Zourazia's Legacy

By A.J. Molly

During a fierce storm, Grandpa begins to tell a story...
On Nourania, a distant planet, an Emperor is nearing his death. Before breathing his last, he makes a terrible confession to his son. Naran, the Emperor’s son, receives the Blue Planet as a gift, in exchange for Nourania, which is about to be destroyed.
Zoar, the Emperor’s successor on the Blue Planet, is forced to leave everything behind, except for the Inheritance. Accompanied by his family and guided by the Blue Flame, Zoar will go into exile and seek another realm, becoming the founder of a new order and a unique kingdom.
Still, he will have to pay a dear price for the land bestowed upon him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.J. Molly
• Release date: Mar 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370377336

Book preview

2

One night, Zoar alighted with his flock of sheep near a spring. While he was watching the animals drink the cold water, he fell into a deep sleep. A few moments later, a heat wave suddenly overcame him and he opened his eyes. He could see a circle of light dancing just a few steps in front of him. Zoar was petrified. He tried to scream, but he could barely even open his mouth.

Don’t be afraid, Zoar. I haven’t come to frighten you!

The voice came from inside the circle of light. He tried again to open his eyes, but the light was so strong that he could feel it burning him and gave up.

I’m here with a message for you and your family.

As it spoke, the voice from the circle of light changed its intensity. Slowly opening his eyes, Zoar glimpsed through his fingers at the blend of colours the ray of light contained. His body shuddered and he finally stuttered, ‘Who are you?’

I am the messenger of the one who is Lord of the Universe and of this planet, the voice from the circle of light replied. You are the best and the most righteous of the Moazes, as well as the only one who still abides by the Law of Love and Kindness. As of tonight, the Blue Planet will no longer be the same. You will need to leave the Mountain. Your brothers are thirsty for riches and for that they are ready to shed blood. Your family is in great distress.

Upon hearing those words, Zoar began to tremble.

Go back home, take your family and depart from the bosom of your fellow beings, the voice of light urged him.

‘Where shall we go?’ Zoar asked.

Where the Blue Flame will take you.

Zoar blinked a few times, though his eyes had by now adjusted to seeing that ray that was brighter than sunlight.

I shall leave you the most important legacy, for the fate of your loved ones and your descendants will depend on it: the Blue Flame is a gift from the Lord of the Universe to you. It is a part of his energy, because you are the best among your fellow human beings and you’ll have to accomplish an important mission: to take care of it. It is the fountain of Wisdom and Power. For as long as you remain pure and good, it will be the bridge between you and him and it will grant you special powers.

Zoar fell to the ground face down. That voice had brought him to a state that he had never experienced before. He was enveloped in profound silence and, for a few seconds, he felt as if he were in a different world. Then the voice brought him back.

Hurry up, Zoar! There’s no time to lose.

The man looked up. The light had lost some of its intensity and was now ascending into the sky. In the distance, he could hear only:

Farewell, Zoar. Take care of it.

The man rubbed his eyes and looked once again at the place where the ray of light had danced. On the wet grass, in a globe that appeared to be made of crystal, a blue light shimmered. He approached it with light footsteps and touched the hard-shelled, transparent sphere. The Flame flickered more intensely. He looked at it carefully and realized that it had the same colours as the ray of light.

Midnight approached. Zoar had been watching the Flame enthralled, for several long minutes. He gazed at it in utter fascination. Astonished, he watched it and felt entranced by a unique mystery of the Universe, in which his whole being was steeped. The bleating of the sheep awoke him, unfortunately, to reality. The critters, which had been lying asleep on the banks of the spring, got up one by one, alarmed. Zoar picked up the crystal globe in which the Flame was flickering and put it inside his breast pocket. He heard a whooshing sound and saw, high up in the clear sky, at a distance, a thick cloud of smoke rising from the top of the mountain.

Zoar was one of the bravest men in his family, so he didn’t cave in to anxiety. He set off with long, swift strides towards the cloud of smoke. He was on a meadow, just a few kilometres from the summit of Mount Yahmil, and he could easily travel that distance to the place from which the smoke was rising. Using his rod of sandalwood, he made way through the branches of the pine trees from the clearing in which he had rested with his flock of sheep to the immense valley whence he could see the mountain peak. The view left him without words. A reddish light bathed the high slopes. The top of the mountain, covered in snow, was now clad in a fiery lava flowing down like a seething river. Only when the strong smell of burned wood flooded his nostrils did he understand the danger — the mountain was about to pour out its entire sap.

It was the first time Zoar had been faced with such an unusual situation. The reddish light that enshrouded the mountain was closing in on him, destroying everything in its path. His heart began pounding. He had to return to the village and to his family as soon as possible. The voice had warned him about a punishment that would befall his tribe, but he had not imagined it would happen so soon. The smell of burnt resin grew strong and the clouds of smoke intensified. Zoar raced back to his flock of sheep. When he reached the spring where he had rested a few hours before, he saw that the animals were more frenzied than ever. He had to make a decision as quickly as possible. He blew his whistle and began steering the flock with his staff. The sheep ran down into the Valley, moving along the steep, rocky mountain slopes.

It was dark and Zoar had a long way to travel back home. A few sheep that had strayed from the flock shrieked in the distance, but he had no time to waste. He had to get home as soon as possible. Climbing down on the side of the mountain, he saw his hamlet in the distance. He sadly noted that his flock had halved, as the poor animals had barely managed to keep up the pace with him. The sheep that had followed him were bleating their hearts out, exhausted by the road. But Zoar had no way to help them. A tear crossed his face, because the time had come for to him to part ways with his flock. With the exception of his family, the animals he had raised were his greatest asset. He caressed some of them on their heads then turned away.

3

The village lane was quiet and no house was illuminated by torches. Zoar walked down the dusty road with brisk, short steps, as he didn’t want to wake up the villagers. It took him a few minutes to get home. In front of the gate, he stopped and carefully looked at the neighbouring hovels. No sound. The village was as silent as the grave, which was only natural at such an hour, for it was well past midnight. He reached his house and went in. A small torch lit the room and Zoar noticed that it was empty. He was about to check the room where the children were sleeping when something whacked him on the head and he collapsed to the floor. Two hands pinned him down. Then he heard the voice of his wife: ‘You, scumbag, what you are doing in my house?’

Zoar tried to turn around and face his wife, but felt a knee in his back and was unable to move.

‘It’s me. Let go of me,’ he said, in a pale voice.

The boy that had taken him down recognised his father’s voice and lifted off his father.

‘Forgive me, father,’ he said, taking a step backwards.

Her husband’s voice reached deep into her soul and a wave of joy flooded her face. Enda rushed towards the man who was still lying on the ground. She embraced him and nestled herself against his chest, without saying a word. Zoar relived the joy of seeing her again, for his wife’s embrace was like a balm that soothed a painful wound. For a few moments, they remained entwined. Then the woman detached herself from his embrace and looked at him intently.

‘I thought you were a burglar,’ she confessed, her voice betraying her fear and unease.

‘I did too, Father,’ Rouaz confirmed, looking down with some shame.

Zoar looked at the two, who appeared to be more anxious than he was. Something had happened while he had been away in the mountains.

‘What happened here?’ he asked them, forcing his voice calm, trying to sound composed.

Enda helped him to his feet and, walking towards the round wooden table in the middle of the room, she beckoned him to sit down. Rouaz, their eldest son, walked to the small window and, after making sure that there was no one outside, followed the two. Zoar noticed this and understood that his family was much more frightened than he was.

‘My dear, we are in great danger. Our brothers have learnt of the tribe’s legacy and are looking for it like ravenous lions.’ The woman’s eyes welled up with tears and she began to quiver.

Zoar caressed her on her head and then glanced at Rouaz.

‘That’s right,’ Rouaz said. ‘A week ago they all got wind of the age-old legacy. Someone violated the covenant made to Elia on her deathbed. Our brothers, the descendants of Moaz, are demanding that the Legacy should be brought out in plain view by those who have been guarding it and that it should be divided equally. They do not know to whom it was entrusted but insist that it should be brought to light within a week by those who have been guarding it, or they will lay waste to everything in their path.’

Zoar listened carefully to the words of his son and, watching him, he could see himself as a young man. Rouaz was no longer a child. He had proved great physical strength in knocking his father to the ground and had spoken to him with great determination.

‘I thought you were one of them. We weren’t expecting you to come back so soon, my dear,’ Enda said, looking into Zoar’s amber eyes. Then with tears in her eyes, she added, ‘As you can see, we are in grave danger.’

‘Don’t worry, mom. With Dad home, nothing bad can happen,’ Rouaz reassured her, clenching his fists.

The two spouses looked at each other knowingly for a moment. The boy was wrong. They were all in great danger. Zoar looked at his wife and she nodded, then he looked at his son and addressed him in a serious tone, ‘Son, we are the Guardians of the Legacy.’

Rouaz stared at him and his gaze went blank. ‘But how is it possible?’ he could barely mumble.

‘It is a secret that has been kept for centuries. Your grandfather was one of those who had received the Legacy and he handed down the secret to your mother. But now there is no time for explanations. Take a look at the mountain.’

Rouaz took his father’s words as a command. He walked across the room in a few strides and reached the window. Then he stepped back and turned around on his heels.

‘What is happening with the mountain?’

Enda jumped off her chair and when she was next to her son, she gave a long sigh.

‘We must leave, there’s no time to waste. It’s already erupting. This is the punishment for the reckless deeds of our nation against the Lord of the Universe.’

The two walked away from the window terrified. They wanted an explanation from the man.

‘Time is short, Enda, look after the Legacy! Hide it as well as you can. Gather whatever you need for the road and wake up the girls.’

Enda obeyed him in silence. The past few days had been gruelling, because every night she had remained awake, holding Rouaz by her side. She was alone and had to protect the secret. She had made a covenant to her father, who had also been a Guardian of the Legacy and was going to fulfil her obligation, if necessary, even at the cost of her life. The rock was to be shielded from the gaze of the others.

Now that her husband had returned, Enda felt safe, even though she suspected that sooner or later they would have to leave. Still, the news had caught her by surprise, leaving her listless. She would have liked to find out more, but trusted Zoar and there was no more time for questions.

The man took his son and walked to the place where he kept his hunting bows and arrows. These and a few daggers were their only weapons. Although Zoar had never killed anyone, he would now have to protect his life and that of his family members. He picked what was necessary for the road, while Enda and the girls waited for him. He looked out the window and saw that the clouds of smoke were just a few kilometres away from his village.

‘It’s time to set off. Follow me and do as I tell you!’

Enda nudged the sleepy girls out the door and they followed the men into the darkness.

Because of the forest that surrounded the village, they couldn’t see the lava erupting from the mountain. They could only smell the burnt wood. Before setting off, Zoar ordered them to keep silent. Following the path at the back of the house, he led his family to a brook that sprang from the mountain and formed a boundary that delineated the village from the foothills. It ran from one end to the other of the settlement. Zoar had chosen this path because the creek flowed at some distance from his brothers’ houses. Zoar had thought up this itinerary while he had rushed across the mountain on his way home. They had a difficult road ahead.

The water of the brook was chilly and the women were very cold. Zoar’s daughters woke up on contact with the almost frozen water. They would have liked to go back home and lie down in their beds, but Enda kept prodding them from behind. They had almost walked across the village when they heard a roaring sound. The noise came from the lava, the reddish fluid that destroyed everything in its path. The five runaways were petrified, gripped by fright. This was a nightmare, which became even more real when they noticed, on the banks of the creek, some villagers yelling, terrified, and carrying lit up torches in their hands. They, too, were alarmed because of the danger on the