxy," replied Spot, and started the bike.
"Let's go, boys," Uncle Spot said.
"Let's go," screamed Ry.
The bike started moving, and instantly, their house was left far behind.
"Uncle Spot, tell me more about the Great One," Asked Zen.
"I will after we reach the first checkpoint, as you probably won't be able to hear what I am saying," shouts Spot.
"I can't hear you, Uncle Spot," said Zen.
"Exactly, you won't be able to hear me," Screamed Spot and signaled him to ask him later.
"I can hear you, though," said Ry
"You can't be distracted while you are riding, Ry. Always look forward," said Spot.
"But, I am not driving the vehicle," a confused Ry spoke.
"You are holding onto the handle, aren't you?" said Spot as Ry was holding on to the middle section of the handle, which was used to steer the vehicle.
"Does that do anything?" questioned Ry.
"Yeah, it does. If you let go, the bike will start to lose control like this," said Spot, and shook the bike a little, and acted like the bike was losing control.
As soon as he saw that his uncle's words held some truth, He held onto the midsection and acted like he was the one in control.
"Is it true, Uncle Spot?" questioned Zen, but he couldn't grasp the answer that was replied and just quietly held onto Spot's back.
The first checkpoint was within their sight; after crossing it, they would reach the outer settlement.
As they neared the outer checkpoint, they had to wait in a queue to proceed.
A man in uniform saw them and came running towards our trio.