"Practically nothing," Paulie raises a brow. "My father had sent me to pass on a message."
Jerron sighed and clicked off a button on his watch. The air twisted and geometrical patterns flashed through the space, washing off the scene of the city, the three of them were now in Jerron's office, in the top story of the Great Wave.
Teleportation, Ralph recalls. One of Ling's most significant breakthroughs.
"Let's hear it," says Jerron, folding his arm, and leaning back onto his oak wood table.
Paulie threw a frosty glare at Ralph. "Alone." He emphasized.
"He will be with us," Jerron insisted. "Or you may leave."
The Ice Prince narrowed his eyes, glare still fixed on Ralph, who would've definitely attacked if it was not for his physical condition.
"The Scars had sent out an invitation to their hunt," a letter was thrown across the room. Jerron caught it between his fingers, unfolding it, he scanned through the contents in shock.
The Scars. Ralph widens his eyes. Wasn't that... The association from five centuries ago?
"They're mad," Jerron hissed. "Mad."
"What hunt?" Ralph finally couldn't hold it in anymore. "What are they doing? How're the Scars still here? Didn't they vanish five centuries ago?"
Paulie glanced at him in an almost teasing way. "So he doesn't know about the Scars?"
"No," Jerron shook his head. "He should know now, though."
"Know what?" Ralph demanded impatiently.
"The Scars is the true identity of what was known as the Government," Paulie explained. "They are originally a criminal association during Tsana's reign. The Great Raid is simply the large event where the Scars rise to defeat Tsana and her fellow rulers. Starting from that point, the Scars became the rightful power that rules the world under the name of 'The Government'."
"Many of the ancient names and secrets were terminated by the Scars," Jerron said, tightening his grip on the paper until it crippled. "That includes the family of Alamekes, Harusin, Queen, and also Ling." He cast a meaningful glimpse at Ralph. "Throughout the five centuries between the Great Raid and now, remainders of survivors from Tsana's reign is now known as the Target, strictly monitored under the Scars' control. There is just someone else that the Scars are either too scared of or didn't count her in as a threat."
"Someone that they haven't targeted yet?" Ralph guessed.
"Shelly the Dragon," Paulie asserted. "The Scars are hosting a hunt to the Dark Island three months later. They are inviting all Four Rulers to slay Shelly the Dragon."
"But isn't she just an animal, at the end?" Ralph interrogated. "She's not going to go around telling everyone the Scars' secret, anyway."
"She might not, but her descendants can," Jerron carried on. "Shelly's descendants comes out in the form of human. But they carry her blood and her power. There are only two known members of this family, and they're both dead. The first was killed in her bathtub a couple of years back. She was found the second morning with a large opening on the bottom of her neck. Her name is Sona Chenire."
The name had already struck a string in Ralph's mind. Before Jerron said it, he knew who was the other.
"The second's death was executed by me. Just three months ago. Your friend, Forrest Chenire."
"So now they want to kill Shelly to put an end to it once and for all," Ralph contemplated. "But you're not going help them, will you?"
"That is the answer my father wants from you," Paulie said. "You are one of the strongest members in the Four Rulers. The Pope of Flow Jungle is clearly not interested in this event. But Queen Kumira of Luana Chained Island said she would send her manpower. We want an answer from you."
Jerron fell into a long, thoughtful silence.
"Ralph," he said after the pause. "Light a fire for me, please."
Ralph and Paulie exchanged a glance, then Ralph walked up, holding up his hands, a ball of emerald flames blazed alight.
Without another word, Jerron held out the invitation above his flame, allowing it to burn into nothing but a pile of ashes.
"This is my answer," Jerron declared. "Tell Emperor Velinzhag. I will proclaim war against the Scars in three months."
YOU ARE READING
Alasla: The New Age
Fantasy"What killed him isn't me. It's the world." Ralph had never asked for much. Not even his own identity. But when his best and only friend got murdered by the man he calls father, he was forced to set off on an expedition to unravel the truth of this...
