'This is my fault.' Lith blamed himself as much as the Guardians. 'I put Mom into this situation because I wanted to lure Meln and his cronies out of their hole. She went on those stupid trips only because I told her she would have been safe.'
"Do you at least know why this happened?" Raaz wanted to be angry, but first, he needed someone to blame. "What the fuck did those guys want? Was it Meln again?"
"Yes, we have already uncovered everything." Leegaain glossed over the part where the Awakened had folded like lawn chairs the moment the Guardians had manifested their power. "Meln had nothing to do with this.
"Or Lith, for that matter. They were after Ripha."
"Me?" Menadion pointed at herself. "Why? How?"
"You are the legendary First Ruler of the Flames, child." Salaark replied. "Those idiots targeted Elina because they knew how much Lith cares for her. The plan was to ask Lith to make you Forgemaster a full set of equipment for them as ransom."
