THE SECRETS OF ASPHALDITE

by Udyan Sharma

  Zeus was sent far away from heaven but however, was nurtured and made immortal too by a weapon called Thunderbolt. It was not an ordinary thunderbolt but a special kind of weapon with extreme clouts.

  Somehow, Zeus came to know about the brutal epic of his father and decided to take vengeance on behalf of his brothers and sisters, who could still be rescued by slaying Chronos; which was rather not possible until he had Scythe in his hands. Although, if the Scythe were to be taken away from him, he would still not die as he was immortal and could only be paralyzed.

  The eminent Titanomachy was a notorious war between the Olympians – Zeus, Poseidon and Hades etcetera and Titans – included Chronos and the rest of the fourteen Titans, which involved the weapons created and supplied by Cyclops. It was followed by a horrendous night, which is described further.

  One night Zeus planned to paralyze Chronos and take out Poseidon and Hades, who were nurturing in the stomach of Chronos and immortal too. He took the help of his mother and was able to achieve his goal. That night was more callous than any other night as while osculating him, she had taken Scythe from him and accomplished to shroud it yonder from that place but she was very oblivious that Zeus would slay down Chronos and leave her as a widow.

  On that night when the Scythe was not in his hands, he started to grow scrawny and finally started vomiting. When Zeus came to know the situation, he hastily went to that place, mercilessly snatched the reign of Chronos, who being a colossal brute, had to be cut into sixty four diminutive pieces and finally liberated Poseidon and Hades while electing Poseidon as the God of Earth; he being elder than Hades and taking Heaven under his own supremacy.

  Hades was sent to command the Underworld and was very much enraged from Zeus as he wanted Heaven but due to the influence of Zeus, he had been proclaimed as the God of Underworld. Zeus and Poseidon established a good friendship between each other while Hades was struck in planning revenge from Zeus, which was only possible if he could find Scythe and revitalize Chronos.

  The pieces of Chronos slowly went into the Tartarus - a place where huge ogres like Titans went for hibernation. He could still be rejuvenated but the major aspect for his revitalization was the Scythe, which had been hidden by Zeus in a cave of Asphaldite.

  Zeus didn’t want anyone to know that Scythe was somewhere in Asphaldite but one of his legitimates had betrayed him and while transmuting his facade come beseeching in front of Zeus to cede him a kingdom. Zeus was unable to recognize him and gave him the sacred supremacy of ruling Asphaldite, as he did not want anyone to reach until Scythe and revitalize Chronos, his biggest rival. His heart was pure and ample with compassion but had murdered down Chronos only for a better future of the humankind as humanity could not have been possible under the rule of a callous Titan like Chronos.

  Chronos was still alive in the Tartarus but entailed the Scythe to refill the carafe of his potency. It was far away from him but his nurtured son Hades could fulfill his dream. Hades promised him that he would bring Scythe in front of him and rule the heaven with his assistance.

  “Zeus had betrayed me, Hades! If someone can help me and take me back to the heaven, I would be so pleased. I can’t live in Tartarus anymore, my dear pal. If you bring it back to me, I’ll make you the ruler of time and truly Heaven shall I grant you and that is a pledge,” said Chronos in a deep-throated voice when he was talking to Hades, while all his body parts being scattered in the Tartarus.

  “My lord, my father! I promise that I shall bring Zeus in front of you and you shall chastise him with your own Scythe and it’s a pledge too,” said Hades in the greed of ruling the Heaven with the assistance of Chronos, without being aware of his vindictive intentions.

  Hades began his voyage in search of the Scythe but after lot of endeavours repudiated the challenge of Chronos and started spending his life in the Underworld with ghosts and spirits. He had surely repudiated the challenge of Chronos but King Asphal Zudite, the ruler of Asphaldite, having the pleasure to know that the Scythe was somewhere in the forests of Asphaldite, was still pursuing for it without anyone’s attention.

  Poseidon and Zeus were happily living their lives but Hades, having the aim of Heaven’s crown, was jealous from both of them. Hades was also oblivious of the fact that, the Scythe was veiled under the forests of a huge empire named as Asphaldite.

  The rumours among people were that Asphaldite was named after King Asphal Zudite but the truth was that, one of the servants of Zeus; having got the authority of ruling Asphaldite had changed his name to Asphal Zudite, as it was a powerful and bold name that almost was related to Asphaldite.

  Asphaldite was a huge empire and finding Scythe in its dense forests, was not at all easy; as it looked. It was very much difficult for a person to locate Scythe as it was veiled by the most powerful God Zeus and for a human being, it was not easy at all to find it but still King Zudite with his full confidence was engaged in finding it.

  “Who’s this gentleman?” resonated a voice from the huge mass of people by whom a man in revolutionized appearance was covered.

  Seeing the horde from their habitually passing distinctive road, the tax collectors of the king reconciled it and with their swords on the face of that most bizarre man, scrutinized.

  “Ahhh!” shrieked that young man; “Please keep that sharp relic away from me, it would have even scratched my face, you know. And by the way, for your kind information, don’t you know I’m the son of the most renowned person in this world,” he said while sighing a little bit, “Mr. Charles.”

  “What did you say just right now, my dear fellow; Mr. Sarles,” said the leader of that powerful group of tax collectors as they continued their conversation.

  “Scrutinize! Does he have the emblem of our empire on his hands?”

  “Give me your hand,” one man from the group of collectors revolted, “Listen carefully, you have the game in your hands and do you ever think of me; even asking it for once,” said David in an outstretched voice, basically a tough reply to men of the king.

  They checked his hand but it lacked the emblem of Asphaldite due to which his hands were tied with a leash and he was heaved all through the roads of Asphaldite while showing other people the sway of King Zudite; a ruler from Asphaldite from decades.

  “Don’t pull it so hard. I’ve just replaced my hands with an expensive pair of artificial arms; a product very famous in Zurich for people while lose their hands,” said David while bolting out on them.

  They dragged him until the consecrated fortress of Asphaldite, the residence of King Zudite and handed him over the men who took in charge of rival men who came to spy on the smooth functioning and ruling of Asphaldite.

  He was once again put behind the bars and clearly said, “You will be presented in front of the king tomorrow but please don’t argue in front of him or else we don’t assure your upper portion’s safety.”

  “Yeah sure. I shall take care of that and you chubby man, don’t show me your face again. I feel like vomiting,” he said in an infatuated tone.

  “I’m really sorry but you have to borne me for the whole night as it is my duty and already I’ve not got even a single garraich (the currency of Asphaldite), just coz of ma sloppiness,” that obese man said in a tone intended to convey a feeling of communion; “By the way, what’s your name folk?”

  “My name is David but what’s your name, exactly,”; “Chubby, I guess.”

  “My name is Haluriet but you don’t seem to be residing in Greece. Do you?”

  “No, not at all. I just came to find my father over here and what am I put to face by the Greek Government. I shall not spare them when I get out of ‘ere.”

  “Are you joking? It is not a democratic kingdom. There’s no Greek Government; the only person who rules Asphaldite is King Zudite.”

  “You better keep your mouth shut up as it is the year 2025 and King Zudite ruled centuries ago.”

  “Have you gone crazy? Well, wait a second; I’ll bring you the current c
alendar.” He hastily disappeared out of sight and after some time brought the calendar from his home, which was situated inside the fortress of Asphaldite.

  “Here it is. Have a look at it,” that low-pitched voice alarmed David for a second and he had to inquire.

  “Oh my god! I have reached the past but how is it possible,” he said, while his state of mind being completely startled; “Wait a second. I remember the archive and that book which titled The Secrets of Asphaldite. Does it have something to do with it?”

  “OMG,” Haluriet too said surprisingly, “That means you’re from the future. Am I right?”

  “Yes, you’re absolutely right and,” he looked down onto his toes for a second and continued, “I’m from the year 2025. That’s why I wonder very horrifically, why this place doesn’t seem to look like revolutionized Greece.”

  “But wait for a moment. How is it possible that you know the name of that book which you just pronounced?”

  “I never knew that book but as I entered into that archive, I confronted it.”

  “Do you know where the book is kept currently?”

  “I think, most probably, it’s in that archive only but is there any archive veiled under the crust of Asphaldite?”

  “I don’t know any archive but I have heard of an underground library where our king usually goes and as it a consecrated one, none of his men are allowed over there; not even his officials or relatives.”

  “Does that library have something to do with an extraordinary tunnel or a subway kind of thing, you’ve ever heard of?”

  “Not exactly subway but surely there is a broad narrowing pathway which is exclusively enameled with extravagantly imported torches from the wood smiths of nearby towns.”

  “Yes, that’s the only subway which leads to the holy book of Asphaldite but what can we do? You’ll present me to the king tomorrow, he will sentence an orthodox death to me, and everything will be over. That’s the only explanation I can offer you, my dear Haluriet, or whatever it is,” David said in a dirge voice, while his aim intended to force Haluriet to release him of that, so much brutal to say, old stinking prison.

  “Imagine if I release you from here and take you to that subway, will I get something for my belly?” Haluriet said, while he, being in the greed of some expensive currency.

  “You talk about something. I’ll give you dollars,” replied David, while giving more greed to him.

  “Now, what the hell are these dollars folk?”

  “Chap, Dollars are being used currently in the future and you cannot even imagine if I lend you some dollars, you’ll grow wealthier than anyone, most probably not now, but surely in the future,”came a response from David.

  “No, I’m really sorry! I’ve been already duped by a person, somewhat pronounced as Sarles. He promised to lend me some pounds and now you’re promising me to offer some dollars. He also looked like you, fellow but at the end, I was deceived. He betrayed me and the most vital part of all being that, at the end, he handed me some inept pieces of paper and ran away without any prior notice,” he said in anger.

  “I must not tell him that the person he’s talking about is none other but truly my prodigious father,” David envisioned in his mind; “Okay! Don’t worry, I’ve got something for you, especially for you,” he said to Haluriet, while making his pen name as Halo.

  “Oh really! What is it?”

  “Have you ever heard of Platinum?”

  “Yes, I’ve heard it in the myths of Zeus. He wore a ring made up of Platinum and an affluent god like Zeus could only afford it, while it being the rarest metal. Now don’t say that you are oblivious with the stories of Zeus. But our king also has an attractively enameled ring in his ring finger and do you know, what is its expected price? Around one million garraich,” Haluriet forwarded his hand and continued, “So sorry, you must not be knowing garraich. It is the prevailing currency of Asphaldite.”

  “Well, you’re not boring enough. Are you ready to see the thing which I’m going to show you?” asked David while scrutinizing Haluriet’s guise on his face.

  “Please be quick, I’ve to sleep also.”

  “Okay, if you’re so interested in reposing, then it’s your choice. I’ll not interfere. Good night!” he said and while laying down on the ground, he put his head on the floor and in an acting manner, endeavoured to convince Haluriet.

  “Sorry! I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean that. You’re kindly requested to express your relic as well,” said the chubby Haluriet, putting a hand over his belly and while offering a bunch of apologies to the rationalized one.

  David could not be excluded from the list of clever people, rather more pertinent to say, adroit. He hastily stood up and while looking once again towards Haluriet, he said, “Scrutinize my finger. What do you see?”

  Haluriet nicely scrutinized his finger and replied, “What’s so special about your finger?”

  “Stupid! Sorry, I mean, my dear Halo. What can you notice on my finger,” he said while shifting the expression of Haluriet from eccentricity to belligerence.

  “There is a charming ring over there, what else?”; “How will it help me?”

  “Well I thought you had a good knowledge of Platinum but if you’re not captivated, then it’s okay.”

  “Is it made up of Platinum?” Haluriet said impatiently.

  “Yes, obviously! Didn’t you notice my chain? It is made up of Platinum too.”

  “Are you kidding?”

  “Ney!”

  “Well then when the clock in front of you turns twelve, we’ll leave from here and go in the pursuit of that holy book.”

  “Yeah sure, deal done. Two Platinum products from here and two deeds from your side,” said the bearer of the attractively charming Platinum products.

  “Give them to me right now.”

  “No, I’ll not, unless and until you take me out of here.”

  “Sure, I’m not going to argue with you anymore. Let us just wait for the clock to turn twelve; the time when the king sleeps.”

  “I love you Halo, your weight as well,” said David and while telling him to repose for the left of the stint, he himself reposed, in order to slash the apathy of that mentally arduous situation.

  King Zudite was totally oblivious that there was a well-furnished plan with an ordinary man, who was, in fact, arrested in his own prison and was shortly going to be unconfined with the help of one of his sincere legitimates, Haluriet. Haluriet didn’t know the consequence of the misdeed he was going to perform against the suzerain of that formidable dynasty. The Diterean Dynasty, a well-known dynasty whose founder was none other than King Zudite.

  King Zudite only had an exquisite and a valiant daughter, to whom he cherished the most and looked as a descendant to his dynasty. Mozerine was the only daughter of King Zudite, her nickname being Zerine.

  “Zerine, do you need something more. I mean some beef, pork or the headpiece of this duck. I hunted it today only for you and I’m sure you’ll appreciate eating it,” said Zudite to his cherished daughter, while having his dinner in the exclusively encrusted dining room of the fortress of Asphaldite, whereas far ago, two men were planning to pursuit for “The Secrets of Asphaldite”, a book of intensely surreptitious matter.

  “Sure dad but please do take out the eyes of that duck as they seem ghastly to me,” replied Zerine in a very soft voice; her voice only remarking her splendor and erotic body language along with her own large and charming eyes, which could attract anyone towards her, and being in love with her, could propose her too.

  “Zerine, don’t forget that you’re the daughter of the one and only King Zudite,” interrupted her mother as she touched upon the fact of the duck’s eyes.

  “Wait, my dear queen of Asphaldite. It is just the dining room and we are here as a family, not rulers of this empire. Let her express her thoughts. After all, she is the princess of Asphaldite and you shall not worry because she’ll not throw you from the throne after she takes over our duti
es towards this sacred empire. Rather you will receive the title of grand-queen and being Immortal in the history of Asphaldite, you shall have the highest reign, command and reverence as well,” came a voice from a father’s soul.

  “Thank you, my dear dad,” said Zerine in her very soft and charming voice.

  The girl about which, a lot is being talked about; you can imagine how pleasing she could be and as, her eyes being marvelous and attractive, was a complete statue of magnificence and valor.

  The dinner got over with the echoing voice of a trumpet and as, the king and his family moved towards their secured residence, the men who were sternly trained, forming a security parallel to them, had assisted them to their abode without any effort.

  The king was drunk and entailed someone to assist him to his bedroom. His wife, while taking his hand and putting it over her shoulder, had assisted him to his private bedroom. “Thanks a lot, my dear queen. Highness,” he said in a drunk voice and entered the room of his fifth wife, while leaving her in rage. She was also not less than anyone and without thinking even a single thing, went to her chamber and slept nicely without any affliction on her head.

  The king was mischievous as he had his dinner with some other lady, while his night with another. His queens were sick of him but he loved Zerine and her mother a lot as, they were too from an affluent dynasty, which was far away from Asphaldite but had shaken hands by lending their daughter to King Zudite; his first wife – Queen Elice.

  Elice could too be described as a lady with extreme potentials, just like Zerine; after all, she was her mother only. Elice was a statue of splendor too but her right leg was a little bit short due to which she had to walk a little bit leaning towards the right.