"Why build all that, only to then intermingle your nation with humanity?" Asked Aurora.
"Survival... as you're aware Djinni don't procreate like most creatures. We are formed from magic and that is what we required most of all.
It was for this reason that the Tower of Magi was first constructed. To those outside our circle of trust, it is a place of magical study.
To us Djinni, it is both a 'farm to grow our 'food' as well as a 'nursery' where new Djinn are formed. The rest of the Empire just formed around it to help sustain it all.
The Empire may be ruled by a single Sultan, but the Djinni are in fact ruled by the Elemental Conclave, a council that consists of the Eldest members of each of the elemental Djinn types.
You've already met myself and Akechi, who are the Storm and Earth representatives. The Sultan and Emiir are the representatives of Light and Metal. The others you may still meet in time." Explained Tempus.
"Why tell me all this? You could have easily continued to keep your true identities secret?" Asked Storm.
"Because we need your help, Calamity! And I've found that keeping secrets isn't the best way to foster trust. I offer you this information in good faith.". Explained Tempus.
"The Order? Is that why you're here?" Asked Storm.
Tempus shook his head.
"Although the Order is a threat to us both, this isn't my reason for coming here. I hunt a far more dangerous prey."
"I trust you know know about the war between my kind and the rest of you?" Asked Tempus.
"You mean the one where the Djinni tried to dominate the continent?!" Asked Storm in a biting tone.
"That's the 'official' story. But there's something the rest of the world doesn't know. The Djinni they fought in the war was NOT the entire Djinni race, but was actually just a faction of ours.
Led by a Fire Djinn by the name of Efreet and his faction of power hungry djinni. They were the ones that plunged the continent into war.
The rest of the Djinni fought against him and aided the other races discreetly. Eventually we were able to capture him and his followers.
When he was captured, we were uncertain what to do with him. Djinn do not truly die when our physical bodies are destroyed. Instead we revert back to the elemental magic that flows through the world and which gave birth to us.
That energy could eventually create another djinn with similar personality and flaws, but without memories of his past existence and so executing him would simply mean another Efreet would rise in time.
Imprisonment was also out of the question. To us Djinni, captivity is the worst fate one could possibly experience and we considered it to barbaric.
He was a great hero fighting for our freedom once before he fell from grace and we didn't wish to reward his dedication with such a terrible fate." Explained Tempus.
"So what did you do then?" Asked Aurora.
"We sealed his and his follower's powers away. Rendering them powerless except when using them in the aid of others... they can only use them when someone wishes and asks for a boon.
Which led to the rather.... unfortunate.... myth that Djinni grants wishes when evoked among humans. " Explained Tempus.
Storm frowned.
"What was that supposed to accomplish?"
"We hoped that our lost brethren would find humility in these forced acts of charity. Perhaps then their fate wouldn't be as dismal to them as they first believed and eventually they would no longer need this curse in order to do good.
It was meant to be rehabilitation, not a punishment, Calamity. " Explained Tempus.
He sighed.
"Unfortunately, it seems our former brethren has not changed their ways and instead of attempting to redeem themselves, they have instead devoted the centuries to finding loopholes in the curse.
We tracked one such renegade to this celebration. No doubt he's attempting to contact The Order. I think we're in agreement that the Order arsenal doesn't get improved by Djinni magic?" Asked Tempus.
Storm nodded his head in agreement.
"Fair enough... who is he?" Asked Storm.
"We don't know... usually we can identify each other by sight alone but he's using something to camouflage himself from me, just like how I'm concealing myself from him now.
I'm afraid we're going to have to investigate and I can't search through all these people alone. Which is why I need your help?" Asked Tempus.
"How are Aurora and I supposed to identify him when even you can't?!" Asked Storm.
"He's a Fire Djinn, so he'll smell of sulfur up close. He's no doubt masking the scent somehow but dragon senses are not so easily fooled. I'm hoping you two can sniff him out?" Said Tempus.
"We're not hunting hounds!!" Exclaimed Aurora.
"There might be another way... as a Djinn of Fire, water is his opposing element... if he comes in contact with it, then it will force him to reveal himself. " Explained Tempus.
"Can't you just summon a rainstorm or something?" Asked Storm.
"I can, but that will reveal my true nature to him a moment before he is revealed. That momentary gap would give him an advantage over me and I don't know how powerful he is compared to me.
He could even kill me before I even had a chance to retaliate, I'd prefer it didn't come to that." Explained Tempus.
"What makes you think he hasn't already identified you?" Asked Aurora.
"He hasn't tried to attack me yet, so I'd wager he doesn't know what I am. But I'm sure he's aware he's being tracked. It will make him on edge and dangerous.
"We can't exactly go around splashing people randomly with water either!!" Exclaimed Aurora.
Tempus smiled.
"Fortunately you won't have to... two of my 'lesser brethren' are currently enslaved to the owners of this building. They're bound to a crystal deeper in the palace and can be summoned in the event of an fire breaking out.
If you can reach it and free them, then they can do what we cannot. " Explained Tempus.
"And what exactly will happen to these elementals once they escape?" Asked Aurora suspiciously.
"They will be picked up by a retrieval team led by a lower ranking Djinn and brought to the Empire for safekeeping until they awakened their own sentience.
You need not worry, my lady. We won't allow our kin to rampage over the countryside uncontrollably. " Explained Tempus.