Mira's predictions were correct. After an hour or so, they arrive at the Jackal mountains. Where from one of the caves at the mountain slope, a light could be seen illuminating its insides.

“ Do you see that?” Alex calls to the rest.

“ Yes. It is probably their camp.” Ivan answers him.“ So, Mira. What's the plan?”

" Listen. First of all, we have two options. They both are the same, but up to a point. To begin with, we must rescue the children. We go in, find them and bring them out safely. This is our primary objective. So don't do anything rash, that will endanger them. Secondly, and this is where we have two options, we can either fight them inside the cave after we have rescued the children or"

“ We can bring them outside to an open area and fight here?” Andrew interrupts.

" That's what I thought at the beginning, but it will work against us. You see, someone must protect the children, and then we will have one member out straight from the beginning. No, the second plan was that as soon as we come out, I block the cave's entrance, trapping them inside."

“ And how you going to do that?”

“ By causing a rockslide of course.”

“ I see. This might work.”

“ No, it isn't good enough.” Alex says.

“ What do you mean?”

“ What I mean Mira is that these guys must pay for what they have done.”

“ And they will. They will be trapped there, with no means of escape, starving to death. How is this not good enough?”

“ Because, if you can use earth magic, what makes you so sure that the enemy can't as well? Or if they can just break through the rocks? You heard the woman from before, she talked about a giant boarman. Also, that means that you won't be fighting with us, neither when we rescue the children nor when we try to escape. So the results are even worse than scenario a.”

Everyone is surprised by Alex. The perverted young man, saw through the entire plan's weak points. Something that they didn't do. He might not be such an idiot after all.

Mira thinks that every single one of these guys keeps surprising her with their personalities. They all seem so easygoing and relaxed, but they aren't always as they seem. They have another side to them.

“ I agree with Alex. Both plans are just too dangerous. We should just go in, rescue the children and fight whoever stands in our way.” Andrew says.

“ We will see. First of all, we must get information about their positions. I need one of you to go ahead and spy on them.”

“ I will do it.” Ivan volunteers. “ I was trained for things like this. Please trust me.”

" I do. Ok then, Ivan will go ahead and return to tell what he sees, Andrew and Alex you secure the perimeter. We don't want any unpleasant surprises. Anna, we stay here and keep an eye on them."

“ Roger!” They say all together, each going their way.

When only Anna and Mira are left, she speaks.

" You think they are in the same group as Greyo?" Anna asks her.

“ Most likely. They have a group of fire-goblins, managed by one guy from a different species. It sounds similar enough.”

“ I guess they do.” She says looking up at the rainy sky.

“ We have to capture him alive. We need information. Be sure that we tell the others about this.”

“ Roger.”