Aftermath

Chapter 9: Do You Know

Ingressus travels with Tygren to Nestoria to speak with someone he knows will give him what he needs to continue pushing forwards, but when he gets there, everything simply falls apart as truths reveal themselves, the past rears its ugly head and he finds something he wished he didn't

Author's note: just a heads up, I do reference back to a couple of oneshots I did in this series: 'Repairs of Your Own' and 'Circumstances of Our Upbringing.' I would recommend you read them, but it isn't going to impact your following of this story if you don't. it just might help a wee bit, is all

strap yourselves in - this is the longest chapter so far XD

[EDIT: 06/02/22] ^ I love it when I type about the length of a chapter because I come back and I'm like "yeah this is nothing compare to what I write daily XDit's not like we abandoned any kind of count restraint towards the end or anything XD

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The journey through Hydraphel was rough, but it was the safest route for Ingressus and Tygren to get into Nestoria without arousing suspicion. It didn't help that they had to wear thick black clothing to hide their markings as they traversed the kingdoms. They also knew they had to stick to the woodlands just off the shore of Nestoria and hang around at night so as not to mingle too much with the Nestoris crowd. Ingressus already had his experience in doing that, not that he was willing to admit that to anyone.

Tygren was pleased that the plan, thus far, had worked and he and the Deathsinger were in the same period and bringing together the Voltaris clan once and for all. It was all that he had cared about for so long and now, it was finally beginning. It wouldn't be long until their clan could rise from the shadows and back to their former glory. There was one thing that bothered Tygren about the Deathsinger – he seemed preoccupied by something – or someone – and he couldn't think what. What could have happened to him in during his absence that would make him questionable? For the time being, Tygren passed it off as just an adjustment period – he expected time was a funny thing to play around with and perhaps Ingressus just needed to get used to it.

Ingressus paused in his tracks to clutch his chest again. He did this frequently, yet neither of them could work out what was happening. The pain was getting more intense every time it winded him and Tygren was becoming wary of the growing weakness.

"Ingressus, what do you need from Nestoria so urgently?" he asked, making conversation.

Ingressus had barely said a word since walking through the portal and made only light mumblings on their journey from Mt Velgrin.

"I must speak with the only person I failed to eliminate the first time. Come. You shall see," he hinted.

This got Tygren thinking – could it really be possible that an old Great War Master was still alive? He guessed Ingressus had no concept of how much time had truly passed. And what would speaking with him do for the Voltaris? It didn't make sense to him, but he decided he wasn't going to question it. He was sure that Ingressus had his reasons for his movements and that everything was under control.

But everything was far from under control as they entered the Nestoris territory and Ingressus became weak at the knees. He hadn't anticipated the pain he would feel as he returned to the place that he had spent much of his childhood – where had learned everything he knew. The smell of the ocean abused his nose, and the brisk coastal breeze punched his face with memories he hadn't thought about for decades. Even staying within the woods, he struggled to control his feelings. He couldn't let slip that he had grown up here. He couldn't let slip of his connection to the Nestoris for it would call into question his very loyalty to the Voltaris.