Chapter 583: Thermocule (1/2)

”What do you mean she's gone?” Nix took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. After making sure that Tai'Qui was doing well, he decided to visit the Temple of Flame to ask Deidra about fire seeds.

Pon watched the interaction between Nix and Deidra, fairly certain that it was going to end with the Inferno Leader activating his Dread Form. ”Before either of us could say anything, Shae cast her flames into the cylinder and disappeared. It's no one's fault, Nix.”

Nix scowled at the cylinder in question. Shae hadn't mentioned that she was going to refine her flames, but then it may have been a spur-of-the-moment decision. He decided to let the matter drop. ”Do you need anything from me?”

The Temple of Flame was nearly identical to Tai'Qui's Earth Temple. The statue of a dragon marked the underground entrance; almost nothing else was visible from the surface.

Unlike Tai, Deidrea has changed into her natural form. The dragon stared at Nix for a handful of moments. ”Nothing else, Nix. Since this is a private seed world, I will forego the customary Acolytes and Temple champion. I have no use for either of those.”

Nix turned his attention back toward the cylinder. ”Do you plan on refining your flames also?”

”Yes. However, I will wait until Shae returns; besides you, she is the only one I trust to guard my nursery during my absence.”

Unlike Tai's central chamber, this one was made of white marble with gold veins that glittered in the torchlight.

Deidrea changed forms suddenly; her large dragon body morphed into the coldly pale beauty that Nix was used to. She walked past Nix and took a seat on what could only be called a throne.

Nix glanced around the room; although both Dragon Temples were cut from the same mold, the Flame Temple seemed to be a bit more flashy. ”Why are there two thrones?” Remembering the Earth Temple, Tai'Qui also had two thrones.

Deidra shrugged as if unsure. ”Did you want something, Nix? It isn't like you to linger.”

”Yes. I need Fireseeds. Perhaps as many as fifty, strong enough to function for the next few months.”

Deidre smiled slightly, her pale feature showing amusement. ”I can make those; come back tomorrow.”

Nix glanced at Pon, who seemed like he wanted to be anywhere else but there. ”Fine, I'll do that. Notify me at once if Shae returns.”

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

0400 hours, Haven Ranch

Nestled comfortably between two warm bodies, Nix was sleeping peacefully with no intention of getting up any time soon.

”Nix...” Shae's voice whispered from the doorway. As soon as she opened the Master Bedroom door, both Fajii and Hyai looked up.

The Inferno Leader mumbled a protest when he was gently nudged from two different directions simultaneously; his eyes blinked open when they repeated the process. He immediately spotted the ringleader at the door; his sleepy frown faded into a smile. ”Back safe and sound?”

Shae nodded. ”Back safe and sound,” she agreed. ”Your Fireseeds are on the kitchen island, ready to go.”

Nix took a few moments to extricate himself from the warm comfort of his companions and sleepily got dressed next to the door. A tired Shae shamelessly assumed his spot in bed, smiling at him when he exited.

/Inferno: Nix: Life is unfair...

/Inferno: Darsi: Did you get Fireseeds?

Nix temporarily ignored the question as he opened a small box on the kitchen island. He recognized the work as one of Sinfaya's temporal boxes.

/Inferno: Nix: Yep. Do you have something to house them in?

/Inferno: Darsi: Check this out.

Thermocule (Pronounced Ther-Mock-U-Lee)

Elemental Container: Fire

Description: Fire seeds placed inside of the

Thermocule are amplified by fifty percent.

/Inferno: Nix: I'll meet you at Ravine's House.

/Inferno: Darsi: See ya there, Trip-7.