Page 70 - BEATS: Secondary School Edition 2020-21

AN EMPEROR’S

REDEMPTION

a short story by Veer Chaudhry, MYP 5

here I stood, my fists clenched, my cape torn, concept of Heren influenced many, and slowly, through
and my face scarred. Was this it? Was this what various centuries, the ways of Old Terra continued to
Tmy life came down to? All I had worked for, die, until all that was left was Heren. I was born as a
everything I did to fulfil a prophecy, to fulfil what was ‘prophesied’ Prince, one who would bring unity to the
supposed to be MY DESTINY, all gone. Why? Why does lands of Heren, the one who would stop all the petty
the universe want to give me a second chance, why do quarrels and infighting of the tribes of Heren. I was
everyone and everything want me to redeem? I don’t meant to follow in my father’s footsteps, and because
know what would happen if I go down that path, part of that, I was neglected. I never grew up as a regular
of me doesn't want to either, but do I have a choice child, I grew up as a warrior, a tool, as a prophesied
anymore? I’ve lost everything, everything I spent hero. All that constant praise and need to fulfil all
almost two decades working towards, I have nothing expectations made me believe I was a send of God, it
left, except for a choice. A choice between letting go, made me believe that I was to bring true unity to the
or giving myself another chance, to perhaps become Lands of Heren, but not under the role of a King, but
a better person. Do I regret my actions? Perhaps, but the role of an Emperor. The values instilled in me as a
alas, they were my actions nonetheless. Regret has child made me truly believe that I was right in such a
no place in redemption, but if the universe requires it, statement, and perhaps I was.
then perhaps I can let it happen, then perhaps I can
find a way to redeem myself. Eventually, my father passed, and I was to be
crowned ‘King of Heren’, however that is not what I
I was born under the Kingship of my father, Lord had planned for my inauguration. I wanted to abolish
Gulstag, King of the Land of Heren. Heren was built the ways of Kingship, the ways of my father, and my
upon what was once known as ‘Earth’, or rather ‘Old ancestry before him. I wanted true unity, and if there’s
Terra’. The citizens of Old Terra had ravaged their one thing my values taught me, the only way that true
home, to the point where it was unrecognisable until unity can be achieved in such a world, is to enforce it.
a few members of their society decided that enough I was brought up on the stand that day, as the wind
was enough, and from that, Heren was born. The breezed past my hair, as my armour shined from the

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