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Ulvala, Gray Phoenix Dungeon, Time: 9:40 AM
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"Now that we've broken in, how can we free them?" James asked eagerly, ready to set the prisoners free.
"Welcome to Step B. We're going to make their escape through the 'Transport Backdoors.' It was used to transport supplies and slaves. But, we can use this against them and transport them out of the towers," Koras explained, knowing the floor plans of the dungeon very well.
"Seems like a good step for this," Ace simply stated, causing some stares from his team and Koras.
"What? I'm trying to loosen up like you asked," Ace argued.
"So, this plan is foolproof?" James said excitedly, seeing the potential flawlessness of the plan.
"Well, there's one hole in this whole ordeal," Ace chimed in, identifying a problem with the plan.
"Considering news hasn't reached Gray Phoenix yet, they wouldn't know that I've changed my ways," Koras admitted, realizing a slight vulnerability in the plan.
An awkward silence lingered for a few seconds before Ace came up to him, "You didn't realize that?!" Ace exclaimed, slapping Koras on the head.
"Hey! I said I wasn't the sharpest when it comes to outcomes," Koras retorted, attempting to slap him back but missing.
"Wanna fight again? You know what happened last time," Koras growled at him, "You know, I got crushed by your boy over there!" Koras pointed at James, who could only wave at him back.
"Well, yeah? Who finished you off last time?" Ace remarked with an angry expression.
Mianne decided to point out something as both of the boys were arguing with each other, "Alright, break it up, boys!" Mianne holds both of them off by their faces.
"Ugh, you two are acting childish." Mianne bonks them on the head, and they hold their heads in pain...
"We need to focus on our mission!" Ezra sighed and decided to point out Mianne's missing detail.
"Also, your halo is gone. I think your body has finally got used to your Reborn Form." Ezra pointed above Ace's head.
Ace looked up to see it was finally gone, "Well then, let's get back to the topic at hand."
"I feel like if we try to talk to them, they won't understand anything," Ezra said, leaving everyone confused by his statement.
"So, you're saying they wouldn't want to be free because they can't understand?" Koras asked, feeling perplexed by Ezra's choice of words. "Let me explain from a simple eye view."
"I want you to take a look around, especially at the slaves," Ezra clarified. Everyone decided to follow Ezra's suggestion and began looking around.
They soon made a significant observation—they were all children.
"That's right, children. Some as young as 7 to 11 years old," Ezra revealed. He felt like he had seen this situation before.
"Oh... I think I got it now..." Koras finally realized the situation. Ah shit, another hole...
This revelation left everyone deep in thought, wondering how they could properly communicate with these young ones.
Would the children even understand anything they said, or would fear of repercussions force them back into performing the dirty labor for the GP?
"Well, I guess I have someone in mind who might be able to help," Koras said, about to share his bright suggestion with the team.
"It might be more difficult to do since he's kinda smarter and doesn't trust me..." Koras' face turned into concern, "This might either cost us the entire mission or we might make this happen."
Koras walked deeper into the mines with everyone following behind, searching for something, or rather, someone.
He looked up at the signs that read, 'Gold mine ahead!' and ventured further in until he finally found what he was looking for: a tall boy mining away at the gold.
"If you have any orders or suggestions, leave them on the table. I am busy," the tall boy said, focused on his mining task.
"Well, this isn't one of your brightest ideas, huh, Koras?" Ace remarked, unsure of what Koras was trying to achieve.
"Can you listen to what I have to say, Nathan?" Koras responded, knowing that Nathan wouldn't be inclined to listen, but he was determined to try.
"Oh Christ, here we go..." Nathan rubbed his eye in annoyance, ready to unleash some matter he had been keeping up.
"Whatever you're going to say isn't my problem. Don't you have a town to rule over?" Nathan retorted, unaware that Koras' soul had been cleansed.
"Nathan-"
"Not only that, you have kept us here for years without giving us a chance to see our family or even friends." Nathan started to go off, "After all that, you have been-"
"NATHAN!"
Koras yelled at him this time, and he sighed, "I've changed my ways, so please listen to what I have to say," Koras begged, hoping to avoid making things difficult.
"You know, I would have denied your plead by now. But if you've got something to say, it better be good," Nathan said, setting his pickaxe aside and sitting on a nearby rock.
"Wow, great work and a great step for you to become a better person," Ezra stated, giving him a thumbs up for his good work.
Koras decided to reveal his entire plan to Nathan about letting everyone free, "Okay, it seems sketchy, and honestly, you need to do something for the children before I tell them what's going on." Nathan was skeptical about the whole thing but interested.
"And that's how everything is going to go. Understand?" Koras said as he looked over to see if Nathan understood.
"Where did you even get the paint to draw this?" Nathan was questioning how they even got buckets of paint down here to draw on the wall, but he put those thoughts aside.
"So, these lunatics change your entire soul completely? And now, you want to do the same thing as them, which is letting us free?" Nathan said, to which Koras nodded.
"I would go along with it, but have you told them about it?" Nathan asked.
Koras's face started to darken; he knew exactly what Nathan was talking about. "I'll let you do the honors," Koras said, as he didn't want to talk about it himself.
Koras sat on the crate which just broke and made him fall on his ass, "Ow."
"So, I want to inform all of you about something," Nathan said as he prepared to spill the beans on what Gray Phoenix had been doing. Everyone sat in anticipation.
"Gray Phoenix plays a part in this whole thing, which involves finding the 'Perfect Flame'," Nathan said, leaving everyone confused about what the 'Perfect Flame' was.
"Essentially, they're trying to find the most powerful fire ability that exists. So, they try to kidnap any child with fire powers and steal all of their powers away," Nathan explained. "It just not the only district doing this. I heard this is just a smaller and new one with them being linked to a bigger one."
"James could have..." Mianne's eyes widened as she realized that James could be one of the children whose powers were stolen too if he didn't live in the Yosho Empire, maybe even join their side.
"Vermilion was the first person that they tried to steal from," Koras decided to speak his part.
"But, I joined them, and they stopped their chase on him." Koras didn't know how to feel.
Sure, he did save his friends from getting their powers stolen, but did his friend want that too?
"I'm sure Vermilion wishes he could've gone back to save you too," James said surprisingly, Koras looked up at him, as James bore a face of concern, "You did the only thing you could've done. I'm sure he's grateful for your sacrifice," James added reassuringly.
"Wow, I always thought you were the innocent enthusiastic kid who just likes to throw himself into danger." Koras smiled a bit as he patted James's head, feeling a little awkward but grateful for the support.
"I am a guardian, It's my job to do this," James stated, rubbing the back of his head. Jeez, this is only the second day of their adventure.
"All the human slaves that live here used to tell stories of how cool their fire magic was. I used to be one of them; I've been here the longest," Nathan said, his face filling with determination.
This is where he would lead everyone to escape, where Gray Phoenix would finally fall.
"Now then, shall we start the plan?" Nathan said, getting up from sitting on the rock and rubbing his butt a little as it was kind of painful.
James had a determined look on his face, and everyone else followed suit. All eyes turned to Koras, who just laughed and grinned.
"Alright, fine. Let's start this party!" Koras exclaimed in a loud booming voice once again,
"Also, here's the key to release everyone." Koras throws a key to Nathan, who takes it,
"Not so bad, muscle man."
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Ulvala, Gray Phoenix Tower, Time: 10:00 AM
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The receptionist was about to begin her usual greeting but was terrified at what she saw. It was Vink, who had made it out of the terror that's Nourtuck people, "C-can I help you, sir...?" the receptionist asked as he started gasping for air, trying to prepare his voice.
"Call everyone in this building..."
Vink's voice was like a mouse, which made the receptionist even more concerned.
"What was that, sir...?"
Vink finally finished preparing his voice as he breathed in, ready to drop a shell shock.
"GET EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW! KORAS HAS BEEN WITH ONE OF THEM, THEY ARE PREPARING TO DESTROY THIS HEADQUARTER-"
Vink was breathing heavily before collapsing to the floor.
"What...?" The receptionist was confused, but everyone else in the lobby was thinking about it.
"Well, don't you find it strange that he's a little nicer?" One of the guards said.
"Yeah, he would have sworn at the receptionist by now," the other guard agreed.
"Also, I noticed one of the dungeon guards said they got a break from him." The three guards said as all of them looked at each other and realized.
"Oh, shit! Alert the mages and send a message to report the general!" The high-ranking guard ordered as everyone started panicking.
"Looks like we have a traitor on our hands."
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