15. FOURTEEN

FOURTEEN

T hey stood near the Aurisan Bridge, surrounded by bustling strollers wearing mixtures of yellow and orange.

The metal of his armor shined under the sun as Ron examined the buildings around them, his sword tightly gripped in his left hand. Davina followed his gaze toward the premises that she was all too familiar with. Most of the buildings had black spots covering their walls and smoke escaping from the crooks of the edifices.

"You're not sweating under that?" Davina asked.

"No, not really. It's quite fresh in here."

"Are you sure? You've lived in Auris long enough to know that the deeper we go into the island, the more you'll feel the heat of its core."

"Don't worry," he chuckled.

Davina turned toward the white posts that held the street names of Auris. She scanned the arrowed sign that directed them for Spark Street, feeling as though she needed to head down that path. An image of her and Ron walking down the street flashed through her mind.

"Spark Street," Ron said.

"Alright," Davina noted before they walked down the pathway, down Spark Street.

Children ran across the pavement, rushing to the market stands that were set across the street. Surely, they were searching for sweets and toys to buy. Smoke filled their nostrils with more intensity as they passed by a few market tents.

Another flash passed through her mind.

"We should go right," he said.

Davina nodded, confusion striking her again.

The pathway stretched past the villages. Davina scanned the nearby small towns; some houses were completely burned down while others stood high and mighty with a few outer charred walls.

Davina turned to look at Ron, but the view of his beautiful face was replaced by an image of them traveling forward. Toward the ashen lands of the Desolate Highlands which were considered cursed by everyone in Bellatorm, including the Aurisans.

"Where is it telling you to go?" Davina asked. He motioned his chin straight ahead, toward the Desolate Highlands.

The Desolate Highlands were colorless green lands surrounding the volcano that stood by the edge of the cliffs of Auris. Freya led the Aurisan revoltists to the volcano to use their power to cause a devastating eruption to occur. The provocation of the eruption was used as a ploy to provoke the King into action, but only cooperating in his decision of remaining silent for many centuries.

Aurisans of later generations claimed the land to be cursed, which is why it was named the Desolate Highlands. No one would come and visit the once beautiful hills on this part of the island.

Davina had never come this far to the outskirts of Auris Island, but as the green grass turned into gray dust and she trudged through the dead plants, the bones of deceased animals, and gray tree trunks, she felt the scene becoming familiar. The perspective she saw through her eyes matched the image that kept flashing across her mind.

"Ron, where to?"

"The volcano."

"Okay."

She recalled the way the Mistran messenger had informed Master Abigail that the Highland's inactive volcano was emitting gas and ash.

"Is everything okay?" he asked with a raised brow.

Davina shook her head. "Of course, why wouldn't it be?"

"Are you okay?" Ron asked, his hand reaching for her arm.

"Everything's fine, don't worry." She smiled.

"Alright."

The smell of sulfur burned into her nostrils as the booming of the bubbling magma resounded beneath her feet while they reached the rocky surface of the volcano. She looked upward and found the peak of the volcano to be dark and tall. Intricate lines with an orange hue ran from the mouth of the volcano and down to their feet.

Another flash passed through her vision.

Davina barely felt the atmospheric temperature rise. Nonetheless, she was worried for Ron. She glanced at Ron, yet it seemed like he didn't notice the heat of the imminent volcano. How fresh was it inside of that suit?

"You can wait here while I go to the top," Ron said.

"No."

"No? Why not?" he asked.

"Because I think that I feel a pull to the volcano as well."

He stayed silent for a few long seconds.

"What do you think it means?" he asked.

"I have no idea." She shook her head. There was no handbook when it came to finding their armor, but it was already out of the ordinary for Ron to find his armor on different islands.

What could be the reason that they are both being called to one place? And then the place they were called to was a volcano that could erupt at any given moment.

"Then I'm glad you'll be joining me on this one." Ron grinned.

He held out his hand to her, while his sword was gripped in his other. She smiled before wrapping her fingers in his warm hand and they began to climb the rough surface of the volcano. Ron would stop whenever she stumbled and would pull her closer to him. She nervously chuckled yet he didn't seem to mind that she kept tripping over the rock.

As they reached the top, lava was already gurgling below them with a deep rumble. Its color had been different shades of orange and yellow, the same colors that signified Auris.

One wrong move and they would fall in, yet there was something inside of her mind telling her to jump in.

Aurisans were immune to touching lava. It would not do the same kind of harm that it would cause to someone who's from the ice region of Neptulus. At least that's what she heard from other Aurisans, she'd never touched lava before or seen an icy Neptulan do so.

She turned to Ron who hadn't released his eyes from the magma that bubbled below. Would he survive?

"Where is it telling you to go?" Davina asked as she turned to face him.

He faced her and pointed below.

"You?" he asked.

She pointed.

This would by far be the most dangerous task in their search for their armor. Everything that she witnessed today was nothing compared to this moment. Her chances of surviving the jump were higher than his. She couldn't help but feel anxious for his safety.

"Do you want to do this together?" he asked.

As much as she wished for him to remain safe at the top, jumping inside was his calling just as much as it was hers.

"Yes."

He nodded. Ron's grip tightened slightly around Davina's fingers. His pale fingers caressed her golden beige skin. She looked up into his eyes. A small, crooked grin appeared over his lips. "Until the end."

"Until the end." Davina nodded.

She looked into his gray-flecked eyes and admired his perfect smile.

"On three," Davina began.

"One…" Ron said.

"Two…"

"Three!" They yelled before jumping in.

As they flew downward, they let go of each other's hands. Her hair flew wildly across her vision, covering her eyes for most of the journey into the pool of magma. Before she realized it, heat hugged her body completely.

The thick lava covered her hands, her eyes, her hair, and her clothes.

She prayed that her hair wouldn't burn under the thick orange magma. Davina pushed herself to the surface and inhaled deeply. Cleaning the liquid off her eyes, she asked, "Ron?"

After a few seconds, Ron's head submerged out of the lava.

"Thank Magnar you're okay." Davina sighed in relief.

"I've told you before, love, you can't get rid of me that easily." Ron smirked.

Davina rolled her eyes. His eyes traveled to her slicked-back hair, covered with dense orange fluid.

"Davina, you—you look," Ron began.

"Like a hot mess?" she laughed.

"Quite literally."

The chamber that surrounded them was dark with many crevices covering the entirety of the rocky cone. The only visible light had come from the bright magma that coated them. Dark blue clots surfaced onto the orange lava, traveling in Ron's direction. Davina's lips parted before she smiled as she realized how his armor was being covered in a brighter color. A tall rock, chiseled to be thin and sharp, flew out of the lava pool and into the air.

Ron lifted his hand and caught the staff before it submerged back into the orange liquid. He looked at her with a wide smile.

"That's a really cool staff," Davina complimented.

"A staff and a sword?" Ron asked, mostly to himself.

"The King has favorites," Davina teased.

Ron squinted his eyes. "You don't get to say that, Captain . A Captain who also happens to have wings as an extra set of abilities."

Davina laughed until she found violet spots around the mixture of orange surrounding her. A loud rumble erupted into the pool of magma, she could feel her legs vibrating intensely.

"Is it about to erupt?" Ron yelled.

"I think so!"

"Hold on to me!" Ron shouted through the rumbling of the volcano. Davina pushed herself closer to Ron but then an explosion of red and yellow blasted them upward, toward the mouth of the volcano.

Davina glimpsed pieces of amethyst and gold through the walls of copper that filled her sight. The colors rushed harshly onto her skin. She groaned with unpleasantness. The boiling rock began to form across her body, hugging her kirtle into the suit.

Davina closed her eyes while taking deep breaths. Tingles ran down her spine as the lava had fallen back into its pit.

She opened her eyes and examined the glove of purple rock around her fingers, then turned to look at her wings of violet fire. She smiled. A euphoric rush raced into her blood as her wings propelled her upward before she twirled once in the air.

Davina placed her feet above the ashen floor, next to Ron, who looked down at the weapons in his hands.

Ron looked up, his eyes immediately captivated by the indigo and gold armor along with the wings that accompanied her form. Her once-slicked-back hair had dried and curled into its natural coils. Ron stared with gaped lips, his sword and staff almost falling out of his grip.

Davina stretched her arm. Her fire crackled above her hands despite the rock armor surrounding her fingers, lowering her hand, embers scattered into the air as her wings and fire dimmed.

Ron's eyes traveled upward. Davina followed his gaze to find two long swords crossed with one another.

She lifted her arms and gripped the hilt of the swords, slicing them out of their holsters. Both blades had the most perfect curves in the guard of the hilt. Davina spanned the sword with a wide grin.

She did it.

She found her armor. The King had been nothing but wonderful to her. Davina activated her powers, she had wings, she was a Soldier and a Captain, and now she had her armor and weapons for the war. Perhaps, she was ready for war.

She looked up at him and noticed a small glint in his eyes.

Her heartbeat raced as she examined him in his gear. She didn't think it was possible to smile wider, but she felt like she did. He looked remarkable in the dark blue armor, weapons in hand.

"You look—" he stuttered. "Amazing."

"Thank you." She blushed.

The glim in his eyes faded away with his smile. Davina lowered her weapons.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Ron looked away from her. Her shoulders slumped as she inferred what he was going to say.

"I don't know if I can be a part of this war, Davina." Ron sighed.

No.

She didn't wish for another argument. They had such a wonderful day, despite the trials and exertion. She felt more connected to him, much closer. It was troublesome, but they'd been going through it all together.

She liked having him around and enjoyed his presence. And she had to admit she loved having him as a partner in these trials.

"If finding our armor was hard enough, imagine the war," he stated.

"Don't say that," her voice quivered.

Ron set his sword into the holster that was around his waist and approached her, his hand snaking around her arm. She trembled against his touch.

Davina stepped away from him.

"I don't think I can go through this war," Ron began. "I've been through enough already because of my dormant powers. And you have, too, we don't have to be a part of this. Don't fight, Davina, please, I am begging you."

"I did not go through all of that for nothing, Ron. Do you have any idea how much of a sacrifice it was for me to go into the lake, looking for you? I told you that I hated it, and I still went into the water. For you. Because I care about you and because I couldn't imagine a world without you in it."

"I care about you, too. But I don't think I can, I'm sorry," he muttered.

"Why not?" Davina asked.

"Because, Davina, I don't think that I'll survive with my conscience knowing that my lack of abilities cost you your life," he said.

"I can protect myself," Davina argued. "Besides, you are one of the best Soldiers of Mistral. What about that?"

"It won't be enough on the battlefield."

Davina sighed, biting down on her tongue. She passed a hand over her forehead to massage away the headache that was settling in.

"Have you ever thought that maybe this is what I want?" Davina asked.

He remained silent with his lips pursed. Davina looked away because she could hear her own heart shattering inside of her chest.

"I want to do this. I have been working so hard to become a Soldier and now I am one. As a matter of fact, I'm a Captain . The King chose me to guide Bellatorm in the war against Raven. Me, Ron. An Almenara. I am a descendant of the woman who led the Revolt, which caused the Era of Silence to begin. So many Bellatormans have hated me for the blood that courses through my veins because of that. But he has not rejected me, he took me out of the dirt that I've lived in and has put me in a position of power. He has honored me and embarrassed those who have proclaimed themselves as my enemies. I don't think you know how much that means to me. And I would really like for you to fight by my side. It'll make my life so much easier if I just have you there with me."

She hoped that he would be convinced to fight with her because not only did it bother her that he didn't want her to fight, but it also bothered her that he didn't want to fight at all.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, I can't be what you want me to be."

Her jaw tightened as she gritted her teeth harshly, holding back all the insults she felt like speaking. This day meant so much to her that she refused to ruin what they had built together, her fingers curled.

"I thought that everything we went through today would be enough to change your mind." Davina's voice was low as she avoided his gaze.

After she saw how he had nothing else to say, her wings appeared behind her back. She set her twin swords back into their holsters and stepped away from him.

He stared at each feather of fire as she put a distance between them.

"Davina, don't go. Please, hear me out."

"No. I can't do this right now."

She flew away despite his echoing pleas for her to come back. She needed to see Leilani, she'd know what to do.

Thunder clapped loudly behind her as Auris Island blurred past her and she was welcomed by Basalt's green wonderland.