Nix stacked the last of the pots on the counter to dry and stepped out the backdoor of the Emerald Salamander. Shae and Hyai were sitting at a small table sharing a bottle of wine.

"Started without me?" Nix grabbed the only empty glass and filled it. He noticed that both redheads were smiling. "Did I miss something?"

Hyai nodded. "Apparently, Shae was super nice and brought me three Nether Spells from today's raid at Helfast."

Shae was playing with a strand of her hair while she sipped her drink. "Have to start gearing you up. I'm going to show you all around Solomon City when you pass your Planar Trial. Besides my swords were better than those Nether ones."

"Hmmm... Can I see?" Nix downed his drink while Hyai took out the scrolls.

"I've been working all day, so I haven't had the chance to learn them yet." Hyai handed them to Nix.

Nether Armor

Description: Places the protection

of Nether around the caster.

+200 Health Regeneration

+200 Mana Regeneration

+500 to AC.

Shadow Fiend

Summons a being of the

Netherworld to defend you for

one minute. During that time

the Shadow Fiend absorbs all damage

directed at you.

Netherpire

Description: Siphons your

target's health while refilling yours.

Nix nodded in satisfaction. "Perfect, at least there won't be any repeats."

Shae glanced at Hyai before looking at him. "Repeats?"

"Sure. I also picked up three Nether Spells for Hyai." Nix pulled out the scrolls he chose from the incursion.

Binding Chains

Description: AE spell that

binds up to three targets for 30

seconds.

Nether-Step

Description: Your enemy loses

track of you during the fight and

is unable to target you for 20 seconds.

Dark Summons

Description: Friend or Foe,

Dark Summons brings your target

to you. Range is 100 meters.

Shae clapped her hands when she read them. "Those are good ones too!"

Nix pushed all of them toward Hyai. "Learn them and head to the Gemini Training Yard to test them out."

"Thank you both." Hyai smiled happily and put them away. "I'm going to put aside some time every day to train with Sila and Kyla."

Nix brought up his hud and started looking at the Inferno members. "Let's see... We've been working on forming permanent five-person teams. I can put you in one."

"Make it a strong one Nix. I don't want anything to happen to Hyai." Shae leaned over his shoulder, her red braid falling against him.

"Right... This should work. Strong tank, with a good healer." Nix displayed the group on his hud.

Zeta Team:

Banzi Tank

Wylie Heals, DPS

Sila CC

Kyla DPS

Hyai DPS

/Inferno: Pon: BOOM! I'm done.

/Inferno: Nix: Hey old man!

/Inferno: Fajii: I also am finished.

Nix jumped up when he saw that Fajii had returned also.

[Create Breach: Embassy, 90th Floor]

"Hey! Bring us!" Hyai grabbed his arm and dragged Shae through the breach with them.

Nix stepped through the breach a moment later, Fajii and Pon were already congratulating each other.

"Good Job Fajii!" Shae and Hyai rushed the Aquarion while Nix hung back and shook hands with the old Fire Mage.

"Not a bad piece of work Pon." Nix studied Pon's pillar, it was encased in flames.

The old man looked around and lowered his voice. "Semmi and Wind?"

Nix shook his head. "Plenty of time still, I took way longer than this."

Fajii's pillar caught Nix's eye, it was definitely a scorched earth pillar. "Nice job Fajii."

The Aquarion Alchemist looked very happy, she walked toward Nix and embraced him. "Thank you for trusting me with this Nix." She held his face in her brown hands while she spoke and kissed his forehead.

"You are leaving for Solomon City first thing in the morning. You'll be replacing me on Vooni's Fire Team." Nix enjoyed the look of surprise that came across Fajii's face.

"That soon?" Fajii had heard from him what the training was like. "Aren't they off the next two weeks?"

"Yes. This is good for you, it should give you enough time to catch up." Nix caught sight of two flashes from the platform, Wind, and Semmi arriving at nearly the same time.

Pon was all smiles when he hugged Semmi, none of the group said anything while they watched the odd couple.

Nix studied the two Pillars of Semmi and Wind. They were both Gemini Pillars, two-toned and swirling colors. "We'll have to slow down our progress. I want to make sure the rest of the pillars are all Gemini Classes."

/Inferno: Nix: All of Alpha Team has passed the Planar trials now. We need everyone to continue to work hard.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Great job guys!

/Inferno: Sharl: Very nice!

/Inferno: Ronnie: Me! I'm next!

/Inferno: Vooni: Last night of freedom for a few weeks Fajii, we'll head to Solomon City first thing in the morning.

/Inferno: Fajii: Of course Captain. I am ready.

[Whisper: Shae to Nix] Since Fajii is leaving tomorrow, you should spend some time with her. Hyai and I are going to spend the evening with her daughter.

[Whisper: Nix to Shae] Sounds good, I see you guys tomorrow.

/Inferno: Nix: Sharl and Jun Li, please meet me at the Gemini Altar.

[Whisper: Gideon to Nix] This is our top team, we're ready any time day or night.

Gideon: Assassin

Paco: Tank

Nebula: Heals

Roto: Ranger

Jiggs: Scout

[Whisper: Nix to Gideon] Looks good, I'll keep you on standby.

The group walked to the Glory portal together and parted company. Hyai and Shae waved goodbye and turned toward the housing area while the rest of the group went to the Gemini Temple.

/Alpha Team: Nix: Going to form a new team, since Alpha is going to be busy. Fajii is going to join Vooni and the rest of you will be Vooni's new trainee group in about a month.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: We get to hang out in Solomon City?

/Alpha Team: Nix: Yes. There's a training ground there where you can challenge yourself. Take a few days and get to know the City.

/Alpha Team: Pon: You aren't getting rid of us right?

/Alpha Team: Nix: If only it were that easy! You guys are the four main pillars of the House of Inferno. We're keeping you now.

/Alpha Team: Wind: That's fine with me.

Nix parted with the rest of the group and waited in the altar room for Jun Li and Sharl. Nix took a seat on the throne.

[Welcome Lord Nix. Access Gemini Temple Menu?] "Yes."

1. Craft Stones

2. Staffing

3. Lifestyle Venue

4. Training Grounds

5. Alert

When he disassembled the Library and replaced it with a Lifestyle Venue it had immediately shown up in the Temple Menu. Nix chose the first option.

[Gemini Class Stones: Two per month: 2/2]

1. Ranged Fighter.

2. Defender.

3. Gladiator

4. Trickster.

5. Thief

6. Mage.

Nix chose option three.

[How many Gemini Gladiator Stones do you wish to create? Options: 1 or 2]

"One."

Nix repeated the process and created one Defender Stone as well. He shut down the menu and retrieved the Gemini Stones from that altar.

He resumed his seat and waited for Sharl and Jun Li. They arrived a few minutes later, both wearing the green 'House of Inferno' armor.

Sharl greeted him with a smile. "Does this mean we're going to start hanging out again?"

Nix nodded. "Without a doubt." He handed Sharl the Defender Stone and then passed the Gladiator Stone to Jun Li.

"The two of you are the next two up for the pillars. Activate the stones and then practice them in the Training Yard."

Sharl stared at the stone. "Tier 4 class that's upgradeable?"

"Yes, the Defender is the Gemini Tank class while the Gladiator is the melee DPS class." Nix watched Jun Li for reaction, she often stood in as a tank but her real build was DPS.

Jun Li gripped the stone in her hand and started for the Training Yard, she skidded to a halt by the door. "Does this mean I'm on the new Deployment Team?"

/Inferno: Nix: Effective Immediately, since Alpha will be busy with training for the next few months Bravo and Charlie Teams will assume Deployment duties.

[Bravo Team]

Nix

Jun Li

Sharl

Milat

Ronnie

[Charlie Team]

Nix

Jun Li

Sharl

Chael

Mina

/Inferno Nix: We are also forming a Zeta Team which I will be using for Upper Tier Colonial Content. All other members interested in advancing are encouraged to form teams and start Questing both in Colonial and Oasis. There are many parts of both worlds that remain unexplored.

[Zeta Team]

Banzi

Wylie

Sila

Kyla

Hyai

*******************

By the time Nix started walking toward the Ranch House, the moon was already lighting up the Haven night sky. He heard a familiar voice speaking when he entered his home a few minutes later. Vooni and his dad were sitting at the kitchen table playing some sort of dice game.

Nix waved at the two of them and continued walking. He opened his door to the sound of his shower running. A glance into the bathroom told him who his visitor was. "Room for one more?"

Fajii opened the sliding door and peeked out. "Yes, of course."