Who The Fire Favours (ONC2023) gxg

Chapter 19: Ixis

Axis was far different than Ixis expected.

After the endless alleyways that had twisted and turned ending up in a large plot of craggy, dusty land was kind of disappointing. It was like someone had scooped out a plot of land only to reconsider at the last minute and shoddily put all of the earth back. Seeing it as a fully fledged, bustling city was difficult. Seeing it as a prison for a dragon was almost impossible.

"How am I supposed to...do this, exactly?"

Ixis hadn't spoken up much throughout the entire trek but she was frustrated. They had walked all this way, risked being discovered by demons and even her own clan to arrive...at nothing. She kicked the dirt and gestured wildly at the barren landscape as if her Fire Trait would magically terraform it.

Rider rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder, leaning on her cane despite only walking a short distance and continued to stand resolutely at her side. Ixis' mouth tweaked upwards, comparing the Shadow Traited to a soldier unaware of her own limits.

"Axis used to be known as the Living City. It was built by Tinker Moles before we Traited populated what surrounded it in Beggar's End. I believe it was made by a single leader's Craft to imbue the entire underground with shapeshifting abilities. But that was before the demons-"

"No, no, no. You're completely wrong."

Rider stretched and cracked her joints in preparation to punt the obnoxious Tinker Mole several metres away.

"It wasn't just built by us, it was alive, sentient until you Traited decided to enslave our people and bury it for good measure. Besides, Lady Leaffa was the first Guildmaster to develop her Charger Craft to not only match but surpass anything your poxy Lightning Traited could do." Gizmo explained, his haughty tone grating Ixis nerves.

"Don't tell that to Sky-"

One of the twins, Ixis, couldn't tell which, elbowed his brother in the stomach and he doubled over in pain. She couldn't help but roll his eyes, the boys still partaking in childish bouts of competition either to impress her or just pass the time. Ixis didn't have the heart to tell them she wasn't interested in men.

"Well, then. Lead the way, Gizmo. This is what you're here for. Give Ixis a starting point, Crafter."

"Not so loud." Gizmo hissed, darting around the empty area as if expecting to be arrested at any moment.

Rider rifled through a small notebook no bigger than her hand and ignored him. Ixis tried to read over her shoulder but didn't recognise the language, making a wild guess the notes were in Nocturian. It wasn't until they disappeared into thin air did Ixis realise. That miniscule thing was Rider's grimoire.

She smiled evenly at Ixis' spying but the warmth didn't reach her eyes. Rider's expression was melancholic, longing to have an ornate grimoire normally seen in Traited. But her gaze was fixated on Axis, clearly bothered by its current state. This was what Beggar's End could have been, her family buried and lost to time. All that progress only to be crushed by an earthquake.

"Are you ready for this, Ixis?"

She flinched, half expecting the Throneholder behind her and resisted the urge to salute. Rider acted so much like a Regent it scared her but strangely, Ixis felt calm at her side.

"I...I don't know."

She could've lied. She could've clamped her feelings down like normal and moved ahead. But something made her stop. Rider guided her away from the group for a little privacy. She slumped down onto the dusty ground without a care, using her hat as a fan the moment she got a moment's rest.