Burned Out [Completed]

If All Your Friends Jumped Into a Pit of Lava...

Jin stood up immediately. "Father I-"

"No need to say anything, Jin," Professor Rho said. "I heard everything."

Jin paled even more. "I can explain."

"Oh, I have no doubt you'll try." His tone made Jin flinch. "You have disappointed me, Jin. I have trained you your whole life to be a loyal soldier, and now you join the enemy? Not only that, but you were defeated, dragged here in chains. This is most detestable. You are a failure and traitor. You are not my son."

Jin looked like he was about to cry. You know, for all of the terrible things Jin had done, he didn't deserve that. I stood and planted myself in front of the kid who had been my enemy just ten minutes ago.

"Now that's funny," I frowned. "It almost sounded like you said Jin was the traitor."

Professor Rho looked down at me as if I were a new species of bug. Behind him, Nick stopped smiling.

Jin put a hand on my shoulder like he was trying to stop me. I shrugged him away.

"And it's even funnier because I could have sworn it was you, Professor Rho, that betrayed my father. I'm also pretty sure, and correct me if I'm wrong, that it was you who betrayed Professor Saunders too."

Nick stepped forward. "This is hardly the time--"

My arms burst into flames. "Don't you move another inch."

Wynn and Assana moved up behind me. I didn't turn around, but I could tell they were as ready to fight as I was.

"I think we all just need to take a step back," Nick said, raising his hands placatingly.

"Just as soon as you tell us where my father is," I said.

"And my mother," Assana added.

"You already know the answer to that question. I believe Professor Rayner told you. They went against the Council and that could not be tolerated."

"Where did you send them?"

"Sadly we could only get the banishing ritual for one of the gods. Probably because the Osagai only ever needed one."

"The rogue warrior," I said. "They exiled him to Sute's realm."

"Oh how smart you are, Oliver." Nick smiled his wolf grin again. "Now that the background information is out of the way, I'm here to offer you a deal."

The flames on my arms almost flickered out. "What kind of deal?"

"Oli," Mart's voice was full of warning. "You can't trust him."

I waited for Nick's answer.

"We can send you all to Sute's domain to try and save your parents. There is a chance you'll find out how to escape, but I'll be honest, it's not a very large one. This way you have a shot, and we can be rid of you. The sooner you're dead, the sooner we can get new champions. Preferably ones that listen."

I looked back at my friends. Assana had a determined look on her face and I knew she'd say yes. Jin was still recovering from his father's words. Wynn seemed unsure. Mart just looked at me. His face said he would follow me no matter what I decided.

"Wynn, Jin, Martin," I took a breath, then continued in a low voice so Nick and Professor Rho couldn't here. "There's no reason you guys should put yourselves in danger. You don't have to go."

Assana nodded. "I'd feel guilty asking you to come with us. You have nothing to gain."

Jin's eyes locked with mine in a silent apology. "I've got nothing to lose, either. I'm coming with you."