Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

When Dana returned, Rain was already ready to depart. Using an ice platform would be the quickest way to move, but the cold would be too much for his kids, so he used the earth one. After they let the capital through the air, the vehicle was as stable as if it could be, even though it was moving like a bullet.

"What did they say?" Rain asked.

"We can't assemble an army right now without using the former soldiers of the war, at least not one that can stop the beast people," Dana said. "They want to keep informed while they look for another solution. As for the period of the beast kings, apparently, it was supposed to end in two years"

Joanis truly left a mess in their hands… they basically used and found a way to control all the possible soldiers in the country with their tools and magic and now they didn't have any other options when thousands of them suddenly disappeared.

Rain couldn't help but think that he should have thought of a way to deal with that, but since life was being good and peaceful, he didn't care about such things happening. In times of war, he used his head as much as possible, and then he decided to enjoy the peace that they deserved, but now it looked like he enjoyed his peace too much.

"Papa, are you angry?" Danny asked while touching Rain's cheek.

"No, I am just thinking…" Rain said and then sighed when he realized that his tension was affecting his kids, even Annie was quieter than usual.

"Come here, Danny, Annie," Dana said. "Big sis will play with you."

"Big sis? Not auntie?" Rain asked.

"I am not old to be called auntie, don't forget it," Dana said. "If they start to call me auntie, I will kick your ass, big bro."

"That is a risk I am willing to accept since that will be amusing to see you getting flustered," Rain smiled.

Rain's sisters were still on their puberty, so it was natural that they would dislike that. In any case, the group reached their destination when the sun was setting and Rain confirmed that the area didn't change that much.

The house of his grandparents was the same as ever, but some other buildings were around since the people that Rain had freed before the war decided to keep working for him and life in the country was peaceful enough for them.

In the end, only Rain's grandparents were in the area to greet them, but it was only natural that it would be the case and despite the situation, they welcomed him with large smiles.

"Rain!" Luana said with a large smile as she approached her great-grandchildren, "It seems that you truly end up bringing them. Leave them to me! Oh my… they become even cuter as they grow!"

Danny was fine with Luana rubbing her chin against his face, but Annie was about to roll her eyes… Meiro laughed a little while seeing all that. The last few days had been a bit tense, and that would be a good way to change their pace.

"Is everyone waiting at the mountains?" Rain asked.

"Yes, they are mainly hiding and watching things from afar, but it seems that the beast people can sense their eyes," Meiro replied.

"They have good senses, after all…" Rain rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Rain wondered if it was a good idea to go and talk with the beast people at night… they might feel more guarded and attack him on sight. In the end, he decided to meet everyone and leave his kids with his grandparents.

"Dana, stay here in case something happens or a new message arrives, okay?" Rain asked. "I am just going to see the others and wait until morning."

"What if they attack at night?" Dana asked.

"Then, I will stop them and force them to listen and then use plan B if we don't have any other option," Rain readily replied.

Dana gulped… plan B was quite something and it was risky as well, but it was the best option to gain time and prevent that the situation escalates too fast.

"All right," Dana said.

Rain used the underground tunnel and kept moving toward the mountains. While sliding in the water, he reached the area in no time and found his family and friends hidden and watching the surroundings through holes on the ground.

"Don't make much noise," Rain said when he found his parents, Kei, Gila, and some of the workers that were helping them.

"You came fast… sorry for that, Rain," Roan said.

"Where are the kids, Terra and Seara?" Leiah asked.

Seara probably wasn't informed of this yet and Terra will come in two days if we don't solve this situation soon enough," Rain explained. "Danny and Annie are with grandma and grandpa… hmm, it seems that they are setting a base in the mountains."

Jori and Reca were living in the south for the last three years and they probably won't join them. The reason for that was the fact that Reca gave birth three times in the last three years… once the first girl came, the others began to pop out one after the other. It was quite the insane pace.

Asche and Liss were investigating the disappearance of the soldiers, and since they had been working a lot with Seara, Rain couldn't count on them.

In any case, Rain used his earth magic to sense everything in a large area and he could feel the beast people knocking down a bunch of trees and then setting tents and watchtowers.

"They could have attacked three years ago, but that didn't happen… I don't like this," Roan said while furrowing his eyebrows. "They are also acting more organized than usual."

"True… well, nothing to worry," Rain said while considering a few things. "Rest until morning, you all look beaten. I will wake you up if something happens."