"How did you get over here? I can't jump that." I asked Filip, and we were looking down at the two cliffs we had met at.
"I am floating with my air magic. I don't know how I did it... I heard you crying and knew I had to check it out." Filipa answered. Filip shot up and looked at me.
"Did you hear that?" I asked. Filip looked at a bush and pointed at it.
"Izaći! (Come out!)" Fillip warned. A figure emerged from the bush and pointed at me. I recognized that bandana mask anywhere.
"Josip?" I tilted my head a little. "What are you doing out here?"
"Did you see it?" Josip furrowed his eyebrows. I was a little surprised Josip knew English, but once again, I hadn't ever talked to him.
"See what?" Filip wondered.
"The monster took everyone. I was able to run away. It even came after the hunters. I don't know if there's anyone left," Josip answered.
"Is this a prank? What do you mean, monsters?" I questioned.
"The void underneath us—how else do you think the earth split? I saw it with my own eyes; something attacked me." Josip was panicking, but he was trying to explain.
"You are not making any sense. Calm down." Filip urged.
"You won't believe me; you have to see it yourself." Josip took a huge rope out of his bag, tied a piece of meat to it, and lowered it far. He started shaking.
"Support me," Josip called. I ran behind him, and Filip followed as we pulled on Josip. Everyone kept pulling, and my hands started to burn. Finally, Josip pulled the rope up, revealing that there was nothing left on the rope.
"What was that? Filip asked.
"No idea, some monster though," Josip answered. "So, where are you guys going?"
"The tool side," I replied.
"But were elementals?" Josip looked at Filip. Filip took out his staff and showed it to Josip.
"Why are you with a tool user? Get behind me; he could kill us," Josip warned. I looked at Filip, who looked downward.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Filip sighed.
"That's what they all say." Josip rebutted.
"We share a common enemy, don't we?" I let out.
"What do you mean?" Filip turned to me.
"I mean, the monsters, there's going to be a reason why they are there to begin with," I explained.
"Alright, I'll accompany you guys just to make sure," Josip answered.
"How do we know you aren't trouble?" Filip glared at Josip.
"Guys, shut up and figure out a way to get past this cliff side to the other side." I groaned. I looked around, and then it hit me. I looked at a tree that was growing, but I was sure it was big enough to make a bridge.
"Filip, when I say so, make the tree into a bridge," I ordered.
"Got it!" Filip shouted, studying his grip on his staff and adjusting it. I focused on the tree and started to move the ground under it. It took me a lot of work, but I finally lifted the roots and ground under the tree.
"Filip, now!" I ordered. Filip swiftly moved behind the tree at an angle and used his staff. The tree trunk landed on the side of the cliff we were on, almost falling off.
"Alright, now we need to work together to pick it up." I huffed. I walked over to the tree trunk, and while Josip took the other side of the tree trunk, Filip moved to the bottom.
"Three, Two, One!" I counted. We all lifted the tree and started to move it towards where the cliffs almost touched. We dropped it and rubbed the dirt off of our hands.
"I'll try it first; I have the staff." Filip offered to climb on the tree branch and cross towards the other side of it safely.
"It's safe; let's go."
When we got to Hephaestus, I looked around at all the commotion that was going on. There were markets, buildings, people banging metal on metal, pigs being nosy, occasionally chickens chirping, and other noises.
"Come on, I know who we should talk to." Filip walked towards a library and opened the door.
"Are you sure we should tell anyone else what if they put us in jail for conspiracies?" I asked, looking around the library and seeing that there was hardly anyone in there.
"You kidding me, that's the last thing Ivan would do. Ivan!" Fillip yelled. I heard some commotion from upstairs and some sighing as a tall boy climbed down a ladder and stopped in front of Filip.
"Hey... Who are these people?" Ivan asked, looking at me and Josip questionably.
"I'll explain it later. Go get Ema and meet back here. I have something huge to tell you guys," Filip explained happily.
"Alright," Ivan replied. Ivan shuffled out the door after Josip moved out of the way for him. Filip led us to a quiet place in the library, up a ladder, in a secluded area.
While I was looking around after hearing Josip and Filip ramble about telling people, I heard the door open and saw a girl climb up the ladder, followed by Ivan. The girl and Ivan sat down.
"So what's this all about, and who are these people?" Ivan asked. Ivan had black hair and these things on his ears. The girl had blonde hair and a huge scar that looked like it lit up her right arm.
"Alright, Zemlija These are Ema and Ivan. Ivan and Ema, this is Zemlija, and there is just Josip."
"Gee, how nice! Now tell them what you think would benefit us."
"Right." Filip turned to Ema and Ivan and explained everything that had happened, including my people being taken and us meeting Josip.
"So you guys think that there are monsters in the void?" Ema wondered. I could tell she was fluent in English.
"We don't think we know; I saw them with my own eyes," Josip grumbled. "I told you this was a bad idea; we sound like crazy people."
"I have to get my people back. I'm wasting my time; they could be dead. What good is it to tell anyone?"I looked at Filip, who smiled.
"I think we should help you," Filip commented.
"That's a great idea—a couple of kids fighting some monsters." Ivan rubbed his temples.
"Don't be like that, Ivan. I know you can be of use." Filip snapped back.
"That's not what I'm worried about; I'm risking my life for people I don't know."
"I'm down." Ema gave a thumbs up.
"Ema?!" Ivan groaned.
"What? It sounds fun. Come on, Ivan, let's do it for Filip."
"Fine... Only for you and Filip." Ivan responded. "But how are we going to sneak out?"
"That's Ivan I do that all the time." Filip brushed it off. "What about you, Josip? What can you even do?"
"I use magma and earth," Josip responded. "My sisters, somewhere I have to go."
"You have a sister?" I asked.
"Yeah, Sara," Josip answered.
"Alright, then we're all in; we'll make plans to set out this night now... Ivan, hand me that pencil. I got some paper in my bag."
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