The mage cursed itself for summoning the flaming beast. Though this flaming tornado, one I could not hope to eliminate, was a great threat in itself, a much larger problem posed itself to me. Who started the fire?!

I ran fullspeed towards the academy, hoping to save at least some reminder of Grentle Academy. About halfway, I began to worry aobut Sephith and Varagas. Where were they? I began hearing shouts in a strange language from the other side of the town, along with roars of a beast. I could only assume that our newly sworn enemies were attacking again.

Our enemies were the rebels of Fort Ninjutsu. It was a hidden fort, where the once fellow Ninja practiced their art. But when enemies attacked and sieged the fort, the Empire never helped, so as they slowly defeated the invading forces, they grew resentful of the Empire, and when they finally triumphed, they decided that the Empire needed a new ruler. And thus, they began to carve a path to the Capital.