Kasai was slowly finally beginning to reform, causing Hitze to look up from his work.

It took a while, but she finally was back in her normal form.

"Kasai? Kasai, vake up already!" Hitze urged.

Kasai finally opened her eyes. "W-wha...?" She coughed a little. It hurt to speak. Her chest still hurt from getting stabbed by her brother.  She sat up, shivering.  "Hitze..?  W-what.."

"I know, I know, I said I'd be busy."

"N-no, not that..."

Hitze looked at her inquisitively.  "Zen vat is it?"

"... nothing, never mind."

She hugged her legs to her chest, still shivering.  Why did she feel so cold?  Phoenixes rarely feel cold.  She didn't feel sick, even if it was hard for her to breathe.

Hitze seemed to catch onto her chill and lit a small fire near her.  She curled closer to it.

"...t-thank you."

He just acknowledged her thanks with a small nod.

"You'll probably have to stick vith me until you recover."

"R...recover?"

"Ja.  You vere nothing but ashes for a while.  At least a day, I zink."

"O-oh.  That explains a lot..."

Hitze just rolled his eyes...which were dark green, just like Kasai had seen with the others here.

"Also, may I ask...why does everyone here have green eyes?  I thought that was impossible.  I've never seen anyone with green eyes before."

He hesitated for a moment.  "Zose vith green eyes are often banished from ze villages and forced to live here.  Ozers just stumble here by chance and zeir eyes turn green after zey have stayed for too long."

"Oh... ...do they ever turn back to normal?"

"Zat I don't know. I've never seen anyone here be able to escape."

Kasai did not feel comfortable after she heard that. What if she doesn't find the way out either?

No. She couldn't focus on that. She needed to find Fuego.

"Hitze, I'd love to stay with you, but I need to find my brother."

"Nein. Not now. Now you need to rest."

"But he could be in danger!"

"Zat does not matter. You are too weak now."

"I don't care. I need to look for my brother!"

Hitze scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Foolish, stubborn child! Alright, if you really vant to look for your brozer, you can. Just don't say I didn't warn you if you end up not being able to fight back!"

Kasai rolled her eyes and got up.  "I'm the daughter of the most famous phoenix warrior in Hadari.  I can handle a fight."

Hitze hesitated for a moment.  "D...do you mean Zestó?"

She turned to look at him.  "Yes?  Why?"

"..." Hitze hesitated before speaking.

"He is my brozer."