After being briefed on the situation I went to look at the wet patch of dirt and just as I expected it was dripping with water.
Originally two months were spent in the mines depleting both the food and water supply of the empire.
Out of desperation and thirst Edward licked this wall and dug further to reach the water source revealing how to escape.
I had spent far too long with no sunlight so I made haste to commander Machiavelli.
On the way I saw how bad things actually were, healers were present but even strong healers couldn't heal broken souls.
Dead eyes, missing limbs, and the thirst for daylight the famine of hope drowned the mine.
I finally reached Machiavelli, he was huddled over several maps and had a fireflute next to him.
I made my presence known.
"Hello general"
The tall imposing figure of Machiavelli arose from his desk as he spoke.
"To what do I owe this displeasure? I would like to show it my sword"
Outright hostility? It seems I've made a pretty serious enemy, I replied in a calm voice while staring directly into his eyes.
"I thought that you would like to know that I've had a premonition"
Suddenly he went from looking imposing to like a starved beast he mouth moving to let out his deep voice.
"Well? What did you see"
I smiled and spoke.
"I saw boats"
Suddenly the face of Machiavelli turned to rage as he stepped forward and at out his words.
"Are you fucking with me?"
I shook my head and spoke.
"No I would never, follow me and I'll show you exactly what I mean"
He seemed slightly more irritated but followed me nonetheless and we reached the damp patch then I gave an instruction.
"Feel this wall"
He rolled his eyes and reluctantly touched the wall but then a look of suprise appeared on his face and then he spoke.
"It's wet!"
Oz spoke.
"That's what he said"
Ignoring Oz I replied.
"Yes, please have your men dig through here it should lead to something, I will organise a way to get everyone out"
I left knowing he would do as I recommended then I went to Kyle and had him prepare the boats they made out of carriages they were for the injured and children.
I trusted that most soldiers could swim but also had rope hanging from the boats for those who couldn't.
Before I knew it everything was prepared and everyone was gathered it was a horrible fit I had everyone stay quiet which was quite important because there was over 16'000 thousand people.
I started giving orders on how people should organise themselves, injured people and children on the boats then those who couldn't swim would have to hold onto rope.
For those that could swim or at least float I told them good luck, as I finished explaining the process and people began moving a splashing sound could be heard.
I looked behind myself to see water rushing in ordinarily if water started to pour into an enclosed space people would panic however it was expected by almost everyone.
Those who didn't expect it looked at me then began rushing to their positions with a new found urgency.
As water reached my knees everything was ready and that small leak had almost given way to a gushing tiny river.
I ordered everyone braced themselves then I gave my order to the elemental mages.
"Now!"
With that a torrent of water came rushing in up to my chest the elemental mages pushed the water back as soldiers pushed the boats and everyone entered the seperate chamber.
Those who couldn't swim held the ropes and the boats were pushed above the surface of the water.
We were on the bottom of a underground river originally used to supply water to miners and transport ore out of the caves.
But as the river's water level rose it was sealed off and became obsolete, by using elemental mages to create a small bubble of space we are able to calmly evacuate.
Unlike in the original story wherein Edward swam against the current with a few other starved wounded survivors leaving the mages to die.
The anti mages maintaining the barrier would be the second last group to leave, the last being me, the water mages and the earth mages to reseal the mine.
As the time came I prepared a net from the thread made by my bloodline to catch anyone who let go of the rope, fell of the boat or couldn't swim adequately.
Finally I called out for the anti mages.
"Now! Come!"
Several people in off-white robes came running in and jumped into the water floating up.
The earth mages closed off the river entrance and the earth magic followed the water mages the two groups of elemental mages creating a boat made of dirt which was propelled by water leaving me to become enveloped.
This was by design using gust I gave myself a moment to breathe in heavily then using my red thread I made myself rise up to the top of the underground river.
There was a large space above the river through it was completely black so I couldn't see it all.
I began floating propelling myself by casting gust from my feet and keeping myself upright by pushing on the riverbed with my red read.
Occasionally I would catch a person with my net and pulled them up I couldn't worry if they were breathing or not but I was able to at least make sure that their heads stayed above water.
Some people thanked me but I couldn't pay them any attention since I was too focused on staying awake and using everything at my disposal to keep moving.
Eventually I developed a migraine from using gust too much but I kept using it until we reached the outside and instead of a pitch black space above me there was a starry sky.
I had done it, this river only flowed during the winter floods and the exit to the outside only opened after a rainstorm in the story broke the seal with the city of fire no longer tending to it.
The window of time had to be perfect, I slung the people I had caught up on the riverbank and dragged myself out of the water.
The time has come to go home.