Consequences

Chapter 2

But Ingressus pushed on, he couldn't die. Not yet. They had Achillean, and he couldn't imagine what they were doing to his brother at that very moment. He had promised to rescue the Nestoris, and he wouldn't, no, he couldn't go back on his word. However, he was in no shape to do that now.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a red glow among the white of his surroundings. Fear struck him, afraid that it was some sort of beast, or worse, a Magnorite. He was in no shape to fight.

The lights came closer, and Ingressus made out markings and horns. The Voltaris thought he was seeing things. There's no way...

Five Voltaris approached him. They were worried at the sight of his wounds, but when they recognised the staff he holded and his markings, they were at a loss for words. ' Master Dominus?' one of them managed to muster, even if the Voltaris before them looked younger than he remembered.

Ingressus was still speechless. This whole time, he had thought that he was the last of his clan, but here stood in front of him, five Voltaris. They didn't look extremely healthy, all of them were a little skinny, as if they hadn't had enough to eat. It hurt Ingressus that while he was living his life in Nestoria, they had been here, leading difficult lives. What kind of master was he to have done nothing while his people suffered?

Two of the Voltaris snapped out of their shock, walking up to Ingressus and offering to help him to walk. Ingressus didn't object, and they half assisted, half carried him through the snow. The rest of the Voltaris glanced around warily, eyes out for anyone who followed him or wild animals that could have been attracted by the blood. When they were sure the area was clear, they went after them.

Eventually, they reached a small camp. Ingressus was astonished at how many Voltaris there were there. There were around thirty Ardoni with red markings. They all looked up from what they were doing when they heard noises, and all were dumbstruck to see Ingressus. Whispers of "master" and "Dominus" started bouncing around, but those were the only words he could make out before slowly slipping into unconsciousness.

When he came back to his senses, Ingressus sat up abruptly from lying down, hands reaching out to in front of him, as if to grab something he could not reach. A name almost made its way to his lips, but he stopped himself when he realised his injuries were all patched up. Ingressus glanced to the side to see two Voltaris seated on the floor, the first one was the first one to question him when he first ran into them. Ingressus did not recognise the second one.

The first Voltaris stared at him blankly for a moment, making Ingressus a little uncomfortable. He soon looked down to the ground, looking disappointed as he asked, ' You're not Master Dominus are you?'

Ingressus shook his head, ' My name is Ingressus... Dominus was my father...'

' Since Voltar is in your hands, I presume he did not make it?' Ingressus gazed away, saddened as the memory of that day resurfaced in his mind. The Voltaris noticed it, and sighed, ' I'm sorry for your loss, Ingressus... Though I wonder how you have survived all this time... if you don't mind sharing, of course.'

Ingressus opened his mouth, but no words came out, stuck in his throat. He was unsure whether or not he should tell them about being raised in Nestoria, assuming that like him, they had grown up in fear of the other clans. ' Achillean saved me when I was washed ashore...'

The second Voltaris raised an eyebrow, ' You were with another Voltaris?'

Ingressus pondered for a moment, but then realised an explanation was inevitable, ' He's a Nestoris,' he admitted. The other second Voltaris gasped, surprised that a Nestoris had not only not killed him on sight, but helped him. However, the first Voltaris remained calm, ' I see...'