Tsutsaba Book 2 Abdulaziz Sani Madakin Gini

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TSATSUBA

Book 2

By Abdul'aziz Sani Madakin Gini

The Unholy Downpour

The moment that occurred, the heavens broke open, letting down a torrential downpour of rain like turning over a massive cauldron. A beautifully cool, refreshing breeze began to blow as if they were in the absolute dead center of the rainy season, even though it was currently the dry season and a scorching heatwave had been tormenting the populace.
As soon as this unprecedented weather manifested, everyone was seized by a mixture of profound joy and utter bewilderment. A vast multitude of people began to throng and cluster at the gates of the city's royal palace. Every single person’s sole desire was to lay eyes on this newborn infant, or at least catch a glimpse of his blessed aura, for everyone had fully convinced themselves that this child was a chosen prodigy of divine grace. After all, a miraculous abundance had descended upon their city at a time of year when such a thing had never been recorded in history.

In truth, this rain falling from the heavens was not a blessing from God; it was a rain conjured by devils. It was designed purely to manipulate the minds of the people inhabiting this region, plunging them even deeper into a state of manifest damnation, since they already worshipped the devils as their gods.

Outside the palace gates, the courtyard was packed to capacity as people jostled and shoved against one another. Even though the heavy rain beat down upon them and the freezing wind began to torment their bodies, their sheer stubbornness kept them from dispersing.
Suddenly, King Shardas emerged from the interior of the palace. Balanced on the palms of his hands, he carried the infant born of Shadila. The child was completely naked, his private areas uncovered, and his freshly severed umbilical cord still showed on his body. The cold rain beat directly against the infant, but it did not bother him in the slightest; instead, he let out bursts of robust laughter, kicking his legs with the vibrant vitality of a perfectly healthy newborn.

The Proclamation of Prince Hulkas

When King Shardas reached the front of the massive crowd, he hoisted the infant high into the air and let out a thunderous roar of joy. Instantly, the crowd echoed his roar, their collective voices reverberating across the entire metropolis. This grand display was repeated three consecutive times.
King Shardas then handed the infant over to the sorcerer, Boka Barwas, who received him, faced the crowd, and bellowed:
"O citizens of this great city of Romania! Know that today, our gods have looked upon my weeping and have granted me a son, after I have spent years upon years searching for an heir in vain! I firmly assure you all that this child I have received is a token of mercy for our entire nation. Therefore, I want every single one of you to love him just as you would love a child of your own flesh and blood!"
When King Shardas reached this point in his speech, the populace roared back in unison, swearing a solemn covenant that they would love this child exactly like their own offspring.
Filled with immense joy, King Shardas turned around and extended his hands to Boka Barwas to take the infant back. However, he was startled to see that Boka Barwas’s face was completely contorted into a dark, grim frown, utterly devoid of any warmth. Shardas quietly took the child, dismissed the crowd, and everyone dispersed to begin a massive celebration filled with traditional drumming and the blowing of horns.

The Sorcerer's Three Warnings

Once the crowds had cleared, King Shardas and Boka Barwas turned and walked back into the depths of the royal palace, moving shoulder to shoulder. For a long time, neither uttered a single syllable. Finally, King Shardas broke the silence, looking intently at Boka Barwas:
"O my pillar of reliance, the very barrier that stands between me and our gods! I want you to tell me the exact reason why your face turned so dark and grim the moment I commanded the populace to love this child born of Shadila."
Hearing this, Boka Barwas let out a long, heavy sigh. He glared at King Shardas with a look of profound frustration and bitterness:
"My sovereign, what you did out there is your very first catastrophic blunder regarding this newborn boy. Have you entirely forgotten that in this entire world, you do not have a single enemy more lethal than this child? Have you forgotten that, as far as the world is concerned, he is now your own biological son?
Indeed, because the people love you, they will love him to inherit your throne in the future. At the exact time when you and I will prepare to journey in search of the Crown of Lamsara, he is the one who will ascend your royal throne to rule. And when we successfully retrieve the Crown of Lamsara and return, removing him from that throne will be no easy task. Even though we could technically assassinate him instantly at that moment, we would face the catastrophic fury of the populace, because by then, they will love him far more than they love you, and they will be thoroughly enjoying his reign. We will be forced to eliminate him in absolute secrecy so that no soul discovers our hands in it.
All I require from you is this: under no circumstances must you ever let this boy discover that you are not his true father throughout the seven years before you separate from him. Furthermore, there are two remaining blunders that you must never commit in the future. Because if you commit them, even if you successfully possess the Crown of Lamsara, we will endure a hellish ordeal before we manage to destroy this boy.

• The second blunder is this: Do not ever dare allow love for this boy to creep into your heart. This could easily happen, because the boy will grow up with an intensely magnetic aura and an irresistible charm that captivates souls.
  I will give you a specific potion that you must drink every thirty days. As long as you drink it precisely on time, it will be impossible for love for this boy to penetrate your heart. As for the third blunder you must avoid, I will not reveal it to you now; I will only inform you when the proper time arrives."
  Upon hearing these ominous words, a cold dread washed over King Shardas. He was left in deep, silent contemplation, and until they disappeared into the inner chambers of the palace, he did not say another word.

  The Prosperity of Romania

  When the day of the naming ceremony arrived, a colossal festival was organized. Monarchs, wealthy merchants, sorcerers, legendary warriors, and dignitaries from across the entire continent were invited. Boka Barwas officially whispered the name into the infant’s ear, naming him Prince HULKAS.
  The naming celebrations commenced and lasted for twenty-one consecutive days. Lavish feasts were held daily at the King's palace, where food and drink were wasted so extravagantly it looked as though they were being scooped up from a dumpsite. Even the common townspeople organized their own feasts throughout those days. King Shardas radiated intense happiness, to the point where anyone watching would believe Prince Hulkas was truly his biological son, his own blood.

• The Economic Boom: From that day forward, a wondrous phenomenon began to manifest within the city of Romania. Merchants began to flood into the city in massive caravans, arriving from the greatest empires of the world to establish their commercial roots.
• The Eradication of Poverty: Trade experienced a colossal boom, the likes of which the entire continent had never seen. Instantly, poverty and destitution were wiped clean from the land. Wealth multiplied in the hands of the common citizens, and an endless array of exotic goods and diverse merchandise poured into the gates.

• The Ancient Trades: Even lines of commerce that had vanished from the continent for over hundreds of years were revived and practiced as though they had never been forgotten.
  As for Shadila, she found herself living a new life of pure luxury and joy, as if she had never experienced a single day of sorrow in her past. However, the moment she remembered Hulkas’s true father—the slain warrior Hailur—she would lock herself away in her private chambers, weeping bitterly to her heart's content. She took great care never to let the King discover her grief.
  Meanwhile, King Shardas diligently drank the monthly potion provided by Boka Barwas to prevent love for Hulkas from penetrating his soul. Yet, outside of those moments, he found himself loving Hulkas as if the boy were truly his own. It was only on the exact day he drank the potion that he would feel a surge of raw hatred for him; for on that specific day, the potion would force him to remember that this very boy was destined to kill him in the future unless he beat him to the possession of the Crown of Lamsara. On those days, from morning until night, King Shardas would completely avoid Shadila, purely to ensure his eyes did not land on the young warrior Hulkas. He avoided him because his heart would boil so violently with hatred that he felt it might burn to ashes, his body trembling with a rage so profound he felt that if he did not murder the infant Hulkas right then, he himself would drop dead that very day.

  The Growing Bond

  Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. King Shardas continuously guarded himself, enduring the violent impulses his dark soul conjured against the boy, until a span of three years passed. By that time, however, a profound, unshakable love for Prince Hulkas completely bypassed the potion and rooted itself into his heart, to the point where he felt he could no longer live a single day without the boy.
  By a mysterious twist of fate, the young Hulkas also grew deeply attached to King Shardas, becoming far closer to him than to his own mother, Shadila. It reached a point where the boy refused to eat any food unless he sat beside King Shardas; otherwise, he would go to bed starving. Similarly, King Shardas found himself incapable of eating alone without Hulkas by his side. The royal tailor was even ordered to sew identical garments for both King Shardas and Hulkas. Every single day, they would wear matching royal attire, enter the court together, and sit side by side upon the throne of power. Throughout the daylight hours, absolutely nothing could separate them.
  It was only after Hulkas fell asleep resting against King Shardas’s chest that Shadila would gently pick him up and lay him on his own bed right beside the King’s couch. If the boy woke up in the dead of night and could not see the King, he would burst into uncontrollable tears, and absolutely no one could soothe him into silence except the King himself.
  When Shadila witnessed this intense bond between the King and Prince Hulkas—a bond that defied all human reason and transcended comprehension—her mind was thrown into absolute turmoil. Her heart began to whisper a dark, terrifying warning: she must never dare reveal to Prince Hulkas the true, bloody history of his parentage when he grew older.
  Whenever she recalled the solemn vow she had taken to lock this secret away, combined with the brutal threats King Shardas had leveled against her regarding what he would do if she ever exposed the truth, her spirit would shatter, and she would weep tears of absolute misery.

  The Rise of the "King of Tomorrow"

  Life continued in this manner until Prince Hulkas reached his sixth year. By this time, the entire population of Romania held an intense, unparalleled love for him. This adoration wasn't limited to the citizens; even foreign travelers loved him deeply due to his breathtaking physical beauty, his charismatic presence, his flawless character, and an intellect so profound that he spoke with the wisdom of a mature sage rather than a young child. Furthermore, God had blessed him with a deep sense of mercy and compassion for the common people—a stark contrast to King Shardas, who was a notorious, bloodthirsty tyrant.
  Prince Hulkas successfully curbed almost all of the tyranny that King Shardas used to inflict upon the masses. He stopped the ruthless extortion of excessive taxes, halted the sudden military raids used to enslave townsfolk, and put an end to the confiscation of poor citizens' properties. It reached a point where wherever Prince Hulkas passed within the empire, the crowds would chant his royal praise, hailing him as:

  "The King of Tomorrow!"

  The level of absolute obedience, loyalty, and reverence shown to him was something even King Shardas never received, despite the profound terror the King commanded. Even inside the royal palace, the slaves, servants, handmaidens, and imperial guards followed Prince Hulkas’s orders as though they were decrees coming directly from King Shardas himself. It eventually reached a point where Prince Hulkas would execute major state decisions without even consulting the King; even if King Shardas secretly despised the decision, he would not utter a single word of protest, let alone dare to stop him.

  The Third Blunder Committed

  Unbeknownst to them, Boka Barwas had been silently observing everything unfolding between King Shardas and Prince Hulkas, keeping his counsel to himself.
  One evening, King Shardas was standing atop a high terrace overlooking the vast palace courtyard. He spotted Prince Hulkas and his mother, Shadila, embarking on a grand tour of the imperial grounds, surrounded by servants. They were generously distributing expensive gifts and various luxurious garments to the slaves, soldiers, and handmaidens.
  Seeing this display, the King’s mood darkened, and his heart turned as black as charcoal. He bitterly reflected that ever since this boy Hulkas had been born, the entire fabric of the empire had changed. His own sovereign authority, his terrifying aura, and his absolute system of rule had been utterly eclipsed. He had been reduced to a mere puppet; only the decrees Hulkas enacted in court were followed. Even Shardas's own ministers refused to enforce any order unless Prince Hulkas ratified it. The generals, tycoons, and peasants held Hulkas in such astronomical regard that some even believed he deserved to be worshipped as a living god alongside the other deities of the land, given the supernatural miracles that had accompanied his life from his birth to this very moment.
  Yet, despite holding this immense leverage and glory, Prince Hulkas never allowed arrogance to corrupt his mind, nor did he ever disrespect his father, King Shardas. In fact, his love for the King only intensified daily. Every action Prince Hulkas took in court or ordered across the empire, he would privately report to the King when they were alone, humbly asking if there were any errors in his judgments so that he might personally rectify them. Not once did King Shardas ever hint that Hulkas had done wrong, nor did he ever display his hidden fury either outwardly or inwardly. Furthermore, none of Prince Hulkas’s grand actions ever weakened his attachment to the King; rather, it multiplied day by day. The royal ministers and ruling elders of the land were in absolute awe of this phenomenon, for not even in their wildest dreams did anyone expect a mortal creature could ever exist who could tame and completely alter the savage nature of King Shardas.
  As King Shardas stood atop the high palace terrace watching Hulkas and Shadila distribute garments to the palace staff, Boka Barwas materialized out of thin air right beside him. The sorcerer bowed low, paid his respects, and then turned to gaze down from the terrace at Prince Hulkas and his mother.
  Barwas turned back to King Shardas, letting out a sharp sigh filled with deep frustration:
  "My sovereign, if I were not constantly by your side, you would have already committed the fatal error that will destroy us both completely. Despite the fact that you drink the potion I give you at the end of every month, love for this boy has completely rotted and encrusted itself within your soul! If you do not act with absolute iron ruthlessness right now, your mortal enemy will completely triumph over you!"
  Hearing these words, King Shardas’s eyes bulged, his heart flared with rage, and his face contorted into a furious snarl. He glared at Boka Barwas and hissed:
  "O pillar of the city of Romania! Know that to this very day, I have never forgotten the true lineage of Prince Hulkas! I know full well that I do not have an enemy on the face of this earth greater than him! Therefore, all this love I display toward him is utterly hollow and fake. I am merely biding my time, waiting for the moment we will set out to find the Crown of Lamsara. For it is with that crown alone that I shall successfully destroy this boy, exactly as you foretold!"
  When King Shardas said this, Boka Barwas burst into a loud, joyous laugh. The echoing sound of his laughter immediately caught the attention of Prince Hulkas and Shadila below.

  The Request for Istanbul

  Filled with absolute delight, Prince Hulkas left Shadila standing in the courtyard and dashed up the grand palace stairwell to reach where King Shardas and Barwas stood.
  Seeing the prince running toward him, King Shardas stepped forward to meet him, and they embraced each other tightly. However, the moment Hulkas’s eyes met those of Boka Barwas, his heart pounded violently, and a profound, instinctive dread gripped his soul. Indeed, every single time the prince crossed paths with Boka Barwas, he felt this exact, chilling terror.
  Hulkas pulled away from King Shardas’s embrace and spoke:
  "O my father, know that I was just preparing to come to your private chambers after we finished distributing gifts to the palace staff. I have come to beg a single, great favor from you."
  Hearing this, King Shardas smiled warmly and replied, "Ah, my son! Have you ever asked for a favor from me that I have ever denied you? Whatever your heart desires, I grant you full permission, provided it does not diminish our royal prestige or dignity. Tell me now, what favor do you wish of me?"
  Hulkas let out a breath, bowing his head slightly in a display of profound respect and modesty, looking as though he found it difficult to speak. Then, he raised his voice:
  "O my father, know that ever since I was born in this metropolis, I have never traveled to a single other city among the great territories of our empire. Word has just reached me that the Governor of the city of Istanbul has organized a colossal tournament of martial valor, and legendary warriors have been invited from many distant corners of the world. I desperately want to attend this tournament, because in my entire life, there is nothing I love more than witnessing true warrior spirit and mastery of combat.
  For a long time, I have begged you to train me in the arts of war so that I might become a legendary warrior renowned across our continent, but you have always refused and never told me the reason. Since you do not wish to enlighten me on the reason, I no longer care to know. All I ask now is that you grant me permission to undertake this journey to the city of Istanbul."
  When Prince Hulkas reached this point in his request, King Shardas felt his mind thrown into massive turmoil. He instinctively shifted his weight, preparing to turn around to look at Boka Barwas to seek his counsel.
  But Prince Hulkas swiftly grabbed the King’s hands and said firmly:
  "O my father, know that there should never be a barrier or a mediator between a son and his father, as long as that son is of his father's true blood. There is absolutely no need for you to consult anyone else regarding a favor I ask of you, since my standing with you surpasses any outside counsel."
  Hearing this bold statement, a cold dread washed over the King. Before he could even open his mouth to speak, Boka Barwas cut in, intercepting his breath, and glared at Hulkas:
  "Haba! O Prince! It is entirely improper for you to say you will exit this metropolis to travel elsewhere, when you know full well that our mystical divinations have revealed that the very day you make a long journey away, this empire will fall into a catastrophic drought and a plague of poverty!"
  Before Boka Barwas could even finish his sentence, Hulkas violently cut him off, snapping:
  "But your own prophecy stated that this would only happen if I exited the borders of our empire entirely! O Barwas, know your place and the boundaries that exist between a son and his father! You must not overstep your bounds!"
  Prince Hulkas delivered this venomous rebuke with a dark, contorted face, glaring daggers at Boka Barwas. But the split second he turned back to look at King Shardas, his face instantly transformed back into a warm, radiant smile.
  Yielding completely to the boy's charm, King Shardas returned his smile and said, "Go then, my son. I officially grant you permission to travel to the city of Istanbul so your eyes may feast upon what your heart desires."
  Hearing this, ecstatic joy enveloped Prince Hulkas. He wrapped his arms around King Shardas, showering him with gratitude. Instantly, he pulled away from the King, ran back down to his mother Shadila, embraced her tightly, and broke the joyful news that the King had granted him permission for the journey. Shadila was immediately filled with happiness, but the moment she raised her eyes and saw the faces of the King and Boka Barwas atop the terrace—both contorted into grim, dark frowns entirely devoid of warmth—her heart sank in terror. Sensing imminent danger, she grabbed Prince Hulkas’s hand and pulled him swiftly back into the safety of the royal palace.

  The Dread of the Future

  Ablaze with absolute fury, Boka Barwas turned to King Shardas and hissed:
  "This is the third blunder which I explicitly warned you never to commit! But look at you—your eyes have been completely blinded by your love for him, and you have gone ahead and committed it!"
  Hearing this severe rebuke, King Shardas turned around rapidly to face Boka Barwas, speaking in a frantic, distressed voice:
  "I do not understand what you mean! Just because I allowed Prince Hulkas to go and watch a tournament of warriors in the city of Istanbul, I have committed a catastrophic blunder?!"
  Barwas spat back, "Precisely! Your utter failure to implement my counsel has caused you to commit the third blunder that I have been desperately trying to prevent! Since you clearly understood that I did not want you to let this boy go on this journey, you should never have permitted it.

  Our dark divinations have just revealed to me that Prince Hulkas will discover a massive opportunity to wage war against us during this journey. Furthermore, it is because of this very trip that he will cross paths with the exact force that will become the instrument of his ultimate doom in the future!"

  When King Shardas heard this terrifying revelation, his mind was thrown into a state of absolute panic, far worse than ever before. He felt a desperate urge to summon Prince Hulkas back and revoke the permission he had just granted for the journey—but his heart found itself completely incapable of defying the boy.
  Before he could utter another word, Boka Barwas vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.
  Consumed by intense anxiety, King Shardas turned and descended the terrace steps, heading into the palace with a mind plagued by chaotic thoughts and deep reflections. The question that began to torture his soul was: How on earth did I allow love for this prince to penetrate my heart, when I know full well he is not my blood? In fact, I do not have a single enemy more lethal than him on the face of the earth, since sooner or later, he will seek bloody vengeance against me for the life of his true father, Hailur!
  Then, another dark voice inside his mind whispered to him: In truth, nothing in this world is more dangerous than love. If you hadn't been blinded by love for Shadila from the very start, you would have murdered her the exact moment you slaughtered her husband! If you had done that, you would have been at total peace today, and she would never have given birth to this absolute curse, this viper in your nest—Prince Hulkas!
  Instead of heading to his own private quarters, King Shardas marched directly toward Shadila’s chambers. Everywhere he stormed through the corridors, servants threw themselves face down onto the floor, trembling as they paid their respects.
  Upon entering her chamber, he found Shadila sitting peacefully with Hulkas, laughing and enjoying a bowl of fresh apples. For the very first time in his life, Hulkas noticed that there was an absolute absence of any warmth on King Shardas’s face.
  Before Hulkas could even say a word, Shardas stared coldly at him and barked, "O my son, I want you to leave us for a moment. I must speak with your mother alone."
  Hearing this, Hulkas stood up with a calm smile, walked toward the exit of the room, and replied, "There is no problem, father."
  The very second Hulkas exited the chamber, King Shardas slammed the heavy door shut and bolted it. He marched directly over to Shadila, sat down beside her, kissed her neck, and they embraced in a brief display of passion.
  Then, with lightning speed, he violently tore his body away from hers, shoved her backward so she crashed onto the hard floor from her seat, pinned her down, grabbed her throat, and began to strangle her.
  Instantly, Shadila's eyes bulged from their sockets, turning blood-red as she began to gasp and choke in the throes of death. Only when she was on the absolute brink of suffocating did he release his iron grip. She collapsed onto the floor, panting violently for air as if her soul were about to leave her body, her eyes locked onto Shardas in sheer terror.
  With his face contorted in raw, demonic fury, Shardas glared down at her and hissed:
  "This is merely a warning I am giving you..."