Chapter 543: The Calm Before

Pradi checked both corpses for loot. "Looks like Sandi dropped a staff." For the first time since he joined Ducky, he felt at ease. They managed to take down the leaders of two different factions. "That wasn't a Nymph."

Staff of Binding

Fish Bone Staff: Legendary

Description: Instantly casts any spell saved in the data bank.

1) Greater Binding Circle

2) Greater Summoning Circle [Demonic]

3) [Empty]

"That was Soup, an important member of my family. I didn't know she was down here." Ducky held the staff in her hands, turning it over as she studied the detail. She could feel that it was made from a real sea creature that had once thrived with life. "I want you to head directly to Glacia's room, take anything that looks like it might be valuable."

Pradi nodded. "We should go. Their deaths won't go unnoticed for long."

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The two elementals waved to the women standing on the balcony before heading toward the Gemini Temple. Neither spoke as they passed through the empty training yard, air and heat seemed to circle them as they stepped onto the platform and vanished from sight.

"Been here before?" Rhy wasn't bothered by the cold of Fraya'Selene, although her scant armor left much of her skin exposed, her reception of the Black Ice Element from Nix had made her already high tolerance for cold complete.

Shae shook her head. Wearing her customary red dress, she stood out like a beacon of light on a dark night. A pocket of warm air followed her, causing the snow underfoot to melt slightly as she passed by. "Alpha team was here a few times, I was going through Planar training at the time."

A snow-covered walkway led from the portal platform to the trading section of the City. All sorts of shops carrying everything from advanced weapons to camping supplies could be seen.

The two women stopped at the gated entrance to the Tali Estate, a sprawling five-block area filled with luxurious homes and spacious courtyards. Having sent word ahead of their arrival, the guard escorted them to the front door before leaving them in the care of a familiar face.

"Little sister gets more beautiful every day." Rhy smiled when the Ain'Dhassi ranger opened the door.

"How are you?" Cora hugged the air elemental. "What are you doing here?"

*Author's Reminder***

Cora was a younger Ain'Dhassi ranger still in training when she was tortured by the Fir'Dhassi to the point of her spirit breaking. Eron healed her in Haven with the assistance of Rhylia's bond. She was last seen early in the Everspire fighting, during Ever Flame. Cora also appeared briefly in the Sun Devil chapter.

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"I'm fine, Cora." Rhy could feel that the air element within the ranger had strengthened considerably since she'd last seen her. "We have business with the Grand Elder. Is he here?"

Cora nodded. "Let me take you to the waiting room and then I'll let him know you've arrived.

"I'll show them the way, Cora." An Ain'Dhassi woman spoke from the top of the stairs, her blue eyes were much darker than most Ain'Dhassi and she wore her white hair very short.

Shae studied the woman as she descended the stairs. She already knew who the woman was, Nix had described her perfectly. It was Yavin Tali, the older sister of Del. "I'm Shae and this is Rhylia."

Yavin bowed slightly. "Greetings to you both. I'm Surai Yavin Tali."

The Ain'Dhassi led them down a short hallway before pausing to open a set of double doors. Inside the room, were several comfortable-looking couches and a fireplace that had recently been stocked. In front of the fire was a single dragon egg. "Just wait in here, Grandfather will be with you shortly." Without speaking further, the Ain'Dhassi left them alone and closed the door behind her.

Shae had seen many dragon eggs since she regularly helped Deidra and Tai with their Nurseries. Only Sinfaya refused to let her enter. She placed a warm hand on the smooth surface of the egg. "I wonder..."

"What are you doing?" Rhy smiled nervously as Shae's hands burst into flames.

Shae pushed flames into the dragon egg, Nix had done the same with both Nihlus and Sindi. As far as she knew, no one had pushed any elements into Del Tali's Dragon Egg. "She needs a bit of flame I think."

Rhy kept a lookout while Shae continued to work. "Are you sure this is okay?"

Shae smiled and shrugged slightly. "I know it won't harm her, Dragon Eggs are perfect at adapting elements. Hey... Push some of your Elements in this."

Rhy sighed loudly, she had the feeling if they were caught, then end up fighting their way out of the house. "Which one?"

"Black Ice first, then Air." Shae switched places with Rhy as the Salamander cracked the door slightly to peek into the hall. "All clear, go ahead."

Rhy bit down on a smile, once Shae got into something she always charged straight ahead. "Fine. I'm going to blame you if we get caught."

Shae nodded in acceptance. "Then I'll blame Nix and we'll be off the hook."

Morai Sai Tali arrived nearly half an hour later. The Grand Elder bowed respectfully at the two elementals who were warming themselves by the fireplace. "I apologize for the wait. As you know, the War Council has been convened and I was attending it at Parliament."

The Salamander returned his bow. "Thank you for seeing us. This is directly related to the War Councils' plans. We've located a potential site where Khione's forces might be hiding."

Sai Tali brought up a map of Oasis. "The source is solid?"

Shae shrugged slightly and zoomed in on one of the Su'Dhassi territories. "It's in Beca. All we know is that there is a Coven located here. We felt it needed to be investigated because these are our access points to the Bone Fortress."

Sai Tali's eyes strayed to the Dragon egg resting nearby. "That where Del is? In the Orion puppet?"

"Yes." Shae understood immediately that Sai was worried about her. "You can't communicate with her through the Dragon Egg anymore?"

Sai frowned slightly. "When she sleeps as an Orion, we can speak briefly. She has limited us to fifteen minutes per day."

Shae lay a gentle hand on the Elder's arm. "She is probably safer than any of us."

"I wish to ask a favor." Grand Elder Tali bowed deeply this time, holding it until Shae pulled him upright.

"There is no need for that. We will accommodate you if we can."

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Nix stood barefoot in the melting pot of armor and assorted weapons. His Emerald Fury flames instantly melting anything that was tossed in. Pon was pouring the liquid metal into clay molds that the two of them formed.

Pon's old face was locked in a scowl. "How did I end up with the harder job? You're just sitting on your ass, melting shit."

"Hmm... Technically I'm standing. Get it right, old bastard." Nix glanced at the four long tubes that they'd already cast. "After this, we'll start on your casings."

Pon snorted loudly. "You mean since we spent a day on your shit, we'll finally get to mine?"

Nix nodded. "Sounds a bit selfish when you say it like that."

"I'm back." Del took up her spot on a flat rock overlooking the melting pot. "The sheets you poured are ready to go."

Pon shared a glance with Nix before filling up the clay pot again "That going to work?"

"Not sure." Nix created a dozen square molds out of clay. Each of them was a meter wide by two meters long and roughly one centimeter deep. He had smoothed out the inside as best he could without proper tools. He was going to need the sheets of metal badly. "Probably won't get a chance to finish before we take on the next three Burroughs."

Three hours later saw them use the last of the scraps, the area around them was filled with hundreds of different molds.

Pon and Nix sat on the edge of the melting pot, neither caring that it would have scorched a normal person.

"Don't bullshit an old man, Nix. You are definitely up to something."

Nix grinned but didn't deny it. "Can't put anything past you. It's time to team up."

"The fuck you think we been doing the last few days?"

Nix opened his hud and brought up the Golem builder interface. "Check this out."

Pon's eyes bugged out. "You can't be serious! What's my part?"

Nix removed a hand-sized shell casing from his inventory. "This is from Darsi's sniper rifle."

Pon turned it over in his hand. "Damn... We spent most of yesterday making these."

Nix shrugged slightly. "Right... Ours are two feet long and not tapered so nicely."

Pon handed it back to him. "We making rounds for a big ass gun?"

"Nope. Four big ass guns." Nix pointed to the large metal tubes that were still cooling down. "The rounds will be fairly simple. The casing contains the explosive charge, we'll attach a projectile. The real trick will be reloading."

The old man grinned at his partner in crime. "Time to blow shit up."

"Time to blow shit up," Nix agreed.