Adtraic Verity: Journey For The Truth
Chapter 121

Despite being above the skies, Aletha could still hear the noises of the train’s wheels below. She tried to locate the tracks by looking around and noticed them curving down and dropping from the sky. She was so high up that she couldn’t feel her feet moving.

Suddenly, a quick flash of the door stole her attention away.

(SLAM)

Everyone among the passenger cars watched as a tall, masculine figure slipped into the room, announcing as the wind outside swiftly rushed inside the carriage.

“All who show resistance will be dematerialized by the likes of this weapon.”

The ambusher’s hands were equipped with a double-edged pistol. Purple lines strapped up and around it like a string, pointing back together at the center to harvest energy. It seemed to have the color-scheme of The Ending, but with a darker purple.

“Everyone, on your knees, now!”

After just two minutes of lift off, conflict had already ensued upon the passenger car. Aletha ducked down and shivered to the sound of struggling whimpers and cries of the passengers.

“Please, don’t kill me. My family is waiting for me.”

Although the enemy’s appearance looked sharp and hostile, his personality was as merciful as an angel. He pushed his dark hair to the side and ordered the blonde-haired woman outside the carriage.

Then, he escorted several passengers out the car into another until two were left. Unlike what he had done to the passengers, it didn’t correspond to Aletha’s direction.

Phthonus’ rage burst inside his heart as he reached for his book.

He knew just by the enemy’s appearance, that it matched exactly to the man that slayed his own daughter in front of her friend’s eyes.

“Duron.” Phthonus grumbled furiously.

As the man walked up to Aletha menacingly, Phthonus reached for his scarf and exclaimed.

“Don’t you dare touch her! I will not allow you to slay her the same as you had done on your own daughter.”

Duron’s cold amethyst-chipped eyes anchored over both Phthonus and Aletha, stepped forward, then replied calmly.

“Excuse me, who are you? I want no business about settlers. I am only here for the girl, and nothing more.”

To not sprawl up a scene, Phthonus complied to Duron’s orders, in hopes of not to exaggerate this situation for. The dark-haired man kicked his boots across the rug and approached the white-haired girl, trying not to establish an fearful aura like his other inmates.

“Excuse me, Ms.”

Hesitating, Aletha jabbed her hand at the man but quickly got blocked by Duron’s swift force. He added as the white-haired girl slowly crawled away.

“Fine, if you have dared to resist, then I will inform you before I execute my next plan. My name is Duron. I am one of the following leaders on the faction of The Promise. I was ordered to travel here all the way from Wraileza to find and cap– I mean, escort you.”

Immediately, Aletha cocked an eyebrow in confusion and rubbed dust off her arm, asking with suspicion dawning up in her.

“Why? Why do you need me to go to Wraileza?”

“Because my leader, The Queen of Wraileza, ordered me to. It is of my duty to follow her every order. Please, do not resist as she does not mean to harm you, but to help.” Duron said gently. “She wants you in the best condition. And if it is the last option, we will exult your captur– I mean, escort with force.”

Those words quickly drew back more suspicion from Aletha. She never wanted to go to that nation; well that is, not without her brother. She was drowned in the feeling of disbelief, knowing that a supreme ruler from such a distant and mysterious nation such as Wraileza, would ever want her. And so, precipitously, Aletha stepped forward and looked over to the verdant purple glow on Duron’s eyes, asking him more as Phthonus snuck behind him.

“I seriously don’t understand who you are, or what you are talking about. But if it is me that you want, then sure… I will go–

“ALETHA, NO!” Just before they could shake hands, Duron and Aletha paused, and turned over to Phthonus; who was on his legs, desperately crying in pain and anger. The crimson hue shining on his face engulfed his entire face, where even his eyes were burning. He quickly lunged to the other side of the passenger car and pushed Aletha away from Duron, screaming at the top of his lungs at Aletha.

“That’s not all of it! H… He isn’t telling y-you… that he killed D… Drimi.”

“That’s not all of it! H… He isn’t telling y-you… that he killed D… Drimi.”

Aletha gasped and shuddered in shock.

“Huh?!”

A tear struck Phthonus’ eye as he saw Duron’s face veil in the shadow of guilt.

“Not only that,” He pointed to the necklace draped on the dark-haired man’s neck and cried. “Her soul is in that necklace! He tried to abandon us, but I stopped him. For a little bit. That ruthless scumbag had no hesitation to kill his own daughter! T-That’s why…”

Quickly, after the information Aletha had just received, it broke a stupendous roar upon the shuddering air. Duron stepped forward and aimed his weapon at Phthonus, claiming as a magical orange luminance filled the room.

“I had no other alternative. I…” The stern and strong tone that resonated in his voice collapsed into one of guilt, doubt, and cold sorrow; distraught at the fact he killed his own daughter. “I… had no choice. N-No choice at all.”

A silence dawned up in the passenger car. A cold, and brutal silence.

Then, as Duron stood there in front of the two, waiting for an attack; Aletha’s eyes watered out of anger and fury, one so bright, not even the stars could comprehend it. She tightened her fist and gritted her teeth, recollecting all the memories of Drimi.

(No… t… that can’t be possible. A father killing his o-own daughter? Why? Why… is he so humble about it. He killed the only one that welcomed me. The only o-one…)

Memories started flooding her mind.

She slid her knee on the ground and grasped Aletha’s hand, impatiently waiting for her to get up.

“Come on, Aletha, we have to continue on! You’re not just going to give up on your brother that easily, right?”

. . .

“Buttons.”

Drimi squinted at Aletha and raised her eyebrow.

“Really? Do you want to be called that name? I mean, it’s kind of cute… but, I don’t know. Do you think it fits you?”

Aletha silently nodded with a determined smile. Her crystal dark gray eyes peer through Drimi.

“Yes.”

Drimi replied with a skeptical tone.

“Well, okay… Buttons. Whatever works for you. Now, let’s get moving. We need to find Asahi, pronto. Hell, I feel like I’m probably lost.”

. . .

(She was so welcoming to me…. She was so caring… she was so…)

* * * * * * *

“HOW COULD YOU?!” Aletha screamed at the cold-hearted man with all the frustration in her body. “How could you say that after you killed your own daughter?! D…Did you know how caring Drimi was? She was so strong, courageous, and… e-even friendly. She acted tough, had a heart of steel… a-and even motivated me. I-Isn’t that what you wanted your daughter to be in the first place?!”

“…”

Exchanged by the silence, Aletha spat on the ground and shoved Duron to the wall, screaming as Phthonus tried to stop her from rushing up and down the walls with fury.

“ANSWER! I know Drimi was a strong fighter, she was loving, caring, and independent. I bet she formed the entire group and tried to follow your footsteps. She even had her own SHIP! I can’t believe that all she got in return after seeing your face after how long, was getting killed by the hands of the one she looked up to the most?! HOW COULD YOU?!”

Now that Aletha was informed, she understood the rage that burned in Phthonus. Although it had not even been a year since her encounter, Aletha felt like Drimi was a big sister for her.

The one that built up her bravery to lead an entire nation to fight against their own leader and turn the tides, the woman that encouraged her to continue on and reclaim her world; It’s these rapid emotions that erupted an gruesome fight.

Little did she know that this battle would be long and brutal, the one to spark up a barbarous awakening in her, as what happened to her brother.

* * * * * * *

Everything in the passenger carriage was scattered all over the place.

Tables, chairs, wardrobes, even cushions were all on the hardwood floor as Aletha, Phthonus, and Duron fought for what’s right. Purple lasers flew around from the double-edged weapon, flying over the place and bruising the two.

Orange laser beams from Phthonus’ rapid launch attacks squirmed and struck Duron on his arm. Chaos awakened among every corner; yet despite that, not once had it disturbed all the other passenger cars of the train.

Everyone on the passenger-cars except the one Aletha was on, was safe; including her group who were completely oblivious about the happenings.

“Answer us!” Aletha screamed ferociously as the purple lasers mangled her sanity.

Duron shook his head and bolted to the left, pulling the trigger and unleashing a storm of dark purple orbs at her. Phthonus clenched his fists, overtook Duron’s direction and bent the laser bullets, striking and ejecting to the man.

Just because the fight was happening, never meant that Phthonus’ eyes were not at the necklace. If any, all the fight did was boost his vigor further, smattering his cowardice and using all his strength to avenge Drimi.

(PEW)

(FLUNG)

(BOOM)

“I know the rage stinging in your heart; I feel every smidge of it. If you would only give me a chance, I will inform–

“Why did you kill Drimi?!”

Duron hurriedly retreated over to the red-rimmed side of the carriage, dodged, and disintegrated the incoming projectiles from Phthonus’ magic. His direction of action was only to focus on Phthonus, not Aletha.

And so, as Aletha tried to batter a hit at Duron, he swiftly leaped up the air and propelled the white-haired girl away from the battle; toward a safe area covered in toppled tables. He replied to Phthonus as a storm of guilt surged in his body.

“I killed Drimi because of the corruption lingering inside her.”

Phthonus skidded over and attacked as he heard Duron’s claims.

“No, I didn’t even kill her, but capture her soul in this necklace. The power that lurks inside her is so great, that it has the power of a thousand suns.”

“What does that mean?! Oh, so you killed your own daughter for the sake of power?! That gives me another reason to kill you, you ruthless bastard.” Phthonus paused as he prepared to unleash a charge of dust at the dark-haired man. “Just reply to me before you get demolished by my power.”

Duron released a sigh of dismay and snapped the necklace off him toward his open palms, forming a familiar transparent purple barrier around his entire presence. He answered as his eyes caught sight of Aletha desperately crawling and evading his purple lasers.

“Not even your power is enough to eclipse that of The Promise’s. I will keep this brief.” Phthonus slowly lowered his arms and grabbed Aletha’s hand, dragging her away from Duron as a calmness was inserted in-between the fight.

“Aletha, stay out of this. He doesn’t want you harmed, but me.”

She bit her l*p and tightened her fists, catching sight of the bruises lingering all over Phthonus’ legs. Aletha simply refused to stay out of the fight. All her fury ever wanted was to have Duron dead. Compelled by serious thoughts, the three noticed the train descending and proceeding further through the route.

They entirely forgot that there were more passenger cars outside than this one.

But despite this thought, Duron continued with a nostalgic and guilty tear striking his eye.

“My daughter… never wanted The Perfect Darkness…”

* * * * * * *

(31 years ago…)

“F… Father, don’t get any closer… please. I… want you to live…”

To be continued…