Chapter 230 - A Clear Message (Conclusion) (1/2)

Nix didn't do anything during the first pa.s.s. Fey scorched the main house and then banked hard to make another pa.s.s. She could feel Nix getting ready to jump off so she came in low.

He jumped off Fey in mid-flight and hit the ground hard; a quick roll and he was back on his feet. ”QELLIS VINTER!” Nix shouted at the house, two Fire Mages came barreling out of the door, both struck at him with Balefire.

”Balefire... Not bad. Where is your Master? I'm Nix, the Guild Leader of Inferno and I'd like a word with him.” Nix didn't bother attacking either one.

[Dragon Eyes]

Nix's eyes turned deep orange while he scanned the house for Lord Vinter.

[Aura Ignition]

Neither Mage attempted another attack, their flames were completely ineffective.

Nix touched the huge wooden door at the front of the mansion, it burned brightly for a moment and then burst inward. His thermal vision told him the first floor was empty except for three people that were huddled in the kitchen, he opened the door slightly to verify their ident.i.ty. ”Kitchen staff?”

The woman wore an ap.r.o.n that was covered in flour, she held a large knife in front of her. Both of her helpers were hiding behind her. ”Stay back!”

”You should leave quickly, this place won't survive my arrival.” Nix walked toward the staircase, behind him he left a trail of flames on the wooden floor. He ignored the help when they ran for the exit.

Two armored men blocked his path at the top of the stairway.

[Flashblade]

Nix didn't bother drawing his sword, his blurred form appeared in front of the men and he slammed a fist into each their chests. Both men flew into the far wall like broken kites before crumbling to the ground.

”QELLIS VINTER!” Nix scanned the upper floor, there were only four people left in the burning house. From their sizes, two of them were children.

Nix walked down the hall to the room where they hid, the flames from the wooden house were climbing higher. He kicked the door open only to get shot in the abdomen by a crossbow. The bolt didn't survive his armor. The shooter's eyes held an image of victory for a moment, it quickly faded when his target stepped inside the room unscathed.

”Lord Vinter, nothing but a petty criminal preying on the hard-working people of Jenzi.” Nix recognized the man's stark terror. He was standing in a puddle of his own p.i.s.s, the crossbow had been dropped to the floor.

”Who sent you? I'll double whatever they're paying you!” Lord Vinter's voice wavered when he spoke, behind him a young woman was shielding twin girls.

Nix knew from real life, even bad people had families. They didn't deserve the grief that came their way, but that didn't stop him from taking action. ”I sent myself. That old woman that you grabbed from Jenzi, I consider her my Gram. You should have known better.”

”Wait! Let my family go!” The man crouched on the floor, his face pleading with Nix.

”Sure.”

[Open Breach: Jenzi]

Nix glanced at the young woman. ”Step through the breach, you'll be safe.”

The woman nodded and grabbed her children's hands, she rushed toward the breach without looking back. When she crossed in front of Qellis, the man moved with her and shoved them at Nix before leaping into the breach.

Nix stared in shock at the woman and two young girls who were now laying on the floor. He would have guessed the woman's age at around twenty-five and the kids nine or ten. ”I did not see that coming.”

The woman's eyes were on the breach, they showed little surprise. ”Then you don't know Qellis very well.”

Nix shook his head in disgust and helped the woman get up. ”Go on through, it's safe.”

He waited for a moment and then followed them.

”LET ME GO AT ONCE YOU STUPID ANIMAL!” Qellis lay flat on his back outside of Shana's Boutique. One huge paw pinned him to the street in front of the shop.

”You look like a bad man.” Morti seemed unconcerned with the flaying limbs of Lord Qellis or the crossbow he held in one hand. The bear cub looked up when more people pa.s.sed through the breach.

When the breach closed, the woman turned to face Nix, her voice lowered. ”Is there any chance that you will be releasing him?”

”Nope.”

The woman nodded and walked toward the man, she took one big step and then kicked him in the face. Her pale face was red with anger, she stomped back toward Nix and grabbed her daughter's hands.

Nix waited until they turned the corner before turning back to Qellis. ”Kinda looks like she enjoyed that s.h.i.thead. Let him up.”

Qellis didn't bother trying to talk, he rolled to his feet and started running down the street. ”PROVOST! PROVOST!”