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.