Chapter 96 Mystery Map part one (1/2)

Nix appeared on the deck of the Phoenix, Mina's smiling face was welcoming him. ”Thanks for coming Nix.”

”Hmm. It's almost like I'm your spirit companion.” Nix glanced around the deck. ”This is bad.” The entire fleet was immersed in a dense fog bank. He was scarcely a dozen feet from Mina, and she was already blurred. A quick peek at the helm, showed that Captain Delphi was indiscernible.

/Inferno: Nix: Damn... thirty feet visibility?

/Inferno: Semmi: Aye, can't see the sky or each other. Forget about finding landmarks.

/Inferno: Jun Li: We've been anchored here for two hours.

/Inferno: Nix: Two hours? What were you waiting for?

/Inferno: Ronnie: For you to get done.

/Inferno: Nix: Somehow that doesn't make me happy. What have you tried so far?

/Inferno: Semmi: We've tried using Wilo to blow the fog away. It works for a few seconds and then swirls back in place.

/Inferno: Jun Li: We tried deploying an underwater team, no creatures may enter the water at this time.

/Inferno: Semmi: No flight is possible either.

/Inferno: Nix: So it's a puzzle then. Can you come alongside the Phoenix Ronnie?

/Inferno: Ronnie: You have an idea Nix?

/Inferno: Nix; Not really, just like having you around.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Captain Ronnie is on the way!

/Inferno: Nix: Don't run into us, Captain Ronnie.

”Deploy lanterns to the starboard rail!” Captain Delphi shouted to her crew. She had a good idea where the rest of the ships were, the smaller corvette had been trailing their starboard side all day.

A few minutes later, the smaller ship eased next to them. Ronnie was standing on the rail. ”Don't drop me Nix!” She leaped through the air at him, laughing when his strong hands wrapped around her.

”Oh god... What's with the pirate get-up Ronnie?” Nix laughed when he stood her up straight. She had a black bandanna on her head and an eyepatch. With her pointed ears and dark skin, she resembled some sort of dark elf pirate.

Ronnie winked at him. ”It's cute right?”

”Very...” Nix had to agree, she was very cute if pressed he would have said outrageously sexy. ”Follow me.”

Ronnie nodded and followed him to the front of the ship. She watched curiously as he climbed on the rail and stood on the figurehead. ”Why are you up there?”

Nix gave her a deadpan look. ”The figurehead is fireproof.” He apologized in his heart for standing on the majestic bird's head.

”Right.” Ronnie nodded as if she understood. ”What should I do?”

[Aura Ignition]

Nix's emerald flame encircled him, the heat rushing across the deck of the Phoenix. He gave her an innocent smile. ”Blow me.”

Ronnie's smile widened, ”be happy to. Hold on tight!”

Wilo appeared on her shoulder.

[Wind Tunnel]

Nix used his flame strands to anchor his legs to the figurehead a moment before the wind slammed into him. The superheated air pushed the fog away while burning it up, in a matter of a few seconds, there was a clear path several meters in front of them.

Mina pointed to a single streak of white in the water, it intercepted their heading and veered sharply to port. ”Are we suppose to follow that?”

/Inferno: Nix: There's a trail in the water, we're going to follow it.

”Hard to Starboard! Three-quarter Main!” Delphi shouted her commands and centered the Phoenix on the path before them.

The Phoenix sailed steadily North, Nix had turned to face the ocean during one of their short breaks. He could see the rock reefs on either side of them, Delphi also noticed them, she had a sailor's healthy fear of reefs. Rocks rose on either side of them, eventually forming fjords as the fog faded into nothing and land appeared.

[You have entered Mendota Heights]

/Inferno: Nix: This must be our stop!

/Inferno: Jun Li: Let's anchor here and meet up on the Phoenix.

*****************

A short while later Semmi, Jun Li, Wylie, Mina, Ronnie, Zhava, and Tyrant were gathered around Nix. He was going over their roster. Tyrant was a new Scorched Earth mage who specialized in the Defender tree. Both Mina and Wylie brought small assault teams. The Colonial Knights had done as Nix asked and chosen the path of the marksmen. Two Aquarion healers and two human ones made him comfortable with the roster.

”Once we get ashore be ready for anything. I'll send Ducky out initially before our scout team.”

[Summons: Ducky]

Ducky appeared, without asking she immediately took on her human form. ”Greetings Nix.”

Nix patted her head gently. ”Ready to do some work? Scout out the surrounding area for us, make sure no one notices you.”