FLASH BACK
A horse, in gentle pensive mood, upon feeling the sunshine and the halter gone, feels the frisson of joy that freedom bestows. Therefore it galloped through a forest, carrying a heavy pregnant woman and a man. The woman seemed exhausted and frustrated at the back of the horse regardless how protective the man was for her. Suddenly, the horse stopped, bringing the woman's voice to the man's ears.
"I can't move on, Bruce" she had said wanting to fall from the horse.
Young Bruce jumped down from the horse, carried the woman down too and made her spread her legs for delivery. Oh, poor woman, she was young, fair and fragile. Tears had started dripping from her eyes when she realized her predicament. So she swallowed hard and said, "I don't have to do this, Bruce. I'm not due for delivery."
"But your water is broken." Bruce knelt down and raised her gown. Heat of frustration had triggered sudden sweat on his forehead. He looked at his wife shedding tears seriously then felt pity for her because it wasn't the first time she went through such pains. "Please, Amias, you need to push." he said.
"Why should I? I'm not due for delivery, my lord." she bitterly lamented.
"What else can we do if not to save the baby from shrinking?"
Amias took a deep breath, she pushed with a loud voice, shedding tears at the same time. The lilies heard her cry, the trees stood still for her grief and the land felt her tears. Bruce carried out the baby with blood stains, unfortunately it was a dead one. He cried in a loud voice too while Amias breathing rate had increased from the floor. Obviously, she had become weak. Before Bruce could realize she was loosing a lot of blood, the woman grew cold.......
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CONTINUITY
Same night, Bruce's tears could be seen through the flame of a candle as he narrated the tragic event to Julius. Meanwhile, Albat had gone to her mother's. Julius quietly listened to his supposed father as he continued narrating, "I lost Amias and the baby that day. But something happened; I heard the cry of a baby not too far from where Amias laid. I hurried to find a-day-old baby. I never knew how he came to be in the forest all alone but I took him in, making people believe my wife gave birth to him before she died, and I named him 'Julius'." he concluded.
Julius thought for a while. "Even if you found me in the forest, certainly I didn't fall from the sky. A woman must have given birth to me." he said.
"I do not know, Julius. But is good you know your origin."
"I still do not know my origin."
"That's why you need to believe that you're Kadura from a mystical world." Bruce held his two hands on the table that demarcated both of them. He continued with more concerned voice. "Julius, the evidence is clear that you're Kadura. You need to embrace who you are before it's too late."
Julius never said a word.
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On the other hand, Albat placed her mother's food on a table, usually, she lit more candles and called on her. The average woman came out, wearing a bogus night wear. First, she hesitated at the door when she caught her daughter smiling sheepishly before the last candle she tried to lit. She cleared her throat thereby drawing Albat's attention to herself. The innocent girl turned swiftly.
"Mother, how have you been?" She sat down opposite her while the food rested on the table before them. "The princess had gone to bed, so.."
"Was that why you were smiling?" The mother interrupted her without looking at her. She only had the best interest of the food at heart; how she would consume it.
Mrs. Bharat, the mother, was a rigid woman, slow but very sensitive. She could hardly be amused by anything or anyone and she loved staying on her own.
"Was I smiling?" Albat returned the question.
"He gave you a flower and now he's putting a smile on your face."
Albat kept quiet, she suddenly ran out of words. The sound of the breakable plate used by her mother became the only sound in the chamber. Bharat looked up at her and said, "Who is he?"
"Mother..." she swallowed hard. "Mother, it's Julius son of Bruce." fear could be traced from her voice.
Bharat looked down at her plate of food thereby keeping the girl in suspense because she really needed to hear her opinion. But since she wasn't saying anything, she exhaled, wanting to stand up, but her mother's voice finally rested her buttocks back to the chair.
"Do you love him?" Bharat had asked her.
Albat nodded her head, twisting her fingers. She never dreamt of having such discussion with her mother, so she felt weird at the moment.
"It's not always about love, Albat. It also about compatibility. In the hierarchy of life, gods attract gods, the rich attracts the rich and royalty attracts royalty." The mother chipped in.
"He's just a servant boy just like i am." Albat found her voice.
The mother ignored her once again. "He's a good lad, anyways." she finally said as an afterthought. She looked up to see her daughter smiling happily then let out a smile too. "I'm proud of you, Albat, but do not jeopardize your duties at the palace because of a man." she added.
"Yes, mother." she kept smiling. She was really happy to let the secret out, hence reducing the load on her shoulder.
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The next day, Maximus found Avera and Damon under a tree outside the city walls. The morning sun reflected on their faces as they maintained a juxtaposition. Though it broke his heart to see them getting along, but he stayed out of it, leaving the arena. Damon rested his back on a tree while Avera placed a hand on his chest, staring into his eyes. "So you said you were gonna tell me a secret." she said.
"Yes, a secret to make you my queen when I become king." Damon replied. His statement pulled Maximus to a stop. So he hid behind a tree with his ears wide opened.
"I do not understand." Avera's voice creeped in.
"I am Kadura." Damon let the cat out of the bag.
"What?!" Avera stepped away from him surprisingly. "You're joking, aren't you?"
"How can I joke with such a secred thing? I'm just waiting for the right time to make myself known." He walked closer to her. "All I need is your love. Give me your heart then I'll place you above everyone." he began to cares her cheek.
"What about princess Adriana?" Avera kept staring at him.
"Who I marry is left for me to decide. What matters is my coming to save the kingdom from deadly plagues."
"Really?" She began to smile happily. "I really can't wait for your revelation and ascension."
"But you must keep it a secret." Damon kissed her again.
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Like a hare, Maximus ran to the royal castle. He was never allowed to pass through the gate. So he requested to see Julius who came as soon as he was summoned.
"Max, I hope is not about Avera again." Julius told him at sight.
"I'll be stupid to speak of Avera even though I still love her." Maximus dragged him away from eyes and ears, breathing hastily. He widened his eyes at his friend and said, "I just found out who Kadura is! My pains now is that Avera is choosing him over me!"
Julius thought for a while. "How did you come about this information, and who is the person?" he asked.
"You remember the man that offered flower to Avera?"
"Yes?"
"Now he's not only offering her a flower, he's ready to offer the feminine throne to her! He is the Kadura!" he placed his two hands on his head like a pahandler. "How I wish I have something more than a throne to offer Avera." he lamented pitifully.
Meanwhile, Julius had been mute, trying to understand the situation. If only his friend knew his true identity, he would see himself higher than any Avera.
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Nevertheless, Cyrus and Bruce stared at Julius in their house after he told them the latest information he got from his friend. Silence existed among all until Cyrus broke it saying, "There is a rumour that king Corbett has a son out of wedlock. It may be true that the reason the king wants you dead, I mean wants Kadura dead is because of this young man whom he wants to ascende on his throne. Now it makes sense."
"What must Julius do now?" Bruce asked.
"He needs to become who he is destined to become." he replied.
The next sound they heard was Julius' clapping hands. Both became amazed wondering why he was clapping. They could do nothing but anticipate to hear the reason.
"I'm applauding because you just made a good suggestion. Like hell, I'll go to the coliseum and shout, 'I am Kadura' or I'll go to the man that wants me dead I tell him, 'look at me, I am Kadura'. Like how am I suppose to make myself known when death is after me and someone has already claimed to be Kadura?" he concluded, staring at the two old men...