Chapter 563: Leaving the Fortress (1/2)
Pon coughed painfully while blinking dust from his eyes. ”Sem?”
”Here.” Semmi's voice sounded from nearby. ”I'm okay. Fajii is freeing us.”
The old mage squinted in the darkness; he could see the dim glow surrounding the Scorched Earth mage. ”Should I melt my way out?”
/Alpha: Wind: Please don't. This place has been shifting and collapsing constantly.
/Alpha: Semmi: Fajii is strengthening the area around us. How long, Fajii?
/Alpha: Fajii: Half an hour.
/Alpha: Pon: How are any of us still alive?
/Alpha: Semmi: If I were to guess, I'd say the Bone hardening we were awarded. Alfie said it would make even you stouter.
/Inferno: Fey: Alpha team?
/Inferno: Semmi: We're trapped, but Fajii will free us.
/Inferno: Fey: We'll continue rescue operations then. Let me know if you require help.
/Alpha: Pon: Fey is running things?
/Alpha: Wind: Guess so. Just about everyone else is down.
/Inferno: Nix: We're back!
/Inferno: Pon: Punk Bastard! Did you get him?
/Inferno: Nix: Does a bear shit in the woods?
/Inferno: Morti: Yep. I think so.
/Inferno: Nix: We got him.
********************
[Let me try one more time, Nix]
Nix scowled at the black object in his hand. He'd been given the Key of Chaos and the Ball of Enigma when he completed the Well of Du'Wei. He thought perhaps the ball has some real use; it did not. ”Fine. You have to sound mystical or sometimes funny if you want people to buy it.”
[And people will believe me?]
Nix nodded and leaned back in his chair. ”If you can't get it right, I'm leaving you in the river.” The Inferno leader recast his line and placed his fishing pole across his lap.
[I understand. No more shaking, please.]
”How about a rub? Like a genie lamp?”
[I've never been rubbed. Please be gentle.]
”Now you sound like a pervert.” Nix rubbed the ball with the palm of his free hand. ”Will I catch a big fish today?”
[You have a thirty-two percent chance of catching a rare Golden Bass today.]
”Really?”
[No. You told me to make things up. The rubbing was much better.]
Nix chuckled and sat the ball down. ”This could be your calling, Enigma.”
/Go Fish: Semmi: Are we late?
Nix looked up to see Semmi and Jun Li approached with fishing poles in hand. It had been two days since the Fall of the Keep, the graveyards from the Tempest and Tribunal Burroughs were a few hours from resetting.
A warm breeze coupled with the river's slow trickling sound left a calming effect on the fishing trio. Mortimer, Soup, and Fey adorned the far riverbank, taking advantage of the morning sun to warm themselves.
/Go Fish: Semmi: Hey, Nix. What's that ball for?
/Go Fish: Nix: It's Enigma. He's an Oracle.
/Go Fish: Jun Li: What?
/Go Fish: Semmi: Really?
/Go Fish: Nix: Yes. Rub it like a genie lamp and then ask a question.
/Go Fish: Jun Li: He's teasing us.
/Go Fish: Nix: Nope. Give it a try; just start off easy.
Nix handed the black ball to Semmi, who immediately rubbed it.
”Who am I?”
[You are the brilliant and talented, Semmi Dow.]
Semmi's pretty face creased in a wide smile. She immediately rubbed it again. ”Will my friend Junie ever find a man?”
[She already has.]
Jun Li's face blushed deep red; she tried to cover the fact by rebaiting her hook. ”Are you really going to listen to that thing?”
Semmi laughed at her friend's expression before rubbing it a third time. ”What's his name?”
[I'm not allowed to share secrets of the heart.]
The blonde officer wrinkled her nose at the ball before glancing up at Nix. ”Can I keep this?”
”No.” Nix held out his hand and left it there until Semmi returned Enigma.
/Go Fish: Jun Li: Can I try?
Nix nodded and handed it to her.
Junie rubbed the ball tentatively. ”Will we defeat Khione?”
[Inferno and its allies will destroy the Goddess of Winter.]
Jun Li smiled happily at the ball before giving Nix a sly glance. ”How many wives will Nix end up with?”
[Calculating... Nine.]
Nix frowned at Enigma. ”Remember our chat about the river?”