# The Mother, The Child, The EGO #
Kaida was like Kali; she was almost 6 feet tall, a warrior in the making. She always carried the sword her mother had gifted her when she began her training at the age of 10. Now kaida is 18 years & beginning to look like her mother. Kaida, though she is the daughter of Kali, is more attached to the head of guards, Pyropeia, because it was she who trained Kaida from the beginning. Kaida would spend most of her time with Pyropeia & training.
In the last few years, Kaida was by the side of Pyropeia fighting against the rebels. Pyropeia trained Kaida with all her heart. She taught her everything. It was as if Kaida had two mothers. Even as a child, people would sometimes approach Kaida with their problems when they thought it best not to bother their emperor with petty complaints, so Kaida never really had a normal childhood.
But it’s different for adventurous people like Lumi. They are loved & people easily forgive their mischievous behaviours. But there are always downsides to everything. People never take you seriously. You are always a child. Your opinions are never taken seriously. The grass is always greener on the other side.
Lumi usually would sneak out of the palace to play with her friends. Their usual play area was near the marketplace. Lumi was playing with friends & they were running amok in the busy market area. Lumi & gang started playing hide & seek. It was Lumi’s turn to find & as she closed her eyes & counted near a deserted tree, she felt something different around her. It felt very cold & she sensed somebody was near her. It was a terrifying feeling. She had never felt that before & it wasn’t a pleasant one. The moment she opened her eyes & turned, she found some mysterious thing standing next to her. It was a shiny creature & she had never seen one like this before.
It looked like the creature was made of some metal & human skin. It was not like the females which she had seen on Venus. It looked a lot different. It was terrifying to see that creature. It was a lot taller & bigger in size. Lumi had heard stories about the Dhatuns. They look like they are made of half metal & half skin. The creature was scanning Lumi. Lumi started screaming and ran away. The creature vanished immediately from there.
Lumi said this to her friends & they didn’t take her seriously, thinking it was one of Lumi’s notorious plays. But Lumi was terrified & took the matter to her mother, Kalimperia. It was all a squall to Kali & squarely disregarded Lumi. Kali has a lot on her plate these days. There have been issues from different parts of Aphrodica. Lately, there have been issues with the rebels fighting against the gynastry & a lot of looting of food & raw materials from their carts, which are being transported to different parts of Venus. So, Kali has asked Pyropeia to form a team & take care of this recent burglary issue & bring those who are causing trouble.
So, when Lumi came up to tell Kali about that strange creature, Kali ignored it completely. Lumi went to her sister, Kaida, to tell her this because she was the only person who would take her seriously. Kaida heard her out & said, “ok, if you had seen something, bring that creature so everyone can believe you”. Lumi got annoyed that no one took her seriously. It’s not the first time that Lumi has not been taken seriously.
But this time it was different. This time, she has had enough of being treated as a child & wanted to prove herself & the fact that she has witnessed a DHATUN, she wanted to prove to the world that she was right & all the more wanted to save Venus. Lumi was determined & decided to do whatever it takes to prove herself. Lumi sneaked out of the palace to find the creature & bring it to Kali so she could believe her, but she was too afraid & realised she needed someone’s help.
She was not ready to go back to the palace until she found the creature. Lumi remembered that one of her friends was saying that, as a child, she was abducted by someone & her mother found her with the help of a sorcerer. So, Lumi went in search of a sorcerer to find out about that creature. When Lumi sneaked out of the palace, all that she took was the pendant on her neck, which was made of celestium.
Lumi roamed the marketplace asking for a sorcerer. Soon, it became very late, but Lumi was determined not to go back to the palace until she found the creature’s whereabouts. Suddenly, one of the soldiers in the army saw Lumi roaming about & approached her.
Soldier “Domina, why are you outside so late in the night? Are you lost? Do you want me to take you home?”.
Lumi “No, I’m not a child & I’m not lost. I know my land more than anyone in their suit. I’m searching for someone. So, you can go, and I can take care of myself”
Soldier “Domina, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend you. If you can tell me who you are searching for, I can try to help you”
Lumi “First of all, what’s your name? & How did you find me? Did my mother send you to find me?”
Soldier “Domina, my name is Celsia. I was heading towards the palace, but when I saw you, I thought you were lost & came to help you”
Lumi, “Celsia, tell me the truth. Did my mother send you?”
Celsia “No, my domina, but I think you should return to the palace. It’s not safe here. There has been an appraisal of the rebels & you should return home”
Lumi became really enraged because she felt she was being treated like a child. It was amazing how, even at a young age, one can have an ego. The ego is that one friend that never discriminates against an adult or a child. It grows bigger & bigger as we age. But can one identify or remember their first ego episode? And which triggered their ego? Who triggered their first ego? When we trace it back to the nearest memory, most of us can recall that the first trigger was someone treating us like a child. Most of us can confidently say that we were not respected & treated like a child. It’s easy to affect one’s ego. Just need to treat the other person as a kid & boom we can see their face could tell us a tale. Most administrators & people in power do this to others, indirectly showing them who is in charge. And this is precisely what has happened to Lumi. She felt like she was treated like a child & immediately she vented out her ego by replying, “I don’t care about damn rebels. I can take care of myself. I don’t need anyone’s help. You can go”
Celsia, “I’m really sorry, Domina, I didn’t mean to offend you again. You can trust me. I will help you find the person you are searching for.”
Lumi, “I don’t need your help. You can go”
Celsia “Domina, please don’t be angry. I’m sorry for what I said. Please don’t tell the emperor about this”
The moment Lumi realised that Celsia had felt threatened by her, Lumi’s ego vanished because once again, Lumi felt empowered. Lumi needed help, & Celsia seemed to be an obedient soldier, so Lumi said, “If I shouldn’t tell my mother, I want you to do whatever I say”
Celsia “Definitely domina, I’m at your disposal”
Lumi “ok then. I need to find a sorcerer”
Celsia was stunned & asked, “A sorcerer? Why domina?”
Lumi, “Why do you ask so many questions? Can you find one or not?”
Celsia, “I do not know any sorcerer personally by myself, but I know who can find a sorcerer. But there are different sorcerers for different issues. Not everyone knows how to perform various forms of black magic. So, to take you to the right sorcerer, I need to know what exactly you want”
Lumi, “You wouldn’t understand or believe me if I said why I am searching for a sorcerer. I do not want you to laugh at me.”
Celsia “Domina, trust me. You can tell whatever it is, & I promise I will never laugh at you. I have seen you right from your birth & you are one of my favourite persons in the gynastry. I often would tell my mother how you would be a great emperor one day”.
Lumi, “I don’t want to be an emperor. Actually, I do not know what I want to become. I guess one day the symbol would appear & tell me what I will become into”
Celsia “Domina, my mother would say, People who do not know about their future are those who will search for it & become the future of others”.
Both were bonding well & Lumi felt that Celsia was the only person who had taken her seriously, so Lumi trusted Celsia with her secret.
Lumi, “I saw a creature this afternoon when I was playing with my friends. I told everyone, but no one believed me. It’s nothing like from this planet.”
Lumi “Are you sure you didn’t see any animal like a broar or anything?”
(Broar is a wild, ferocious creature, found on Venus)
Lumi, “See, you are not trusting me”
Celsia “Domina, I trust you. But no matter whether I trust you or not, the sorcerers should believe you. So, I should make sure of that first. Ok, I will ask my friend tomorrow morning, who knows a sorcerer, if she can find whatever you saw.”
Lumi “No, Celsia, I want to see the sorcerer today. I’m not returning home until I find that creature. If you can’t help me, it’s fine. But I’m going in search of the sorcerer with or without your help”
Celsia “Domina, I will definitely help you find the mysterious creature. First of all, let’s find my friend who will take us to the sorcerer. She is living outside the city, so let’s go on my Zhila”.
(zhila is like a horse.)
Both climbed on the Zhila & started to ride in search of Celsia’s friend. Lumi has never travelled so far away from home. The moment they reached the outer circle of the marketplace, it became darker & the route became more rugged. As the Zhila galloped faster, Lumi felt that it was a bad idea to leave home, but immediately she gathered her thoughts & realised that it was time for her to step up & stop being afraid of new things. When do we stop being a child & start behaving like an adult? When we start taking responsibility for our actions. The womanhood has started for Lumi. Her worry was about her mother, Kali.
Lumi knew that Kali would be distraught when she found out that Lumi was missing from the palace. Lumi was afraid that her mother would be angry when she returned, but was sure that Kali would appreciate it if she brought the details of the creature. Very soon, they entered the narrow paths of the mountains. It became darker & darker. The empty pathway & dark mountains gave chills to Lumi, so she hugged Celsia tightly from behind &closed her eyes tightly.
In the meantime, the courtier of Lumi in the palace became very anxious because she couldn’t spot Lumi anywhere in the palace. As she was searching, she came across the head of the courtiers in charge, “Messa, I couldn’t find domina Lumi anywhere. Have you seen her?”.
Messa “What are you talking about? She will be here somewhere; search properly.
Courtier” No, Messa, I have searched the palace thrice now; I cannot find her at all”.
Messa “What were you doing all this time? It’s late for dinner. It is already time. Domina Kali will be here anytime now”. As they were speaking, Kaida entered the dining hall & saw them both talking worriedly. Kaida “What is it, Messa? Why are you all anxious?”
Messa “The courtier of Domina Lumi has searched her everywhere, but she couldn’t find her anywhere. Domina Lumi has never been this late”.
Kaida, “What do you mean by this late? Has she been regularly sneaking out of the palace?”
Messa hesitantly, in a trembling voice, “Domina Lumi sometimes goes out but would let us know where she goes. Usually, she will go out to play with her friends. But this time she did not tell me she was going out. For all that we know, she might be in the palace. Maybe we didn’t search properly. I will personally search her Domina”
Kaida, in a stern voice, “Messa, I want her now. Bring her wherever she is. This is unprecedented & unacceptable. The rebels are roaming Aphrodica freely & we are not able to differentiate between our people &a rebel. It’s very unsafe. I have been hearing complaints that rebels are roaming in our warriors’ dress & armour, creating chaos outside. She is a kid; she doesn’t know what’s happening in the gynastry, but you must know the consequences. Ok, get lumi & bring her to me.”
Messa “yes domina”
The courtiers & Messa kept searching for more than an hour around the palace, but they couldn’t find Lumi. By this time, Kalimperia & Pyropeia came inside the palace, discussing weird incidents around Aphrodica. It looked like Kali was very upset with Pyropeia & was having a heated argument with her.
Kali became very angry & shouted at Pyropeia, “I do not want any excuses. Find a way & solve it”. The entire palace saw that Kali was already upset & even the head of guards, Pyropeia, was not spared from her anger.
Pyropeia” Yes, domina, at once. I will make a special squad & we will search for those who are creating chaos”
On seeing Pyropeia being bombarded, Messa trembled in fear and was reluctant to tell Kali that they had lost Lumi.
Messa came before Kali but did not know how to deliver the news. Kali, “Messa, have the girls had dinner? I will be heading out soon. There have been a lot of issues going around Aphrodica. So, get the bath & my dress ready, I will be going out tonight to see for myself what is going on”
Messa “Yes, domina, but I want to tell you something. It’s very important. Please don’t be mad at me”
Kali “What is it, Messa? Be quick. I don’t have all the time”
Kaida was walking towards Kali, irresolutely waiting for Messa to deliver the message.
Messa “Domina, we have been searching for Domina Lumi since evening, but we couldn’t find her. I’m afraid she is lost “
Kali “She will be here somewhere, search properly”
Kaida “Mother, I have searched myself. I couldn’t find her. I was told that she has been sneaking out of the palace very often lately to play with her friends in the marketplace & city”.
Kali angrily said,” Sneaking out? And you all know about this? Why was I not told about this behaviour”
Messa ‘Domina Lumi usually returns very early, but today is very unusual. This has never happened”
Kali “Idiots, I trusted you all to take care of my daughter, but now you are saying that a 12-year-old is roaming out in the country all alone, where the rebels are trying to create chaos & collapse the city. Kaida, what is wrong with you? Why did you allow this?”
Kaida, “I have no idea about all this. I’m hearing this for the first time, Mother”
Kali, “I can’t believe this. My own children sneaking out & misbehaving & no one informed me about this. If I cannot keep decorum in my own home, how am I going to deal with the enemies outside? For a woman to conquer the world, she needs to be supported in her family & that’s not the case in my own home, I believe”
Pyropeia saw Kali in distress & understood that things were getting out of hand. Pyropeia winked at Kaida & turned towards Kali & said “Domina, can I have a word with you in private, please?”.
Kali dismissed the courtiers for privacy. Pyropeia “Domina, I don’t think all these things are coincidental. I do not know who is to blame or who to believe. I think we must keep all of them in confinement until we find Lumi”
Kaida “I think Pyropeia is right, Mother”
Kali, “What are you suggesting? That these people who were loyal to us all these years are the reason that Lumi is missing?
Pyropeia, “These are times when we cannot take any risks, Domina & this is Lumi. We do not know who is behind all this. For all that we know, this could be a grand scheme to divert us & capture Aphrodica”
Kali “I do not know what to think now”
Pyropeia “Let me deal with this, domina”.
Pyropeia turned towards the guards & said,” Take the ladies to confinement & keep them there until we find Lumi”
Messa ran towards Kali & pleaded, “Domina, we have nothing to do with this. Please don’t do this to us. We didn’t do anything. Kali, Domina, please don’t do this to us. We have been loyal subjects to the gynastry. Please “.
Messa & the courtier begged Kali, but she couldn’t do anything, as she was unable to think clearly.
Kali, “We are just taking precautions. Once we find out you don’t have any involvement in all this, we will release you”
Messa was shocked that Kali herself did not believe her, so she started crying &walked with the guards to the confinement.
Kali turned towards Kaida & Pyropeia & said “You both better be right about this. She is my very trusted courtier. Trust is one of the ten things wealth cannot buy”.
Kaida “These are just precautions, Mother, even I hope Messa is not involved in this. I will take a few guards & search Lumi in the city”
Pyropeia “I will go in search of Domina Lumi towards ISHTAR. If Regina sent her rebels to kidnap Lumi, then they would not have gone too far”.
Kali “Ishtar! Do you think Regina is involved in this?
Pyropeia “Domina, I’m not sure. However, from the looks of it, the likelihood of Lumi being kidnapped to Ishtar appears to be high. We cannot rule out any possibility”
Kali, on hearing this, got very annoyed & agitated. “If this is the act of Regina, then tell her that I’m bringing a war to destroy the whole of Ishtar”.
Kaida “Mother, let’s not decide things in haste, for all that we know is that Lumi might be playing with her friends”
Pyropeia “Domina, I think Kaida is right about it. Let’s wait until we know things for sure. We will go in all directions in search of Lumi & will hope that she is fine. You wait in the palace if Lumi returns.”
Kali “You want me to stay while you all search for my daughter?”
Pyropeia “Domina, we also have to defend the palace. In these situations, we won’t know who would attack the palace or the watchtower to steal the SOLAARA. No one other than you can guard the SOLAARA with all their heart in difficult times like this”
Kali was inconsolable, but she couldn’t refuse Pyropeia’s suggestion. Kaida &Pyropeia started on their mission to find Lumi. Kali sat on her throne holding the piece of wooden doll which Lumi would take everywhere she went, except for today. The doll was carved in wood by Kali. It was a miniature of a Zhila which Lumi always wanted for herself when she grew up. Lumi painted the doll in combinations of red, blue & aurum. The body was red, the face was blue & the eye was in aurum, which was elliptical rather than round. When asked why these colours, she would often say that’s how they appeared in her dreams.
Kali was holding the doll, fuming with rage, thinking if this could be the act of the Ishtar queen Regina. If that is so, Kali was thinking of a Great war & finishing the feud once & for all with the Ishtar queen Regina.