The House of Saka (2)

"Before the discussion, I want you to prove that you are the people mentioned in this letter." Arken raised the letter in his hand after he met Indra's in front of the house. His eyes gazed with intimidation as he put zero trust on man in front of him.

"I trust the content and the writer of the letter. But I don't believe in both of you." Arken took turns looking at Indra and Ririn who were standing slightly behind. His magma-red irises were extremely unfriendly.

"What about this." Ririn took out a plant pot from the living room. An unhealthy plant grows above it. The stems are greenish-brown in color with height is about 30 centimeters. The leaf structure is long with a rough surface and jagged at the edges. Also, at the top of the stem, there is a dying flower with combination of dominant black-red and a bit of ice-blue colors that seem very dissimilar.

"A Raffle flower." The flower petals look buds as if in hibernate state. Ririn touched the flower very gently and the plant suddenly shuddered in response.

The strange flower petals began to bloom in spun. From behind the gap between the petals, there were rows of sharp thorns. The flower is not in full bloom. Just a small gap and it was enough to make Raka Gilbert shock for a second.

"Rafl represent fire, ice and death. It will only obey the pure bloodlines either Endley or Vaiskyler." Ririn handed Rafl to Indra and that flower immediately turned fierce. The petals opened wide and immediately rushed angrily towards Indra. The sharp thorns behind the petals looked fierce as if they were ready to tear Indra apart for any single physical touch.

Rafl was about to pounce on Indra like a hungry creature. The stem of the plant elongates when his movement suddenly stopped by a lit of whitish-blue spark at the tip of Arken's index finger. Rafl seemed to be more interested in Arken's flame rather than the prey that was in the sight. That strange-looking plant jumped out of the pot and it long leaves moved nimbly to grab on Arken's wrist. With a hanging position, Rafl twisted it body onto Arken's arm and tried to reach the whitish-blue spark.

Arken let Rafl's play around his arm since it didn't behave as wild as against Indra. This time Arken changed the position of the sparks to his wide open palm and Rafl immediately reached with joy eating those flame.

The plant looked very tame.

"It was me, your dad and your mom who bred it. We poured our blood when it was still a seed. That's why he only recognize my family, the Vaiskyler and also the Endley." Arken's tone changed completely to a little more friendly.

"I haven't introduced myself yet. Ares Kennrich Vaiskyler, the Dragon King. Then this is my son, Raka Gilbert Vaiskyler." Arken handed Rafl to Raka who was clearly very surprised to receive the living plant.

At first Raka thought the plant would bite him. But what his father said was proved. Rafl doesn't attack people with Vaiskyler blood. The creature instead began to dance ridiculous in Raka's arm. Not longer after that, it jumped down and reached towards Rihan and Alvi.

"Uncle." Alvi says hello.

"Dad." Rihan followed afterwards.

The way Alvi and Rihan greet Arken is very different. Alvi sounded cheerful and warm, while Rihan barely expressed any feelings. Very rigid.

"They are my children too." Arken introduces Rihan and Alvi. "This is Daniel and this is—"

"…Veena. I'm Rihan Daniel and this is Veena." Rihan cut in quickly while Arken immediately understood what his son meant.

Seeing that Rafl wasn't being mean to these new guests, Indra and Ririn also didn't want to keep them any longer at the door.

"Come in." Indra opened the door wider and made way for his guests.

Rafl was the last to enter. The soil attached to the roots or should be said the feet, seemed to be scattered on the floor of the house. "Rafl, don't hang around anymore. Come here." Ririn pointed the pot at Rafl and the plant obeyed. Rafl jumped back into his favorite small 'home'.

"I am Indra Saka Horizon. Maybe you already know, but I am indeed the son of Marc Horizon, ruler of Atlan, the world undersea." Indra introduced himself.

From a physical point of view, Indra is tall and wearing black-rimmed square glasses. He has white skin and black hair which look neat and pleasant to eyes. His face is actually standard but his overall appearance gives the impression that he is a nerdy, a bookworm.

On the other side, the woman whose full name is Arin Valka Endley, she is quite similar to Alvi. Neither the face nor the gleam of anxiety behind her pair of violet irises. They have a similar restless attitude.

Since Ririn's escape a week ago, there have been more than 10 Ifrits that Marc Horizon released to catch her. They were created by imitation of the Deadly Black Flame which forcibly implanted into their bodies. The power of the fake fire is like a bomb sensor that is ready to explode whenever it is close to the target, which is Arin Valka Endley.

"Perhaps you think the Ifrits have been extinct by the Arinas or rather said Samsara. But what I saw in Atlan was different." Indra continued to talk.

"I still clearly remember the day when my father's soldiers brought home a horde of horrific creatures. They are the Ifrits. I know father has been waiting for a quite time… longing for the right moment to attack them and capture their queen who has the Deadly Black Flame." Indra started his story.

"That day finally come. The death of Rei Nathanael, was the beginning of everything. The North collapsed. While, Auntie Luna and her eldest daughter managed to escape. But soon, both of them were caught in different times and places. At that time there was not much resistance from aunt since she no longer has the Deadly Black Flame. The flame has been completely given to his daughter, Alvi Veenessa Endley." He continued.

"The main reason was not only to protect Alvi, but also because Auntie Luna was pregnant and couldn't use the flame in time being." Indra glanced briefly at Ririn. That woman seemed to squeeze her hands tightly.

"Twenty years my mom was a prisoner of Atlan. Mom couldn't go anywhere or escape because I was the hostage and the Ifrits were the research subjects." Ririn added.

Rihan catches the change in Alvi's expression. He grabbed her hand trying to calm her in silence.

"The development of Samsara's research will continue in Atlan. That's why even though Samsara had collapsed the Arinas didn't really lose since Atlan was doing more and crazier things. Such as…." Indra glanced at Ririn as if waiting for permission to continue his story.

"Making my blood as the medium in creating a replica of the Deadly Black Flame. Then the blood is implanted into the bodies of the original and fake Ifrits. The goal is to create the strongest, invincible army." Ririn tried so hard to hide the hatred and bitterness behind her words. No wonder she refused to say more.

"Father's ultimate goal is to have the full control of Deadly Black Flame. But since Samsara had failed getting anything from Alvi Veenessa Endley, then the next target have been set to Ririn. My mother and Auntie Luna knew about it. That's why they took all the risks to help Ririn's escape." Indra took over the conversation.

"Father must have given severe punishment to mother and aunt. The worst scenario is throwing both of them into the Blue Labyrinth like useless junk." Indra harbored the same pain and anxiety as Ririn.

"Marc Horizon… He's your father, isn't he? Why don't you stand on his side rather than putting yourself in such a complicated position?" Raka just felt weird.

"My relationship with my father was never good. We rarely talk or see each other, and mother also married father to protect her own family. For me, my family was mother alone. Whatever mother requests, I will definitely comply," Indra replied in confident.

"Including betraying your own People?" Arken interrogated.

"I'm not betraying Arinas. Mother was not ask me to betray my own People." said Indra firmly.

"But you've done it. Take out a hostage. You clearly betrayed your people's trust, Indra," said Arken with a calm tone.

"I don't know what trust you mean. But I think trust is something beyond that, Mr. Vaiskyler." Indra is still steadfast in his stance.

"As written in the letter. From now on Arin Valka Endley would be under the protection of the Dragons. You can go back to the sea." Arken ended this conversation.

"Wait! How about Alvi Veenessa Endley? Have she read the letter? What is her answer?" Ririn's words made Alvi cast a questioning look at Rihan. But the man didn't seem to pick up on the signal that she was giving.

"It's a letter you wrote yourself. I only believe the letter from Luna Endley." Arken got up and was followed by Raka and Rihan.

Alvi was still sitting quietly in the place. "What letter?" She asked in a very low tone while holding Rihan's hand as well as his step.

Rihan's grip loosened. Obviously the man knew about the letter. But why were they trying to hide it from her?

"Uncle, what letter? Why didn't I know?" Alvi repeated her question with clearer and louder voice.

It was at that moment that Indra and Ririn realized that the woman who was with the Dragons was the figure they had been waiting for. Alvi Veenessa Endley.