[Two weeks later]
"Where are we going?" Shen asked Hydris.
He was perplexed as to why Hydris woke him up before sunrise and told him to follow.
"Shen your master was an enchanter" Hydris picked up his pace of walking.
"I want to see if you hold any information on the subject." Hydris turns a sharp turn down the hall
Shen struggled to follow him around. 'Dammit stop going so fast' Shen thought
"Here," Hydris said coming to a door and opening it, Shin followed close behind.
The room was small and had a sofa a weirdly placed bookshelf and a bed. Hydris went directly to the bookshelf and pulled a specific book and it opened up into a passage.
"Come along now" He said looking at Shen with his hand stretched to the darkness of the passage. Shen was hesitant but stepped inside nonetheless and began to walk
After a few turns and a flight of stairs, They came to a metal door and went inside.
"Hello there Shen. how you been?" Leo said. Inside the small room with three chairs, they all sat down. There was visible tension in the faces of those present. No one said a word Shen was begging for anyone to say anything till Leo broke the silence "What do you know about enchantments."
Shen was taken aback but quickly answered "Not much. to tell the truth, the only time I ever even heard about it was from master shu. why?"
Hydris and Leo exchanged glances for a moment before Hydris said: "Had Shu ever mentioned a friend who would enchant or a master that he had that taught him to?"
Shen thought back for a moment in silence when Leo interrupted "What about a place he learned from?" "OH" Shen jumped and looked to the both of them, "He said he learned in a place called Fumus."
Hydris and Leo shuddered at the mere mention of igniculus "Are you sure that's where he said he learned It?" Hydris asked cold sweat bearing down his face
"Yes absolutely why is there something wrong with that place?" Shen asked, one eyebrow raised
"Well yes they are our sworn enemies due to our conflicting views and way of life they are one reason we keep to the seas as to not cause war" Leo explained.
"It is where the grandmaster of fire lives the same grandmaster who helped kill your teacher" Hydris interrupted "And the same man who was able to deal me this" Hydris lifted his head to one side to reveal a scar from his chin to his shoulder which looked like that of a burn.
"Due to this, I would not like to cause trouble with them"
Hydris looked at Shen seriously "We cannot search for this man if he resides there," Hydris tells Leo.
"I got an idea," Shen said with a weird look on his eyes.
" The kingdom hasn't seen me and no one but you guys know who I am so what if I go?" As soon as Shen said that there was a gleam in Leonidas's eye that quickly disappeared.
"No," Hydris responded immediately his eye looked as if to shoot daggers.
"If you were to go how would I face shu in the afterlife" He stares into Shen's eyes "If you were to die I wouldn't live it down" Hydris was resolute in his decision "Shen if you remember anything then tell me. other than that you may leave."
Shen reluctantly walked towards the door "Leo guide him back" Hydris said.
Leo stood and bowed after which he walked out the door.
Hydris sat silently in his chair.
***********
"Shen" Leo said while grabbing a torch "Don't take it personally he hates that place and allows no one to set foot in it. He just means to protect you. Fumus is the reason we keep to the sea." Leo looked at Shin with a smile
"Well what if I can prove to him I would be safe there? If I prove I am strong enough" Shen asked
Leo was taken aback who was this boy who thought himself so strong as to go to the kingdom of fire
" so what do you think?" Shin said with confidence in his eyes
"well" Leo chuckled "Then I'm sure he would allow it then. But I'm sure his standard would be high" Leo said finding it humorous that this boy thought he could get that strong.
"Very well then" Shen said.
Leo looked at the boy who has seemed to have had a fire now lit and burning with his eyes
"I will get strong enough," Shen said with a confident expression and a visible determination pouring out of him
Leo looked at him astonished at what he sees and began to laugh and laugh "What's so funny" Shen asked angrily at the way his declaration was treated
"Nothing you just reminded me of my little brother just now," Leo said wiping away tears of joy
"Very well then if you want to get stronger then, for now, I'll train you this month," Leo said with a large grin
"really?" Shen asked
"Yes now then let's get going. Come along now" Leo said and with that, they exited the dungeon
"where are we going," Shen asked
"the training grounds" Leo responded
***********