Jake held his anger and asked Elian "This ship, has been buried on Naru for 50 000 years. My father's team discovered it almost 4 years ago. Tell me, how do you know about it!"
Elian stared at Jake with a blank face before walking towards the photo and stopped before speaking "A friend."
"A friend?" Jake was curious.
"He was a man I did a lot of business with when I was younger. A very good storyteller if I may say so myself.
He could go on and on for hours and you would never lose interest in his words, matter of fact the way he would construct his sentences was so vivid and impactful that if you closed your eyes and listened, it would feel like you were thinking back on your memories." Elian spoke.
He touched the painting in front of him, reminiscing about his friend before walking to a painting covered by a sheet.
"There was nothing out of the ordinary about his stories, tales of his childhood, his home and family, even the last painting, the one of the ship being launched was a happy memory for him, however as we became closer and ran out of happy stories, he told me of his darker memories.
One, was of his father dying of a horrible disease, a disease that I had never heard about and thought he might have lied or confused himself but once again, his words felt genuine, and I could see the trauma in his eyes, emotions that could not be replicated or faked.
It was then that I began to suspect his origin. I did not say anything, but he knew I became curious about him. He told me more stories but this time in even greater detail. This one was off his best friend, who was captured by a mob.
He told me how they tortured him for days, before executing him and leaving his body on the street. My friend described his helplessness, but also the immense regret he felt immediately after." Jake looked at Elian who himself had watery eyes.
"Before he left me, he told me one, final story." Elian spoke before pulling the sheet of the canvas, noticeably larger than the other paintings.
The moment Jake laid his eyes on the painting, he felt dread. Unlike the other paintings where the people depicted were obscure, Jake was easily able to recognise the red-skinned individuals in the portrait.
'Atlas?'
(It's the Raiyu Jake. The other Race is the Zephyrions.) The Atlas answered Jake.
The scene was of men from both Races fighting each other in the ruins of what was an advanced city.
Other parts were of Raiyu civilians escaping to ships leaving the planet. Some did not make it as mobs of Zephyrions burnt and killed civilians.
As Jake looked more and more at the painting it started to move. The fires grew as the wind moved the smoke.
The people ran and Jake noticed the expressions on their face change and when he looked at the mobs attacking civilians, Jake started to hear screams.
It was soft before it increased as sobbing, wailing, screaming, and shouting were heard. The sounds of machines and marching men as well as ships and the blaze of fire were also heard.
'Atlas, what happened?' Jake was too affected by sights and sounds to think clearly and asked The Atlas.
(It appears to be a civil war. Why it was fought I don't know, but it appears to have devastated the planet, with the Raiyu putting on a strong defence but were gradually overcome.
It appears mobs of the Zephyrion race murdered and killed Raiyu civilians, which led to them escaping the planet.
With this painting although we do not know the whole story, at least we know that the Raiyu did not leave on their terms but were forced out either losing a civil war or they were exiled.)
"This means your friend was not human but an alien right? Then can you tell me about the ship then?" Jake asked Elian after looking at the painting.
"Yes, he said he came from the race known as the Raiyu. He showed me his true identity after that and made me promise to not tell anyone about him. I would ask that you not tell anyone either." Elain answered Jake.
"I won't." Jake spoke.
"Thank you, about the ship, I'm sorry Jake, I only know what he told me, and painted them to honour his memories. I don't know much, however..." Elian stopped speaking.
Jake perked up when he noticed Elian had a solution. "What is it?"
"I know someone who might know even more than me. But you have to wait 5 years."
"5 Years!" Jake exclaimed.
"He's a very busy and very important man. He's also currently not in GOE territory so you could not find him even if you tried. However, Jake, if you promise to fulfil a wish of mine, I will arrange a meeting with him for you and you can ask him as many questions as you like." Elian offered Jake a proposition.
'A wish of his? Atlas, do I say yes?'
(He wouldn't give you something difficult, it doesn't hurt to ask. I still feel it's a good offer, if we can find more information, or maybe even a living Raiyu, it will be priceless, to say the least.)
"Am I capable of fulfilling your wish?" Jake asked Elian.
"Right now, no, however in 5 years, easily. I promise it won't be detrimental to you." Elian reassured him.
"Fine, deal." Jake accepted Elian's proposition and shook his hand.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few things to do. I will see you and your sister at dinner and do not worry about her, my guards will make sure she will not be bothered in the slightest." Elian spoke before departing the room.
(That was helpful...somewhat I believe.)
'I don't know, I still feel like he's withholding something.'
(There's nothing else we can do now, but trust him. But we must stick to our plan Jake.) The Atlas reminded him of his objectives.
'I didn't forget, don't fret.'
Jake then slowly walked back to his room, he entered and decided to take a shower to cool down.
'A few hours later, Jake was resting on the couch when he heard a knock on his door before it opened.'
"Jaaaake." Aria shouted as she went and hugged her brother.
Jake was startled as he had not expected his sister to come back so early.
"Aria? How was Shangri-la Island?." He asked his sister.
Aria gleamed as she started to speak about the Resort.
"It was majestic Jake. The moment I spotted it, it looked like a paradise. It was filled with people but the workers said I was a VIP and they took me to a separate section just for me." Aria spoke.
She then went on to describe the special treatments as well as the services they provided to her.
"Then why did you come back so early." Jake asked Aria.
"Well it was nice and all, but after some time, I felt lonely, it would have been better if Mom and Iris were also with me, you should have come too, leaving me all alone." She poured as she spoke.
"I'm sorry Aria, but I'm happy you came back. I was missing you too." Jake apologized.
"Anyway, how do I look." Aria stood up as she waited for Jake to speak.
Jake noticed that Aria's skin was glowing, her hair had a shine to it, and the clothes she wore highlighted her figure.
It was the first time he had properly noticed Aria's natural beauty and felt proud as her brother.
Aria noticed Jake staring at her and quickly asked " Jake what's the matter?" Worrying if there was anything wrong.
"It's nothing, you just look very pretty." Jake answered honestly.
Aria said nothing as she teasedly punched his shoulder "So you only notice it now huh, you think a genius like me will have average looks." She playfully spoke and went to change.
'He called me pretty.' Aria thought in her head as she looked at herself in the mirror.
'I mean of course I am, look at me.' She spoke nervously before noticing the blush in her cheeks.
She covered her face feeling shy before jumping into the shower trying to forget the embarrassing thoughts in her mind.