Yarro's eyes widened as how own vision came back to him. “They recovered in a village near the wreck,” the Fire Deity said.

“Who?” Kael asked.

“The Queen twins.”

“They’re alive?!” Kael looked at the Deity, who nodded once. “Then we can use this to convince her. Somehow. That's why you showed us, right?”

The Deity nodded once more. "Give this knowledge to Illa. At the opportune time, she should let you go."

“But first we need to find her husband.”

“Yes. And I’m sure you’re tired of running around looking for people, aren’t you?” They both nodded. It was exhausting and annoying to be told where to go and what to do next. At this point, Yarro just wanted to sleep for a week. He was sure his eyes had heavy eye bags by now. “Wen is hiding in the southern district, close to the docks on Hanger Street. Go quickly.”

“Thank you,” Yarro said to the Deity before they both ran off. He may have been mad at them but he wasn't raised to be so impolite.

The duo raced through the streets. Some areas were eerily quiet, some rowdy. The rain became heavier but didn’t slow them down. Yarro even felt stronger and faster as his natural element fell from the sky and drenched his hair and clothes. In a way, it was a relief. It’s been so long since he was in contact with water. His mind was beginning to play tricks on him; he had felt a bit dry. Maybe all the Deities were watching them and this was the water Deity helping him.

None of it mattered though. The only thing in his mind was revenge for Seila. There was nothing in this world that justified the kidnapping and starving of an innocent kid. Wen was finally within his grasp. Yarro wanted to make him pay for it with his life. He had no qualms becoming the executioner, even. The only thing stopping him was the fact that he'd be jailed for those actions.

The duo were halfway to their destination when two people descended on them from the roof. One of them used water to break his fall, the other used a burst of air. Both dressed in the royal guard outfit. Most definitely traitors who sided with Wen either through money or from belief. Yarro didn’t know which was worse, but he was ready to deal with both of them.

The one with water went for Kael, while the one with air stood before him to block any attempts to help. They were hesitant at first, but when they saw that Yarro wasn’t going to attack first, they threw a punch of air, and knocked the wind out of him. Yarro wheezed and ducked to dodge a physical punch. His arms behind him, he motioned as if pulling a sheet over the other person’s eyes. The rain combined into a larger form and cascaded before him. It swirled around until his foe had a bowl of water surrounding their head. The attacker shouted in alarm. Bubbles escaped stayed near their mouth and floated away.

The attacker elbowed Yarro hard in the stomach, and the water fell, broken from concentration. They stumbled forward but didn’t have a moment to catch their breath before Yarro covered their head with water once again. The attacker struggled and tried to escape, now realizing he wasn't as good as Yarro, however he was able to overpower the foe, and ultimately drown him. The man spasmed on the floor for a bit before becoming still.

Yarro looked back at Kael to see if he needed help, only to see his own attacker face down on the ground, impaled with numerous spikes. Kael had readied a spike of earth, waiting to impale the foe at a moment's notice.

The duo didn’t stop to hide or dispose of the assassins. They were close and moving the bodies would give Wen a chance to move bases. They couldn't lose him again. When they turned the corner, there was a large crowd gathered in front of a church. The smoke from the recently extinguished fire rose to the sky, but there was still shouting and general rioting. Guards stood by the front door and did their best to prevent the crowds from getting in. It made Yarro’s blood boil. Actual city and royal guards defending Wen. How disgusting.

Yarro ran and jumped up across the crowd, using his fire to propel him. They gasped when he landed in front of the guards. “I’ll say this only once. Give me your permits.”

They laughed.

In a flash, the guard's leg lit on fire, and her head collided with the other as soon as Yarro kicked them. They both stumbled into each other at the unexpected blow. One drew their sword but he was too slow. It flew out of his hand and skid across the stone floor. The other threw an un-gloved fireball at him. It was easily blocked from Yarro with the falling rain. “A Demideity!” someone in the crowd shouted. They all screamed and ran. Presumably fearful that he had come to punish them.

All left except the guards. The non-elementalist put up his fists and shifted his stance. Just as this man was going to throw a punch, a rock came flying in and dismembered him at the elbow. Blood spewed out like a fountain, splattering Yarro across the face and breastplate. The guard looked at his arm, now half gone. It must have taken him a while for the pain to hit because he stared at his now stump of an arm for a few seconds before he screamed.

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The second guard seemed to ignore her friend, or at the least, didn’t seem phased by the amount of blood. She continued to attack Yarro even after the other ran off, and was blocked off at every turn. As a last resort, with panic in her eyes, she spewed a full stream of fire from her mouth. Yarro was easily able to deal with not only the fire, but the leftover guard as well, by force-feeding her a torrent of rain water. She collapsed and failed to cough up the water, proceeding to drown on land.

The duo stepped over the bodies and barged inside the church. More guards were perched at varying areas on the floor and along some flooring above them. At the pew, Wen stood with his back facing them. The guards watched the duo but did not make a move to stop them. Wen must have warned them and ordered them not to move yet. Did Wen intend to talk this out? Yarro scoffed at the thought.

“WEN! How could you!” Yarro bellowed.

“King Wen,” he corrected.

“Not. Any. More.” Yarro lit a hand on fire, and ignored the growing pain from it

Wen turned his head slightly to glance back. The guards seemed to tense up at the fire, and readied themselves for a fight, but otherwise stood where they were. Wen turned his body fully around to face them. In a way, his whole body seemed to slump down. His hair full gray streaks by now and his sad pathetic face had wrinkles on it from using his life essence in the fight earlier. Wen took a few steps towards the duo. “You know nothing of the loss of a child!”

“So everyone must know your pain?”

“No. Just Arnold.”

“He was just doing his job. Your kids were the ones who volunteered.”

“We don’t need to explore across ocean! We have everything we need, right here!” Yarro could see the desperation in his eyes. Searching for anything that could get him out of this mess. He didn't know what he was planning, but whatever he said here was obviously a lie.

“Even I know our country is low on resources. You barely had enough to make those Turtles, am I right?”

“That’s why we needed Lacruss’s help with Obraria. They’re swimming in so many natural resources, they don’t even use them all.”

Yarro frowned. “Because of their worship.”

“Nonsense. Those people just don’t know how to use what they have.”

They were getting off topic. “It doesn’t excuse your horrific kidnapping.”

“I’m not looking for your forgiveness—”

“She was a child!”

“Arnold deserved it!” They were speaking in circles.

In a fit of rage and frustration, Yarro screamed out and charged Wen. He threw two large fireballs at him. The guards that were protecting him were too slow. The fire hit Wen and knocked him on his ass “But Seila didn’t! She was a kid who had no part in Arnold’s decision!” He roared. His vision was red with rage and even his breath had some puffs of fire coming out as he shouted. He could feel his body heating up of its own accord, but he didn’t want to stop it. In fact, he breathed life into it. The more fire the better.

Wen stood up, his legs a bit wobbly. The very image of a frail old man. Yarro know better thought. Age shouldn't except people from punishment. The guard tried to grab Yarro, only to be met with a slap full of fire. The guard stumbled back, and tried to catch their balance. Kael took over and hurled sharpened rocks into their body like acupuncture needles. Kael covered for him in this fashion as they targeted Yarro.

As Yarro ran, he collected various bits of water from puddles and rain drops/ it swirled around him and trailed behind like a ribbon. Wen continued to watch, unphased by neither the course of action nor the amount of water he had gathered. Was he trying to call a bluff?

Once Yarro was close enough,he sprayed Wen with the full force of water to his face. A torrential output of all the water he could muster rushed past his face. Still the man looked unphased. He merely help up his hand, and Yarro could feel his control of the water waver. Bit by bit it faltered near the edge of the stream. Wen was only strong enough to face the initial brunt of the attack.

Yarro grunted as he forced himself to add more power and force into the attack. He was a Demideity. There was no way the former King could be more powerful than him.

He took a step forward, and felt himself regain a bit of control. Wen took a step back. For just a moment, Yarro wore Wen's hair looked more white than gray. That bastard was going to kill himself if he kept using his own life force. Yarro needed to end this quickly, before he became far too gone and Illa resents him for not capturing him.

He could try that "plasma" thing again, but he had no control of it and no doubt Wen would end up like that charred goop the other turned out like. But there was no harm in turning to fire, right?

With renewed vigor, Yarro pushed the last burst as hard as he could toward Wen and began to close the gap once more. Wen easily deflected the water now that he no longer controlled it. Yarro was in his face in an instant, with a growing fireball at the end of his fist. For a moment the man finally looked scared. He saw the eyes of a tired man. One who was done with life. Had Wen given up? Was that the reason he hadn't retaliated it.

Fist connected to his face with a loud crunch. Probably the nose. Wen stumbled back with a shout. Yarro continued his momentum forward and landed flaming punch after flaming punch after flaming punch.

One punch was for Governor Erica.

Another for her husband.

For the blacksmiths, Dimel and Yanik.

For Julia.

For Minae.

For Seila.

By the time Kael had plied him off of Wen, the man was bloodied and bruised, and many parts scorched. "Queen Illa wants him alive," Kael said.

Yarro gave one last kick to Wen’s body. The man groaned and curled to his side as he clutched his stomach in pain. “Fine. Let’s get him out of here then.” He glanced at Kael to see if he was alright, only to see that the hands that pulled him away from Wen were encased in the same stone as the floor. He looked over his fist to see it bloodied and bruised. He couldn't tell where his blood ended and Wen's began. But the most noteworthy thing was that his body was engulfed in bright flames. "Did I burn you?" he asked softly.

"No, you didn't. But please calm down."

Yarro closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. Slowly he could feel his own body cool and return to normal temperature. When he opened them, he was met with Kael's face, relief written all over it. "Ready. Let's go drag this guy back."