Chapter 236 - The deed is done.

Although getting the unusual Dagger along with everything else in that bag is considered a small win, it certainly doesn't help at all with the situation. They are fugitives here, Bittore is as good as dead and her daughter will attack the Kingdom of Maleemia sooner or later which will inevitably endanger a lot more of the Hostages.

Seeing that Eric is in no good condition, mentally at least, to talk this situation out. So he decided to proceed with a calmer approach, they didn't talk details yet. "Eric, what happened boy?" Putting the main task here to thought, he dared to ask about it in such a situation. "I don't see the Demonite nor Bittore."

Giving himself a bit of time to calm his own nerves down and think through what just happened since it doesn't even feel believable, he continued with a stutter followed by a loss for words. "I'm not sure what happened!" The situation was a bit blurry no doubt, but there is one thing he is sure about. "I think Bittore didn't make it!"

Shocked and even feeling a bit sad about such a result, but mostly feeling confused. He asked with his tone rising in anger. "How? How didn't she make it? What happened to her?!" He isn't neccesarily mad at Eric, not at all even since he knows this boy for months now. Last thing he would want to do is wish for an ally to be lost, even if that person is just half of an ally.

"An Earthquake happened!" Shouted Eric with little force, since his throat already felt heavy along with his heart tightening on his chest. He doesn't know this lady long enough, he just feels guilty that he wasn't able to help her and had to flee the scene for the good of the Continent. He wouldn't be much of use to Ignis if he was dead, and he for sure didn't want to kill a Snow Ignite. "The tunnel collapsed and she is likely crushed by it!"

"Oh..." Answered Mogranius, even putting the Demonite aside for once. Trying to understand a bit more about what happened and even what it was like down there, he sat across Eric on the cold cave floor, asking. "It clearly isn't your fault, you couldn't do anything about it. But what could there be down there to cause an Earthquake, barelyo anyone is allowed access."

A bit irritated of Mogranius' lack of proper sympathy throughout the whole time they've been here no doubt, he still chose to not say anything about it. Last thing he needs right now is to start an argument, his heart is already aching. So he just decided to answer his question! "As far as I saw, there was nothing but a set of stairs near the hatch. The tunnels are empty. At least my side."

Such an explanation, just opened more questions. Such as, "What do you mean at your side?"

"We split, i checked the left side and she checked the right. When I was just a few minutes deep, the Earthquake of Tunnel collapse or whatever it was. Happened!" He pushed himself through this explanation, it was indeed hard to relive that situation through spoken word and spiraling scenes in his head.

Mogranius was too left speechless, because Bittore had so much value. Without her, they can't convince the rest of the Ignites here to accompany him and Eric back home. Furthermore, Bittore would possibly be the only person who would shed more light to the art of killing so many without even shooting against them or touching them. Last but not least, this whole situation makes finding the Demonite a hell lot harder. He started sinking in silence and the Cave became cold in conversation almost equally to these negative temperatures.

Silence can be good and it can be bad. In a lot of cases, such as showing understanding. Silence can be the key to unlocking someone's story and therefore seeking what's more valuable than gold, a well kept relation. Silence can also be bad, such as standing silent in solitude when any soul is mistreated, mutilated or molested in front of the masses. Those are two good examples, but here? The gift of silence accompanied by just a little bit stroke of luck and the art of being unaware, they heard something from outside that turned this situation around completely.

What could it be you might be curious enough to ask? Fire! Fire blazing against the strong wind up in this elevation, crackled enough for Eric to hear it clearly. Mogranius would never be able to hear it himself, his ears aren't how they used to be. Best way to prove my point is to remind you about, "Farmer's Bacon".

His eyes widened in shock and was even ready to expect someone flying in the cave, even hoping for the Fire Controller to be Bittore. It is not like seeing Osira is a bad thing either, he just can't really face her right now and explain to her that he lost Bittore, her only piece of family left.

"Someone is coming!" Although he alarmed Mogranius about what he heard and now they are both waiting for someone to fly in, their patience felt eternal. One because this is a unique situation and two because no one actually flew in the cave.

"What the hell." Eric murmured to himself and started thinking that he is hearing things, standing on his feet he carefully walked towards the exit to check the situation.

"Be careful." Mogranius unleashed a loud whisper. "For all we know, the rest of the Fire Controllers are likely forced to hunt us down."

Eric wanted to reply with, "I'm aware." But his mouth wouldn't follow along with his attention gifted to who ever flew outside, taking one step after the other carefully towards the previous sound.

He walked out and didn't exactly see anything he didn't see before. An edge of Maleemia visible, flakes of snow raging fast due to the wind and the green low lands hundreds of Kilometers away. This place is high enough to see a large part of the Continent, but he didn't see no Fire Controller.

Seeing his odds, he just decided to turn around and figure out the next move with Mogranius. Such as, should they continue to stay here? It would be rather odd if they did, it would just be nothing less but a time waste. At least, that's what his thoughts stormed through before a black mark imprinted on the mountain side caught his eye.

It wasn't a big mark, but it was half a meter near the Cave's entrance. This is no doubt caused by a Fire Controller. Touching it made him realise that it is recent, whomever flew by was forced no negotiate her directions in order to not get slammed against the mountain side. Most importantly, that someone flew upwards.

"What could they be doing higher in the mountains? It is already tremendously cold, Ignites aren't made for such a climate." He thought to himself, even murmuring some of his words out before he turned around and saw Mogranius staring him down.

His appearance came in as spooky, but he was just curious. "Well...?"

"Someone flew up, what do you think we should do?" The decision quite obvious, but someone who is older and has more experience in life should be asked about such a task. The temperature further up can be tormenting, deadly. This isn't a decision he can make himself.

"We need to follow whomever it was, but we have to be absolutely careful. Who ever it was, is likely ordered to hunt us down. We are fugitives after all and this is their home either we like it or not." Well this is why mature advice can be useful, however Eric never expected Mogranius to have such level of maturity. The only thing left from Mogranius' past behaviour is his extensive sarcasm.

"If you say so." Answered Eric and blazed Fire from his feet, and started flying up. The first seconds caused a lack of orientation, but he managed to get back on track. Surprisingly, using the semi smooth vertical mountain wall to his aid even.

A hundred yards after, they met what at first felt like the top of the mountain. But no that wasn't the case, they just reached another semi flat portion of rock. Like the one where Maleemia is based on. It was beautiful indeed for those who enjoy landscape, but the two Ignites were forced to put their attention towards something or best described, someone else.

A group of Ignite ladies were up here already and they weren't unfamiliar faces either. They saw a lot of the Ignites ladies who guarded the Carved Path, Osira too. But what caught their attention most, was Bittore Nardone standing on her own two feet holding a tremendously glowing Ignite gem!

The Ignite gem changed its colour from purple to blood red in a matter of seconds, getting acknowledged of the two Ignites attention, Bittore handed the Ignite Gem to one of her Companions and stated under a low tone. "It is ready."

The Companion grabbed the Ignite Gem and flew up, before she headed straight down towards the Kingdom of Maleemia. Both of them confused no doubt, Mogranius decided to melt the ice between the two groups with a question. "I'm glad you are alive but, what are you all doing here?" He didn't pay much attention to the lady flying down, but was forced to pay attention to something else before Bittore was about to speak.

A loud raging explosion happened hundreds of meters beneath their feet, followed by an earthquake even stronger than the one Eric felt down in the tunnels. They were all knocked off of their feet regardless of faction, Mogranius even covering his head by instinct. Last thing he needs is a boulder falling on his head.

The lady that first flew down with the Ignite Gem, flew up and joined the scene. Carrying a face painted black by the explosion's smoke, she walked closer to her group and proudly stated with her tone low. "The deed is done."