Seeing the frown of an unknown emotion on Serpent's face, Atlas didn't know where or how to start off this conversation. His question came out his mouth unintentionally and too abruptly. Even he himself hasn't thought of a following question if Serpent actually replied with a proper answer.
{Ask about Vanessa.}
Nam advised nervously.
Atlas couldn't see Nam's expression himself, but he could hear Nam's emotions of anticipation through the constant tremble in his vocals.
[Fine. I hope asking about your girlfriend doesn't make me awkward in front of my men.] Atlas sighed.
"Serpent." Atlas looked up. "Do you know of a person called Vanellope?"
Serpent shuddered again, wiping his hands over his face in shame. "So you knew all along yet you never confronted me?"
[Wait? What!?] Atlas didn't expect him to actually respond to such a odd question.
"The level of trust you have bestowed onto me. I am truly grateful." Serpent furled his fist. "I guess you had faith in me. You must have predicted that I'd never dare to kill you."
Serpent spilled out the secrets buried deeply in his heart as the heftiness in his heart dissipated sedately. Keeping such a tragic story without anyone to shoulder together is really tearing his heart apart day by day, which subsequently drives his mind into chaos every time.
Atlas on the other hand is honestly trapped in his dumb expression, probably because he is still drenched in clouds of bewilderment.
"She is the leader of Crown Rose. An assassination organization I was forced to join a few years back." Serpent dug out his memories.
Atlas snapped out of his dumb, confused expression and began to process the situation, ready the digest Serpent's words.
Assassination Association? Crown Rose? Forced? The f*ck is going on?
But Nam's excited chants and screamed muddled his thoughts up almost instantly.
{Vanellope! You fulfilled your mission and considered my recommendation! The name Crown Rose, you actually did use it...}
[Slow down Nam! Let me communicate with Serpent first and stop screaming like a crazy fan boy.]
The overall blackness and speckled brightness of the sky remained very still and constant, as if curious to quietly ear drop on their conversation.
—————————
[Nam, when you mentioned Crown Rose, you mentioned that it was your recommendation. Yet I've never heard of it before. Is it solely a name, or does it represent something?] Atlas pondered. When his mentor taught him the basics of becoming a Alchemist, he showed him many natural plants and herbs on Earth that accumulate and contain beneficial substances to Warriors.
There are already in fact, uncountable, varieties of spectacular plants and herbs grown in tenable or rarely tenanted places his mentor has reach by far. And to be honest, many of them are utterly messy and random in looks and shapes. For some reason, the term Crown Rose made him imagine one.
{It is a flower, categorized as an Aura plant for dark Aura Users, but like it says, it's shaped like a crown, dyed like a rose. It's extremely beautiful.}
[I see... mind telling me its locations?]
{I would. But...} Nam paused, as if pondering whether to tell Atlas. {it's pretty complicated. I'll reveal the secret when you get stronger.}
[Trying to sound so mysterious. Haha. Very funny. I'll get back to that later, after I take care of this current business.] Atlas murmured in his mind, turning back to the vehicle where Serpent is staying behind to patrol. [And solve his case as well, I mean, what kind of bastard kidnaps others innocent family man?]
Severely tempted to negotiate back, Nam decided not to. Even an experienced old chum like him can't possibly beat Atlas in an pointless argument.
{Sigh, kids these days.}
Sauntering to the courtyard where everyone is assembled at, Atlas continued blabbering and emphasizing the meaning of 'innocence' to his own innocence.
[Percy's playing Fortnite. Noobmaster69? What kind of name is that? Blackbear is... picking his nose. Brain, erase that please. Tristan is wiping himself with sanitizing napkins? Really, blood is not that bad. Actually, I'm gonna correct myself, it is bad. Oh hey, Nova is there in a staring contest with a Tier 3 Axonn. I see, he's the strongest left over here. Ah- I know what Nova must be thinking. Must be claws. And you know what, that's a great idea, using Sinister Dragon Claws to end the Sinister Scales. Let's see... ew... is dripping that much cold sweat even possible? One stab on his leg will probably destroy the last resistance in everyone's hearts.]
Atlas thought, proceeding to recall the steps to Sinister Dragon Claws.
Some specific solidified words in the deep sea lit up an eerie crimson, as if Atlas has just activated a kill switch. An unfamiliar source of power surged robustly through Atlas's body. Dangerous. Beautiful. Manipulating. Pure. Bloodthirsty.
Indescribable magnificence ran through his veins and flesh. He perceived this subcutaneous demonic sensation, breathing its energy.
Black claws protruded from the teenagers fist as the remaining member brushed his forehead with his arm.
The explosive strength trembled Atlas's quivering arms. He felt like a giant, like a demon monster, unstoppable and ready to squash and exterminate anyone.
Isn't that? Boss's signature technique? No, it's. It's red, purple and black...
From afar, no one could clearly observe the color change of the claw, except for Nova and the Axonn right in front of Atlas.
His golden eye captured nearly every detail, like how vigilant animals treat their surroundings with extreme alert.
He, no, his eye, was wary of neither the explosive force building up in Atlas's muscles, nor the lethal claws forged by the combination of the instructed Aura and lightning Aura, but instead the thin crimson cloak that's beginning to envelope Atlas.
[I need to calm him down.]
Too late.
Chest ripped open like plastic, a still beating heart exposed to the air, gripped in Atlas's hands that are bulging in veins, as if the vessels cannot handle the sudden burst of strength, inching towards an absolute shut down. To pop and explode.
{Atlas! Atlas! Wake up! Snap out!} Nam screamed, waving his fists in the air but he couldn't do anything at the sight of Atlas tearing out a living heart, and the demonic power that has surreptitiously grabbed hold of Atlas.
{My boy, what's happening? Answer!}
Coming to the realization that his screams won't work like last time, Nam straightened his old body, staggering towards the shrine. Other than relying on this mysterious shrine to respond, what else can he do?
But as if it had heard his prayers, the shrine shuddered to restart its rusty joints. The shrine, an object and a structure planted firmly on the ground, levitated. It began rotating a few rounds, producing the rattle of twisting a music box.
And then, the invisible hand twisting the music box released, playing a song.
The franticness and distress in Nam washed away almost instantly by the magical and soothing melody.
If Nova were here, he would have instantly recognized this lovely lyric and tune.
For the past few days, Nova has been listening to put him to sleep — the flute song.