Atlas: Lightning From The Wild West
33: THE TRUTH

THE TRUTH

"What if it starts with a simple question? What happened that you and Avalance got battered?" Ask Indra to her father.

"Chaos Dragon's. That creature is still no match for us after 300 years. Me, Avalance, and the King of the Werewolves Lycaon were unable to deal with it. If Vandrak hadn't saved us, I probably wouldn't have talked to you here" Ignis replied.

"Vandrak? A name foreign to me. Who's she?" Ask Indra again.

"A Dracula who also came from Nosferat. It seems like he and Lycaon have a good relationship" Ignis replied.

"Now. Can you tell me, what happened 7 years ago?" Indra asked with a more serious face.

"So, even Avalance doesn't know the details of what happened? All right, I'll tell you. First of all, you need to know about the true identities of those people, including your mother. Those villagers are members of the 'Necromasters' that might sound foreign to you. Necromasters is an organization made up of all the Necromancers in the world" Ignis replied.

"So. Mother is.." said Indra.

"Right, he was a Necromancer. The reason I infiltrated the village was to kill Opstann. One of the 10 leaders of the Necromasters" Ignis replied.

Indra looks surprised to hear the name mentioned by Ignis. He knew the name, and if he remembered. Opstann was never seen when Avalance went to the Eastern Region, whereas Avalance actually came to the Bounty Store. However, by then Opstann was completely gone. No one thought it was the former 10 leaders of the Necromasters.

"Why do you look surprised?" Ask Ignis.

"Oppstann. Is that person a Necrosummoner?" Indra asked back.

"The whole leader of the Necromasters is a Necrosummoner" Ignis replied.

"However, it didn't answer my first question" Ignis continued.

"Oppstann. It seems like that person hasn't really died yet. I've met him and his form is only a living skull" said Indra.

This time it was Ignis who looked a little surprised.

"So, that bastard can still live again" Ignis said.

"I understand that your goal is only to slaughter the entire necromancer of that village. Why did I have to give birth to me?" Ask Indra.

"Necromasters are my enemy. 

It wasn't easy to infiltrate their village, I had to go undercover and find an insider. Therefore I used your mother, one of the weakest necromancers who was definitely exhausted after awakening a single soul" Ignis replied.

"Honestly, 7 years ago I thought you inherited Necromancer's blood from your mother who was a Necromancer. That's why I told those bandits to kill everything including you. However, I didn't think you could live" Ignis continued.

"Much has happened to date" Indra said.

"My last question. What kind of country would you create if you managed to take control of all four Compax Regions?" Ask Indra.

Ignis smiled.

"I'll make Compax a country that can't be penetrated by anything, even the seven Envoys. Those who are weak should be thrown out, those who are strong will rule then-" Ignis replied.

"Shallow mind" Indra replies cutting.

"I have no regrets about taking the side of Avalance" Indra continued.

"Are you not vengeful for me?" Ask Ignis.

"No, I'm not tied to my past at all. I asked only to seek the truth, not to avenge" Indra replied.

"I don't have any more questions" Indra continued.

Indra then leaves Ignis and walks towards Avalance.

"How, Indra. Have you spoken to him?" Ask Avalance who's lying in the patient's bed.

"Yes, he's better than I thought" Indra replied.

"You'd be surprised to see his attitude 300 years ago" Avalance said.

"I know. He is a jolly, responsible, humble and affectionate person with his family" Indra said.

"However, I'm sure it's fake. Only you've ever seen him like that without pretending, Avalance" Indra continued.

"Hows it? After you talk to him, will you side with him?" Ask Avalance again.

"No, I will stand by you, Avalance" Indra replied.

"And why is it like that?" Ask Avalance.

"I chose not to answer" Indra said.

Without being told, Indra understood that Avalance was a wise and insightful leader. Indra has seen plenty of evidence of Avalance's prowess as a leader. Even all the residents of the Northern Region trusted Avalance very much.

"Avalance, is the Chaos Dragon really that strong?" Ask Indra.

"That's right, even after 300 years I and Ignis were unable to match him. Even with the help of the King of Werewolves we cannot deal with the injured Chaos Dragon" Avalance replied.

"I heard from you, someone named Vandrak saved you. Who's she?" Ask Indra again.

"Vandrak was a dracula figure whose strength and position were on par with Lycaon. Even if the four of us fight him, we won't be able to. Therefore, Vandrak helped us to retreat" Avalance replied.

After much conversation with Avalance, Indra came back to his father who was also still lying in the patient's bed.

"Dad, you need anything?" Ask Indra.

"I want a glass of wine" replied Ignis.

Indra then went out to find a bottle of wine complete with his drinking glass. Indra brought back the arunika wine.

"It looks like they only have arunika wine. I was confused by Avalance's taste" Indra said as she poured the wine into a drink.

Ignis smiled at the wine. Inside the smile was also a sadness that was clearly displayed.

"This wine is the wine that Avalance and I have always been drinking with our former comrades. This drink may still have the same taste. However, there is a feeling that we can no longer feel. Only memories can we remember when we drank this wine" Ignis replied.

"I didn't expect Avalance to still drink this wine" Ignis continued.

Indra finally understood why there was only Arunika Wine in Avalance castle. 

"That drink may bring memories to you. However, those memories at least brought them back" Indra said trying to comfort her father.

Ignis smiled back. However, this time the sadness inside the smile faded a little more.

"Dad, I was curious" Indra said.

"About what?" Ask Ignis.

"There is someone who seems to be very valuable to Avalance. However, it looks like that person was the victim of the Chaos Dragon attack 300 years ago" Indra replied.

"The guy's name is Tessa. I was just wondering, so who is this woman really?" Ask Indra.

Ignis looks very surprised to hear Indra find out about Tessa.

"Before I answer, where did you get the information about this man?" Ask Ignis.

"In the Avalance treasure room, there was an old letter that seemed to have been slightly burned and addressed to the Avalance of Tessa. I thought that was all. However, I found hundreds more letters from Tessa in the closet of the treasure room, and similarly the letters looked old and slightly burned. That's why I'm curious about Tessa" Indra replied.

Ignis is again surprised, Tessa may indeed be a valuable person for Avalance according to Ignis. However, there must be a reason that made Avalance unable to forget him even after 300 years. Ignis is now curious about the letters.

"All right, I'll tell you. However, with one condition" said Ignis.

"What's that?" Ask Indra.

"You have to take me to those letters after I tell them" Ignis replied.

"Alright, I agree" Indra replied.

"Then listen carefully" Ignis said.