A/N: Hello, readers! Sorry I haven't updated this since August. I've been busy with college and work. But I'm alive, don't worry!

Enjoy the chapter!

CHAPTER FOUR: FIRE AND ICE

At the Cursed Dragons guild hall, the war raged on between the two guilds. Kida was walking around the guild, looking for someone to battle, when suddenly fire appeared out of nowhere. "Ice Magic: Ice Wall!" She shouted, making a wall out of ice to block the fire coming her way.

"Oh? I didn't know Black Sun had an ice wizard, very interesting." A 17 year old woman with ginger hair and gold eyes said. She wore a black tank top with a red leather jacket and a matching red skirt. She also wore black tights under her skirt and black boots. She also had thick red lipstick and gold hoop earrings. Kida saw a red Cursed Dragons guild mark located on the right side of her neck.

"I'm Reina Matsuda. A Fire-Make wizard." Reina greeted.

"Kida Gwyneira. Black Sun's Ice and Snow wizard." Kida introduced herself as well.

"Tell me, Gwyneira. Why do you fight?" Reina questioned. "You do know your guild is gonna lose this war, so why bother?"

"I fight for my guildmate who's currently in a coma because of one of your guildmates." Kida replied. "I may just be a barmaid and often help around the guild. But we need Sebastian's smile. Coming from a dark guild, you wouldn't know anything about family."

"Oh, I heard from Eric that Rosey really did a number on your Dragon Slayer." Reina smiled. "And about me knowing anything about family. I came from a pretty abusive household. My parents hated the idea of me having magic. So I burned our house down with them inside it. I was alone until Master Takumi found me, and offered me a place in Cursed Dragons."

"Usually a battle doesn't have this much talking." Kida informed.

"Ah, you're right." Reina said as she placed her left fist into the palm of her right hand. A red Magic Circle appeared. "Fire-Make: Lance!" She shouted as fire arrows appeared and headed straight towards Kida.

"Snow Magic: Snow Life!" Kida yelled, making a wolf out of snow. The fire arrows met with the snow and immediately disappeared. The snow wolf went towards where Reina was standing, about to attack her.

"Fire-Make: Wall!" Reina placed both of her hands up as she created a wall of fire to shield herself. The snow wolf disappeared once it made contact with the fire wall.

"You know, Gwyneira. You're not that bad of a fighter for a barmaid." Reina stated as she snickered.

"I could say the same for you." Kida informed. "I think it's time I end this. Ice Magic: Frozen Prison!" She shouted, sending a wave of ice towards Reina. Before the ginger haired woman could do a counter spell, she ended up getting trapped in an ice prison.

"It's over, Matsuda." Kida informed.

"Damn you, ice bitch. I'll get out of this eventually." Reina growled.

Kida smiled to herself as she walked away from the fire wizard, hoping to find a few of her guildmates who were in need of help.

In Black Sun's infirmary...

"How is he?" A voice startled both Nox and Raden as they looked up to see Romin in the doorway of the infirmary.

"Romin? I thought you were with the others fighting Black Sun." Nox said.

The fox-like male shrugged. "I knew I couldn't focus on fighting with Bash's state being like this. So?" He asked again.

"There's not much we can really do for him." Nox responded. "It's his decision if he wants to wake up or not."

"I wish there was some way we could help him."

"You and me both, Romin."

Meanwhile, Sebastian was walking around the Sun Village with Vincent. "They can't see us." Vincent informed him as they walked past a couple of giants.

Sebastian smiled as he saw a younger version of himself chasing after his best friend, Flare. "This was one of my happiest memories. Flare and I were the only humans in the village. All we had was each other. We were similar, in a way." Sebastian said.

"Do you ever wonder where she is now?" Vincent asked.

"Sometimes." Sebastian responded. "I often wonder if she's in a guild or just a traveling wizard. Though, I doubt she remembers me. It's been years since we saw each other."

"You would be surprised." Vincent said.

Sebastian smiled to himself. "Can we stay here for awhile, Vince? I quite like it here." He asked.

"Yeah." Vincent replied. "We can stay here for as long as you want."

Back in Black Sun's infirmary, Raden was looking at his comatose partner. He remembered back when he first met him. When he saved him from criminals who wanted to sell him on the black market.

(Flashback)

"A cat with wings?"

"Hey, we could use this creature to sell on the black market! Imagine how much money we would get!"

"Oh... Oh, you're right!"

"P-Please leave me alone..." A young Raden begged as he hid away from the wizards who were talking about selling him. A wizard shot Fire Magic straight at him as he cowered away.

Suddenly, Raden heard a slupping sound as he saw a cloaked stranger in front of him eating the fire.

"H-He's eating the fire?!"

"Don't tell me he's one of those...!"

"You should really learn how to pick on someone your own size, bastards!" The cloaked stranger exclaimed as he punched his two fists together and red Magic Circle with a dragon head in the middle appeared.

"Hellfire Dragon's Iron Fist!" The stranger shouted as his right fist gets covered orange-red fire, punching the wizard.

"Get him!"

"Hellfire Dragon's Wing Attack!" The stranger yelled, as streams of orange-red fire attacked the rest of the black market wizards.

"That'll teach them." The stranger said, stepping over their unconscious bodies. "Hey, little guy. I'm not gonna hurt you. What's your name?" He asked.

"R-Raden..."

The stranger smiled. "Well, Raden. I'm Sebastian James, the Hellfire Dragon Slayer. As well as an S-Class wizard of the Black Sun guild." He introduced himself. "Say... Most Dragon Slayers I know have Exceeds as partners. How would you like to be my partner and join my guild?"

"Really?" Raden's eyes widened.

"Of course! Come on, my guildmates will love you!"

(End Flashback)

"Raden." The gray-colored Exceed snapped out of his thoughts when he heard his name being called. He looked up and saw Romin looking at him.

"What is it?"

"I know you're worried about Bash. We all are." Romin told him. "He'll come back to us. He won't give up."

Nox hummed in agreement. "The Assembly of Ash will literally crumble without him here. He is the leader and the founder after all. Hence the name." He added.

"Well, I really wouldn't say that. Orion is like a co-leader since Bash is closer to him than any other S-Class member. But I get what you mean." Romin stated.

All three of them looked towards Sebastian, who showed no signs of waking up anytime soon.

"Please wake up, Bash. We need you."

A/N: I've finally updated this! Woohoo! Again, sorry that it took so long. I hate adulting so much.

Hope you guys are staying safe!

~Kaleb