27 Abandoned??

There was no warning before the tattoos surfaced on Alistein's skin covering his entire body as a fearful greenish aura enveloped him whole.

'He, too-?' Inadvertently, Blaze scrambled back to escape Alistein's might, but she could only go so far as her back pressed against the wooden wall with nowhere else to go. So far, she had only seen that happen to Jarak and then Winter, her heart beating loudly as she came to know danger. How could humans achieve such feats? From her knowledge, their capabilities were on par with the power of the dragons she'd faced so far, if not better. How was that even possible?!

Alistein gave a bitter smile, realizing what he just did when he noticed Blaze's startled reaction, looking at him like he was some kind of monster. He sat back and reduced himself to his normal, human state, letting out a heavy breath of discontent.

"Don't worry, Blaze, I was just playing with you," he tried to convince her with a light chuckle. He rolled back his shoulders to loosen his tense muscles that became so from his sudden burst of anger. "The leader didn't heal you to be one of us. He healed you because two members want you alive. It was I...and you already know who the other is. But in exchange for your life, I want you to help me deliver a message. Your life is yours after that. Fair enough, right?"

Alistein flashed her a close-lipped smile to keep the atmosphere up and going, but Blaze remained wary of him. And when she didn't answer, he turned back and went on with his request.

"Tell father to meet me at the peak of Ember-Crowned Mountains tomorrow morning… That's all," he simply said.

But even as Alistein seemed harmless now, Blaze could not forget his malicious outrage just moments earlier. "A- Alistein… What are you planning to do to the Emperor?" she asked, her voice trembling in fear. Fear, not because of his power, but fear because she simply couldn't bring herself to fight someone who experienced the cruelty of the faction's darkest sides that even she never knew existed before. But Winter and Blake must've known something! After all, they were in the council alongside Alistein.

But regardless if what Alistein said was true or false, what's important now was what he was planning on doing next.

"Hey…don't you know it's rude to stick your nose into someone else's business? Well, knowing you, it can't be helped," he grunted. But he did not hesitate to reveal his true self, clenching one hand into a tight fist. "I'll kill him with my own hands…destroy the council after."

"You-! What the hell are you talking about?" Blaze hissed frantically. She couldn't believe what she just heard. She knew Alistein and the Emperor never had a good relationship, and over time, it only worsened. But the Alistein she knew was also a respectable dragon-slayer who worked hard to make his own name, so that he could be recognized by the people as something more than just the 'Emperor's son'. That was why Blaze looked up to him…and exactly why she couldn't understand him anymore.

Alistein raised an eyebrow, not the slightest bit bothered by the fact that he exposed his plans. "Both parties protected you, my lord's little girl. That's why you know nothing of the tension between the Ember Tribe and the Council. Do you think the emperor would let his only son become your father's dog if not necessary?"

…what?

She heard Alistein volunteered to become Batarak's personal guard to become his disciple; Batarak was the Ember Tribe's Chieftain, the Patriarch of the prestigious Estereon Family, and also her father. Learning from the strongest man and the leader of the strongest tribe in Lunargard…who wouldn't want to? It was an opportunity many fought for and failed to achieve. Blaze figured, if she were Alistein, she would've done the same thing; she would seize every chance there was to get stronger.

But…becoming a disciple of one lower than your own reputation would allow, it was indeed humiliating for those who thought highly of themselves. And Alistein, the son of the Faction Emperor, should be no exception. Those who valued their image above all in society, really forced much unnecessary pressure and effort from those around them. Such bullsh*t, if Blaze would say.

But in all honesty, Blaze believed Alistein wasn't like that. She thought he was someone who could care less about what others say about him, someone mature enough to make his own pivotal decisions in life. He was busy working hard to create a name for himself, after all. Perhaps his father's guidance towards Winter and Blake was the reason Alistein was overshadowed…but what was Alistein's true intention back then?

Alistein was always the third fiddle. But that could've changed after Batarak took Alistein as his disciple… If only 'that' tragic expedition didn't happen. With Batarak's guidance, Alistein could've flipped the tables over in his favor and possibly become better than Winter and Blake in many aspects.

"I'm unable to follow. What tension are you even talking about?" Blaze exasperated. But her question only caused the spark of rage in Alistein's calm outlook to light once more. His skin turned red, veins bulging at his neck and temples as his fists clenched tighter, knuckles turning ghastly white.

"Blaze, do you truly believe I learned from your father?" He sneered bitterly. "Every time I entered the Ember Tribe, was I ever treated as a disciple? All I did was aid your father in his duties as if I were his errand boy! The Ember Tribe, the Faction Emperor, and the Lunargard Council made that all happen! Aside from you, there is no one innocent! It is only right for me to make them pay for what they've done to me!" he snarled. "Ember Tribe fell without experiencing my rage, I cannot let the other factions cause Lunargard's downfall. I cannot let them know what happened to the Ember Tribe…not before I get my revenge!"

Alistein's words only left more questions in Blaze's messy brain, contemplating whether the things she knew and experienced were true or all fake. If her father wouldn't teach Alistein anything, then why did he accept him as a disciple in the first place?! That was absurd! She never knew any of this…but she came to know a few things.

One, everyone hid everything from her for some reason she couldn't understand…the Emperor, her tribe and family, the council, and even Winter. And two, Alistein did something he shouldn't have in exchange for something she still didn't know or comprehend.

When Blaze looked up again, Alistein was back to normal. No anger, no hatred…he was calm again. "There's a horse outside and a package for your journey," he said, taking Blaze by surprise. He stood up from the beside and let out a breath. "If you want to further press on it, then ask the council when you get back. But I doubt they would tell you anything."

And before Blaze could tell him to wait, he vanished into thin air, leaving Blaze alone inside the small wooden hut. "What the-? You've got to be kidding me…"

She grumbled, fuming as she pushed herself off the bed and hurried outside, finding herself in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a horse.