Chapter 273 - We've got Visitors!

The group was debating where they should hunt, as Eric and Mogranius just lended their ears to see where the can and can not help. Bittore along with the rest have been in Maleemia's territory for a while now and throughout their travels they have found various sources of food, they are who to ask in terms of hunting.

Osira and Bittore were the ones debating the most, and when they almost reached an agreement one of the 15 Fire Controlling ladies dashed through the first tunnel and as she held her breath in she swiftly spoke. "Grand Leader Bittore, we have company!"

Considering the panic this lady is in in, it certainly can't be good company. Bittore was aware of that fact thanks to tens of past experiences in the Carved Path, so he didn't waste a blink. She asked, "How many are we talking about?"

"Two!" Answered the lady, and indeed got everyone in this room confused. Including Bittore, if she was on her feet she would smack this lady playfully.

"Well that was anticlimactic." Added Mogranius as his tone cracked through the long word, obviously he didn't say that word enough yet to not get tangled up through it.

"Why are you panicking then?" Asked Bittore as she covered her face with her right hand and rubbed her forehead, trying to fight a headache away.

"You don't understand, it got all of us confused. We didn't manage to look at them good enough from up here but one of them is an ill.u.s.tratio and the other is an Ignite!" Well now she tipped the bucket, everyone's eyes suddenly widened in shock and Bittore almost poked her own eye with her thumb.

Clapping afterwards to grab everyone's attention after collecting her thoughts, Bittore ordered. "Get 5 ladies and lead them to the Carved path for an interrogation!"

"Right!" Answered the lady who brought the information and dashed out of the room.

"By the Source of Fire I had more to say!" Complained Bittore as she turned her gaze towards Osira. "Lead the 5 ladies, if they prove as a risk don't face them head on. Suffocate them!"

Osira might not be the best one to chose when it comes to launching a hidden attack since she would gladly face the enemy head on, but she is the Leader after all. Although just a level 3 Fire Controller, Osira can be trusted with most of the tasks.

"Alright!" Osira answered and stood up to dash out of the room after the lady, so she can catch up before they blast off.

"Osira, I mean it. Don't attack head on!" Bittore insisted with a shout as Osira ran out, hopefully she heard her.

But to make her be sure at least for a nudge more, Mogranius stood up too and stated. "I'll keep an eye on he, don't worry." Before he blasted Fire out of his feet and flew through the room. Clearly his stamina is fully replenished.

Noticing the look on her face when he blew off, "And I'll have an eye on Mogranius." Eric stood up after, knowing what his mentor is capable off. Thankfully Eric just ran through the room instead of flying.

"Thank you!" Bittore shouted once more, thanking Eric. 8 Fire Controllers are better than one after all, they can't loose any of them. She feels guilty that she can't be down there herself, but she is better off up here than down there. Thankfully Mollara is here to keep her company.

"Don't worry." Mollara tried to comfort as she noticed the worried look that remained on Bittore's face. "This sounds like a very small managable case and will prove perfect training for her to become a Grand Leader."

"You're right, let's hope everything goes like it is supposed too." Aiming towards realism accompanied by her countless worries she stated. "I don't like bad mouthing my daughter but she is as impatient as a Wild Boar."

...

A lady flew down in front of the two visitor's path like a falling feather who was on Fire, that lady is of course the Leader of this little tribe, Osira Nardone. "What's your business here?"

This is indeed an Ignite and ill.u.s.tratio, she noticed and was proud of the sharp eyes her ladies have. But this is still an odd scene, especially since the ill.u.s.tratian lady looked younger. This could mean that this Ignite lady married an ill.u.s.tratio, or there could be several counts of propaganda or possible brain washing going on here with illas influences.

"We are here to reach the Kingdom of Maleemia, I hope we are in the right path." Answered the Ignite lady, trying to be as nice as possible to the grumpy looking Ignite lady that flew down. "Amazing, I never thought that I would see a lady Fire Controller."

The Ignite seemed surprised, which made this whole thing a lot more confusing and made it hard not to bash these ladies to the ground until they explained their selves. "How would a lady befriended with an ill.u.s.tratio like me as a Fire Controller?" Osira thought to herself as she was resisting the urge to bash them.

Instead she took her mother's advice and decided to do a semi passive aggressive approach.

"What do you intend to do in Maleemia?" Osira acted as if the Kingdom isn't blown to bits, it is not easy to see the Kingdom up here especially since after the Carved path a mild right turn has to be taken.

"We want to tag along with some friends." Answered the Ignite lady and with a noticeable smile on her face she continued. "They came here a while ago and we wanted to tag along after, this is going to be a little surprise for them."

Interrogation wise, the word "Surprise" is a terrible example to use. Now these two partially sound like assassins, or a scheme by the ill.u.s.tratian Alliance. Which is to send two of their own and dismantle the defences from the inside.

As the three were debating in the Carved path, Mogranius and Eric who were carefully watching from above tried to hear what's happening. The ladies are about 60 meters down, so it became hard to do so.

"I hope we will have to kill them." Mogranius thought to himself, "We didn't find any Demonite but figuring out how these ladies make enemies drop dead could be equally as rewarding."

But the Ignite lady's delicate tone echoed through the Carved path and managed to reach his ears. He noticed it right away and didn't waste a blink, he dropped down not like a feather but a boiling rock.

When he took a glance at the ladies, his theory was proven correct. "Alia!" He shouted and ran towards her.

"Mogranius!" She shouted back and ran towards him, but one force has to be stronger than the other at this case.

She tackled Mogranius, tossed him against the ground and tied him around a hug. "What are you doing here? Mogranius asked as he was being strangled out of breath.

"We came here to help you!" Ada spoke from the background as she saw a fluff ball with only a face showing, dropping down form the sky.

"Damn why is this man hugging the suspect?" Eric thought, he didn't hear them yell each other's name because he started flying down a few seconds after him and the Fire on his feet made it hard to hear.

As he walked towards the two on the ground, he took a peek at Osira's confused face and then spotted the ill.u.s.tratian lady standing a few meters back. "Ada?"

"Eric?" Ada spoke out in confusion, still not able to know for sure if its Eric or not but sure hoping so.

They two ran towards each other but thankfully none of them knocked each other down, both of them were a bit more gentle and sunk in each other's hugs perfectly thanks to the minor height difference.

"What are you doing here? It's so dangerous!" Eric felt happy, but also started to nag. I suppose it runs in his bloodline.

"We are here to help you, did you find it yet?" Asked Ada, with that question it is made sure that Commander Alia might have told more than she is supposed too.

"Um, no the situation here appears to be quite different from what we thought it." Answered Eric as he separated from the hug and saw Commander Alia and Mogranius after approaching them.

"Can you be more specific?" Commander Alia asked as she first took a peek at Eric and afterwards towards Mogranius.

"Oh it is a long story, but for now meet Osira." Mogranius stated as he pointed his hand towards Osira while keeping Alia on his hug. "She is the Leader of the 15 Fire Controllers of... ugh Maleemia I suppose?" He tried to explain, but wants to put introductions as a main priority.

"Oh she looks beautiful." Commander Alia was quick to compliment, it instantly made Osira smile but she became more concerned of the ill.u.s.tratian girl on Eric's arm.

Out of a sudden, she approached Osira and gave her a nice comfortable hug. "I'm Commander Alia, but you can call me Alia for not killing my man." She joked around, which rather gave even more smiles to everyone around.

This situation has made her very confused, but she didn't know what to say without offending Eric and Mogranius who helped them so much even after the back stab. This is especially hard for her, since she isn't used to seeing friendly ill.u.s.tratios.

To make it a bit more complicated, Ada walked closer to greet Osira as well. But the closer she got, Ada noticed it quite well that Osira isn't the happiest with this meet and greet. Either way, they hugged as well and after all this silence Osira wanted to ask what has been itching under her skin.

"I hope neither of you don't misunderstand me, but what is an ill.u.s.tratio doing with you?" It was hard to ask, but the safety of her people comes first.

Understanding her point of view, since ill.u.s.tratios tortured Ignites enough already. Ada decided to remain quiet and just let the others speak for her, it will be a lot more believable that way.

"She is our friend, recently moved to one of our three friendly domains." Answered Eric, wanting to stand up for her. "See in those three domains, most Ignites and ill.u.s.tratios learned to get along and are working together towards a better life."