Chapter 2, Part 2 â The Astronomer
The first figure to enter the ring was a bald-headed man whose bulky torso was covered in tattoos. He strutted to the centre of the ring and held his arms high to the crowd's cheers. His eyes seemed glazed over, as if he was in a trance. He shuffled around, ducking and throwing jabs, before making his way to his corner.
Then, the second figure stepped into the light. It was another man, younger, and slim but muscular, with strips of cloth bandaging his hands and forearms. Shaggy, silver hair fell wildly around his statuesque face. There was something unusual about how he carried himself. His movements were slow and seemingly weightless. This man seemed oblivious to the crowd, almost as if he was looking at another world, invisible to all but himself. Talon watched him, mesmerised.
Eve also eyed the scene intently. This must be Gau, she thought, recalling the female guard's earlier comments. She cast her eyes over to the seating area. The well-dressed man with the ponytail was watching the ring and smiling, his chin resting on his steepled hands. His eyes suddenly snapped to the left, locking with Eve's. Her heart leapt.
At that instant a bell sounded, and the tattooed man began to advance hungrily on his opponent. The younger man took a lethargic step backwards and raised his hands, with no apparent sense of urgency. The crowd's cheering intensified, and chants of âSnail!â swept the arena. The bald man, bouncing energetically on his toes, threw some tentative jabs, which bounced harmlessly off his opponent's bandaged forearms. He then leaned in for a heavy right hand swing. The counter-attack came in one fluid motion, almost too quick to see. A moment later, the bald man lay sprawled out, unconscious, in the centre of the ring. As a medical team clambered into the ring, admit chants of his nickname, Gau, âthe Snailâ, made his leisurely exit.
The commotion died down and the spectators began to disperse, many descending on the bar. As the crowd thinned, Talon made his way to the infirmary, followed by Eve and Alice. He passed the seating area on his way and saw the ponytail-man counting money on the table, a smirk on his face. Something about the man's expression made Talon uncomfortable. As Eve passed, the man looked up, and winked. Eve pretended not to notice. They reached the infirmary, and Talon knocked loudly on the door. It swung open, and an armed guard stepped out, wearing the same uniform as those at the town hall. He beckoned to them and they followed him down a corridor to a small waiting room. The guard showed them in and then exited the room. Moments later, a young man with dark hair and glasses appeared. He was wearing somewhat antiquated scholarly attire. Upon seeing the man's face, with its solemn expression, Talon felt a surge of emotion that he could neither repress not explain. On their way to the hospital, Eve had told the Prince that Zenith had cared for him when he was very young. It must be an early memory Talon speculated.
âForgive meâ the doctor said, in a soft, pleasant voice âfor meeting with you in such demeaning conditions.â Eve sat down, without waiting to be asked, and gestured for the children to do the same. The doctor continued: âI am sure you have many questions, but first, I should ask you if you are in good health; if not, I may be able to assist...â
âWe are fine, Zenithâ Eve interrupted.
Zenith nodded. âI'm sorryâ he said, âI am still a doctor, after all.â
âYou're an astronomerâ Eve retorted. There was a tense silence.
âI am relieved to see you allâ Zenith said, after a moment.
âThen you are aware?â Eve asked.
âOf the castle being overthrown? Yesâ, he replied. âEven being trapped here, I'm not oblivious to such significant news.â
âWhat do you mean 'trapped'. What is this place?â
Zenith stepped fully into the room, making sure to close the door behind him, then he took a seat opposite Eve and the siblings.
He sighed. âIt's quite a peculiar situation. We are currently sitting in what was once the finest medical facility in the region. That is until the King ceased providing the finances necessary for its operation. As a result of the King's negligence, this region has fallen into decay, and the hospital with it.â
Talon clenched his fists. âDon't you dare speak ill...â
Eve placed her hand on Talon's arm, stifling his outburst.
Zenith continued. âI am sorry that I must be the one to shatter your illusion, but this uprising was carried out by the Kingdom's own people, and understandably so. Recently, the non-essential territories have been subjected to relentless impoverishment. The central agricultural and industrial infrastructure was maintained due to the Castle's dependency on it, however, taxation and repression in the prioritised regions also increased proportionately. No attempt to seek audience with the King has been successful. When the people realised their King had abandoned them, they became increasingly desperate and, unable to organise themselves effectively, turned on each other, fighting like animals over what little remained. Unwilling to stand by and watch this town and its people disintegrate, I devised a strategy to keep my hospital alive.â
âYou turned it into a fight clubâ Eve scowled. âAnd you call yourself a doctorâ.
âThe town had degraded to such an extent that I felt it was justified. In the absence of any amenities or distractions, the people's anger was overflowing. I gave them a way to vent their anger in a controlled environment. I gave them a spectacle which reflected their frustration. The admission fees would pay for the hospital's maintenance. The fighters would be injured here and they would be treated here. Having regular events to look forward to, and the security of unconditional health care, I was able to secure a minimal standard of living that would attract attention from neighbouring districts and catalyse a social and economic recoveryâ.
âYou took the dogs in from the street and you put on a dog fight.â Eve kept her cold stare fixed on Zenith's bespectacled visage.
âYesâ Zenith replied, âif you wish to put it so crudely. However, I did not anticipate the events that followed.â He gestured to a low wooden table in the corner of the room. On it was propped a picture of woman in a hospital bed. âWhile the club thrived, my mother's condition worsened. I became increasingly preoccupied with her care, and was forced to delegate my responsibilities. It seems that in my distraction, I chose my delegates unwisely. By the time I realised what they were doing, they had taken over the club entirely. They told me of their intentions, and asked me to participate. I tried to defy them, and they took my mother hostage.â
âThey?â Eve interjected.
âThe people in those strange uniformsâ Zenith answered. âThey are from another Kingdom. They came here in disguise, knowing of our current weakness. They saw what I had done to the hospital, how I had taken the people's discontent and turned it into energy. They took my idea and they spread it across the many towns of the kingdom. Then, they took the new class of warriors that I had unwittingly spawned, and they brought them together under the banner of revolution. The castle was overthrown with ease...â
Zenith paused, seemingly disconcerted by the teddy bear undulating in front of his face. âDon't hold him by the earâ Alice instructed, âThe stitching will tear.â Zenith took Plato by the midriff and inspected him casually. âIndeed...â he murmured, â...how very apt.â
Eve frowned in disbelief. âSo, you're saying that, rather than taking over our kingdom by force, they capitalised on the people's own anger, and got us to conquer our own kingdom without us realising it.â
âYes. I was told that if I intervened, my mother would not be safe. They have kept me here as the club medic, and they have allowed me to continue researching my mothers illness.â
Eve stood up, and walked slowly across the room to the photograph on the table.
âYour mother's illness...â she repeated. Her voice was suddenly strained and quiet. âZenith, explain yourself.â
âYou were told that I was dismissed from the King's service due to my failure to cure young Alice's condition. This is not far from the truth, however there is more to it. My mother suffers from the same condition. I have dedicated the latter half of my life to researching its cure. One day, I discovered a possibility.â
Before Zenith had finished his sentence, Talon was running across the room towards him. The young Prince planted his hands on the arms of Zenith's chair and leaned towards him.
âDid you find the cure?!â he shouted.
âYesâ, said Zenith, âI believe soâ.








