Chapter 245 - Drake Company (1/2)

Bali stood in the doorway leading to the room where Hyai was attacked. According to Ronnie, they sealed off the exits to the Inn within a few minutes of the event. The ranger pulled out a small pouch from her inventory and dipped her hand inside to scoop out a generous amount of the fine golden powder.

Holding out her hand, she opened it slowly and blew the contents into the air. Immediately it formed an expanding cloud in the center of the room. The powder cloud continued to move until it contacted the walls, and then it hung stubbornly in the air like a dense fog. She clapped her hands together one time, hard enough to make them both sting. The powder moved downward and settled onto every surface of the room, creating a fine layer of gold-colored of dust.

[Gametrail: Advanced]

1) Time Range

”Yesterday, 1300-1500.”

Two sets of footprints glowed brightly on the wood floor of the room.

Two trails have been found, coded as 'A' and 'B.'

Bali nodded to herself and walked toward the window. Hyai was a tall woman; her footprints were the larger of the two. ”Designate 'A' as Hyai.”

She tracked the second pair of footprints back to the bookcase, where they had first entered the room. She pursed her lips in thought for a moment. ”Designate 'B' as Target.” Bali moved to the bookcase and started tossing the contents onto the nearby bed. She found what she was looking for on the third shelf, a small lever that caused the bookcase to slide soundlessly open.

A small room was hidden behind the case; the only object was a small circular pad that looked a bit like a foot-rug. Bali opened up her hud to update her progress.

”Found a two-way hidden behind the bookcase in the room where the attack occurred.” She bent closer to study one of the clearer footprints. ”Small feet and short strides coupled with high arches and a footprint that is slightly toe-out; leads me to believe the attacker may be female.”

Bali smiled slightly at the two-way on the floor. Two-ways were very rare and high priced. They were two small pads that were magically linked for instant travel back and forth. ”I could hide one in the Captain's room and the other in the women's bath.”

She was tempted to pursue but decided to bring reinforcements.

[Whisper: Bali to Ronnie] Could use some back-up if you are up to it.

[Whisper: Ronnie to Bali] Are you still in the room?

[Whisper: Bali to Ronnie] Yep.

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

The Core was about fifty percent of what Nix imagined in his head when he had pictured it. He had envisioned rivers of lava and intense heat. However, he did not think that would be accompanied by dense forest lands and a blue sky.

/Inferno: Nix: The Core is an instance. You two okay?

Sometimes Nix forgot that Mina and Milat were both water creatures. Although he knew that they would have taken precautions against a fire world, most likely, they were very uncomfortable.

/Inferno: Mina: We're fine, Nix. As long as we don't have to run through the lava.

/Inferno: Nix: I'd try riding the Vilas if that's the case. They might be water creatures, but they ate quite a bit of Yandro.

/Inferno: Mina: Good point.

The green grass on the riverbank seemed unharmed by the random splashed of lava that landed on it. Nix picked up a handful of the grass in his hands, nodding to himself. ”Flame resistant. I could burn it, but there would be some effort involved.”

”GET DOWN!” Milat pushed Mina one way while he dived in the opposite direction. Nix didn't bother to move when the black drake pulled up short and scorched him in yellow flames.

/Inferno: Nix: That was rude.

[Grounded]

Milat has used the power of the Gemini Trickster to bring the flying drake to the ground.

Mina summoned all four of her Vilas and had them attack the drake while she maneuvered around it and equipped her scepter.

Nix raised both hands, and a dozen Ice Flame Strands stabbed deep into its chest.

[Air Burst: Advanced]

Air exploded outward from the barbed tips of Nix's strands, blowing the drake's chest apart.

A drake has been slain.

Almost immediately, the sound of roars filled the air. Nix stared in disbelief at the cloud of black heading toward them. ”Get ready to retreat to the entrance!”

[Summons: Fey]

A silver-haired mage in baggy robes appeared in front of Nix. She carried a long staff and wore her hair in a long braid that stopped at the back of her knees.