Depcod's In FIRE!!!

Aster looked like blue flame protected by a golden armour. His aura was enough for the greatest devils of the world to back out. His head was protected by a helmet which revealed only a small part of his ever so handsome face. Hus blue eyes glittered with wisdom. His eyes shined like diamonds on his face. He turned to look at Sienna and Eren. They were stunned to the spine. They couldn't believe that their weak friend would undergo such a change. They really wished that Aster would remain this strong for ever. Aster held the stone in one hand and his sword in the other.

Aster himself couldn't believe his eyes. He did not feel weak now. He took a small peak at the sword. It was the same sword. He couldn't digest what happened just moments ago. He looked at Eren and Sienna. He could see that, they were as confused as he himself was. Eren shrugged a bit. Sienna was staring at Aster in utter surprise. She hadn't guessed that Aster would unlock a power source. Her friend was wearing an armour. An armour made of gold. She couldn't help but stare.

Aster was pretty surprised and embarrassed. He didn't know what to say. Therefore, he asked something out of the topic. Something stupid.

"How do I look?" Aster asked.

Sienna had an increasing urge to laugh. But, she couldn't as her mind was filled with pure surprise and curiosity. She wanted to find out more about the stone and about Aster.

Eren was fully absorbed in Aster's appearance that he did not even hear the question. He just stared at Aster.

ccAster flipped his fingers in front of Eren's face so as to bring him back to his senses. Eren jerked a bit and came out from his thoughts. He found that Aster was sraring at him. Sienna too was staring at Eren.

Eren was confused. He didn't know why they were staring at him.

"What was it again?" He asked, utterly confused.

Eren stared at Sienna for an answer. She did not speak a word. She did that on purpose to taunt Eren. He looked so confused. According to Sienna, it was once in a lifetime thing. Seeing the perfect Eren look confused. Eren had even begun to scratch his head seeinfpg Aster and Sienna stare at him seriously. Even Aster was serious as he expected a reply. Sienna couldn't help. A smile crept over her cute face. Her two friends looked so cute when they were confused. She blushed a bit.

Aster's gaze had already fallen in the hole. Sienna and Eren followed his line of sight. They could immediately guess what was going on in his mind. 'He is going to pull the lever.' Eren and Sienna thought simultaneously.

"Yes. I'm going to pull the lever." Aster said.

Eren and Sienna were shocked. 'What the heck? How the hell can he hear our thoughts?'

"I don't know either. I just can hear your thoughts. Now, don't try to stop me. I'll pull that lever." Aster said.

"Hey! Aster... What if we get you get transported to the other dimension?" Eren asked barely able to contain his excitement.

"Nothing. I can always ask Tania to send me back, can't I?" Aster replied smiling.

"But do you know where she will be?" Sienna asked, seemingly, concerned.

"I can find out." Aster was ever so emotionless.

A deep sense of fear gripped the other two. Aster was running into danger. They could see that. If he could not find Tania, he would be locked in that dimension forever. Their concerns for Aster's safety was never-ending.

"We will come with you too. You have got a cool outfit. But, you do not even know to control your powers. We cannot think of anything bad happening to you." Sienna's voice implied great concern.

"Don't come with me. What if there are dangers? We are no match to those mages. So...stay here." Aster told.

"Three is better than one, bro." Eren said.

Now, there was no escape. He had to take them too. What Eren said was true. Three is always better than one. He repeated this sentence in his mind. He still had a feeling that he was dragging them into this. But he had no choice. His friends were as stubborn as he was. Maybe, even a bit more. They were the stubborn gang.

Eren and Sienna looked expectantly at Aster. He couldn't neglect their pleading glances. He stepped forward and bent low to put his arms inside the hole.

"You both just hold on to shoulders." Aster said.

"Why?" Eren asked.

They were really annoying Aster. Though they were concerned for him, he did not want them to interfere in everything. Why don't they do as said? Though these thoughts troubled him, he gave an explanation. The explanation was just something he deduced.

"Actually, if you guys want to come with me, you will have to touch me. I mean, if you have no physical contact with the person pulling the lever, maybe you cannot reach there." Aster said.

"But why shoulders?" Eren asked again.

He was being nosy again. Aster was clearly irritated.

"I have no interest in taking you both there and dragging you into troubles. You were the ones who told that you want to come. If you want to come you do what I say." Aster asserted.

Sienna quickly gripped Aster's shoulders. She could see a fight coming. That was something she disliked. She always tried to reduce tensions between her friends. She tilted her head and nodded to Eren. That was a signal. Eren touched the golden armour on Aster's shoulder.

As soon as they did so, he bend low and put his hand inside the hole. He felt his hands near the edges if the hole. No luck!

He leaned onto the cave wall and tried to extend his hand inwards. He finally gripped something. It was cold. Just like metal. The thing which he gripped had a small bob on the top of a stick. Aster pulled the lever with all his might. The lever creaked a bit first. Then it moved smoothly.

The next moment he could feel himself flying. No falling. He was falking into a deep hole. He couldn't see its end. But he knew that he would reach the other dimension. He looked on his sides and saw Sienna and Eren falling with him. They had shut their eyes due to fear.

They landed on the ground with a small thud. When Sienna and Eren felt land under their foot, they were greatly relieved. Aster's eyes fell upon a familiar place. It was the same bazaar from his memory. He could see the shops, but all of them were closed. There were no hawkers. No merchants. No customers. The whole bazaar was silent as if it was struck by a thunderstorm. He couldn't hear any voice except for the chirping of the birds.

"Where are we?" Sienna asked dizzily.

"Depcod..." Aster replied nonchalantly. His voice echoed an upcoming danger.

Sienna and Eren was surprised by the strange tone that Aster used. Chills ran down their spines.

Suddenly, they heard an uproar. An explosion. They could hear screams and shrieks. They looked at the direction of the sounds. They could see smoke coming out from the top of one of the largest buildings in sight. The building in Depcod was burning.

They stood still for a moment and then ran in the direction of the fumes.