THE THIRD MAGE 34 Dimwi

Denaire told him to sit down and wait until she was finished. She took the mud and formed a small ball. After shaping the ball, she let it harden. Then she showed the ball to Hiro.

Hiro raised his brow and asked, "Eh, what am I supposed to do with that ball?"

Denaire smiled and said to the ball, "I name you Bouncy, and you shall bounce when I say bounce, and stop when I say stop." The air s.h.i.+mmered around the ball and then Denaire commanded, "Bounce."

The ball bounced off Denaire's hand and kept bouncing on the floor. Hiro was confused even more. So, he took the ball in his hand, but the ball kept bouncing. He looked at Denaire and asked, "What just – "

"Stop." And the ball stopped bouncing.

Hiro held the ball and tossed it in the air. "Well, this is just a normal ball. I saw you mold it." He settled the ball on his palms and said, "Bounce."

The ball didn't budge. "Bounce," Denaire commanded. And the ball bounced once again on Hiro's palm.

"How in the world – "

"Stop." The ball stopped bouncing. She looked at Hiro. "Hiro, this is what we discovered in Oniro."

"How? Explain." There was some sort of s.h.i.+ne in Hiro's eyes, like a child taught with the wonders of the world for the first time. Denaire's heart melted at the sight of it. She wanted to hug the man there and then, but thought the better of it. So instead, she explained to Hiro everything she knew.

***

Amon and the rest of the Onirons moved to The Garden. They moved first most of the supplies using the large chariots, courtesy of Denaire of course. Although, the Pegasus weren't flying in the air this time. Then the women and children were next, for they were going to prepare and arrange the place to accommodate more. Then came the elderly and the sick. They were housed in special homes to cater to their needs, again courtesy of Denaire who thought it out very well.

Then the last were most of the fighting ma.s.ses and the men. They were to ensure that no one and nothing was left in the island.

The last to go were the Councilors, the royal family and the Knight Generals.

"So, how do we make this as an island that has never been inhabited?" General Luther asked the question of the century.

All of them were still a bit of confused on what to do on that part. No matter what they think, there will always be loopholes in it.

Dranx said for the fifth time that day, "We could destroy these houses and – "

"But how do we destroy it?" Granny asked.

"Well, we could incinerate it, or – "

"Incineration would leave marks. So fire is a no. And destroying them manually, where do we even hide the materials? We can't bring it all to The Garden," Amon thought loudly.

"I say we incinerate the whole island," a girl spoke behind them.

"Gina!" Dranx exclaimed in relief. "Don't do that. I was scared for some time."

"Sorry," Gina said sarcastically.

"Why aren't you in The Garden?" Samarra asked.

"I overslept somewhere."

"G.o.ds, if you didn't show up, we would have left you here alone," Samarra said, frustration and anger lacing her voice.

Gina just shrugged it all off.

"So," Amon cut to the main subject. "You said we incinerate the whole island. But we thought about it and fire would definitely leave marks."

"Not if we sink the island after."

"Sink?" General Luther mockingly asked.

"Yes. Submerge it under the water you dimwit. We set the whole place on fire; of course we need to conceal the smoke and the light coming from the fire. And then after, we let the whole island sink."

"Yes!" Amon shouted in joy. "Why didn't we think of that?! So, to conceal everything, we have to bend the light and make an illusion out of it. So I can do that. Theo, you can help me with that."

Theo nodded. "Our only problem is how do we sink it?"

"We need earth magicians for that. General Lilith, are you willing?"

General Lilith stood in attention and said, "General Lilith of the Knights of the Virescent Lion is ready Your Highness."

Amon nodded, "Mama, can you help me in the water department of this mission?"

Queen Iris smiled, "Always my son. Always."

***

Emong tilled down the mines from sunrise to sunset. He was tired, yes, but he needs to toil more to get what Denaire has promised. He needs to do more so that he could see Gina again, if ever she is still alive.

"Emong!" his comrade called out for him.

He stopped pounding on a rock and looked for whoever called him. "Yeah?"

"Emong," a young boy ran towards him. "General Hiro is looking for you."

"For me?" Emong asked, fear evident on his voice. He was afraid that Denaire and he were both found out by the General.

"Yes. He asked you to go out and meet him at the pavilion."

Emong swallowed hard. Oh G.o.ds, please let Denaire be okay, he silently prayed.

He walked towards the outside, his knees shaking so violently. This was the first time he ever felt so afraid in all the years of his life. Oh G.o.ds, let this not be the end of me.