Atlas Reign

Chapter 10 The Visit

I open my eyes for the first time after the incident and look around the room. The whole room is white, and I saw that my right foot has been cast. It seems that I am in a hospital but how about the children? Did they survive?

The thoughts about the children being saved or not worries me. A man enters my room, and he dresses in a white coat. It seems that this man is a doctor here. He might know where the children are.

“Excuse me, Doctor was there any survivor other than myself?” I ask the doctor.

The doctor looks surprised when he saw me speak to him. He then checks my heartbeat and my eyes before answering my question.

“I'm sorry but, you're the only survivor that the firefighter manage to save.” He told me with a sad look on his face.

When I heard what the doctor said a sudden chill runs through my spine. I survive but the children did not? What kind of joke is this? How can fate be such cruel towards children?

I ask myself this question in my head. The doctor sees my expression and tries to reassure me.

“You should be grateful that you survive. Nobody expected someone can still be alive when the building crumbles.” He reassured me.

It is not that I am not being grateful but why did the children have to die and I live. I thought we can survive together.

A man suddenly opens the door to my room and that man is my brother, Invo Carlsen. He enters the room and walks towards the doctor.

“Doc, how is he?” He asks the doctor.

“He is in good condition, but I prefer that he stay another day or two so that we can monitor him.” The Doctor replied.

“Alright, you've my consent.” He told the doctor.

“Thank you, I will take my leave so that the two of you can talk.” He told us.

With that, the doctor walks and exits the room leaving me and my brother. There is an air of seriousness around the room. I prepare myself for what comes next.

“How are you feeling?” He asks me.

I advert my eyes from his.

“Hey! Don't avert your eyes. Look at me when I'm asking you!” He shouts.

The atmosphere around the room began to boil up. I took a few deep breaths before looking at him.

“I-I'm fine.” I told him with a low voice.

He seems angry when I look at him, but I know he is just worried about my well-being.

“Look, I'm sorry that I yelled at you earlier.” He apologized.

“But, what you did is irresponsible and reckless. You should've called us.” He told me.

“If I call, the children will already be dead when you get there. I have to take that risk.”

“So you think you should be a hero and try to save them. Then, there be more dead bodies.”

“You should've thought about the risk before you barge in that building.” he continued.

“And let the kids get killed by the monster!” I shout at him.

“Don't you shout at me! Know your place.” Invo demanded.

I get frustrated when he said that.

“You should've done your job better then.”

“You know a Type 3 monster has already infiltrated this city.” I told him.

He clenches his fist but lets it loose when he heard Type 3.

“What did you say?” He asks me frantically.

“Do your job better.”

“No, not that. You say about Type 3.”

“Yeah, Type 3 infiltrates the city.” I told him with confusion on my face.

“They didn't found any Type 3 remains in there.” He told me.

“Huh?” I gasp.

He leans closer to me and I feel uncomfortable.

“Tell me everything that happens in there.”

I began telling him everything that happens inside the building up onto I lose consciousness. I told him about how the children get to know there is a monster in there, what leads them to get inside, how the children use their friends to escape, where I found the body, how I trick the monster, where I found the children, how the monster attack and finally what leads to the building collapsed. He takes note of this using voice recording on his phone and sends it to Adonis.

“I will investigate about the monster and how it gets here.” He told me.

“Can I come, I want to take my revenge on that monster.” I requested.

“No, you can't, you're injured and also suspended 2 weeks from school.” He told me.

“Suspended?” I told him with a shocked expression.

“Yes, and I want you to stay at home so that you get better.”

“If you need anything, just called me.” he continues.

He then says his goodbye and walks towards the entrance. He stops in front of the entrance before facing me.

“During these 2 weeks, I need you to become stronger. If you manage to do that, I might let you follow us.” He told me.

My brother turned away and exited the room. 2 weeks to become stronger. I think I can do it. Wait, that is not right it is not 'I think' but it is actually 'I must'.

I will become stronger during these 2 weeks and get my revenge on that monster.

The cemetery is the house for dead people. We buried love ones, criminals, and even animals. Right now, I am on my way to visit a close friend of mine. I walk towards their graves. The tombstone in front of me is a statue of a goddess. She, who runs along the battlefield, saving people. It is the perfect depiction of her personality. The tombstone belongs to Sarah Vellion, besides her are her children, Alex and Carmin. They are the victims of the monster's attack 8 years ago.

I place the banquet of flowers on her tombstone and pick one flower from the banquet. After that, I step backward.

“It's been a while, Princess. How are you and your children up there? I hope you are feeling well. If you want to ask how I feel, I might blush you know... Haha.

“ Your daughter, Eltia. She is doing alright with school, and she is growing into a fine woman. Her breast is getting big-.”

As soon as I said that a thunder strikes a tree behind me. She is still hot-blooded as ever.

“Alright, alright I get it, I was just joking... Hahaha. By the way, do you think it's wise for me to let her learn that spell? She is improving, but it's taken sometime now. I hope it doesn't stress her too much.” I sighed.

I look at her tombstone and saw the written word on it.

A loving mother.

A loving wife.

A great Queen.

“I think this is goodbye for now.” I placed my hand on top of her tombstone.

“Farewell, Princess.” I remove my hand from her tombstone.

I look at the person hiding behind a statue of a knight kneeling.

“You can come out now, Adonis.” I shout at him.

He appears behind the statue and walks towards me.

“I never thought I meet you here, Professor.” He said with a straight face.

He then walks towards Sarah's Tombstone and places a banquet of flowers near mine. After that, he takes a few steps backward and says a few words before walking towards me.

“May, I lead the way?” I ask him.

“Sure.” he said.

We walk along the pathway side by side. He then talks about what happened during the duel after I left. Adonis state that there are quite remarkable students at the Academy right now. He also said that this is the first time he met someone of his caliber. I think I know who he is referring to. After some time, we then proceed to talk about the real important stuff.

“I heard Ivan got suspended.” He asks me with a straight look.

“Yes.”

“How many days?”

“2 weeks.”

“Is it because of the Academy's strict rule to not get involve with monster hunting before graduation or something else?”

“It's something else. I suspended him because of his low attendance record. It's a good thing I submitted it at the director's office before we know about the incident.”

“You're right if you give the letter a little late, he might get suspended for 2 months.” He told me.

“Worst-case, he might get removed from school.” I told him.

If Ivan gets removed from school, it will damage his parent and brother's name. At first, I was reluctant to agree with Invo's request but after some consideration about his future and also the advantage of Ivan winning the contest, I cannot refuse that.

“You made a deal with Invo, right?” He asks me

“Yes.” I told him with a satisfying look.

Adonis always surprised me with his observation skill. Good thing, he's on my side.

“What do you know about the incident?” He asks me.

“Not too much, all I know is that a monster is inside the same building that Ivan and the kids entered when it collapses.”

“Do you know anything about the monster?” I ask him.

He takes out his phone and plays a recording. The record plays and I can hear Invo and his brother's conversation about what happens during that time. We both listen to their recorded conversation until it stops.

“A Type 3 monster is on the loose inside the city. This is the first time in 18 years that a dangerous monster manages to get inside the city.”

“18 years?”

“Yes, looks like I need to teach the class with a level 2 or level 4 defense spell.” I told him.

“Thank you for your understanding.” He told me with a slight grin on his face.

Adonis deliberately play that record so that I take the initiative to teach the students defense spell against the Type 3 monster without telling them about it.

“Anything else that I need to know?” I ask him.

“No, that's enough information for now.” He said.

We remain quiet for the rest of the walk. After some time, we stopped near a tombstone that has a sword sticking out of it. I walk towards the tombstone and place the flower on the ground.

“That person will arrive here shortly.” I told him as I turn around.

“Yes, I know.” He told me as he looks in a certain direction.

“I will take my leave then, good luck.” I reassured him as I walk away leaving him alone.

Professor Gazzer walks away leaving me behind. I walk toward the tombstone that he place the flower. The grave belongs to Melia Clovers.

Loving daughter

Great wizard

lover

Those are the words written on her tombstone. Whoever this person is might be someone very dear to Professor Gazzer. A man's footstep can be heard behind me as it's inching closer. I turn around and saw the man appears in front of me. The man is wearing a black suit and a cane on his left hand.

“Thunder.” I let out a word.

“Zeus.”

Those words are passcode when we meet up. It was in the letter that I received this morning.

“You must be the person that wants to meet with me.” I told him.

“Yes, let me introduce myself.”

“My name is Sting Fernandes, you will be working under me now.” he introduces himself to me.

His eyes show that he has some dirt on me. I need to be careful when I'm with him.

“I'm Adonis Taylor, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fernandes.” I held my hand toward him.

He looks at it before shaking it. The grip strength on this man's hands is strong. He must work out a lot in his spare time.

“Please call me, Sting.”

“Thanks and you can call me, Adonis.”

“You don't have to put a wall around yourself when you with me.” he grins.

I shrugged at what he said. It is still early to trust him so taking things carefully might be a better option.

“You're quite an interesting individual, Adonis.”

“No, wonder the old man has his eyes on you.”

“That look on your face is quite mysterious, don't you think?” He teases me with that question.

“It is a condition.” I told him.

He walks beside me and take out a shiny rock and place it beside the flower.

“I'll go straight to the point.” His expression changes to seriousness.

“Our Kingdom is at risk. The BMA received intel about a group that is working together with monsters.” He explains to me.

“What is this group call?” I ask him.

“They called themselves Raven Knights. Their member consists of ex-military personnel who have discipline issues.”

“How do they operate?”

“They targeted influential individuals and use those monsters to attack either their company, house or even their other 'income'.” he explains.

Sting takes out a tablet and shows me the prices of hiring them. Their prices are pretty cheap, no wonder they get requested.

“Why, didn't you bust them?”

“That's the problem.” he slides the screen and shows me a man in his mid-50s.

I know that man. He is a member of the House of Ragon. House of Ragon, is one of the seven houses that help founded the kingdom and the most influential house. They also have their own army. Lately, the House of Ragon has been in the center of rumors and gossips. Some of it includes the head of the house having s*x with a maid, the elder brother has an affair with his brother's wife, and worst of all is incestuous. I do not know if the rumor is true or not, but after seeing the evidence that they are doing illegal activity, I might need to reconsider.

“So you can't proceed because of him?” I ask him

“Yes.” he answers.

I think I know what I need to do but this is going to be dangerous and illegal, but that man and Raven Knights are putting the people's lives in danger, so I cannot reject this mission.

“One more question.” I told him

“Go ahead.”

“Do you think the Raven Knights and the collapsed building incident this morning are connected?” I ask him

He looks at me with a surprised expression before turning away.

“Maybe.”

“I don't have proof to back that up.” he told me.

I get a feeling he said that. My instinct tells me that they are connected in some way. I need Slyvia and Invo's help to find the connection.

“I think I know what I need to do, but there is a part of this mission that requires me to do things illegally. I hope you will be there to help me out.” I told him.

He looks very satisfied when I agree to help him.

“Sure.” he grins.

“When we will start?” I ask him.

“In 2 weeks, but I need to make some preparation and I think you should do too. Here's my number we can contact each other without meeting face to face.” He told me.

Sting gave his card to me and I take it from his hand.

“See you in 2 weeks, Adonis.” he told me.

He turns around and walks in the opposite direction. After I saw him leave, I turn around in the opposite direction and walk away, leaving the cemetery.

A few hours after we finished our business. Adonis and I are playing video games in the living room.

“Hey what do you think about my brother's action?” I ask him.

“Huh?” he gasps.

“My brother's action, what do you think?” I ask him again.

He takes some potato chips from the bag and eats them. He takes a few moments to think while he is eating the chips. After he swallows the chips he let out a gasp.

“That was tasty.” he barfs.

“What he did was a mistake that causes children's lives. Thankfully, the children's parents understood why he does that and forgives him, but his action cause people to question BMF's credibility, and we need to fix it.

“You know, his action is very similar to you when you told me we have to fight against that big monster 4 years ago, but the difference is that you have me to help you.” he told me while his eyes focus on the screen.

I was surprised by what he said that our actions are similar to each other. Ivan needs a friend that he can count on, and I thought in his class he has some, but maybe I was wrong. Did Eltia and Valeri ever befriend him?

“You're right, but if I was him, I would contact the BMP first before entering the building and I would make sure the Academy never found out about it. It is better to get scold by me than getting expelled.” I explain to him

“You have a point or two on that.” he agrees.

“By the way Adonis, what did you and that person talk about?” I ask Invo about his day to drop the topic about my brother.

“Sorry, It is a secret.” He replied.

“Okay.”

“But, can I ask you a favor?”

“What's kind of favor?”

“Help me hunt that Type 3 monster.”

“Okay, good.” He quickly agreed.

We drop the topic and continue our match.

“Invo lookout, I'm going to score this.”

“Not on my watch!”

Adonis uses the controller to pass the ball from one player to another. The ball is inside the penalty area. He is controlling the player to dribble past my defense. I tap one button on the controller and tackle the opponent. The player gets taken down inside the penalty area. The referee blew his whistle.

“Oh, penalty.” he smiles

The referee comes towards the player that I use for the tackle and issues him a red card.

“f**k!” I swear.

This is going to be ugly. Adonis is smiling beside me. I will not let him score this. We hide our controller so that we do not know where the other person will shoot or save.

My keeper is ready to dive to the left and now my only hope is that he will shoot on the left or missed. His player prepares himself and runs toward the ball. He shoots to the right.

“No!” I shout.

Just as I was losing hope, the ball hit the bar and bounce back. I immediately use another player to clear the ball. The ball is clear. I take a few deep breaths and look at Adonis's face. He is not smiling. Poor guy.

We continue to play until the game ends. After that, we enter our separate room and focus on our work report.