42 The Ifrit's Den (Chapter 42)

. . .

Somewhere in a landscape of sand…|1|

6 Large Crimson Vultures were currently flying high above a vast desert, torrid heat battered down on wind-worn rock formations. |2|

"We will be arriving shortly, Miss."|3|

One of the Ifrits said from one of the Vultures.

"Mn!"

Azar nodded as she stared ahead with a contemplative expression, lost in thought.

<Azar : That man was incredibly strong. Are all human S-Class Wizards that strong? Sigh… my people have been hiding this whole time, maybe it's time for that to change. If my people continue to hide, our strength will become stagnant and never advance. Perhaps it is time for me to bring this up to father.>

"L-lady Azar, why do you suppose the human wishes to speak to Leader?"

Aidan, the young ifrit from before said puzzled.

"Because he was probably sent by the Magic Council."

Azar answered with a grim tone and a serious look in her eyes.

"The Magic Council? But how-

"Why else did you think that an S-Class Wizard would appear here? Our Sentries have notified my father and the Hell Crest Squad|4| of humans monitoring the Forgotten Desert. Most likely our activities at the Sun Village must've alerted the Magic Council of our existence. Sigh… to be honest, it was a matter of time before the Magic Council noticed us. We've been hidden for so long…"

Azar said as she stared ahead in a pensive mood again.

Aidan saw her contemplating and decided not to disturb her thoughts.

. . .

"Miss, we have arrived."

One of the Ifrits announced.

"Mn…"

Azar just nodded in response.

The Vultures suddenly started to descend onto the scorching and golden colored sand, their flaps dispersing the powdery sand everywhere. The group then dismounted their vultures.

"Thank you…."

Azar whispered to the Vulture as she rubbed its head with a gentle expression on her face. The vulture just closed its eyes and trilled gently.

"Let us go."

Azar said as she turned and walked towards to a giant, pale-cream colored rock. The entirety of the rock was coarse from decades of battering from harsh sandstorms, however, on the surface of the rock there was a small area where the surface was smooth and flat, almost the size of a normal hand.

Azar placed her hand on the flat surface part of the rock. Suddenly, the rock started to glow a gentle red light and a low rumbling noise could be heard coming from the rock as it started to split apart in the middle. A path of stairs could be seen leading downwards into a dark underground passage. Azar started headed inside as the rest of the Ifrits followed along.

As the group walked down on the stairs the path began illuminating by mysterious crystals on the walls. They continued to head downwards until they met with a dead end. Once again, Azar placed her hand on the wall and the wall began to glow a gentle red light, suddenly the wall began to divide itself from the middle. As the 'wall' split apart, a handsome Ifrit with dark red armor that had a crest with fire adorning it, and short fiery 'hair', appeared crossing his arms as if he has been waiting for them. Behind him, an immense and vast open space could be seen along with a beautiful town full of busy and joyful Ifrits.

"Welcome back, Miss Azar."

The Ifrit said as he bowed slightly.

"Yes, it is good to be back."

She said with a smile.

. . .

"So tell me daughter… why is it that you've returned empty handed? Where is the Spirit of Agni!?"

A tall Ifrit with a fiery beard and medium long fiery hair said angrily, sitting on a beautiful throne that was made entirely of some unknown red crystal. In front of him were Azar and the rest of the Ifrits that went to the Sun Village kneeling on the hard floor that was laced in gold and mixed with the same material that the throne was made of.

"I apologize father, but the Eternal Flame was not The Spirit of Agni."

Azar answered with head down.

"Explain."

The Ifrit said in commanding tone.

"Yes, father."

Azar then proceeded to explain everything that led up to the misunderstandings and Daniel awakening the Dragon Atlas Flame from the 'Eternal Flame'. Although she recalled everything that happened, she omitted some the details of Flare's mis-information. She told her father instead, that apparently the Giants Ancestors themselves didn't know that the flame they found was merely a fragment of the Spirit of a Dragon|5| and that Flare must've interpreted the 'records' in the Sun Village incorrectly.|6|

Some of the Ifrits in her group glanced at her confused, however they did not say anything and remained quiet.

"Hmmm.. I see. Although it may not have been her fault, she is no longer of use to me. Netherspark, get rid of her. As for the human, Daniel, Azar you have my permission to invite him, however take the [Haze Cloth] with you."

The Leader of the Ifrits said coldly.

"Yes, my Lord."

A raspy and deep voice said coming from a shadowy figure in a dim corner of the Throne room. Because of the dim lighting only his red armor could be seen, on it was the same emblem that the Ifrit that greeted Azar before, could be seen.

Azar's suddenly stood up.

"Father! Wai-

"My lord!|7| Miss Flare is missing!"

Suddenly an ifrit dressed as a medieval attendant said running into the Throne room with alarm.

"What?!"

The Leader of the Ifrits suddenly stood up enraged.

"Netherspark, gather some of the Guards and go after her."

"Yes, my Lord."

The shadowy figure suddenly combusted into dark black flames and vanished.

"As, for you. You and your team are dismissed."

He said waving his hands.

"Yes, father."

Azar said a bit coldly as she stood up, as did the rest of her team and walked out of the throne room.

"Sigh… this child.. Why won't she simply follow the traditions that our ancestors have laid for us? I would've understood if my eldest daughter had married a strong human. However, that man was pathetically weak and cowardly. In his final moments he begged for his life as my daughter stood protectively in front of him."

The Leader of the Ifrits said frustrated.

. . .

"Miss?"

Aidan looked worriedly at Azar. The rest of the Ifrits have gone to rest, however Aidan noticed how incredibly worried Azar was for her niece.

"Aidan, do you know if Reytia is still on her mission?"

She asked with a thoughtful expression.

"I am not sure Miss. Last I know she was sent on a mission towards Sin Country."|8|

Aidan answered hesitantly.

"Tsk."

Azar frustradely crossed her arms.

"If you want Young Miss, I could go make sure Miss Flare escaped safely."

Suddenly the Ifrit that greeted them from before appeared

"Embergrip…."

Azar stared at the Ifrit warily as she reached for her long daggers .

"Calm down Miss I am not going to do anything, I merely wish to help."

The Ifrit said smiling.

"Help? Why would you help me? You are part of the Hell Crest just like Netherspark."

Azar said as she glared at the handsome Ifrit with her hand still gripping onto the dagger behind her back.|9|

"Sigh… yes that is indeed true. Azar, I've always been in love with your sister, even after she decided to be with that human… I was still deeply in love with her. I warned her, I told her to stay away from that human, I told her what the consequence would be if Lord Iryaa ever found out about her relationship with the human, however she wouldn't listen."

"In the end Lord Iryaa found out, and sentenced her along with the human to death. I was able to help them escape on a Crimson Vulture to Oak Town and most likely it was during those months that Flare was born. But, Lord Iryaa's intelligence Team, The Crimson Blade Squad managed to find them, luckily they were able to escape along with the baby."

"You know the rest from Flare... They captured your sister and the human however they couldn't find the baby. And… your sister was killed along with the man. I was unable to save her…. Now that I know that her daughter is alive, I will do everything in my power to make sure that no harm comes to her. Even if it means to sacrifice myself."|10|

Throughout the story Azar kept her grip on her dagger, however as Embergrip continued to narrate the events that led to her sister's tragic death she noticed true remorse and pain that Embergrip had in the depths of his eyes.

<Azar : Sister…>

A few tears threaten to fall from the corner of Azar's eyes, however her expression suddenly turned steely and her eyes full of determination.

<Azar : Now is not the time for this. I must not allow for my sister's daughter to be caught!>

"Very well, I trust you Embergrip. However, we are going to need to plan this out, we currently have no idea where she might be. We also need to know where to hide her from the Crimson Blade."

She said worriedly.

"Miss, how about asking for Daniel's help? He could help us locate her, since he knows the Dark Guild which she works for!"

Aidan who has been quiet all this time said.

"Dark Guild?!"

Embergrip yelled in shock.

"Shhh keep it low. Yes, sadly Flare has been led astray. Hmmm… if Daniel can help us, maybe, he could also have her join his Guild! He is also strong enough to protect Flare from the Crimson Blade's attacks. Thank you Aidan."

Azar said smiling gently towards Aidan.

"Y-your welcome, Miss."

Aidan said blushing.

"Wait wait. How can we know we can trust this human?"

Embergrip said with a hint of mockery.

"Because he was the one who helped resolve the misunderstanding between us and the Giants."

Azar said remembering the handsome face of Daniel.

"Humph, so what? Humans are weak and selfish."

Embergrip said with ridicule.

"Embergrip… Daniel is nothing like the human that my sister died for."

Azar said angrily.

"I will judge him myself. I overheard Lord Iryaa saying that he is allowed into the village? Bring him, I will judge him, if he passes my test, then he is indeed trustworthy and capable of taking care of the daughter of the love of my life. However if he fails… and I find out that he is trash just like that man, then I will kill him."

Embergrip said as he walked away.

"Sigh…"

Azar just helplessly sighed.

<Azar : It seems he still has inhibitions towards trusting humans because of that man's cowardice.>

"Aidan I trust that you will not tell anyone of what we discussed here?"

Azar said turning to Aidan.

"Of course Miss! I will not tell a word to anyone."

Aidan said confidently and giving a short salute.

"Thank you. Now let us go."

Azar said as she headed towards a pair of large doors.

. . .

|1| : I believe it is somewhere in the Forgotten Desert.

|2| : Hey, There are some Deserts that have rocks! Deserts don't only have sand you know.

|3| : To be honest I am not sure how I should address her? For now I will call her miss as she is young and unmarried. xD

|4| : You will know about this later. ;3

|5| : Lol yeah.... forgot to mention that... :p woops

|6| : Just Go With it. xD

|7| : Weird.... Lord? Why the heck am I calling him Lord now? xD Meh, Just go with it then.

|8| : I am not sure. But isn't Sin Country where you can find Gods? Lol never read the Manga.

|9| : Hey! The MC is not the only handsome one, you know!

|10| : Holy shit! What a long Dialogue! xD