[MGM]: 82 - Flame

If the world were a body, then mana would be its voice. If mana were a medium, then skills would be its expression. A medium. A connection. But most of all, its intention.

Fire is transitional—a medium to carry the voice of its user. It melts and molds, conforming to the desires that drive it, and it offers results in the form of an expression. An imagination made reality.

Watching Tania work was a phenomenal experience. A ring of fire pulsed around her like a twinkling star, and a blazing core burned with passionate intensity in the middle. Her hammer swung with force and skill, giving shape to the world around her.

Goblins carried carts from all around, unloading them just outside the ring before returning to begin the work anew. Amara and I watched it all unfold from a distance.

"She's amazing," Amara remarked. "Her skills are nothing short of majestic—almost legendary."

The two had always maintained a friendly relationship—though Tania seemed on edge whenever Amara was around, the effects had waned over time, reduced to mere points of apprehension rather than constant fear.

"That she is," I agreed, smiling. "But it's likely to take her some time before she's finished her work. Let us make use of this time to learn more about this place."

It was fascinating to learn that you could not only convey your thoughts and desires using mana and will, but also understand the thoughts of your target. I never would've guessed it was possible to communicate with a monster had Amara not taught me. Truly, it was an interesting world we lived in.

From the Goblins, we learned that their passage into this cavern had happened years ago—possibly decades even. They didn’t seem too keen on the exact time period of their stay. One thing was clear though: the Dragon had been present when they arrived here.

That was a delightful piece of information. After their arrival, the Goblins had set out to explore every piece of land and had, quite obviously, chanced upon the gate leading to where the Dragon was held captive.

Utterly ignorant of the dread that lay beyond, the Goblins—being as greedy as they were—sought to open it at all costs. Nothing worked. From forcefully prying it open to offering sacrifices near the door, the portal had remained shut.

Despondent and miserable, the Goblins went on to make a settlement. Things calmed down, the glamour of a new zone wore off, and time passed—until the next generation took over.

These new sons and daughters, utterly fearless and believing themselves to be the chosen of heaven, also sought to claim the treasure that existed beyond the door. (Indeed, by now the stories claimed it was a treasure of infinite value that lay in the sacred chamber—despite no one ever having set foot inside.)

The atrocities committed by these fellows were even greater than those before them. Overcome by greed and ambition, they began to unleash a mindless slaughter, hoping to use the vile essence of their brethren to break through the door.

The next events to follow were what the Goblins dubbed as: Revelation.

If it wasn’t clear by now—then yes—these Goblins used to worship the Dragon, calling him their deity and guardian, the savior who had brought them to this paradise from the depths of hell.

So—

“Wait,” I raised my hand to convey my confusion. The Goblin standing before me, wrinkly as a dry cucumber, trembled at my sudden interruption. “You said ‘hell’—what do you mean by that?”

Hell, as it turned out, was where the Goblins had originally hailed from. Though he promptly informed me that it was what his forefathers had told him, and that it could be a mere fantasy tale. I urged him to continue, intending to judge for myself whether it was mere folklore or a true story.

The Goblin began to tell me about Hell.

Hell was... well, Hell. A place where suffering was abundant and torture rained from the sky. Monsters of all kinds lived under its dark influence, slaving under the rule of the Lords of Hell. Those who succumbed to the influence of Hell were usually thrown out, as they provided no more entertainment.

Compared to that place, anything was better.

Much of what the Goblin told me was about their stay in this place, but there was nothing noteworthy about it at all. Having finished interrogating our guest, we allowed him to leave and tend to his settlement.

"What do you make of that?" I asked Amara.

"Hmm." She looked thoughtful, peering down and stroking her chin. "From what I could gather, the Dragon brought them here. But I can't figure out why."

"Is it not because the Dragon wanted to help them?" I offered, expectantly.

"Do you really believe he would've tried to help them?"

I frowned. "Why not?" I asked, a little intrigued.

"He's a Dragon; he must've had some plan that required the help of these Goblins. I am sure of it," she said, holding her head higher.

"He might be a Dragon, Amara," I said, "but he's also dead."

"Yes, but we are here now," she answered, as if that explained all my questions. Seeing my look of confusion, she elaborated. "It's likely that the Dragon intended for us to return—or for someone else to invade—in which case the Goblins could've played a crucial role."

I doubted her statement, but chose not to comment. It didn’t matter whether she was right or wrong; we just had to mind our own business.

Amara and I wandered the cavern, hoping to chance upon something—anything. It would seem our luck wasn’t the brightest, as we barely managed to find a couple of Void Stones. Of course, I had no need for them, given my Dragon Heart.

We returned just before Tania finished her work, having crafted a Mana Capacitor with an astonishingly high degree of capacity. It could easily bear the burden of a top-ranked shield and then some. I was immensely satisfied—if a bit disheartened to know that I was essentially giving it away.

As the fires died out and the mana calmed from the raw, boiling heat, Tania made her way toward us, carrying a satisfied smile.

"That was magnificent work," Amara praised. "To think you had the talent to imbue Runes of exceptional quality into your works—that was excellent work indeed."

Tania blushed at the compliment, suddenly a different woman from the one who had been working just moments ago. It all made her more endearing to me, and I couldn’t help but kiss her forehead, causing the blush to deepen further.

"Thank you for your work," I said sincerely.

"Well then," Amara said suddenly, "I guess I should prepare for our departure."

With the task complete and under constant pressure, we wanted to haste back to the Keep at the earliest. Amara and I had discussed that, though the cavern boasted a magnificent supply of Mana Crystals, they risked growing sparse should we plunder them thoughtlessly. That’s why we decided to take only as much as we could carry comfortably.

I decided not to waste the chance Amara had offered and led Tania on a stroll. We passed a number of Goblins, but most of them chose to ignore us—probably wondering when we would depart from their home and leave them alone.

"Did I ever tell you that you're an incredibly hard worker, Tania?" I posed, smiling.

She shook her head. "Never," she said.

"Well," I said, "you’re an awe-inspiring bundle of energy and so incredibly beautiful."

I saw her face flush a scarlet red, and though an urge to tease her rose within me, I chose not to waste the opportune moment.

"Tania," I said, soulfully. She looked at me, eyes a hint misty and face glowing red. I couldn’t help but lift my hand to stroke her soft cheek, feeling her melt into my palm. "Do you want to be mine?" I asked her.

"Why?" she said, confused. "I mean, haven’t we already put the matter to rest? I thought you’d understand by now."

"I do," I replied. "But I want to hear it from you. The feelings of your heart are unique and shouldn’t be trivialized like that. I want this moment to belong only to the two of us—those words to be witnessed only by us—and for us to embrace this moment in our hearts for eternity."

Her eyes sparkled like radiant gems, glittering stars in an ocean of haze. Her lips were soft and red, trembling slightly and offering sweet temptation.

"Yes," she said, a smile gracing her lips. "I want to be yours, forever."

I could tell you—even an eternity later—the taste of her lips, the softness of her skin, and the fragrance of her body. I could tell you the way her body melted against mine, writhing with passionate intensity. My hands had roamed across every inch of her flesh—so thoroughly that even blind, I could’ve sculpted a perfect replica of her.

I could tell you everything about her, but I couldn’t tell you the feelings of my heart. For even an eternity later, those feelings eluded me just the same.

Author's note: Apologies for no updates. I was at the hospital yesterday—spent half a day there, and left with a pounding headache. I was in no position to write, thus the delay. Thank you for your patience and kind understanding.