Chapter 233 - Attempted Manipulation.

They reached down to the Cave and found that it is pitch dark! It isn't a surprise since only 2 people rarely came down here, and when they did they had a torch on their hand. If it was a different case, for example several people coming down here and setting up torches on the walls, it would be a lot different. It would be even easier for intruders to illuminate the place, even though it might be a bad idea to do so.

They didn't bring Torches here, mostly because they didn't have the option to do so. But both of them are Fire Controllers, and just need to burst a little fire from the palm of their hands. they won't need much illumination either, since the cave seems to be several meters wide and tall only around the hatch. Afterwards, it just minimises towards a tunnel which has a span of about 7 feet wide.

This is an obvious option, clearly what they should be doing next. Sinking in deeper towards the tunnel, about 15 meters after they walked in a bit of a complication. The tunnel split in to ways, but surprisingly both of these tunnels are wider than the one attached to the now considered main entrance, these tunnels seem to stretch about 10 feet wide.

The next move requires consultation, although Eric and Bittore don't really know each other enough. She has been living in the Kingdom of Maleemia a lot longer, not to mention she is 37 years old! She has a lot more experience on anything in general and could probably give good advice.

"What do we do now?" Asked Eric the obvious once he gave a quick glance at the situation, hoping that she would speak first to spare him the trouble but that didn't happen.

Taking a bit awkwardly long to reply, since she was thinking it through. She took a peek at Eric and decided to say. "You'll go left and I will go to the right side." Her decision isn't random just to confirm. Through a few events, noticing that the King is right handed, she decided to take this path which might necessarily lead to more danger depending on what's down there. One thing could be certain, if there is anything valuable down there, King Tamzar could have chosen the right side most likely.

Before they split ways, she called for his name and warned. "It is rumoured that these tunnels branch down in several ways, if you feel like you are getting lost just head the opposite way you went down at. We can't risk losing another Fire Controller." She is behaving nice no doubt, but she oddly doesn't know yet that Eric is the Electus! Mogranius never really had the chance to brag about his companion and friend, so Eric is just labelled as just another Fire Controller. Either way, maybe it is for the best.

Going down deeper, Eric found that his side of the tunnel takes a semi sharp turn to the left. 50 meters deeper, the tunnel splits in two once more but this time the Circ.u.mstances are a lot different. One of the tunnels just keeps stretching straight and, but just giving it a look he managed to figure out that this one sinks deeper down unlike the other one who has the same elevation.

The other tunnel, best described as the one in the left. Continues the sharp turn to the left, and might likely lead to more and more tunnels. One can easily get lost down here, rumours couldn't have been more true for once. Seeing that he has options, he went straight down.

Interesting enough, the mud was dry but very slippery. So at first he slipped and fell on his rump, and continued to slide down for about 7 meters. Giving it just a little bit of thought, he figured that it is just a big smooth rock sprinkled with dirt from the ceiling of the Tunnel. He didn't really pay much attention to it and rubbed the minor pain away, it would be a lot more painful if someone saw him.

He tried to sink deeper down, but something loud has caught his attention. Thankfully, it wasn't no animal or any living or unliving creature. He felt an Earthquake at first, but after thinking it through he understood that this is more than just an Earthquake, something happened.

Crawling up that slippery rock like an animal since he knew that if he just ran up he would break his nose at least if he is lucky, heading down up the straight line as an aid of remembering where he started from. Reaching at the very first split ways, he found that the entire right tunnel has faced a collapse. It isn't certain how far this collapse reached, but judging on how violent the shake was. It can't be just a couple of meters, or 10 either.

He figured that Bittore likely faced a bad fate, she could have been crushed by this collapse or she could have been deep enough to survive. Either way, he only saw one way to figure it out. Blasting the tunnel open, he is a bit experienced for such a case! Getting a good grip against the ground, doing a full sumo squat after. He started breaking out Fire from the palm of his hands!

The blast started off as a foot wide and didn't even reach the part of the Collapse, a split second after it was 3 feet wide and it started digging through some portions of the dirt in front of him. But it unleashed its true potential once it spread 5 feet wide!

He didn't want to risk killing himself here, or torch Bittore out of existence. So he kept his long lasting Fire ball smaller in size, he didn't spread it 10 feet wide! However his attempt became troublesome, once more people arrived at the scene. They weren't allies either.

A snow elf dropped down and threw a spike against Eric. Perhaps blinded of the sudden burst of Fire and that Eric is a small target, the Spike just went over his shoulder, tremendously close to his Ear even. Good enough, Eric spotted the danger and immediately sprung into action.

However this means that he had to stop blasting the tunnel open. He just blasted around 12 feet deep, but it didn't seem successful at all. He couldn't see an opening. Turning around, he spotted one person only. A woman standing just a couple of inches taller than him, but noticeably a lot older in age. She appears to be small and skinny too, unusual here where most Frost Blasters pay a lot of attention to their physical strength.

She asked with a shout. "Who the hell are you? What are you doing here?" Afterwards she clarified. "This is a restricted area, punishable by death only!"

Having a flash of memories, he thought of Bittore mentioning that only two people can get down here. One of those two people is dead, so this has to be his personal assistant, a.k.a the person who keeps this Castle going and sets up at least half of the rules or upgrades. Seeing that she has her Guard down, he remembered Commander Alia's skill of manipulation and tried to buy himself time with such an attempt, asking. "Here is a better question. Why is this a restricted area, and why are you allowed down here? Do you fancy the King?" A rather interesting question coming from someone who barely talks, it sure takes anyone a few seconds to think it through.

"Watch your tongue, I'm the King's personal assistant! I am Medea Grivas! And you are about to be nailed against the ground!" Well it definitely bought Eric a bit more time, but it for sure made the situation worst as an aftermath.

Noticing that she was about to shoot, he blasted Fire right in front of her feet. He felt guilty about trying to kill a Snow Ignite, because one way or the other she shares half of the genes! She is just a evolved Ignite! This however, was another trick to buy himself time and make an escape before anyone else drops down here.

When Medea Grivas took a second to defend herself from the roaring Fire, Eric became air borne and slipped by her left side. Even making a bit of eye contact with her before he blasted up the hatch.

Dodging one ice spike after the other from the Guards who too have heard the Earthquake and made their way down here, he only had to slightly burn 4 Guards one after the other in order to escape. He often shot in a bundle of Guards to clear his way, which often works. The ones that were hit were either too bold or to slow. The Fire he unleashed however, has the same burning capacity as a half heated pot of tea. It wouldn't leave any permanent damage, and it has even less chances of death!

Running out of the Castle, he saw Mogranius dropping from the sky and telling him to fly up! Their first goal was to fly up and reach their cave, there is no time to discuss details now. After Eric gave a brief explanation that Bittore is likely dead and they didn't find the Demonite, Mogranius had the decency to say. "Well this isn't a final loss."

"What? Why?" Asked Eric puzzled of his wordplay, and trying to put the thought of strong failure behind him. He is already feeling enough guilt for not being able to save her.

"I stole the King's Dagger." Mogranius specified once he waved the little bag tied on his waist.