A Day in the Mind of Lalna - Part 5, Face It

In that room, with everyone from the server standing around a table, even without their usual getup (Ridge had put them in jeans and cotton T-shirts, “Suited for battle,” he said.), they radiated power, and in some cases… despair.
Xephos kept looking at the ceiling angrily. None would question him leader, but the fact that he stood on the same platform as Lalna and the others did, that send worry into their hearts.
Lomadia tried to catch Lalna’s eye. No doubt they were the strongest pair together, technology and strategy; they’d be hard to beat. It was like the usual Survival Games Ridge put on, but this had a different air to it. Lalna was sure Lom felt it too.
Nobody spoke. Honeydew seemed to stare through the walls, one hand tucked beneath the other, stroking his beard. Rythian paced the floor, his violet eyes tinted blue in thought. Zoeya sat cross-legged, calmly awaiting Ridge’s reappearance.
The fiery technomage caught the scientist’s eye. She gave a tight smile, her eyes forgiving. Lalna could hardly swallow down the lump in his throat.
Finally, Minty stepped up. Sjin tried to give her a warning look but she ignored it. “I think we have an idea why we’re here and set against each other.”
Lalna sucked in a breath. Here goes, he’ll be first spilled.
“Either Ridge is bored or there is a different… matter at hand.” The shy blonde wasn’t known for giving evil looks, but it took most of Lalna’s willpower not to shrink away.
Xephos cleared his throat, his midnight blue eyes almost black. He was looking straight, almost into, Lalna.
The scientist glanced behind him. The dwarf had suddenly appeared, looking very angry in an red-orange T-shirt and jeans. This was because of him.
Rythian was glaring at him too, almost as if the mage had just guessed had caused this. “You dare¬ –”
The scientist held up his hands. “It was before the truce. Before… before Zoeya - ”
Rythian was fuming.
“Enough,” Xephos growled. “If we resume our old grudges, we’ll get nowhere. We need a plan.”
“Like those’ll work,” Strippin muttered. “Ridge knows us, Xeph.”
Lomadia glanced at the ceiling. She was wearing a navy-blue tank top and brown jeans. Lalna felt a bit of pride for his sister. She was always a bit of a rebel. “In theory, if he wants a battle, he’ll want us to fight.”
“Well no shit,” Honeydew snapped. “What do you think? It’s ‘Survival Games’ for Israphel’s sake.”
It went quiet. Slowly, slowly, they began to see the playout.
Frost vines began to grow within Lalna… Ridge had known they’d realize it one way or another. Ridge had known that Lalna would be the first to suspect it. Ridge had known that they would be standing here right now, saying this exact thing. Ridge had known.
“Oh, no.” Lomadia read the look on his face. “Oh hell no.”
Nilesy looked a bit confused. “Wait, what?”
“Israphel’s biome is the Nether. Lalna’s vial holds the power to ‘flame the world.’” Sjin muttered.
Xephos’s face was grim as he shared a look with Honeydew.  “Ridge is planning to let the Nether’s poison take the land. And he’s going to do it while we’re distracted fighting.”