The King’s Courtier

Chapter 2 - The Oblivion

  Seldom were any of these oblivion babies noticed, but since the year 2190, the tale of the greatest beauty had been roaring through all continents. 

Aurelia Hemmingsworth, known as 'the greatest beauty' or 'Elexia's beauty' out shined all the older and younger children at only age three. The mistress immediately knew that she was an investment worth making. When given a choice, Aurelia choose her additional talent to be strength. She was trained by the best assassin offered by the strength category, and not only did she have impeccable skills in self defense, but she could also out spar all the oldest males in oblivion. No other lady from the oblivion had ever chosen that talent. Most usually chose the arts and rhythm because they figured it would most please the king. 

Truthfully, none saw it necessary to choose a survival skill or logical skills as their extra talent since their faith was already chosen for them. They'd be to service the king. The king just so happened to have a reputation for tiring of his escorts incredibly often, so most the times his escorts would either have to go to void after mere months, or they'd be asked to train other escorts in oblivion. 

Aurelia was only famous for her beauty, but she was indeed special. She took the initiative none others had, and the mistress could tell that she could in fact out spar some of the warriors in the main strength category. The mistress once even took an illegal IQ test from Aurelia, and saw that she was borderline fit to move to the perfectionist continent. If the mistress was being frank, she dreaded the day Aurelia had to leave to the king because her likable personality would be destroyed by King Sulfur. She was too special to be broken by him.

At only age ten, Aurelia had become immensely talented in sparring, and that's when her escort training begun. In oblivion, when the children reached ten, they were taught the art of pleasing a master.  They were taught everything to know from pleasure spots to techniques to flexibility. They were all of course kept a virgin for the King by his request. In their training they were taught how and when to use contraceptives and were told to never say no. They were told that they should be available any time, any where and they were also given classes on mannerism just to avoid them displeasing the King. They were trained to courtesy and bow low in company and bow on their knees in private.

In between their training, they were given free time to do anything they wanted. Aurelia always saw to it that she trained with her best-friend,  Iliyus. Iliyus was a trained courtesan. He also contained immense beauty, and apart of his duty required him to have an incredibly fit body, so Aurelia immediately knew he would make the best sparring partner amongst those in her category. 

Iliyus and Aurelia spent all their free time together and made fun of the silly world around them. Iliyus was just as special as Aurelia. He was one of the best looking men Elexia had ever seen, and he was being trained for the most important women of the main court. Although he chose linguistics as his extra talent, he had a sharp and sarcastic tongue. He could not only charm his way around any ally, but also mock his way around any enemy. His sarcasm had rubbed off on Aurelia, and they would both mock everyone and everything until night fall.

When Aurelia was sixteen, she saw one of the elders that was sent to the king returning to Oblivion only after six months of serving. Although the beautiful lady was only three years older than her, she could see how broken and damaged she had become after servicing the king. She eventually caused such chaos that one of the king's assassins was sent to assassinate the nineteen year old beauty. 

Ever since that day, she vowed to Iliyus that she would forever despise King Sulfur. She did all the little things she could to spite him even when he knew nothing of her. For example, She made a point of having Iliyus be her first kiss. Usually, the king wanted girls completely fresh but trained. He wanted them virgins who had never done anything with anyone else; but although her virginity wasn't up to debate as it was checked, she did every other thing she knew would make the king feral. 

Although she was insignificant to him now, on the day she was to be discharged from his service (once he bore of her) she planned to tell him that she had tasted and cuddled with better than him. That he was nothing compared to the men she had before. She planned to exaggerate and lie a little just to add some salt because she knew that once he already had her he couldn't undo it even if he was sickened by her.

The next two years passed quickly because she had Iliyus as her beautiful companion. They sparred and joked and laughed until the next morning which was when they were each given facials and were weighed to ensure they don't surpass the allowed limit. Some days, Aurelia saw her female friends being deprived of food because they weighed ever so slightly above the limit. She only hated the king more for it. 

She could never understand how he could give every other mortal a choice but them. They weren't allowed many friends, weren't allowed to travel, weren't allowed to be pleasured by other men, and sometimes weren't even allowed food. It was cruel and unfair. She would've tattooed the words "the superior oblivion" on her torso if tattoos weren't banned for oblivion babies. She wanted that tattoo just as a reminder that she would one day give him a good punch for all they've suffered and to hell with what price she'd have to pay for it.

She was a legend amongst all mortals. She was the global beauty. She knew the impression everyone thought she's gonna make on the king would soon prove to be the contrary. She had vivid plans on the things she would say to him once her day came, and to her horror, that day was less than a week away.

Aurelia was turning eighteen in less than a week, and frankly all she had as comfort were the words "I am Aurelia Hemmingsworth and I am a global phenomenon. I will one day change the world." Iliyus of course appeared just as worried as she was. They had prepared for this day ever since she was sixteen. They knew that once she leaves, her out burst will be so bad she will guaranteed pay for it with her life. He knew that, and he cared for her enough to accept it. So tomorrow, they parted ways and she would have to start her three day long journey to the Sulferasious Kingdom.

Sulferasious Kingdom was a new continent created by the most elite of all categories. All those people joined together to create a single continent that lacked any flaw. The kingdom was home to the most beautiful monuments, the artists had certainly out done themselves with the continent. The continent was always at a constant state of spring, thanks to the technology offered by the perfectionists. 

The weather was always absolutely perfect and magical. The best warriors of the strength category guarded the gates of the kingdom, only allowing the elite in to the kingdom. The strongest men surrounded the magic castle where King Sulfur and his close group of friends stayed. The castle was packed with guards, servants, escorts and courtiers, and sometimes visitors that the king deemed worthy. 

His castle was called the magic castle because upon entry, the doors had the technology to inspect your thoughts. No one but those with good will were allowed to enter, and if they tried, the door would electrocute them on the spot. In addition, the door would prevent anyone but the best from entering. The door was also gifted with many other magical talents that kept the castle safe and flaw-free. Not many have seen the inside of the castle, but it is rumored to be the most beautiful thing in existence. When inside the walls of the castle, lies cannot exit your mouth and only truths and half-truths are permitted. 

The king's close friends were an anonymous group of 8 immortal beings of mixed genders. No one knows much about them as the magic of the castle erases all memories of the eight when any single soul exists the castle. It is also rumored that when the eight leave the castle, they can appear in any age they wish. No one knew the reason for this, and no one dared question.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about going to the castle in exactly four days was finally seeing the identities of the eight immortals. The endless thoughts were interrupted by Mistress Lora. "Aurelia, prepare yourself. Today is your final ceremony and I shall be testing you on everything you have learnt in these eighteen years. Please do not fail me child."

"Of course I wouldn't fail you, mistress Lora. I am ever so looking forward to demonstrating my sparring skills." Aurelia was met with a glare in response to her little sarcastic remark. She hated that all she was known for was her beauty. She was worth so much more than that, and all of Elexia would soon know it too. In only four days.

Aurelia usually indulged in reading history books. Tales about how strong movements and protests would fill the streets to fight unjust governments. Everyone in Elexia was happy now, so the only war and protests occurring was with the other planets, but most mortals weren't allowed too much information about those wars. 

Aurelia always wished she could be a lady in those books. A woman fighting for her rights to vote. A woman fighting for a job when she was deprived of one. The truth was, even if she wished to change the world, it was only her world that was in need of changing. Everyone but her appeared happy with their positions. 

Only those in the oblivion and void were often displeased because they were the oppressed, but outside their category, the king had created the perfect world with the least amount of flaws for the majority.

Iliyus usually listened to Aurelia go on and on about the life she imagined for herself. She wanted better for herself. She felt she was worth more. Iliyus never argued with her on it. He always made her feel good about her self and reassured her that she is capable of doing anything if she puts her mind to it.

Iliyus and her had a sometimes romantic relationship. It was always complicated between them. They were both talented and skilled, blessed with the most beautiful faces. They were bound to fall in love, except the fact that she was to be with the king and the king would obliterate Iliyus for it. 

She never dared risk it. Never dared tell Iliyus just how much she cared for him just to avoid him getting attached to her. Just so he wouldn't do something stupid risking his life. Iliyus had immense power and strength, and death would simply deprive the world of ever knowing his true worth and skills.

Once Aurelia had defeated every single soul in the oblivion in sparring, she started her sparring with Iliyus. He always held out on her, but she grew more and more powerful each day until he eventually no longer had to hold out. They both sparred with full strength, but seldom could Aurelia beat him. 

The oblivion was small though, so she could never truly explore the boundaries of her skills. She only had Iliyus to compare herself to, and since Iliyus could easily carry seven men with one arm, she figured he sets the bars high enough that she wouldn't necessarily require a stronger competition.

Ever since they were children, they both prepared for tomorrow. It was the day they'd say their goodbyes. Iliyus was also immensely good looking and his birthday was only days apart from hers, so he was to also join the King's Kingdom soon. She knew they would reunite almost immediately, but she didn't dare give him that hope just in case it was false.

She also always feared what would happen if they reunited in front of the king. She didn't want him to risk his life, so she knew that the goodbyes she would be saying tomorrow were serious and definitive perhaps until they were both sent to the void or sent back to the oblivion.