Chapter 40: Reflections Of The Past (Part VII)
For days he would hear the mysterious voice call his name. It usually happened when he was alone.
“Javan.”
He would look over his shoulder, and see no one. Then, it began speaking when he was among others.
“Javan.”
He would turn to someone nearby and ask, “Did you hear something?”
Always, they would respond with a no.
One day, King Ashraf was speaking to the general of his royal knights in his throne room. Javan stood nearby, ready to offer the king counsel if needed. His eyes were unexpectedly drawn to the large throne the king sat upon.
“Javan.”
He glanced around, but again saw that no one appeared to be addressing him.
“Do you like the throne?” the same voice queried. Javan’s eyes widened but he remained silent. “Look at him... King Ashraf.”
With subtlety, Javan slowly turned his head toward the king.
“What a fool,” it said. “He would be nothing without you. You’re the brains, after all. This imbecile would run Aria into the ground if not for your superior guidance.”
Javan began to perspire. It was overwhelmingly obvious to him at this point that no one but him was able to hear the voice. Trying his best not to attract attention, he remained silent and looked away from the king, staring forward at the massive doors on the opposite side of the room.
“Why do you serve him?” the voice asked. “Why do you humble yourself before this over-glorified harlequin?”
Javan was completely terrified. The voice’s malicious tone sent shivers down his spine each time it spoke.
“You fear me?” it queried. “Do not, Javan; I understand your pain. I can feel your torment; I sympathize greatly.” He tried to ignore the voice, but found that it was nearly impossible. The less attention he tried to pay to it, the louder and more noticeable it became. “I only want to help you. You want to feel whole again, don’t you? You’re not a servant, Javan... you’re a leader. I can help you lead. I can make you into the mighty king you truly deserve to be – but you cannot fear me. You must trust me.”
“Care to assert an opinion, Lord Quinn?” King Ashraf asked, startling Javan.
He had not been paying attention to the conversation, and was unsure of how to answer. “I apologize, Your Majesty,” Javan replied. “I’m feeling rather ill, may I please be dismissed?” King Ashraf raised an eyebrow, but softly nodded, granting his request.
As Javan made his way down the castle’s main corridor, the voice spoke again. “That throne belongs to you, Javan.”
“Shut up,” Javan muttered in frustration.
“You fool,” it responded. “Still stuck on ‘love.’” Javan increased his pace. “There is no love in this world, Javan. You’ve felt what happens when you love. Your heart is nothing more than a weak spot to be exploited.” Placing his hands over his ears in a fruitless attempt to block out the voice, Javan advanced his step to a run. “Look at what love has brought you, Javan. Sorrow, pain – you’re pathetic.”
“I am not,” he grumbled, hurriedly making his way out of the castle.
“Yes, go home and cry, you deplorable infant. Prove what ‘love’ is all about. Miserable failure. “
The voice continuously taunted him without end, even in his sleep. With each passing day, he felt the sting less and less. Through its constant jabbing and jeering, the voice had finally drained him of all emotions. Soon, his heart turned to stone. It had him right where it wanted him.
After a while, the voice made an unexpected change. It constantly complimented him, in sharp contrast to what he had experienced before. It gradually swelled his ego, more and more each day, slowly befriending its captive. The process was long and ongoing, but eventually, the voice’s offers of power began to intrigue Javan.
“I chose you for a reason, Javan. I heard how Vera rejected your greatness, despite your selfless effort to restore her life. She doesn’t deserve you, Javan. Imagine how she would feel to know that she turned down the opportunity to be your queen...
“I know a secret, Javan... a secret which will grant you more than Aria alone. This secret is the key to total and absolute power over all existence. You will become more than a mere king; you will be a god. All will tremble before you. All who have wronged you, all who have tormented your unfortunately misunderstood soul – I can help you attain this power. All you must be willing to do is listen. Are you ready, Javan? Are you ready to listen?”
Javan nodded slowly. “I am ready.”
“A wise decision from a wise man. Tell me Javan; are you familiar with an object known as Damiano’s Disk?”