The Hellish Incursion

Memories of the Dream Eater

            Ifrit and Lilac were made up to date to the problem they were facing the next morning after resting up for the night. The words Hellish and Incursion troubled Lilac the most. For her, those words sounded so ominous. She would dismiss it if she did not know better. Eshdar and Albert told them about it and what they knew.

            “(I didn’t know they are planning something that big),” said Ifrit to Eshdar. “(I didn’t get the impression. I thought they’re just out for royal blood).”

            “(Seriously? Isn’t burning down a village a bit too excessive? Anyway, the fact remains that Royal hellhounds like us somehow presents a problem for their plans. I don’t know why we are the problem considering we don’t have any power to raise an army to oppose them, but I always know these bastards are kooks).”

            “(And fodder, now that I think about it).”

            “(Whoa. Hope those words won’t bite you in the ass later).”

            Ifrit thought otherwise. Up until that point, the hellhounds who attacked or hunting him were not dangerous. He could easily slip away or kill most of them if it wasn’t for the fact that he was protecting those he cared for. For Ifrit, that challenge was the one he could respect, not the hellhounds underestimating him every step of the way. Of course, he did not say this out loud, in case his friends called him cold and uncaring.

            Stelikan, the town they decided to stay in for a while, was a big and industrious city, completely different from the quaint countryside towns and villages the crew were used to. The city wasn’t built for peace in mind, but for progress. Not only that, but the city also seemed to be split into two. One was the grimy and dirty industrial half that did not seem to be a great place to live except to work, while the other half was the more or less a normal area where people lived and where the services were at, especially the train station.

            Ifrit considered the industrial half to be similar to Drundas in many ways. It was seedy, grimy, and not a good place to live. He had never been to the center of the city, considering how notorious he was, so he could only imagine how bad it was living with all the violence and crime. Lilac, however, was more concerned that the dirty industry was the future. If that was the case, then the people of Ternor would inevitably destroy themselves without needing an incursion. The incursion, by that point, would just a means to an end.

            The duality of the city and the need to move gave them a breather, somewhat. Feeling that Stelikan was a good place to lay low or even relax, Albert took them to a less industrialized town nearby called Brenik, using the same train service they used before. Unlike Stelikan’s Central Terminal, Brenik’s station was simpler and could only accommodate two trains instead of six, and that, as Albert claimed, was only used in emergencies or unusually high passenger traffic. Albert told the group that the train itself wasn’t supposed to stop for passengers, but the growth of the made it necessary for passenger services.

            “You seem to know a lot about trains,” said Lilac.

            “My friend works for the Ustolfe Bahn, or Dusdolfian Railroad,” said Albert. “I know the basics, but not how they decide the schedules. So, don’t come to me when there are delays.”

            Brenik, unlike Stelikan, was a smaller town compared to Stelikan, but was still bigger than most Tragorian towns. The place was sufficiently contemporary in the sense that most, if not all, of the roads were paved by what Albert called bitumen. Eshdar heard about the project of paving the roads and increase transportation quality, given the problems with the horses causing the drop in sanitation issues in bigger cities.

            Unlike Stelikan, with its brick jungle and iron supports, Brenik was less of an industrialized city and more of a quaint brick town, perfect for someone from a countryside trying to adapt to town life. Lilac felt that Stelikan was more a place for work than for living, and she preferred Brenik if she really wanted to unwind. So, they decided that Brenik would be a good place to stay for a bit while they discuss what to do next. They hadn’t decided whether they meet with Anarim directly in Summinat or send him a wire to tell him about them, even though Eshdar assured that his grandfather would trust him and his traveling companions. So, they all agreed that it would be best to tell Anarim using a wire instead of directly going there, knowing that they had no reliable transportation at the moment and the train service could not reach the town.

            Albert, after sending the wire, then decided that he would call in his favor for a ride, and told the rest that they would stay in Brenik for a little while. No one seemed to object this decision, so they decided to stay in the town’s hotel.

            As Albert and Eshdar continued their conversation from the night before, Ifrit and Lilac decided to spend their evening together again, this time in a little town that’s less covered in smog. The town had enough Lycan population in their werewolf form so that the two would not stand out. Still, they decided to take a walk at the park.

            Lilac was still adapting to her newfound identity as a pseudo-hellhound Lycan. Three days were the longest she had ever been in her werewolf form and the feeling was weird for her. With the loss of her ability to transform, she felt as if she lost a part of her. She thought that living more than one life was overwhelming. Now, she wasn’t even sure if running from that struggle was right. She didn’t object on finally having a decision, but then she felt unnatural, which was strange after almost 20 years of living as a Lycan.

            She voiced this concern to Ifrit, who could only tell her he was sorry about what happened to her. While Lilac did not blame Ifrit for what he did not know, she wondered if Ifrit preferred her as a therianthrope or simply one single being. So, she asked him about it.

            “Ifrit,” said Lilac. “Do you prefer me as a Lycan or a hellhound?”

            “I only saw your werewolf body once, and it’s stunning,” said Ifrit. “I ask you a question. Why did you not show me that? I know you can without full moon.”

            “I should’ve done it a long time ago, but I can’t,” she said with a sigh. “I thought you wouldn’t recognize me as a werewolf, and I was afraid people might see me different.”

            “No one talk about that to me. Not in front of my face, anyway.”

            “Maybe it’s because you are too menacing for them? There are no Lycans wearing piercings or eyes as sharp as you.”

            “Maybe so. But I have a feeling that Albert is protecting us.”

            “From them? He knows more of Tragoria than I do, so it is possible.” Upon saying that, she chuckled. “Ironic, isn’t it? I was born and raised Tragorian, but I have absolutely no knowledge beyond the borders of my own village. And then I met you…and now I’m deep in Adaline and, used a train, and turned into a not-hellhound Lycan. And it all happened under a month.”

            “Do you blame me for all that?”

            “No. Never. Rather, I’m grateful. I can see why Hans risks his life traveling the unknown sea. I think somewhere down the line, we both know we can’t die without knowing what the world beyond Sidve is like. Well, I did not expect myself to end up questioning my own Lycan blood, but here we are, I suppose.”

            “Any regrets?”

            “Won’t be realistic if I don’t regret it a little, right? At least I know part of it does not include you.”

            Ifrit smiled as they both touched their snouts together. Just as they decided to embrace each other, Ifrit felt a tingling sensation that prompted him to look around. Lilac, caught by surprise, could only pull away.

            “What’s wrong?” asked Lilac.

            “No. A familiar feeling. I don’t know what,” said Ifrit, confused. “(Whatever it was, it sends me the shivers).”

            “What’s that?”

            “Ah, sorry. It…shocks me.”

            Ifrit looked around again, thinking that they were going to be ambushed. After a tense minute or so, there wasn’t anyone who looked suspicious, so he sighed. However, he also realized that sitting around on a park bench was too conspicuous, so he decided that they should just go back to the hotel instead, one that Lilac agreed with.

            Unbeknownst to them, someone was watching them, but they wouldn’t be able to notice it because it wasn’t standing upright. It was watching them from behind a tall grass near the bench they sat on, and was following them until they reached the hotel. It decided not to go in and simply wait until nightfall.

            What it planned next would be something even Ifrit would not expect.

***

            Ifrit felt he was just being paranoid when he felt the tingling sensation. Maybe he was just thinking that it wasn’t such a good idea talking on a park bench with potential danger lurking around the corner. However, he soon decided that being safe was worth it, and the hotel room was a good place to be private. He did not go out of the hotel even after dinner, deciding to just cuddle with Lilac until they both went to sleep.

            While sleeping, Ifrit started dreaming. However, it wasn’t the nightmares as he thought since Lilac helped him cope with that. Rather, it felt more like a memory or an experience of someone or something. It was as if he was possessing that person and began seeing things on their perspective, in first person.

            It looked like the interior of a gloomy castle. From the look of it, he was in a library or a sitting room with several bookshelves. Ifrit noticed that the words were in Hordo, meaning that this was the Underworld. Ifrit also noticed that his field of vision was close to the floor, as if he were lying on it like a dog.

            “(We can’t keep him in here),” said the female hellhound. “(We must get him out of here while we can).”

            “(But the news from the Winsel family troubles me),” said the male hellhound who was presumably her husband. “(If they are correct about this uprising, then we have no choice but to get him out of the crossfire).”

            “(He’s just a cub, Hynorsi! You can’t throw him out there! Even if he learn how to survive, if he found out…).”

            “(I won’t throw him out. Ilteas and her husband will be his guardian until it is the time for him to learn the truth. I trust her judgement and I’ll trust her in these critical moments. We’ll do it in secret, so no one will see us).”

            “(But why? Isn’t Nergora enough for you?)”

            “(Nergora is old enough to know his responsibilities. Ifrit is still a newborn cub. If I had a choice, I’d let him stay and grow older, but the uprising won’t give him that chance. We must let them survive and hope they will survive long enough to know what happens and maybe, make things right).”

            “(And what will happen to us?).” Her question was responded by a rather stern and grim face of Hynorsi, one that she knew what. Her face, similarly grim and acceptant, looked down to her hands, which were holding something wrapped in white.

            Then her expression turned determined, and she turned towards where Ifrit was looking. “(Sammael),” she said as she walked towards him. Ifrit had no control over his body, but he felt himself moving towards her.

            “(Yes, mistress?)” said a voice that’s obviously not Ifrit.

            “(Take Ifrit to Ilteas and tell her this: Protect him at all costs. Tell her queen Leahn commands it so).”

            “(I will do what you say, mistress),” said Sammael.

            “(And one more thing. You must follow Ilteas and check on Ifrit from time to time. Will you do this?)”

            “(I…will. But what will happen to you?)”

            “(Just…do what you’re told to do. Remember the contract, Sammael. Even if we die, the Schelkz blood with continue. Our journey might end here, but yours are not. I know you’re capable of it).”

            The memory soon faded as Ifrit’s vision turned around. Then, he heard a voice calling him.

            “(That is enough memory for now),” said the voice. “(If you want to know more, meet me outside the building. Trust me. I am your ally).”

            And then Ifrit woke up. That vivid experience from his dream felt more like a memory of someone. No, Ifrit knew what it was.

            “(It was a message. From someone),” he thought. “(But is it a trap?)”

            Ifrit knew that the only way to find out was to get out and see who was calling him. So, he put on his pants, shirts, and vest and got to the hotel’s lobby and out to the streets of the town of Brenik.

            The town was very well-lit at night, thanks to the innovative electric-powered lamps that kept the darkness at bay. It also made walking through the town’s downtown area less dangerous and quite pleasant, although it was a little too pleasant for a hellhound like Ifrit. Even then, he did not wish to be in a dangerous situation. He wanted to stay out of danger and problems that were not his own.

            Except by this point he knew that problem would never leave him for as long as he was alive, and just as he had started to realize that, he had a visitor from his past, one that he barely knew, but also someone close to him.

            “(You’ve grown up. I can’t even recognize you if not for those tail piercings),” said the voice.

            Ifrit turned, but all he saw was a hairless, black dog sitting under a light. This dog was not like the mangy dog he saw back in the industrialized town of Stelikan where the street was dirty and the air was thick with poison. Brenik was a pleasant town that was not industrialized, and the innovative lighting made it more pleasant to walk at night than it was in the crowded lunch time. So, a hairless dog almost the size of a hellhound wearing a skull over its head felt so out of place, especially when Ifrit knew what that dog was.

            “(Did you just…talk?)” said Ifrit. “(I’ve seen many Blood Beasts and believe me when I said they can’t talk except growl and bark).”

            “(Oh, but I’m not just any Blood Beasts),” said the Beast, which startled Ifrit. “(In fact, I look similar, but I’m not. I’m a Barghest).”

            “(And that memory. That was you?)”

            “(A little trick to make explanations easier, considering how you’ll react upon seeing me).”

            “(Hey, don’t blame me. I kill Blood Beasts for dinner).”

            “(I am not a Blood Beast),” repeated the Barghest. “(A Barghest is not even from the Outer Rings. I’m a demon. A proper one. That makes me of higher authority that you are, Ifrit Schelkz).”

            “(Then how the hell is a demon calling someone a master?)”

            “(That’s a long story, so let’s not waste any more time and let me tell you who I am before the surface people sees me and start screaming. Let’s find somewhere else to talk).”

            Ifrit never thought he would be talking to a dog from the Underworld, especially one who could give him the memories from the past. But his mind was more pre-occupied with the memory the Barghest gave him. The couple in that memory called his name a couple of times, yet they were referring to a different person. It did not take long for him to connect the dots after he sat on a park bench and think about it.

            “(So, that couple in my dream…was my parents. My real parents),” said Ifrit.

            “(Hynorsi and Leahn Schelkz),” said the Barghest with a nod. “(The deposed king and queen of the kingdom of Drundas).”

            “(And you’re Sammael).”

            Sammael chuckled. “(You learn quick. You really are his son).”

            “(Let’s exchange pleasantries later. What is your purpose?)”

            “(To reunite with you, because you are still my master and I am still bound to the Schelkz family as their guardian, which is something that I’ve failed miserably. I was supposed to be part of your childhood alongside Griske and Ilteas Hyles, but I waited in the shadows, protecting you without you ever know who I was, until it was too late).”

            “(If you’re supposed to protect me, then why didn’t you when they attacked my foster parents?)”

            “(My job is to protect you, not them. They are your guardians as much as I am to you. In fact, they know I am around, but they chose not to tell you of my identity).”

            “(Why?)”

            “(Will you believe that a talking Blood Beast is your protector? I bet you don’t).”

            “(I was a child, Sammael. I know I have vivid imagination).”

            “(Nevertheless, things happened, and you ran as your enemies were pursuing you. That’s when I realized that they were not just hellhounds. There were…creatures from hell. No, not Barghests, but different lesser demons. I made short work of them, of course, but then I lost you).”

            “(I stumbled upon a portal and ended up on the surface).”

            “(That’s what I thought, too. But, I took a different portal and ended up here. I lived by scraping through the trashcan like a wild dog, but I’m smarter than one. By sheer chance, I saw you traveling with another hellhound prince and I decided that it’s a good time to contact you).”

            “(That communicating via dream thing was…kinda awesome. But spooky).”

            “(But it’s easier to do so instead of overwhelming you with things you may or may not know).”

            They looked at each other for a while before Ifrit said, “(So, what’s next?)”

            “(May I travel with you? I blamed myself for my incompetence, so the least I can do is make up for it by being your guardian again. I was summoned to be the family guardian and a loyal pet. Also, it’s good if you have someone you know from your life, right? I can tell you about master Hynorsi and mistress Leahn if you like).”

            “(Well…).”

            “(So, what about it, master Ifrit?)”

            “(Let’s start with names, alright? Just call me Ifrit. I can tell you don’t like calling me master and I’m pretty sure that summoning was rather forced on your part).”

            “(What gave you that impression?)”

            “(You are a demon summoned by my parents, so yeah, none of that sounds mutual. Also, I prefer we’re talking on equal terms, not as a master and pet, but as equals. You got that?)”

            “(Whatever you want. I don’t really think of it that much).”

            “(Glad we can straighten that out. I might need to explain things to the rest of the crew, seeing that you’re clearly not a surface dog and you talk. One of them might end up shooting you first. Also, we travel in trains. Given your appearance, there is bound to be people questioning what you are).”

            “(I can sleep practically anywhere there’s a surface),” said Sammael. “(Within considerable comfort, of course).”

            “(That’s easy enough. Oh, and Sam?)”

            “(Yeah?)”

            “(Thanks, for all those years guarding me. If it wasn’t for you…).”

            “(No need to thank me, mas…Ifrit. It’s what I do).”

            Ifrit smiled, acknowledging the fact that he was never alone down there in the Underworld and up on the surface. He was glad that part of his life was not that far from him. That hellhound who supported his family from Snohand might be a little too overzealous about his intentions, but he was right about one thing.

            That Ifrit still had allies up on the surface.

            So, Ifrit decided that the hairless dog-like demon would prefer sleeping in a place warmer than the cold brick sidewalk of the town. He had no other place in mind, so his hotel room was the best place to be. He walked in slowly, trying not to wake Lilac up while Sammael simply sit on the floor and slept. Ifrit hoped Lilac would not overreact upon seeing a weird looking ‘dog’ on the floor the next day.

            He never thought how wrong he was.

            So, the next morning….

            “Oh my god! What the bloody hell is that thing?!”

            Lilac woke up with a weird-looking black hairless dog sleeping on the floor. She was surprised as to why a scrawny hairless ‘dog’ the size of a human was sleeping on the floor wearing a skull and looking very otherworldly and straight out of a horror illustration. She screamed Ifrit’s name in terror, which woke the hellhound out before he saw Sammael, yawning and showing how long his tongue was.

            “Lilac, I can explain,” he said as he shot up from his sleeping position. His head quickly tried to find a way to explain what Sammael was before he said, “He’s a harmless dog.”

            “Ifrit, I am a Lycan! I know what a dog and a wolf is! That…thing is not any of those bloody animals!”

            “He’s a friend. His name is Sammael,” said Ifrit. “And you are right. He’s not a dog, but I don’t know the Tragorian for (Barghest).”

            “You never mentioned a friend that look like it comes from the depths of hell!”

            “Lady, you’re freaking out,” said Sammael. “Whatever is from the depths of hell is far more hideous than my handsome mug. I can say I’m not bad myself.”

            Sammael did try to defuse the situation, but it only caused Lilac’s surprised state to become even more surprised and agitated.

            “It talked!” she exclaimed. “It bloody talked, and it called itself a handsome mug!”

            “Lilac, Lilac, stop,” said Ifrit, trying to calm Lilac down. “He won’t harm you. I met him last night on the streets. He contacted me.”

            “But…”

            “Just imagine him as a good dog with, uh…no fur, long tongue, and skull mask. You’ll get used to it.”

            Lilac was not entirely convinced, but Ifrit did calm her down somewhat. But, upon seeing Sammael grinning and showing her his sharp row of teeth, she quickly walked and slammed the door to the bathroom, leaving Ifrit and Sammael alone.

            “(Thanks),” said Ifrit, sarcastically. “(For making it worse).”

            “(What? I was just…).”

            “(Lilac’s been through a lot, but she hasn’t seen the worst of it. You happen to be something beyond her comfort zone).”

            “(I get the impression),” said Sammael. “(But there is something wrong with her. She smells like a wolf but mixed with hellhound along with something sinister. It’s like a hybrid that doesn’t work. How the hell did she end up like that, anyway? Magical mishap? Demonic curse)?”

            Ifrit turned away and silently tried not to embarrass himself. But he did not account for the Barghest’s quick realization.

            “(Ah, I see. Someone’s been a little careless).”

            “(It was an accident, okay? I don’t know hellhounds can turn a Lycan into a pseudo-hellhound under a full moon).”

            “(At least you got laid instead of being worried that the hellhound you planned to hit on turned out to be secretly conspiring to kill you. Well, you’re wise not to go with her).”

            “(What? You spied on me?!)”

            “(Hey, it’s my job),” said Sammael.

            “(Also, when did you learn Tragorian?)”

            “I listened to people talk,” said Sammael. “(It’s not that hard).”

            “(Yeah, I get that),” said Ifrit. “(But let me get things straight first. Lilac and Albert are surface dwellers, so they’ll be uncomfortable around you. They already know hellhounds are not demons, but you are, so be nice).”

            “(Your girl overreacted).”

            “(Then explain to them that you are harmless. As for Eshdar, he might be easily convinced unless you agitate him first).”

            “(I don’t mind at all),” said Eshdar, who was already standing near the door. “(I know what a Barghest is. Grandad had a complete bestiary about Underworld creatures and demons up to the third layer. Anyway, it’s nice meeting you).”

            Eshdar casually left them, leaving Sammael and Ifrit alone. Ifrit soon called for Lilac, who slowly, but reluctantly, got out of the bathroom. She looked at Sammael and felt disturbed by his appearance. Sammael looked like a hairless greyhound at first glance, but his size was more like a wolfhound and, therefore, human. She also noticed the glowing blue eyes underneath his skull mask and the fact that there seem to be six glowing eyes. It was the most unnatural thing she ever saw and that scared her, and ironically she was a pseudo-hellhound Lycan. She looked at Sammael like a suspicious and alert wolf until Ifrit was called by Albert to help him prepare for travel where she and the Barghest was left alone together in the lobby, being stared at by humans and Lycans alike.

            “Hey,” said Sammael, breaking the silence. “You okay?”

            “Do I look like I’m okay? I am left with a demon dog who bloody talks!”

            “I don’t mean to scare you. Ifrit told you that I’m harmless, right?”

            “Not…helping.”

            “Alright,” said Sammael with a sigh. “You’re scared. I know. But I won’t harm you unless Ifrit tells me to, which is highly improbable.”

            “So, you’re his guard dog?”

            “Guard dog, pet, servant. All those things. You notice the bracelets on my legs? Those binding seals my previous master gave me, which made me subservient to anyone within the Schelkz bloodline. Basically, I am to serve anyone who is directly or indirectly related to Hynorsi Schelkz and to follow their biding.”

            “So, you’re a slave?”

            “Not unless the person chose to. Ifrit chose to be a friend, and I can respect that. Demons are not always the manipulative kind, especially lesser demons like me. We don’t chose who we serve for. That help stop your fear a bit?”

            “I…think,” said Lilac reluctantly.

            “You’ll get used to it. You’re a unique one, you know. You stay around even after knowing that Ifrit’s a hellhound, not to mention you fu--”

            “Hush!” interrupted Lilac before Sammael could finish the last word.

            Sammael stopped and considered his next words before he said, “Your…bonding with Ifrit. Not sure how you are changed, but I hope this doesn’t change anything between you two.”

            “I know, but I don’t regret it,” said Lilac. “As for Ifrit, I…well, he does not seem to live up with his name. He’s quite violent when fighting against his enemies, but with his friends he seemed so…kind, but confused. He is like a lost hound trying to understand the surface world. I owed him much ever since we met.”

            “Huh,” said Sammael. “Interesting.”

            “Did I say something wrong?”

            “No, no. Most people will steer clear of hellhounds once they found out who they are. I witnessed such things happening during my own journey. It doesn’t help the fact that most hellhounds are foul-mouthed and brash. I saw many good ones, too, but they don’t try and reach out to surface dwellers. I mean, I know a lot of them did, too, but you’re the first I’ve met who really bonded with him.”

            “Thanks for the compliment, Sammael,” said Lilac, who slowly became more comfortable around Sammael. “I guess…I guess you’re not that bad.”

            “Call me Sam, lady. Sammael’s a mouthful.”

            “Please, call me Lilac. I’m far from being the proper lady you suggest.”

            Even though Lilac was still a bit conflicted of the greyhound-like dog demon, she became less guarded around Sammael and started talking more about Ifrit ever since she met her. Talking with a ‘dog’ in public made it look like she was going crazy, but surprisingly, no one seemed to care. That, or the fact that the hotel seemed rather crowded that morning with people having breakfast.

            It didn’t take long for Lilac to feel less threatened by Sammael, especially since the Barghest was true to his words and was docile most of the times. When Ifrit returned, he noticed how things had improved between the two, especially as he noticed how Lilac was more or less comfortable around the cheery and wisecracking Barghest. The hellhound was glad that things did not get awkward between the two.

            However, after Lilac was called by Albert, Ifrit realized that he wanted to ask Sammael something about his past, specifically about what happened during the Uprising. He was taken to safety when he was too young to remember anything and the first true memory he ever had was when he was already 7 and scored his first hunting kill. Sammael’s memory intrigued him because there was a mention of one name: Nergora. That name was unfamiliar to him, but the context of it being mentioned made Ifrit interested, mostly because his parents seemed to regard him as someone close.

            So, Ifrit decided that maybe Sammael know more than he showed. He approached the Barghest and said, “(Hey. You up for a walk?)”

            “(A walk?)”

            “(We can’t really work without a carriage, so Albert told me we might as well relax until he got a replacement. He’s working on that now. And besides, us talking Hordo might start to make people curious).”

            Sammael agreed, and soon they started walked at the nearby park. The summer morning was nice for people relaxing, presumably for the week’s end. People were sitting around, children were playing, and a band played a playful and energetic brass composition that sounded rather enjoyable. Surprisingly, none seem to notice that a big human-sized and hairless dog and a hellhound was walking side by side.

            “(Tell me, Sammael),” said Ifrit as they stopped near the park’s lake. “(Do Barghests have abilities to share memories in a dream?)”

            “(It’s more of a side effect of us eating your memories, but in my case, the answer is yes. I shared my memories to incite some sort of response, knowing that whoever is given that memory will fill in the blanks instead of forming some sort of an entertaining dream).”

            “(Back up a bit. You eat memories?)”

            “(Barghests are memory-eating demons, but my time up here made me realize that it’s not the only thing keeping us alive. We eat particularly strong memories that manifested from our victims. The dreams are side effects for those fading memories. In your case, I shared my own memories with you in the form of dreams, thereby ‘feeding’ you what I have).”

            “(Okay. It’s freaky, but I get it. You said that was your memories. Tell me. Who is Nergora? Why did Leahn…I mean my mother, seemed to regard him as someone close and that what they were doing to me was just as they did to him?)”

            “(Kinda easy to guess, isn’t it? Nergora’s your brother).”

            This revelation surprised Ifrit so much his only reaction was a wide-eyed silence upon hearing the word ‘brother’. He soon remembered of what the hellhound in Snohand said about someone who was trying to find him even though he knew he never had any allies before. This hellhound could be his brother. Even so, it did not make any sense. The ally they were talking about had white fur, and as far as Ifrit remembered, he never met any white-furred hellhound before. From the memory, he also knew his parents had the same fur color as him.

            “(Is Nergora’s fur…white?)” asked Ifrit, curious of what he looked like. “(Is he, uh…an albino?)”

            “(He has white fur. The truth is, Nergora’s your brother from another mother),” said Sammael. “(He’s your half-brother).”

            “(Have you met him? Did he…resent me? Maybe he was asking around because he wants to kill me).”

            “(And what will that accomplish? Your family’s practically gone. Blaming you would be childish, especially for someone like him. Whatever his reason is, I know it won’t involve you two going for each other’s necks. He might’ve just asking around wondering if you have gone to the surface and might want to reunite with you. Don’t just assume he’s going to be motivated to kill you to get more power or something).”

            “(Do I hold that kind of power?)”

            “(If surviving on your own is considered a power, then maybe. Nergora’s a good cub. Sure, his white fur is a head turner, and he got his fair share of jealousy, but he is not the vengeful kind. He knew who he was. And he wasn’t alone, either. The family’s butler, Sovarn, accompanied him in his own journey).”

            Ifrit wasn’t sure if he could simply acknowledge it or try to find out more about his brother, which he doubt would be easy. He did not know he had a living member of his family before, but now he did. He always assumed that he was the only survivor from Drundas. Still, his feelings had not changed much. He had a brother, but in the end he had no idea what or why caused the uprising that killed his parents.

            Nergora might’ve known more about all this mess. He could try and find his brother, but he had no knowledge of the surface world anymore than Albert and Eshdar had, so he only hoped that maybe Nergora happened to be visiting Brenik while Ifrit was waiting for Albert’s new transportation.

            But he would soon find that his brother was not the only one from his past.