Arias and Tom were back in their current residence. The two quietly looked at each other's. They finally found the location of the first fragment, but a member of the council found out about it. Thankfully, he decided to help them leave the island when the time came.

The two were alone and could safely spoke about it.

Arias decided to speak up his mind, "I do not like this. I don't think we can just trust that creature," he scratched his chin, "We might need to make a plan if he is thinking of betraying us."

"I… I don't think he will, but you're right. We need a plan B," Tom admitted. He wanted to believe the creature. He sounded sincere. As Milla'iin said, they had little choice to accept his suggestion.

"We go with his plan, but we need to have something just in case it's a trap for us in some way. The council might use this as an excuse… Something like, I'm kidnapping you and they should get rid of me or something," the overworlder grumbled.

The human nodded. He was a bit nervous if it was something planned. He closed his eyes a bit as he crossed his arms. He had no idea how they could counter the elementalist plan, if he had something against them. It was best to just be cautious for now.

Chapter 64: Preparation

Milla'iin watched the bar of his jail. His big yellow eye watched it. He wondered how solid it was and if there was any sign of weakness he could use to escape if necessary. He knew the fire creature was by their side, but he couldn't be certain until he saw what was in the mind of the creature. For that, he needed him to come to him. It would be suspicious to ask of his presence, so he waited for an opportunity for him to come. He used his mind ability to keep an eye on Tom and Arias. Mostly Tom. Arias could defend himself and he would surely avoid trouble.

He crossed his tendrils.

The earth elemental guards that watched him were creeped out by the focus on the bars of his jail. When they were right in front of him. They felt like he didn't see them or their existence meant nothing. The two looked at each other's and decided to move out of the way of the prisoner gaze.

Milla'iin didn't notice them. The day was coming to an end. He checked on Tom, (Hello Tom. Have you thought about his suggestion?)

(Yeah. We are not sure if we can just trust him.)

(Arias is surely thinking the same about me and I'm not offended,) Milla'iin added to the boy.

Tom replied as if he nodded to the creature, (I know, but we don't know him and we have no idea if there could be a trap against Arias.)

(A possibility, but he and the other members of the council could just lie to put him in jail too. I don't believe he is planning something against us, but that is just my own thought in the matter,) he replied. He crossed his tendrils. He didn't let Tom replied as he went on, (That is a lot of unnecessary steps to trap him and put him in jail. The plan is far too convoluted. Still, have something just in case he tries to give you a false sense of security… It would be best if I could read his mind and see if he is honest or not. I cannot ask for his presence and it might not be a good idea to ask him to see me. It would be suspicious.)

(Arias is frowning at me,) the boy commented.

(I'll leave you two to your plan. I will contact you two tomorrow and see what we are going to do,) he then ended the connection with the boy.

He closed his large eye. He hoped the help from the member of the elemental council was genuine. It would simplify so many things. The only thing that couldn't be simple no matter what was quite simple. To get him out of his jail.

Arias armed were crossed as he grumbled a few things, "You were really deep into your mind Tom. Did Milla'iin say something to you?"

"Yeah. He isn't sure if the creature wants to trap you or something like that. He said that it was a bit pointlessly complicated just to get rid of you like that."

"Maybe because I don't look that bad in the little town. I tried to be at my best behavior and it kinda pays off," he had a small smirk and tapped the shoulder of the boy, sending him on the ground, "Ah! S-sorry," he quickly apologised as he helped the human back on his feet.

"No problem," he chuckled a bit. He didn't except that tap. Creatures were much stronger than humans. They were a few exceptions of course. He looked through the window, "Anyway, we need to have an idea on how to handle this on our own, if we have no choice," he scratched his chin. He tried to find something. He ran at a blank for now.

The creature smirked a bit. He stretched his limbs a bit, "I don't have a plan yet," he checked on the boy, "We have some time to plan anyway. We cannot avoid guards and the citizens to reach the boat. It would be suspicious if we leave during the night. Flame is a light sleeper."

"He is?"

"Yeah. I accidentally woke up once or twice during the night. I was pretty quiet, but he just lights up like a flame that drop in the oil," Arias gave an example.

Tom could see the fire just light up quickly on oil. He smiled a bit, "I guess we cannot just avoid waking up then. Thought you look heavy and loud."

"Not my fault. I rather be this than Bodal. I rather not be small like that," the creature replied.

Tom liked Bodal and wouldn't speak ill in any way like that. He sighed, "He does know how to travel in Kiru City. I beat a creature with him once," he explained.

"Ha! I can't believe that," Arias replied as he chuckled a bit, "There is no way that Bodal could win a fight on his own. He is not a warrior. He couldn't do anything against a m'arrillian during the war," he smirked a bit.

Tom rolled his eyes and replied, "Even Bodal didn't believe me, but I did win. I used his knowledge of the city to get around the creature. It was a close call."

"He does know Kiru city quite well. I guess the other player was pretty bad," he dismissed even the possibility that Bodal could win a fight, "Anyway, we need to find a plan. I guess knowing our way around will be important. Be like the Bodal you imagine he could be," he laughed when the teenager glared at him a bit.

Tom nodded as they searched for a way to leave the island. They didn't know enough of the island while the council knew much more. They needed a chance to leave to the island of the merchant.

The member of the council walked towards the other members. The fire creature wondered how he could help Tom on his journey to get the Jewels of the Cothica. He put his hand on his chin. He knew the boy spoke the true. The description of the jewel was obvious for those in the know. He put his hand on his hips. He wondered how to deal with the rest of the council. He couldn't put his full faith in them. He was the calm flame of a warm fire. As he had been described a few times. He was a bit nervous about the reason the jewel manifested. There would be great change in the future and he had no idea what Perim and the Cothica would be come at the end of it. He hoped it wouldn't be catastrophic.

He glanced at the three members of the council. The two watched the water elementalist who caused all of this mess. He seemed to cause another mess this time with the papers on the floor. The creature searched checked some of them.

He decided to play along and prepared for the three to leave the island for their mission, "What is going on?"

The earth member of the council replied, "He messed up with some files and we need to find out which one are missing anything."

"Again?" he shook his head in disappointment. He wondered if Aquarius was clumsy or tried to be cautious because he was made of water. If it was the later, the punishment was crueler because of his element. It would be the safe for himself, "Anyway, did you get anything from the merchants who visited us?"

"Not really. There is nothing to get right now. We eventually visit the islands in our round and see if everything is in order," the earth creature replied.

The wind creature nodded, "I am tired of just doing some records. Being home is the worse with all those files to fill up."

"I'm the one doing everything! You are just sitting on your quasy inexistent behind!" the water creature furiously yelled, before he continued on his duty when they glared back at him.

"You almost caused a diplomatic incident, at best, with the Cothica. The Cothica was merciful his time," the earth creature replied as he decided to help him.

The fire creature nodded quietly. He knew the real reason was that they were used to get the jewels. He saw this as a possible opportunity, but Milla'iin was still prisoner and he couldn't just propose for the m'arrillian to follow them in any ways at all.

He already had a hint of an idea, but he kept an open mind about what else he could do to help Tom. He listened to the conversation against the water creature while thinking of a plan. He sighed as he raised his hands, "Calm down everyone. We are arguing over this when it's done and over. He is already facing his punishment and we didn't get the worse. For now, I do have a question. When we will leave, what should be do with Tom and the two creatures? While we are gone, are we going to leave them here?"

Once that question was asked, the other members of the council discussed this. They weren't sure what to do. The question just showed up and they didn't form any idea now. They conversation went nowhere as they pressed the good and the bad about leaving the two on the island.

The creature observed the three others arguing. He guessed it could be helpful and avoided the others to chase after them. Since he was usually pensive when the council argued like that, he wasn't suspicious to just be quiet like that. He waited for the three to calm down. He wouldn't suggest the idea right now. He needed to think carefully and reflect on everything they said. Maybe they could say a few helpful things.

"I guess we are going nowhere with this," the earth creature concluded. He glanced at the others, "We should think about this and decide another day. We need to take our time on this. It's true we cannot let them here on their own. We will be gone for a long time."

The wind creature nodded, "As usual."

"I have nothing to say either way," Aquarius sighed in defeat. He wished he had a better idea than nothing. He wished he had something to end this punishment. Still, he decided to try to find something, "We could restrain the creature and make sure he wouldn't do anything."

"Think more about it. We need to plan this ahead and we still have time," the fire member of the council decided to end this conversation, "As you said, we need to think about it and reconvene another day. Maybe tomorrow if we are ready."

The other three agreed and they focused on other matters.

A plan began to form to help the three to obtain the first fragment of the Jewel of the Cothica.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: The Rescue Mission.

A rescue mission began to get someone out of their predicament.