"I never thought you'd become the Varahan Empire's spy, Lord Bunakin Vara." Shuwrak Zahara was in a state of both anger and denial, "Tell me why?"
"You were the first Royal Guard appointed by my sister. So, why have you turned traitor?"
"With due respect I state this," Bunakin Vara thumped his chest and bowed, "My loyalty lies with the Emperor and Empress. Not for a moment in my life has it changed."
"It's just the circumstances that are forcing me to become a traitor."
"Circumstances? What circumstances?" Shuwrak Zahara snorted in disgust.
"Please don't use that tone against me." Bunakin Vara expressed with a mild tone of sadness, "You should know better than me."
Seeing Shuwrak Zahara turn a tad silent, Bunakin Vara expressed, "I've been relieved of my duty. I still retain my position, but it's just for the namesake. It has been two weeks since I've last accompanied the Wean Clan Leader."
"You...? Impossible!" Shuwrak Zahara expressed his shock, "Even he must know better about your loyalty."
"My loyalty is not the one in question here." Bunakin Vara sighed, "My race is."
"I see," Shuwrak Zahara nodded, indeed aware of the state of the matter. "Even though I taught him better..."
"The Wean Clan is growing at an explosive pace, but the Free Humans loyal to them are only slowing them down, a drain to their resources." Bunakin Vara smiled wryly, "It's steady, but we're getting replaced steadily."
"In two decades, all the Free Humans who have sworn loyalty to the Wean Clan will be erased from history. Maybe it'll hasten if war with the Varahan Empire goes up a notch." He stated sullenly, "I...have a family, Sir. Please understand my situation too. In a situation where I'm denied my loyalty, I'm not a traitor if I look out for my family, right?"
"Besides, I'm just serving the Varahan Emperor, which was the intended purpose behind my creation." He bowed towards the end, "I'm merely doing my duty."
"Duty, huh?" He closed his eyes, pondered for a few seconds, and then stared at Bunakin Vara, "So, what's your proposal?"
"The Varahan Emperor has said to grant you whatever you wish for, as long as you take your rightful place in the Varahan Empire." Bunakin Vara said.
"Anything?" Shuwrak Zahara observed Bunakin Vara to ask, once again, "Anything?"
"Those were His Majesty's words." Bunakin Vara nodded, "He also told me to tell you this."
His tone grew solemn as he spoke, "The Brimgan Empire will soon invade the Varahan Empire."
"The Varahan Empire? Not the Wean Clan?" Shuwrak Zahara expressed his surprise.
"The Brimgan Empire doesn't recognise the split. They consider the Wean Clan and the Free Humans here a part of the Varahan Empire. And that's who they're treating as their enemy." Bunakin Vara said.
"Are they that confident in waging a war against both the forces?" Shuwrak Zahara expressed caution, "Based on what I investigated, they're not yet at the level where they can take on the both of us."
"They've weaponised the Attributed Region completely." Bunakin Vara sighed, "It's not just that, but there's a large Raid Team extracting resources from the Kalahatra Desert. They've been actively strengthening themselves using that place as a training ground."
"What about their losses?" Shuwrak Zahara felt a pang of anger, since the losses should be astronomical, "Every single Pranic Beast that appears in the Kalahatra Desert is at the Gold Grade."
"They have... practically no losses." Bunakin Vara let out a long sigh, "There are currently fourteen Brimgan Royals who have reached the 10-Life Stage and have obtained a Secondary Nature. Half of them have been stationed at the Kalahatra Desert, in charge of large armies each."
"...Shit!" Shuwrak Zahara could only curse in response before he stared at Bunakin Vara, "Is the Varahan Emperor assuming that this is enough for me to defect to the Varahan Empire?"
"He told me to give you this if you were still not convinced after all that." Saying so, Bunakin Vara presented a Vara Slip. Shuwrak Zahara took it and accessed the contents inside. There was only one line in it, which was enough to convince him.
[The founder of the Wean Clan is Brangara, but the Varahan Empire's founder is none other than Yarsha Zahara!]
'Sister...!' Shuwrak Zahara fell into deep thought, analysing the pros and cons of his situation. On one side was the Wean Clan, which was steadily becoming radicalised against the Free Humans due to constant wars between the two sides.
On the other side was the Varahan Empire which, despite its share of problems, was steadily becoming a Free Human utopia. As Yarsha Zahara's brother, his status was how he was recognised by the people.
The Wean Clan were Yarsha Zahara's descendants. However, the Wean Clan itself was steadily pushing itself away from that fact, claiming themselves as proper Clansmen that didn't have a relation with a Free Human, but instead hailed from the Celestial Boar, irrespective of how little sense that made.
Basically, they claimed only to be related to Brangara and not Yarsha Zahara.
Until now, things were different in the Varahan Empire, since they viewed Yarsha Zahara as synonymous with the mother of the Wean Clan. But, if the current Varahan Emperor, Narkahamy were to recognise her as the founder and cement it in the Empire's history, Shuwrak Zahara would be willing to fight for its future.
What he sought to protect the most was his sister's efforts. Nothing else mattered to him, "Alright."
"I'll defect to the Varahan Empire." Shuwrak Zahara said, "Convey my message to His Majesty."
"Thank you for making this choice, Sir." Bunakin Vara bowed in relief, "I'll bring the good news to His Majesty as soon as possible."
"Say," Right as Bunakin Vara was about to leave, Shuwrak Zahara called out, asking after a moment's hesitation, "What were you planning to do if I remained adamant about my affiliation?"
"I was prepared to lose my head as a traitor." Bowing in response, Bunakin Vara left, "Thankfully, it seems I get to serve the Zahara family once again."
'You have been blessed with loyal comrades, sister.' Shuwrak Zahara smiled, in relief, in sadness, 'But this should have been your world to rule. You died too young.'
Knock! Knock!
A teardrop streamed down his eyes as Shuwrak Zahara wiped it upon hearing the knocking sounds. "Come in, Leukeu."
"Were you busy?" Inala entered the room and asked upon noticing the slightly puffy eyebags
of Shuwrak Zahara. "Hope I'm not disturbing you at the wrong time."
"I was just reminiscing." Shuwrak Zahara smiled politely and motioned for Inala to sit on the floor, "My neck will cramp up if I have to look up so high."
"Thanks," Inala appreciated the offer and occupied the floor comfortably, "I've come to
strike a deal with you."
"A deal?" Shuwrak Zahara raised an eyebrow, "Go on, I'm listening."
"Yarsha Zahara's method of gaining a Secondary Nature," Inala said coolly, "In response, I'll
give you the genetic information about Millingers and Centingers."
"What makes you think I have such a method?" Shuwrak Zahara played it off for a moment.
"It's not a thought, but a fact." Inala expressed coolly, "Since I have it."
"If you have it, then why are you asking from me?" Shuwrak Zahara didn't seem willing to
concede.
"Mine's a corrupted version." Inala casually threw a Vara Slip at Shuwrak Zahara, "I found this in the Kalahatra Desert. Verify it yourself, I'm not lying."
"This is..." Shuwrak Zahara calmed down, verifying that Inala was indeed not lying to probe
him for information, "How did you get this?"
"The Kalahatra Desert is filled with all sorts of information regarding the Third Major
Disaster. I simply used suitable Spirit Weapons to mine some of that information." Inala responded, smiling upon seeing Shuwrak Zahara's shock.
It was because he used the term 'Third Major Disaster' and not just a 'Major Disaster.' It meant he had knowledge of Sumatra Chronicles, for only then would the terming make sense.
"I never knew the Brully Race was capable of extracting information." Shuwrak Zahara
muttered.
"They cannot, only I can." Inala pushed a clump of Prana into Shuwrak Zahara and transformed it into the latter's Spirit Weapon.
If Shuwrak Zahara could still not make sense of everything, he would be a fool, "I see, so you
have Weapon."
"Yeah, it found me when I was born, since the Major Treasure of Weapon is born from the Brully Race." Inala grinned. "Armoury transported it to me."
'With Weapon in its possession, Leukeu can kill me. Maybe Armoury is also hidden somewhere nearby, ready to rush to its rescue. So, that's why it dares to make a deal.' Shuwrak Zahara thought and accepted the deal, "I'll go ahead with your proposition."
He then asked, "But, are you okay with revealing the fact that you possess Weapon? Every
single force will chase after you to claim ownership of it once this gets revealed."
"Yes, it'll be fun. A Brully never shies away from a fight." Inala chuckled as his eyes narrowed,
"But of course, I'll accept all challenges with every ounce of my strength."
"I'll happily fight you, but not as an enemy." Shuwrak Zahara shook his head, "So, please
don't get too excited. I have no plans to reveal this to anyone else. That's entirely up to you."
"Apart from that," His expression narrowed as Shuwrak Zahara asked, "When you planned to fight me, were you confident because of Weapon?"
"Of course, not." Inala chuckled, "I only intend to use Weapon when my life's at risk. Until
then, I'll only rely on my abilities."
"A Brully is capable of everything the Major Treasure of Weapon can exhibit. So, I've been
training to reach that level." He concluded.
"I'll give you what you seek in two days. I need some time to contemplate until then."
Shuwrak Zahara massaged his forehead, stating upon seeing that Inala was about to leave, "But until then, don't refer to that method, no matter what."
"Even if it's only applicable to Human Avatars, it can still destroy you if you were to refer its
functions and apply it to yourself."
"I thought as such, which is why I approached you for the correct version." Inala waved his
hand, "The method in my possession was created by the Sumatra Chronicles version of your sister, which has been manipulated by Renduldu."
"I wanted to see for myself what the real deal had created."
"Ha...haha!" Shuwrak Zahara burst into laughter as his expression eased up into happiness,
"Thank you, Leukeu. I never knew a Brully could be compassionate."
"We aren't," Inala waved his hand and exited, "We simply don't downplay an opponent we're
excited to fight. Any Brully would have been happy to fight Yarsha Zahara. That's all."
"I see," Shuwrak Zahara smiled as he watched Inala's back for a long time, "A Pranic Beast with a goal beyond just survival. That's someone I can envy wholeheartedly."
'Maybe that's what I too need.' He slumped on his chair and closed his eyes, 'I shouldn't try to
be like Yarsha when I'm clearly not as capable as her.'
"Instead of dwelling in the past, I should take a step into the future, and maybe try to live life
a little for myself." He chuckled, "Yeah, I better do that."
During his return to his home, Inala calmly observed the clump of Prana before him, 'This is
Shuwrak Zahara's Spirit Weapon. By studying this, I can understand his build better. I only need to use it on my body enough times.'
'Besides, his mental state is wavering just as I had assumed.' He thought and observed his surroundings, 'The Wean Clan has begun rejecting all Free Humans strongly.'
"It was about time anyway." He muttered and continued walking, 'Before he makes the jump
to the Varahan Empire's camp, I need to take complete advantage of him.'
'And since he knows about Weapon, there's a good chance he'll reveal it to Narkahamy after
shifting bases.' Upon reaching this line of thought, Inala grinned, 'And that'll be my ticket to entry into the Varahan Empire.'
'This guy will come into use then.' He thought and patted his stomach, within which was a
Biome Bomb, turned into his Spirit Weapon using the Major Treasure of Weapon, 'As long as I
make contact with the Biome Bomb I left in Narkahamy's possession, all his research will become mine.'