Chapter 8: Alyssra Volade

Chapter 8: Alyssra Volade

"What makes Pardus Mountain so extraordinary?" I asked.

"Alyssra Volade," Thorne replied.

"Okay, what's so unique about"

"She's a Wraith, a shape-changer, she possesses a Great Weapon, she's probably the deadliest Wizard alive, and she has a tendency to kill anyone who approaches her. That's unless she chooses to transform them into a Morga or Vorgan instead."

"Being a Vorgan isn't the worst fate, boss."

"Quiet, Opal."

I questioned, "How much of this is verified and how much is mere hearsay?"

"What difference does it make if everyone believes the hearsay? I know I won't risk going near that place."

I shrugged. Perhaps if I were Imperion, I would have understood. "Well, it seems I'll have to go myself."

"Do you have a death wish?"

"I don't wish to let him run off withhow much did he steal?"

"Over two thousand imperials."

"Darn it. I want him caught. Find out reliable information about Pardus Mountain, alright?"

"Huh? Sure. How much time should I invest in this?"

"Three days. Also, dig up some information on Ignar while you're at it."

"Viktor"

"Go."

He left.

I leaned back in my chair, pondering over the legends, eventually concluding it was futile, and began drafting a letter to Zandria. Opal went back to his spot on the coat rack and proposed helpful ideas for the letter. Had I believed Zandria had a liking for dead Baku, I might have considered some of his ideas.

* * * *

Sometimes, it feels like I can almost recall my mother. Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

My father's narrative kept fluctuating, so I'm uncertain whether she passed away or left him, and whether I was two, four, or five then. But every now and then, I get these mental images of her, or of someone I believe to be her. The images are too vague to describe, but I'm somewhat content to have them.

I shook my head. To a Imperion, black symbolizes magic. "Alright. What's the connection between Drevolan and"

"Technically, Pardus Mountain falls within his territory. It's roughly fifty miles from his castle's usual location."

"Intriguing," I remarked.

"I wonder how he goes about taxing," Opal mused.

"It's the only striking point," Thorne noted.

I agreed. "Mountains tend to do that. But alright, Thorne. It's a link, anyway. What else do you know about Drevolan?"

"Not much. He spent a significant portion of the Regency-Break in Terran, so he's believed to be receptive towards Humans." Human means, well, human like me. But Imperions call themselves human, which is obviously absurd, so it can get a bit confusing.

I suggested, "Well, I could start by paying Drevolan a visit, if he's willing to meet me. What information did you gather about Pardus Mountain?"

"Pieces here and there. What are you curious about?"

"Primarily, is Alyssra Volade really real?"

"She definitely was prior to the Regency Break. There exist records of her frequent court visits. Deathgate, boss, she held the title of Warlord more than once."

"When?"

"Around fifteen thousand years back."

"Fifteen thousand years. Got it. And you think she might still be alive? That's like, five or six times a regular lifespan?"

"Well, if you buy into the rumors, aspiring heroes from the House of the Pardus often venture up the mountain to confront the wicked Sorceress, and they're never seen again."

"Right," I responded. "But the question is, do we trust the rumors?"

He blinked. "I don't know about you, Viktor, but I do."

I pondered over aged legends, Sorceresses, unfaithful Point-men, and mountains.

"Trust is a rare commodity these days," opined Opal, who landed onto my right shoulder.

"I concur. It's an unfortunate reality." Opal snorted psionically. 'No, I'm serious," I claimed. "I trusted the jerk."

I withdrew a dagger and started toying with it. After some time, I stowed it away and instructed, "Alright, Thorne. Relay a message to Lord Drevolan, requesting if he'd be gracious enough to meet me. Whenever he's available, of course; I'm nothang on! How does one get there, anyway? I mean, if it's a hovering castle"

"You blink," Thorne replied.