Chapter 111 Palace of Fire and Air (1/2)

/Inferno: Mina: Nix? All the air elementals have suddenly vanished.

/Inferno: Nix: Rhylia summoned them into the Temple.

/Inferno: MIna: All of them at once? Did she decide to join us?

/Inferno: Nix: Yes to both. Gate back to Glory, I'll see you there.

/Inferno: Mina: Can you meet me in the Sea-World?

/Inferno: Nix: Sure Min.

Nix stepped into the Sea-World, the warm breeze off the water made him stand in place for a moment. ”Gulls... we need some birds here.”

Mina was standing next to the door of the cottage when he walked up, she had removed her hood and the tie that held her white hair.

”You never wear your hair down Min, looks nice.”

She didn't reply, only stared at him with her pale blue eyes before opening the door and walking in. Nix followed behind and eased the door shut.

”I misspoke.” She stated softly and then sat on the couch. ”My words sound sour, even in my own ears.”

Nix sat down next to her. ”You're jealous, it's a common feeling between men and women.”

”I'm jealous.” She sat there staring as she considered the words. ”Would you stop being my friend if Fajii asked you to?”

”Fajii wouldn't ask me something like that.”

”No... I guess she wouldn't.” She moved closer and leaned against him until her head rested on his shoulder. ”I see Fajii as she is now, There's a happiness that wasn't there before.”

”She seems the same to me, perhaps the Scorched Earth path has made her emotions more stable.”

”Please forget my harsh words.”

”It's fine Min.” He stroked her hair softly. ”The mantle of leadership can be heavy.”

”I cannot calm myself.”

”We could always exchange pointers.”

Min sat up, her pale eyes looking intently at his face. ”It would be difficult with such an ugly man.”

”Right... I could just turn you around, then you wouldn't have to look at me.”

A smile cracked on her alien face before she laughed loudly. Nix joined her and they laughed together for some time.

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

/Inferno: Sharl: Floyd just shapeshifted...

Nix was walking toward the Fire Palace when he heard the comment. Floyd was the name that she had given the Naga boy.

/Inferno: Nix: Into?

/Inferno: Sharl: A regular boy.

/Inferno: Fajii: Don't worry, it's normal.

/Inferno: Sharl: He can't even speak yet.

/Inferno: Fajii: He should be able to turn into a regular snake also although that might take longer.

Nix shuddered, anything but snakes.

/Inferno: Sharl: Can I come to see you Fajii?

/Inferno: Fajii: Yes.

[Whisper: Pon to Nix] You will be leading a man's group into the embassy later.

[Whisper: Nix to Pon] Let me guess... You want to see the 40th floor.

[Whisper: Pon to Nix] Of course we do!

[Whisper: Nix to Pon] Fine... Only if you guys make it into the 30s on your own. I don't want to repeat all those floors.

/Inferno: Pon: Wind, Banz, Milat, Chael... Our mission is a go. Meet at the Embassy.

/Inferno: Wylie: Such motivation, I like it.

/Inferno: Ronnie: A suspicious amount of motivation.

Nix entered Shae's elemental world, he had expected to find her in her favorite pool but she wasn't there. Morti was still sleeping soundly although he had actually moved enough to turn on his back with his huge paws in the air. Nix patted his fat tummy and kept walking.

Nix stopped when he finally found her, she was sitting next to Fajii and the two of them were tending an enormous garden plot. ”This is way bigger than I remember.”

Shae looked up when he spoke. ”We planted more peppers Nix, Fajii says I am good with plants!

He nodded and accepted a hug from her. There was dirt smudged all over her face. ”Wanted to talk about the Air Nemesis.'

Shae frown, ”she still refuses?”

”No, she is in the Doppelganger Stone with all of her air elementals. She has agreed to join us.”

Shae grabbed his hand and pulled him into the freshly planted rows. ”Help us for a while.”

”Sure... let's put the stone in place first.”

Shae sighed, ”you'll come back and help us plant after?”

”For a bit, I already promised Pon I'd give him a hand.

Shae waved and all three of them appeared on the altar. She held out her hand and Nix placed the Doppelganger Stone in it.

He watched as Shae held it up, to Nix it was just an ugly brown stone. It looked like a topaz. ”Is it okay to leave them in there while you do this?