(Jason's POV)
"Hm..." I said as I approached the massive towering flame, "That's a bit hotter than I anticipate...."
"Careful." The Giant Finlay told me, "Don't get too close, you'll get scorched."
"I'll be fine." I said as I got closer
I then felt an immense magical pressure emit from the flames.
"Who approaches?" A booming voice bellowed from the flames
I stopped as I looked up, "I wish to speak to Atlas Flame." I said, "Or at least what remains from him. I know the Eternal Flame is the soul of the Flame Dragon of Old."
I then saw the massive flames begin to take the form of the Dragon.
"Hmmm..." Atlas Flame saw as he looked down at me, "You. Who are you?"
"My name is Jason." I said
I saw as he raised his eyebrow, or at least it looked like it.
"Jason...." He said, "Jason....hm...Ah...Jason Glory? You still live after all these centuries?"
I frowned, "N-No..." I said, "That's not me. I'm not Jason Glory."
I felt as the Flames fluttered, sending a wave of heat.
"Are you sure?" He said, "Your appearance is uncanny. How are you not the wielder of Ten Commandments, Slayer of Dragons, and Warrior-King of Ishgar?"
I sighed, "I heard of this before." I said, "I'm not that Jason."
"Then what is your surname, Jason?" He said, "So I can remember it. For there to be no confusion in the future!"
That's a good question. This whole time I've been here, I haven't said my surname. I mean, even when Mavis and I got married, she stayed as Vermillion.
I scratched my cheek, "Uhm...." I said, "Jason..."
"O, Great Eternal Flame." Finlay interrupted, "This is Jason Darkborne, God of Darkness, the one who defeated Acnologia and pushed the armies of Alvarez back!"
I looked at Finlay, "What? Darkborne?"
"W-What?" He said with a flustered face, "Is that not your surname? All who speak of you address you as such...."
I raised an eyebrow, "Seriously?"
He nodded, "Yea! Did I mess up?!" He asked, "I apologize!"
I shrugged, "It's fine. Kinda cool though." I said
"Jason Darkborne." Atlas Flame said, "A name befitting of the powerful warrior who defeated Acnologia....Wait....You did what?!"
I saw his fiery face look at me with a shocked expression.
"Yea." I said, "I fought and sealed Acnologia."
"Unbelievable." Atlas Flame said, "To think that it was even possible. You are definitely like Jason Glory."
"Jason Glory beat Acnologia?" I asked
"No." Atlas Flame said, "Jason Glory attempted to fight Acnologia but due to some events that happened 400 years ago, an ancient evil was unsealed and Jason Glory fought that Dragon instead. And he managed to slay it."
"Is that so?" I said, "That's interesting."
"What is it you wish to speak to me about?" Atlas Flame said
"Well, we are in the topic of Dragons." I said, "That's kinda what I wanted to discuss. I have several questions regarding your kind."
"Ask." Atlas Flame said, "And I will do everything in my power to answer."
"Okay." I said, "The Dragon Gods. What can you tell me about them?"
"T-The Dragon Gods?" Atlas Flames said, "The Guiltina Five, eh? Well...."
"No." I said, "I already know about them. I want to know about the True Dragon Gods. The two of the rose to divinity and entered the realm of Gods. Those two."
"Jason Darkborne....." He said as his flames got a bit hotter, "I am afraid I am forbidden to speak about them. You see, my soul is only allowed to linger in this world after Acnologia slayed my body. It is because of them I can stay here."
"Okay...." I said, "So they what? Blessed you?"
"It is more akin to a curse." Atlas Flame said, "My soul is cursed to stay in this spot for eternity, my flames to be ever-burning. The only good thing that has come from that is that 300 years ago, a couple of Giants built a settlement and decided to keep me company."
"Interesting...." I said, "Well that sucks. I had a run-in with the Heavenly Wheel, if you can call it that. He's the one that ended the War last year. He took both Zeref and Irene."
"Irene Belserion? The Dragon Queen?" Atlas Flame said, "The Mother of Dragon Slayers was taken by The Heavenly Wheel?"
I nodded, "Yea." I said, "I assume you know of her?"
"She once helped me out when I was alive." Atlas Flame said, "But aside from that, do you wish to know of her fate?"
"Fate? What do you mean?" I asked
"Ask me where she is and I shall answer." Atlas Flame said
"Where is Irene Belserion?" I asked
"The Dragon Queen. I was not aware that it was The Heavenly Wheel's doing." He said, "Rumors among the wind say that there is a temple in the far east that is occupied by Champions of Asura. There is a sealed Dragon Queen there. That is Irene Belserion. Said Champions have attempted to undo the seal and abuse of her power."
Irene is in a temple in the East? What the hell?! That's huge news!!!
"So I go to the temple and unseal her, right? I can get her back." I said, "That's good news."
"Yes. But I must warn you. On the way there, the road and path are occupied by Cultists." He said, "You must tread lightly. They work in conjunction with the Champions."
"These Champions, they're strong?" I asked
"They wield the power of The Battle God, Asura." Atlas Flame said, "A powerful magic. I heard tales of Champions challenging the Ifrit and even managing to slay several of them."
So these Champions are the reason Igora was wary of me back when we met.
"I see." I said, "Thank you."
"Another thing." Atlas Flame said, "If you wish to learn one thing about the Guiltina Five. In case you encounter those."
"What is it?" I asked
"Two of them are linked to The Dragon Gods." Atlas Flame said, "Ignia and Viernes."
"Linked, how?" I said as I looked at his flickering flames
"That, I cannot say." He said, "I am bound by this curse after all. But another thing; Acnologia was the reason they ran away. His overwhelming power and lust for carnage chased them away to Guiltina. If you were capable of defeating him, they are going to be wary of you. So if you ever traverse to that Continent, be careful."
"Thanks for the heads-up." I told him, "Anything else?"
"Whatever you wish to learn, ask." He said, "As long as it is within my power to say."
What I wanted to know was about the Dragon Gods. The Blazing Black God and The Heavenly Wheel God. But he cannot say. I did get crucial information on Irene, though, if it's true.
I was gonna say that I was done but I suddenly remembered one thing about something the booming voice of the Heavenly Wheel God back when he took Zeref.
"Hey Atlas Flame." I said, "What do you know of The Blazing Acolytes?"
He looked at me, "How do you know that?" He asked
I shrugged, "I don't know. Heard it somewhere." I said
"The Blazing Acolytes." He said, "I cannot say much, but they are linked to the Cultists I mentioned. That is all. If you wish to learn more, seek the cult out and find out yourself. There is a Cultist Outpost several miles from the Village. They've been harassing my people for weeks now. They've employed the help of guild mages to deal with them."
"Hm...." I said, "Okay then. I'll go handle them for you and I'll see what I can find on that. Thanks, Atlas Flame, I'll give Igneel my regards for you when I can."
"What?" He said, "You know Igneel?"
I nodded, "Oh yea, he's still in the kid." I said, "He'll be out later, don't worry. When the time comes."
"Hm...." He said, "Be careful, Jason Darkborne."
"Igneel's true goal is dangerous."