The City Center Tragedy

The moonlight filters into the Ante-chamber, illuminating Ignis's figure. The scales on his back cracked, sizzling blood trailing down his back. Standing hunched over Stella, Amy laying on the floor some distance away.

A piece of stone pierced through his abdomen, blood dripping down. Stella stares up at him with a horrified expression. Ignis turns his head, coughing specks of blood across the floor. Gasping for breath, Ignis cries out, "Fiery Regeneration!" Gasping in pain as his wound slowly closes, pushing the mass out from his back.

Everyone stares at the two of them with striken looks on their face, "I-Ignis…" Elaine's eyes harden, spears of light form flashing through the air. A nearly constant stream of them raining toward's Vel.

Vel prances around the spears, her body twisting and turning, she takes to the air, her dance continuing.

"Tsk, That's enough!" Valeria's shout disrupts Elaine's focus.

Vel hover's in the air giggling, "Tsk, Tsk, Tsk." She wags her finger at Elaine, "If you kill me, then you kill your prescious Guild Master."

Elaine's gaze turns to Valeria, "Is that true?"

"Yes, my sister is the one who turned me into a vampire. Anyone whose been bloodtied, will die once their 'Master' has died." Valeria grits her teeth, kicking a stray rock across the cavern.

"Then, we're at a stalemate?" Eric asks lightly padding to stand beside Valeria alongside Jerald and Elain.

"What is your goal? Was it just to forcefully pull ouy his draconic nature?" Valeria's gaze transfixed on Vel as she slowly descends to the ground.

"Oh, that was the beginning, but theres a bit more work that needs to be done. While our reason to support them may be the same, our methods are far different." Vel grins hauntely, a massive gust of wind pulses at the swing of her arm.

As Ignis wraps his wings into a cacoon locking Stella inside they fly into the air. Sliding into the Mana gate's enterance, as soon as they disappear within, the gate collapses on itself.

The group's eyes widen, "No!" Elaine cries out with an outstretched hand. The dust settles in the chamber, the only trace of the gate in the room. Is a lingering mana.

Vel's expressionless gaze meets with Valeria's, "This won't be the last we meet, fate is a fickle companion after all." Taking a single step forward's she dissappears through a portal.

Valeria stands in silence, her companions surrounding her with varying tense expressions on thier faces. Turning on her heel, "We much make our report. The gate has successfully closed, at significant cost." Her tense voice echoes through the chamber. Following behind, Jerald carrying Amy.

The throng of reporters and hunters that waiting outside of the entrance to the labyrinth. As Valeria Eric, Elaine, and Jerald step into the soft glowing moonlight, cheers erupt. As quickly as they started, they fade away at the expression on their faces.

"Keep the canera's rolling," valerias commanding tone washes over the crowd, stirring the crowd. "Today's fight, while fought with fevor has finally ended. You all did well," valeria's hand flourishes in a gesture at those present. "However it ended tragically, two promising young hunters, have been enclosed within a Gate. As their status is unknown we will report them to their families as missing. Mark this day as The Tragedy of City Central!"

The reporters scramble asking question after question. When one voice silences the others. "Who were the hunters we lost today?"

Jeralds deep voice crashes through the crowd, "That question will not be answered in respect to the individuals and their families privacy!"

The tall, dark haired reporter reels from the rebuke, bowing deeply, "It was not my intention to cause such discomfort." Whispers stir through the throng of reporters.

Elaine steps forwards, placing a hand on Jerald's shoulder, "While an insensitive question we can understand your curiosity. Forgive our harshness, and understand the bond if hunters is like that of family." Her voice soothes over the crowd, calming them with a gentle tone.

"We will now take our leave." Valeria states coldly, the 5 of them take flight, dissappearing in the direction of Leviathan.

Minnie sits with her arms wrapped around her leg's, staring at the television screen. A loud knock at the door startling her. "Coming!" She calls excitedly. Opening the door, expecting to see her brother. She's met instead by Elaine and Jerald, holding Amy in his arms. Minnie falls to her knees tears leaking down her face, as she sees the pained look on Jeralds face.

Elaine falls to her knees in front of Minnie pulling her into an embrace, "You promised," Minnies little hands raining blows on Elaines chest. Tears and snot falling from her face like drops of rain.

After quite some time, they all sit around a table, Minnie's eyes puffy and red. "Where'd brother go," she asks with a sniffle.

Jerald looks away with a clenched jaw, Elaine answers with a regretful expression on her face. "We have no way of knowing where the gate lead him… we're sorry Minnie." She rubs a hand on minnie's quivering back.

Minnie suddenly turns to Elaine, "How do I become like you?" She demands, springing to her feet and staring closely at elaine's eyes. Their noses practically touching.

"Minnie!" Jeralds voice finnally sounds within the room, a heavy look on his face. "After what just happened you want to put yourself in danger? You're a child, and just as powerless as us in this situation. The only couse of action…" Jeralds voice trails off filled with emotion. After a deep breath he continues. "The only option we have is to wait, and trust your bother and Stella will return. Ignis swore an oath to protect you, I will die before I let you throw yourself into danger! Think of how he would feel…"

Elaine places a finger to Jerald's lips, "shh, that's enough." Her hand trailing down minnies hair.

Minnie looks at him in shock, her lips quiver, "I hate you!" She yells running into her room and slamming the door.

"Now look what youve done," Elaine sighs, "I understand your reasons but be gentler with her. She's just a kid."

"Gentle dissuasion would only allow her to continue her foolish, and disrespectful ideologies. "Still, I hope he can make it through whatever ordeal he faces." Jeralds eyes soften as he looks into the sky.

The light from the gate fades immediately as they fly through it, tumbling across the ground, Ignis slams into the wall. Stella's body still cradled against his.

Ignis falls limply against the floor, the scales on his body melting away. The bruised and cut parts of his body reveal themselves slowly. "Ignis…?" Stella reaches out to his still form, a slight movement of his chest catches her eye. Calming her frantic breath, she hears the sound of his light, ragged breathes.

Moving to sit beside his head, she pulls it into her lap, the dark passageway illuminated by glowing rocks of various colors. She starts to hum lightly, her fingers tracing along his hair. They remain like this in the silent dim corridor for a long time.

Stella's eyes flash open, as a rock clatters in the tunnel. Pointing her arm pal outward, her vision frantically searches the darkness. A groan from her lap draws her attention.

His eyes blinking as he stares upwards at Stella, his reptilian pupils absorbing the small light around. His vision crystal clear through the darkness, "Stella…?l his hand brushes against her chin, "Your not hurt are you?" He mutters, his nostrils flair as a grimey scent from down the passage wafts their way.

Stella's lips quiver, as she stares down the passageway her hand still outstretched. As the goblins slowly hobble into sight, "Solar ray," she calls out. A fash moving white ray pulses from her hand scorching a goblins skin. Shrieking in pain the 3 goblins charge the duo.

Ignis grunts, his hand pushing himself upright. One of his hands covers her eyes, pointing with his finger. "Flare," he grunts as his mana burst forth in a bright flash of light. Staggering to his feet, he rouses the last of his mana into a sword. His heavy footsteps, dragging across the ground. He slashes the goblin methodically, before falling to a knee. His sword planted into the ground, as he leans against it. Another solar ray pierces through two of the goblins at once, stella beelines for Ignis.

A loud slap resounds through the cave, "How stupid are you? You shouldnt even be moving in your condition!" Her eyes leaking tears.

A resigned sigh escapes Ignis's lips, as he gazes up at her. "Fine then, keep watch. If…I can get enough mana, for my regeneration, then I'll be alright." He slowly responds between pained breathes.

Stella's glare softens as she removes her hands from her hips, placing his arm over her shoulders. "Come on, I'll help you to the wall," she says in a gentler tone.

Ignis smiles lightly, "Looks like you get to pay me back for saving your skin in the alley."

"Stop wasting your breath," Stella kneels beside him. Her head turned away, she pats her lap, "Lay down and rest."

Ignis leans against her, breathing into her ear, "I can see in the dark by the way…" laying his head down, facing towards her stomach, an arm drapped around her back. His breathing slowly evens out, as sleep overcomes him.