Permafrost

79: Blaze

⭐️Chapter 79: Blaze

Well, the ice ride was less rough than the group thought. All they really had to do was sit as gravity took them down. At times, it almost seemed like magic was also propelling them forward, but hey. They could rest easy now, and think about their mission accomplished as Enaz generated their slide. Misty was gone, and things were being restored.

It had taken many days to do it, but cod was it worth it. The group could feel the breeze on their face as they looked over the edge of the ice slide. All the snow the Rinklings and Frost Army had initially generated was now slowly melting, perhaps because the conflict had been resolved or because they were in a slightly better mood and weren't trying to capture people anymore. Ryn was just glad they'd made up with everyone and taken them back into their homes. She hoped they could make up with everyone after seeing how wrong their "prophecy" was.

The Infernos also wondered about how Corrin would deal with Kagayaku and the promise of treasure, but Corrin told them not to worry. His dad would understand if a dragon helped his son prove him wrong, and he had a of of making up to do after what the Infernos had done. The Infernos trusted him as they slid, hoping that everything would go well on his end. Quite frankly, it was hard to believe that everything they'd did was that real. Heck, if it hadn't been for certain moments in their journey, they would've been goners!

Fang was sliding down the ice a little further away from the Infernos, not really feeling it as much as they were. Sure, the slide was nice, and he was glad to be going back home...but he worried about how things would resume. It would all just go back to what it was, with him being the lowest rank in the Wave Crashers. Thrash still probably wanted revenge too, so there was that to think about. If only he could avoid it somehow...but he knew his parents wouldn't be there for him.

"Hey Fang! Did you get your stuff back from the castle?!" Corrin shouted back towards him.

"Huh? Oh, uh...yeah!" Fang called back. "Some Rinkling guard found my stuff and kind of forced me and the Wave Crashers to change clothing and give up our stolen weapons. I'm kinda surprised they did that during a near-eruption but uh. whatever happens happens, I guess..."

"Oh, okay!"

But yes, about his parents. It was really only his mother since his father had divorced her. She supported him, but...at times it seemed like she was afraid of him. Even if he confronted her about this, she probably wouldn't be much help, suggesting that he "talk it out" or something like that. Perhaps he'd just have to take it that hard way and learn to defend himself later.

Meanwhile, the Infernos were looking around them, admiring the sky as they kept going down the slide. The sky was decorated with less clouds and the nature scenery around them was beautiful to watch as they went by. At some times, they could see Enaz waaay ahead of them, icing the rest of the slide. He had to be far ahead so that he could periodically rest his hands from shooting so much ice. It was okay though, because at least he was doing a good job.

"So...what's your home like?" Corrin asked.

"Hot, most of the time. Probably nothing you're used to," Silvia replied.

"We have our ways of keeping cool, but yeah, pretty much," Ryn added.

"Do you guys do turf wars?" Corrin asked.

"Oh yeah! Definitely!" Cosmo replied happily. "We do that all the time!"

"Not sure if your version of turf is different..." Jack replied. "I don't think they'd allow swords or your nitro weapons."

"Ah, don't worry about that! I have more weapons stored in my pin for stuff like that!" Corrin said.

"Oh."

"Anyway, how much longer is the ride? I can't wait to see what it's like!"

"Shouldn't YOU know that?" Ryn asked.

"Nah, I haven't traveled THIS far in ages!" Corrin laughed.

"Oh....well I don't think any of us know either, but I'm seeing familiar areas we passed by to get to your place," Ryn replied.

"Hey wait, that reminds me. Did you guys seriously WALK all the way to get to the mountain?"

"Yup, pretty much," Silvia replied nonchalantly.

"Yooooooo....that had to be hard!" Corrin said, eager to hear more.

"Oh you bet it was. We nearly died...how many times?" Jack asked.

"Umm....nearly eaten by fangteeth, nearly eaten by an eel, nearly eaten by viperfish, more fangteeth but weird and icey-looking....bob worms or something?? Uuuh.....that probably isn't all of them," Cosmo replied.

"Oh yeah and the stargazer," Ryn added.

"Sheesh, you guys. That's concerning. When I'm king, we're making safe pathways to get from the Ice Kingdom to other places!" Corrin exclaimed.

"Awww, thanks!" Ryn smiled.

"No prob!"

The group continued in....sort of a silence for a while. They themselves had stopped talking, but the other citizens around them had been talking to themselves the whole time. It wasn't entirely loud, but it wasn't a bother either. Even though hearts were still racing as they slid down, the Infernos felt calmer about returning home. Once they got back, they could take off their winter clothes and take a nap at their own houses for as long as they needed to.

They'd also have to meet up with their family again. Chances were, so did the rest of the citizens. Well, either way, they would still get things sorted out eventually. They were just glad to be safe and not facing danger.

"Hey guys!" Cosmo exclaimed.

"Hmm? What is it?" Ryn asked.

"Look!"

The group looked ahead of them as they slid down the ice slide, and noticed the very familiar scenery around the area.

They'd arrived at Laocrah Town, the sun shining bright and no snow to be seen.

It was good to be back.