Chapter 18: Raffy, The Fire Guardian

The sight before him is amazing. The core was huge. The whole place is full of lava. There are rocks floating on it that leads to a larger piece of rock in the middle of the core. Raffy bravely stepped on the small rocks to reach the center of the cavern. Once he set foot on the rock, another earthquake occurred.

"This is not good. Ramch told me that this volcano is not active, but this volcano looks very active to me."

Slowly, Raffy saw lava dripping down from the ceiling of the cavern. He did not move from his place because he was too afraid to move. As the dripping of the lava gets faster, he looked at where the lava was dropping and saw that it was turning solid as soon as it hits the earth. As soon as the lava stopped dripping, he saw that it created a throne just like that of what Joed said, but it was not a tree. The throne glowed red and is burning. Sparks of fire are coming off it.

"I wonder if this throne is really burning or is just made of special effects."

Raffy walked towards the throne to touch it if it were that hot. But before he could touch it, a voice stopped him cold.

"Raffy, I choose you to be the Fire Guardian..."

"Waaa...who are you?"

"I am the spirit of the fire. The Queen appointed us spirits to choose the right creature to possess the powers of the guardians."

"So you mean I get to have cool powers like that of Joed?"

"Yes, you will also have powers like the Earth Guardian's only yours is the power of fire."

"So...how do I get it? Do I get to pass some test or something?"

Suddenly, the wall at the right side of Raffy started to melt and revealed a small room inside.

"Inside that room are twelve pillars of fire. Within one of the pillars is a crystal that will give you the power of the Fire Guardian."

"What happens to me when I choose the wrong pillar?"

"The pillar in which the crystal is hidden is just like all the pillars, it burns and is hot when got close enough. You will know that it is the right pillar when you touch it. The pillar is fiery to an ordinary person but once the chosen one touched it, it will not burn him. Instead, the fire pillar will cease burning."

"You still have not answered my question. What will happen to me when the pillar I choose is not the correct one?"

"Simple. You will be burned to death. Choose wisely."

Again, the volcano started to quake. It seems like the volcano is going to erupt soon.

"What is this? It is not fair. I need time to think which of those pillars in that room is the right one. Before I could do that, I will be roasted by this volcano!"

Raffy, sensing that the argument will go nowhere, quickly headed for the room to get the crystal.

The room of the crystal is a cylindrical room with fire designs around it. Twelve pillars of fire rose from the floor to the ceiling. Raffy, from seeing the pillars, knew that it is going to be a hard task to find the crystal in time. Raffy's plan is to look closely at the pillars of fire and hope he sees the crystal. But each one of the pillars has a visible crystal within them.

"This is going to be a very hard task. I should take my time doing..."

Before Raffy could finish what he is saying, the volcano quaked again, but this time it is more intense than the last one.

"On the other hand, I really should hurry up."

Raffy quickly circled the room hoping to find hints of difference among the other crystals. Unfortunately, all of them were the same. Raffy thought of a stupid idea that might work. He went to the center of the room and pointed his finger straight at one of the pillars. He closed his eyes and started spinning.

"Please be the right one. Please..."

Raffy slowly stopped and saw that his finger pointed at the pillar directly opposite the entrance of the room. While he is walking towards the pillar, he is praying that this be the pillar. As he was about to touch the pillar, another quake occurred knocking him off balance. Instead of touching the pillar he chose, he touched the pillar beside it.

As he topples to his right, different things crossed Raffy's mind.

'Am I going to die? How about the others, will they know that I am in here? What about my family and my friends, will they miss me? Will I be a big lost to them.'

Then, Raffy went directly through the pillar, grabbing the crystal as he fell. Raffy felt no warmth, heat, or any burning sensation as he touched the fire pillar. He did it. He acquired the crystal. He is now worthy of being the fire guardian.

"Congratulations. Now you have proven to me that you are indeed worthy of being the Fire Guardian. Even though you got the crystal by accident, you showed no fear. You did not hesitate to touch the fire, you were not afraid to die. You showed me courage, the most important thing a guardian should have. Now you will receive the power of the fire guardian."

Raffy, awe-stricken walked slowly in the middle of the room staring at the glowing crystal he is holding. As the crystal glowed red, the twelve fire pillars also glowed brightly.

One by one, the fire pillars spit out sparks of fire, which circled Raffy. As the last spark of fire went towards Raffy, the sparks began moving faster. Raffy is now inside a great ball of fire created by the sparks. As the sparks slowed down, they are one by one absorbed by Raffy, then revealing the second guardian, the Guardian of Fire.

Chapter 17: The Fire Guardian Revelation

"Hey Raffy...I was just thinking. Do you think I can cast spells by not saying it like the Velvet Earth? So I will not be so obvious to the enemy."

"I don't know Joed. You're the one with powers among us, why don't you try."

"Ok..."

Without notice, Joed slowly fell and rose from the earth.

"Hey, it worked. So it means that I can cast them without speaking. That's better I think."

"Yeah, because the enemy might stop you before you finish saying it."

"Good point...hehehe."

After quite some time, they finally reached their destination, Infiri Hot Springs.

"Ok guys, here we are."

"That was a long walk Ramch; I think I lost 4 pounds."

"Paolo, you did not lose any pounds because you were eating while we walked."

"I still sweated a lot didn't I?"

"Yes but all those fat were replaced by those food you ate."

"You are good for nothing. Hey Addison, do I look like I lost a few pounds?"

"The truth?"

"Yes please."

"You gained weight...hahaha."

"I hate you!"

"Hey guys stop fighting. Paolo stop chasing Addison. You might collapse and we will have to carry you inside."

"Shut up Francis."

"All right guys, let's check in and enjoy ourselves."

The gang checked in the hot spring and took the key to their room.

"Ok guys, we got two rooms. I will give the other key to Paolo. Each room only accommodates a maximum of four persons. Jessie, Addison and Joed will go with me. Raffy, Francis and Pinggoy will go with Paolo."

"Hey Ramch, I want to be with you guys. This is not fair. I'm with Francis and Paolo."

"So Raffy, what's your problem? You don't like me?"

"It's not that I don't like you Paolo. It's just that...you're you."

"Is that so Raffy?"

"I was only joking. Truce?"

"Truce your face. I am not talking to you!"

"Fine, like I want to talk to you either."

"Fine!"

"All right, I think that's enough. Raffy you are welcome to join us. I was just kidding when I told you to go with them."

"Thank you Ramch."

"Go with them, like we care."

"I thought you weren't going to talk to me."

"I hate you. Come on guys, let's go to our room."

After much discussion, they went to their rooms and unpacked their things. The gang will be spending a night at the spring. They will again hike down at morning to get to the inn.

"I hate Raffy so much. Francis, can’t you talk to him and asked him what his problem is with me."

"It's because he likes you. And if I know any better, and I do, you also like him."

"Tell me Francis, what does he have that Tizon, Burgos, and Go doesn't have? There's nothing in this world that can make me like him."

"The only thing that the three of those doesn't have that Raffy has is the courage to like you."

"Are you looking for a fight Pinggoy?"

"I'm just telling the truth."

"Truth...who needs it. Everybody will be better off without it. Like what I've known and felt, truth hurts."

"Sorry."

"It's okay. Raffy just makes me sick. It is almost noon, come on and let's get going."

"I wonder if there are other cute guys here."

"Well we better get going to find out."

Pinggoy, Paolo and Francis toured the spring looking for cute guys. Unfortunately, there are barely any people at the spring. While they are touring the place, Raffy and Addison are pampering themselves in one of the spas.

"Hey Raffy, I have a question for you but don't get offended okay?"

"What could probably offend me? What is it Addison?"

"Do you like Paolo?"

"Except that question. Are you kidding me? That is so disgusting. I do not like him."

"Then why do you keep arguing things with him?"

"I do not argue with him."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am sure. Now let us please change the topic. Just hearing his name makes me vomit."

At the other side of the spring, Ramch, Jessie and Joed are enjoying a massage.

"This massage is really relaxing. How about you Jessie, are you enjoying this?"

"Of course I am. I have been under a lot of stress thinking about his whole thing."

"What whole thing?"

"You know, Joed, All the things that is happening to us. The dream of Paolo, your powers, Rjadzper kidnapped."

"Just relax Jessie, enjoy the massage."

"Yeah, I should stop thinking about those things. Hey Ramch, what do you think the other guys are doing?"

"Well, if I know Paolo, Pinggoy, and Francis well enough, I think they're looking for cute guys. As for Raffy and Addison, they told me they are going to go to the spa."

"Do you think that those three, Paolo, Pinggoy, and Francis, are ever going to get some guys to notice them?"

"I don't think so."

As they enjoyed themselves and laughed at Paolo and the others, Raffy went back to their room and changed to his casual clothing.

"This whole experience is too much for me. I better get some sleep."

Before going to sleep, Raffy looked out the window of their room and noticed how beautiful the volcano is.

"This place isn't that half bad. And that volcano is really beautiful once you really appreciate it."

Then something caught Raffy's attention. Someone was walking towards the foot of the volcano. Raffy, being curious of where the person was going, and having nothing else to do, followed him.

"I wonder where he will go."

Raffy followed him and saw that he entered a cave by the foot of the volcano. He followed and slowly entered the cave. Then after that, an earthquake occurred.

"Whoa, what's happening?"

The earthquake caused large pieces of rocks to block the entrance to the cave, leaving Raffy stranded inside.

"This Raffy...this...is what you get for being so curious. How stupid of me."

For there is nowhere else to go but in, Raffy headed inside the cave hoping to find a way out. As he ventured deeper into the cave, the temperature rose constantly.

"I must be nearing the core of the volcano."

As he walked a little further, he saw a bright red light at the end of the tunnel. He ran hoping that it was the way out, instead, he found himself to be at the volcano's core.