Two days and 4499 degrees later in the Flame Realm Hittan's frustration had set in and his temper began to flare, again! If the members of team New Hope saw that he stood at tier 3 Diamond Rank and was complaining about his slow progress they would attack him on principle!
"Damn it! This damned body has a different Mineral Core than my previous one and is making my transition too time-consuming! I don't have months of time to spend in here while my wives are alone out there and especially after I've promised to solve their loneliness. I'll give it one more attempt then I'm leaving this God forsaken fire prison!"
...
"Jager, what did Malach have to say that he wanted to secretly meet up with us? He proposed a collaboration between us and the Aapo family. He wants to stage a kidnapping of Hittan's friends to force him to publicly kneel and apologise to him."
"Okay, but why get us involved?"
"He needs us to convince them to leave the Academy for liberty weekend. But he knows the best persons to do that are Kaia and Kaija and not us. But we are needed to convince Kaia and Kaija to convince them to do so. I told him yes we would love to. That was something you wanted too, right Sang?"
"Yes, you did well. Maybe after this, he won't be so high and mighty! Let's get started on it."
Having agreed to participate the two gathered Mark under the pretence of visiting the town below for some sightseeing and shopping the following day.
The next morning the girls found themselves bored in the absence of a certain person.
"Damn it, Sister! He's been gone for 5 days now why hasn't he come out to visit us?! I'm beginning to question his devotion!"
"Kaia, it's only been five days."
"So you're saying that you don't miss him at all Kaija!?"
"I didn't say that. I mean he's trying to get stronger for us, isn't he? So be patient."
"But it's so boring around here now without him, geesh!"
Knock, Knock!
"Who is it!?"
"It's us, Sang and the rest!"
"What do they want? Do you think Sang is still trying to get with you?"
"I hope not. He'd only be wasting his time."
"That's never stopped him before. I think you need to make it clear to him that he's wasting his efforts. Plus, at some point, you know who is bound to get jealous and we've seen his temper already."
"He has to work on his temper, but you're right. I need to make things clearer to him."
"Okay then, I'll get the door."
...
"Hey what took you guys so long to open up?"
To Jager's question, Kaia only eyed him from the corner of her eyes for a second. While Kaija did not even bother to respond to him but ask a question of her own.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Seeing that Jager had overstepped by his question Sang stepped in, "we plan on going to the city for some sightseeing and shopping. It is Liberty weekend after all."
"Oh, okay. But we hadn't planned on going out today. Why not go without us?"
"Wait a second sister, that doesn't sound too bad and we can invite Edan and the rest to come with us. They've been bored too, at least that's what Sahar has been saying whenever she sees us around.
"Yes, we can all go as a big group and increase our safety, right Sang?" Jager chimed in.
"Yes, we can definitely do that." Responding to Jager, Sang did his part to try and convince Kaija.
"Okay, since it will help ease your boredom, Kaia."
After gathering up Edan and the rest of team New Hope, the group travelled to the Portal Station.
"Where do you intend for the portal to send you today students?"
"We're headed for the market in the town below. I'm told they have quite a few magnetic crystal jewellery"
"You seem quite knowledgeable of the town Jager."
"Thanks, Falkner."
'Soon, your precious teacher will be on his knees grovelling. Hahaha' Snickering to himself, Jager showed a pleased smile.
"Okay, students. But remember to stay safe and always practice caution when travelling in the city."
WHOOSH!
"Damn it! What an irritating situation!! Okay, calm down Hittan, if people see you talking to yourself they'll assume you're crazy. Wait, where is everyone? Why is the training grounds so empty? Guard where is everyone?"
"Instructor Hittan, most students would have gone home or to the city below for shopping or sightseeing. It is Liberty weekend, Sir."
"Thanks for the information"
With that Hittan headed straight for the residence of the Princesses.
"No response. They must have gone to the city or home? Was I too late??" With worry setting in about the possibility of the girls leaving earlier than expected, he found himself shaken. Somehow he managed to find himself standing in front of his own residence, but the moment he stepped in he found out that it too was empty.
'They must have gone to the city below. And since I left instruction with Edan to keep the girls safe then the two groups may very well be together. That certainly makes me a little relieved. I think I need to see this city, once more.'
After arriving at the Portal Station Hittan questioned the guard on whether or not he saw either Kaija and Kaia or Edan and the others. He was happy to confirm that they were all together and that they went to the town market. So he quickly made his way hoping to surprise everyone.
WHOOSH
Walking briskly towards the market Hittan couldn't help but think this place looks brand new. The buildings looked freshly cut from marble and granite with mineral coloured glass windows that reflected a multitude of colours. The streets were wide and made from a single layer high-quality slate unlike the corundum streets of the academy. Crowds of people were everywhere and the carriages were not too far behind in beauty when compared to the homes. Being pulled by pearl white horses the marble carriages gave the impression that only dignitaries could afford them.
Walking with a singular focus to find his group Hittan paid little attention to the beautiful scenery around him.
BOOM!!
Suddenly the crowd in front of Hittan all came running towards him in a panic! Making use of his Flicker Step he started to move towards the source of the explosion vanishing and reappearing in the rushing crown like a ghost. When he finally saw the source of the commotion it was Edan and the rest of New Hope along with Sang's group fighting off 25 men in red hooded robes with an arena insignia on their backs.
There was something else that Hittan noticed immediately and it was that Kaia and Kaija were missing!