I did the ending a slight cliffhanger on purpose. I'm sorry.

I aplogise if this chapter isn't up to scratch. I am sick at the moment so I highly doubt that my writing is at its best. I tried though.

Back in the wooded area near Dynamite's house, Dynamite was feeling mightily annoyed.

Nether was sulking for no apparent reason and Dragon didn't talk all that much so there wasn't anyone else in the conversation she was having with Seb, and every moment she was starting to despise him more.

Just looking at him infuriated her, because it was obvious he didn't have to wear armour whenever he went out anywhere. This, among other things, made him easy to hate, despite that she was not used to being treated as anything but an enemy of the world.

His laid-back, lazy and slightly sarcastic manner somehow made her feel riled up and angry. The two of them chatted, rather reluctantly on both sides, until Dynamite got so vexed that she excused herself and bruised her fists by punching at random trees. Kym cowered under a bush somewhere.

Finally, finally, Dragon managed to yank Nether over to Seb and start a conversation. Dynamite was very relieved and sat on the grass, silently fuming.

When she chose to pay attention (a whole fifteen minutes later) Nether and Dragon were arguing about mythology, which, apparently, was related to the issue at hand. Although, to be honest, Dynamite wasn't really completely sure what issue they were trying to solve.

"The library thing didn't work, and there were so many books of mythology in there! We looked at them!" Nether yelled.

"There may be folk tales about the Aether and what happened to it…"

"Which is relevant how?" Nether's eyes were flaming.

"You know how it's closed off except to a precious few. The Nether can't be destroyed. It's just- locked. You know it's true, Nether."

Nether shook her head. "And how has this anything to do with folk tales?"

"Well, you know that stories have spread about the red hell-woman." Dragon's lip tweaked as he said the words, almost smirking. "Mythology is based on truth, if it itself is not the truth. There have got to be stories about the sealing of the Aether and it might give you some clues."

Nether groaned. "So basically we go around attempting to get the villagers to tell us their legends if they have any. Yes, that'll work, and not be at all degrading."

Dragon smirked and jerked his head toward Seb and Dynamite. Seb made an extremely sarcastic face and Dynamite coughed unnecessarily loudly. Nether did not comment but her face went a little brighter in colour.

"Pretty much," Dragon answered.

"Well, that place- what is it called? Yes, Point Pass- I'm sure that such an insignificant place has its own mythology."

"It does," Seb cut in. "But not about the Aether. There are very few folklore stories about it. That's more philosopher's ground. So little people have ever tried to go there, and far few have done it, so nobody's sure if it even really exists."

Nether stared at Dragon in a told you so manner.

Dynamite jumped to her feet. "In which case you've served your purpose. Leave us alone."

Seb raised his hands. "I have no intention of doing otherwise. Not with… certain arrogant… Yeah, I'm going."

"Good riddance!" Nether called after him.

Dragon looked at him as he left and sighed. "I guess that was a failure."

"Yes. Yes it was." Nether felt dull and empty.

She hated this feeling more than anything. So she channelled it- into something else. Fury. That was easy, for her.

She dug her sharp clawed nails into her palms. Drops of dark red, almost black, blood welled in her hand. She set a leaf on a tree nearby alight.

It flared, it burned- and in a trice four other trees were on fire as well. It was a hot day. The blaze spread easily. Kym ran, whimpering, out from under the bush.

"You've already burnt down half of this place!" Dynamite yelled. Nether ignored her and watched the flames leap from one tree to another.

Dynamite screamed some more ineffective things, but finally gave up and just left. Dragon too had to flee the scene. Unlike Nether, he could take fire damage.

Finally, when it was literally the middle of the night, the fire died down. Dragon hurried into the burnt ashes of the forest.

But Nether wasn't there.