Chapter Text
—
The forest green eyes stared down at trembling hands. Was the information true? Cass knew that no one would lie to her about this. She trusted her coalition to the point where anything they said she would take to heart. Her elbows rested on her knees, one leg bouncing anxiously as she debated with herself on what to do. She opened and closed her hand, flexing it repeatedly while rubbing her wrist in such a nervous way her skin started to turn red.
She lifted her head, a lock of pink and orange hair falling on her face. Her eyes immediately trained to the piece of paper sitting on her desk. She pushed herself off her bed and walked over to her desk. She ran her hand along the edge as she looked down at what was written.
She felt the knot in her throat, her heart race, and the sweat drip from the side of her head. These were the same feelings she felt during that day. As she stared at the letter, it flooded back to her like the lava that flowed. The screams of those she knew, those who looked up to her, those she swore to protect, it all echoed in her head.
The words on the paper did not say much, but those words were enough to put her thoughts into novels. Along with the scribbles below it. It had already been days and yet she has not done anything about it, but today would be the day that changes that.
The words on the paper repeated in her head.
We believe Queen Cynikka is still alive.
She folded the paper and shoved it in her pocket with haste. This was something she could not- would not do alone. She paced in her quarters thinking about who she could ask to help her. Everyone had at least one thing against Infernus, she had to pick wisely. After minutes of back and forth, who else could she rely on other than a man with no nation.
Saparata.
The urgency of the matter meant she would meet with him while he was uninformed, but this was too important to her, who else could she really trust to come with her?
She finally left her house in a hurry, and immediately multiple citizens waved and said their greetings. Cass was never one to not be friendly, especially to those who did nothing wrong. She gave them a warm smile and waved back, she told them she was going to meet with Saps and would be back soon. It was a promise. All those around her acknowledged it and carried on with their lives, back to farming, to trading, to return to the hustle and bustle that goes on in the coalition.
One of the bakers surprised her as she was saying her goodbyes with a pouch. Cass blinked and took the pouch, she smiled as soon as she smelled what was inside.
“For your journey.” Said the baker.
Cass nodded and took the pouch with a smile, before giving the baker a nod and courteous bow as thanks.
“Thank you.” Cass spoke before continuing her stride towards Saps’ place.
—
A little while later, she arrived at the shore of Saps’ island. The stairs leading to his home and to the right of it was a grave with freshly picked flowers resting on it. Her eyes did not move from the grave as she read the sign. The name made her heart race, her mind flooded with anger, loss, relief, and many more emotions she could not keep track of. She took a step back as that name made her remember all the screams and bloodshed of that dreadful day. She remembered every vivid detail, every member burned by the lava and water, men and women riddled in arrows, the blood on axes, swords, and armor. That one name sparked everything on that dreadful day.
As she stared at the name, a voice seemed to snap her out of the trance she put herself in.
“Had a feeling you’d show up.”
Cass immediately turned towards the voice. There he was, standing on the stairs, the man at the center of it all. One of his legs on a higher step as he smiled towards Cass. Cass could not help but smile back, her racing heartbeat now calming down.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes.” Saps spoke, slowly making his way towards her.
“That was my line.” Cass chuckled before replying.
Cass immediately dashed towards him giving a tight hug, which he seemed to reciprocate pretty well by hugging her back, although not as tight. Cass’ hugs were always the tightest. After she pulled away, her smile seemed to fade as soon as she remembered what she came here for, but Saps did not see any of that. Because as soon as Cass pulled away his head turned to the grave of Fluixon. Cass looked at him and knew that his memories of it all were probably very different from hers. The flowers spoke for themselves about Saps’ feelings on what happened.
“I heard about something.” Cass spoke, trying to break the silence.
Saps blinked and turned back towards her, his brow raised, he opened his mouth but remembered they were out in the open. He knew Cass would not come here for nothing, especially since her coalition needed her eyes more than her words to him. He took a step back and immediately started walking up the stairs.
“Come on, not here.” He spoke, his gaze flicking around as if the air itself might be carrying their words away.
Cass turned her head to look at her surroundings, Saps’ place was well known to be out in the open. Better to be safe than sorry, right?
“So… If you’re here for what I think you’re here for, then you came to the right person.” Saps stated.
“Yeah? You spying on me or something?” Cass joked.
“What do I have to spy on you for? You don’t have anything interesting going on.”
“Harsh.”
“That’s about to change isn’t it?”
Those words from Saps really could mean a lot, the information she had could divide the islands and nations once more. She continued to walk up the long flight of stairs and started to write in her head what she was going to say to Saps. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, even if it is a very big deal. She shook her head to free herself from getting lost in her thoughts and before she knew it, she was at the top already.
This place looks different, but she wouldn’t really know, since she skipped the first time people were called here. It just feels more like… A home.
“So?” Cass spoke, breaking the silence.
“So?” Saps replied.
“Are we clear here?”
“Decently enough, I have some stuff around that tells me if anyone is nearby.”
“Right, so…” Cass slipped her hands in her pockets, feeling the piece of paper nestling within. “What do you think I came here to talk to you about?”
Saps smiled in amusement and shook his head as he crossed his arms.
“What?” Cass exclaimed, “What’s so funny?”
“Well, after everything I would have expected us to be direct with each other by now.” He replied.
“Yeah, but… If the information is-“
Saps cut her off with what she wanted to hear.
“It’s Infernus related isn’t it?” He asked.
Cass’ eyes widened, she held the paper tightly in her pocket. She could feel her heart race, her hands tremble, and the air get thicker. She swallowed those feelings figuratively and literally before taking a step forward. She pulled the piece of paper out of her pocket and waved it next to her.
“I got some real insane information, Saps,” She quickly looked around and continued, “like really insane.” She took a step towards him, “This could change lives, this could break the peace.” Cass exclaimed.
Saps sighed, he rubbed his neck and turned his head towards the direction of the other island.
“Hey, we’re not gonna get anywhere if we’re not on the same page. So on three, we say what we think we’re here for.” Saps stated. He then held out his three fingers and started to count down.
“Three…”
His fingers started to go down along with his words.
“Two…”
“One!”
Both Cass and Saps almost jumped at yelling their answers, although they were similar but not the exact same.
“Cynikka’s alive!” Was what Cass exclaimed.
“Infernus’ leader’s still around.” Was what Saps said.
Saps’ mouth tilted into this smug shape as soon as he heard what Cass said.
“Oooh~ Cynikka huh? First name basis? What are you two? Close?” Saps teased.
Cass immediately slapped his shoulder to stop him from teasing her.
“Shut it! Just wanted to get my point across!” She yelled at him to hopefully kick this smugness out of him. “Man, you were not as smug when you were on the run.”
She then unfolded the piece of paper, as soon as she saw the words, she read them out to Saps.
“We believe Queen Cynikka is still alive.” She then showed him the piece of paper with a crudely drawn map and a few circles around the inside of the volcano.
“ We ? Who the hell is we ?” Saps asked.
Cass shook her head and raised her shoulders as a sign of her not knowing.
“I don’t know, but this is the only lead we have.” Cass stated.
Saps then leaned in closer to the map, squinting his eyes to examine it before pulling away with a nod.
“Yeah, alright, let’s do this.” He spoke, before he started walking towards his chest, rummaging through his items.
“Wait… Just like that? You’re in?” Cass asked, scrunching up her face in a mixture of confusion and surprise.
“Yeah, you helped me, so… Just returning the favour.” Saps spoke as he continued to rummage through his chest.
Cass could not help but smile, he appreciated Saps for this. But even Cass didn’t know why she was so attached to this conspiracy of the queen of Infernus maybe being alive. Has mysteries like this always been so enticing?
“There you are!” Saps exclaimed, raising his pickaxe, “alright, ready to head out?” He asked as he rested his pickaxe over his shoulder.
Cass nodded, she had her pickaxe and sword strapped on her, the pouch of bread, she was more than prepared.
“Ready.”
Off on their journey they went.
—
It took half a day for them to get to the base of the volcano. The heat of the boiling water and lava sent wave after wave towards the both of them. They looked up and wiped their sweat, looking up at the aftermath of the great siege of the volcano. Half of it was taken down already, luckily for them today the cleaners decided it was a rest day, so they’ll pick up the slack and continue cleaning it up tomorrow. They began their ascent up the volcano, wondering how they’ll even find what they’re looking for.
God, if Cynikka is alive she has a ton of explaining to do.
With one more step they arrived at the outer rim of the volcano, and as soon as they looked down, they were in awe of what they saw. What used to be the Infernus castle, suspended by chains, was now deeply embedded in the lava, sinking deep into what they once worshipped.
“Holy shit…” Cass muttered under her breath. “I… I don’t remember seeing it fall.” She spoke, taking a step back in surprise.
“Yeah I heard it fell not long after, something about it not being able to handle the stress and damage of the siege.” Saps stated, before making his way down the west side of the volcano. “Let’s split up, cover more ground, wave and yell if you find anything.” He continued.
Cass nodded, before heading down the east side of the volcano. They started feeling around the edges of the lava, following the circles on the map. She could see Saps in the distance, doing the same; poking around with his pickaxe and taking a few chunks out of parts that looked interesting. Cass chuckled to herself once a thought came in her mind: How Infernus would have been so mad at the two of them for desecrating the sacred land. She shook her head and continued to poke around. It took a couple of hours when suddenly…
Clink!
The sound the pickaxe made wasn’t the usual softness of cooled down magma, it was something solid, something extremely solid: Obsidian.
She distanced herself from the edge and started waving to get Saps’ attention, she yelled and called to get his attention, and soon he started his jog to come over.
Not long after he was by her side. She told him that something hard was on this side of the volcano.
“Not tuff?” Saps asked.
Cass shook her head and pointed at the blackened spots of the ground.
“Obsidian.” She stated.
“This is gonna take awhile.” Saps groaned, but he was committed to helping out a friend, no backing out now.
They started digging, keeping a distance from the lava as they got lower and lower through the obsidian. Soon the light started to crack through, it was hollow inside. They continued to mine through, until eventually…
The rumours were true.
There remained the fallen queen, her face and body covered in burns and wounds. The empress of fire, now reduced to a crumbled mess of ash and soot. Cass and Saps stared at her like she was a ghost, like an ancient evil soon to be unleashed. Cass began to shake, not out of fear but from her overwhelming emotions. Sweat dripped from her head and her fists clenched before she took a step forward. The ground beneath spoke a subtle crack which caused the fallen queen to flinch.
She was alive.
Her body shifted, revealing more of what had happened to her. Her entire right arm lodged, starting from her elbow in the cocoon of obsidian around her, embedded deep in the darkness like the lava behind the obsidian was consuming her. Her head pointed at the ground, staring at her ground beneath her. Her hair now disheveled and unruly, unlike the tied up buns that the queen once bore during her rule. And finally, her crown, chipped, cracked, and burned, befitting her final moments in that battle.
A whispery groan escaped her lips, the sound of a ghost, her movements were subtle as if she had not moved for days. Cynikka looked up, squinting her eyes at the two silhouettes. Covering her face with her free arm, then slowly moving it away as soon as the bright light started to fade. Once her vision started to clear up, her eyes widened and she flinched as a defense mechanism. But it did not take long for her to remember the position she was in, and upon realizing she had nowhere to go, she could not help but chuckle.
These were the ones who found her?
How… Interesting.
“Well well,” Cynikka said, “If it isn’t the hero of the story…” Her words came out in a raspy and weak tone.
She shifted her position, blowing the unruly strands of her out of her face, and making sure she could see them with her cold, dead eyes. Immediately noticing the woman standing next to him. She felt the pain of the numbness go away, just enough to let out a smug smile. But that soon also disappeared
“Princess…” Cynikka stated, in a monotonous weak voice but clearly teasing tone.
Cass took another step forward, wanting to take some aggression out on the helpless ex-queen. Before she could do anything, she felt Saps’ arm cross in front of her to stop. Her nose twitched in anger as she turned to look at him in offense. She pulled away to calm herself down.
She replied with a scoff before examining what had caused her to be trapped. It could not be just because she was weak. Her eyes slowly moved to Cynikka’s arm trapped in the wall. She needed a closer look, she fished a torch from her pocket and moved closer. This time Saps did not stop her, as he was just as curious as her. Cynikka however, stared at them both, her gaze never once breaking from the two of them. She watched as they grew closer and closer, fearing for her life once more. Had they come to finish the job.
She watched as Cass did not even look at her direction as she knelt down beside her. Her attention was only on her arm, bringing the light of the torch closer. Cass looked closer at her arm, now blackened from the lava, a prisoner to the volcano’s hardened blood. Her eyes followed along the wall, seeing the hardened crimson of the queen’s blood on handprints around the arm. She was trying to escape, but she could not pull herself free. The lava burned as strongly as it did since they all arrived here, it must have been painful.
“You’re trapped.” Cass stated, her voice both full of concern but also caution. Her eyes slowly moved to meet Cynikka’s gaze.
“It’s obvious… Right…?” Cynikka replied, her voice only growing weaker, “I gave much to the volcano, it loves me too much to let me go.” Her statement however had been the most genuine thing that came out of her mouth.
“How did you even survive? We heard you hit the ground and died on impact.” Saps asked, finally moving closer and kneeling down next to Cass, in front of the weakened empress.
Cynikka smiled, letting out a guttural chuckle, but it would appear that every movement she made only made her feel more pain.
“When I hit the ground, I felt my blood pool inside me as I laid there. I was practically considered dead. The other weakened members of Infernus, I could barely see who they were, even as they were covered in wounds and arrows, they dragged my body and threw me in the volcano.” Cynikka explained before a smile started to fade into her lips, “It was what I had always wanted, to give to the volcano… One… Last… Time…” She coughed, blood dripping from her lips, “If the volcano was truly kind to me, I would be reborn from the ashes, from the fire and flames, I would be born anew.” She spoke.
Cass and Saps looked at each other for a moment as she explained. She still had these delusions of grandeur of what the volcano can provide, and yet, look what it had done to her, it would have killed her. It was a miracle she survived.
“You’re insane.” Cass stated, her emotions slowly rising to the surface once more, “This damned volcano has your arm, and you praise it still?!” She exclaimed.
Cynikka flinched at Cass’ increase in volume. Wincing at the loudness of it all.
“A small sacrifice for my life. It hungers, and I was more than happy to feed it.” Cynikka said.
Saps then pushed himself up, shaking his head before walking back to the opening he and Cass made.
“She’s lost it Cass, I don’t know what we can do…” Saps said, sounding defeated, “If she wants to stay here, then we shouldn’t stop her.” He continued.
Cass thought for a moment, thinking if that was really for the best, if leaving her here to die was the best course of action. She pushed herself up and walked over to Saps.
“Listen to your hero, he knows best…” Cynikka let out, before her head fell down to face the ground once more, going back to how she was when they found her.
Cass stopped in her tracks and clenched her fists. She wanted to leave her here to die, but she’s had enough of death for one lifetime. If she could save someone, she would do it in a heartbeat. She quickly turned around and moved over to Cynikka’s trapped arm, trying her best to find a way to free it. Cynikka raised her head in shock to look at Cass.
“What are you doing?” Cynikka asked. Her movements were slow and weak, but she tried to reach for Cass with her other arm.
“You’re alive.” Cass stated, “Let’s keep it that way.” She added.
As Cass felt around the obsidian for a way to free Cynikka without hurting her or releasing the lava on the other side, Cynikka stared at her, watching her hard at work to save someone she once considered her enemy. For once, after a very long time, Cynikka’s blood began to pump as heart began to beat faster. She watched Cass, her eyes examining every detail, her smooth skin glistening in sweat, her pink and orange hair having unruly strands each time she moved a little too quick, and those forest green eyes, as thick and comforting as any forest is, a place Cynikka felt herself wanting to get lost in.
Cass looked at everything, she could not do much in terms of the hole itself, all she could really do was pull. She turned to Cynikka, their eyes meeting in this dance of uncertainty as she opened her mouth to speak.
“I’m going to pull, please brace yourself!” Cass exclaimed.
“No, wait-!” Cynikka tried to stop her.
Cass gripped Cynikka’s upper arm and pulled with all her strength. With barely a fight, Cynikka’s arm came off the elbow as it cracked and crumbled into ash. Cass fell backward on her behind, catching herself with her hands. She was expecting much more of a struggle. Cynikka stared at half her arm still in the wall, she blinked in surprise before looking down at her arm, then back to the hole, then back at the arm. Why didn’t that hurt?
“I… Didn’t even feel it come off…” Cynikka let out.
“God, it’s worse than I thought…” Cass added.
Cass unclipped her hood and immediately rushed over to the amputated arm of Cynikka. She wrapped her hood around her arm like a makeshift tourniquet, using the moon clip she wore to hold it in place.
“There.” Cass stated.
Cynikka wiggled her arm just to make sure the tourniquet would not come off before turning her attention back to Cass.
“Why…?” Cynikka’s voice trembled, each word dragging out as if it hurt to speak, “I… I’ve nowhere to go… Nowhere that would want me.”
Cass turned to Saps. He shook his head slowly in response, he was not willing to take her. Cass would have taken her, but she feared her coalition would not agree with her. But she had no other choice, it was her decision to go here, it was her decision to free Cynikka, she had to make sure she was safe. Her life is now in her hands.
“Can you at least see if the way is safe for us?” Cass asked.
“That I can do, I’ll go ahead and turn back if you have to go a different way.” Saps replied, before moving out of the cave of obsidian.
Cass turned back to Cynikka and gave her a warm smile.
“This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you, but I’m responsible for you now… Queen.” Said Cass. She then moved under Cynikka’s other arm, supporting her by wrapping one arm around her back and the other on her waist.
“This is too much… Even for you… I-“ Cynikka tried to say but was cut off once again.
“Shut it, let’s just get you out of here. I don’t know how you handled this heat.” Cass said. With a heave and a ho, she lifted up Cynikka back to her feet, holding her with as much support as she could.
“It was not easy… But I’m more accustomed to it than you.” Cynikka replied, taking steps along with Cass, slowly making their way out to the exit.
Cynikka could not help but look at Cass. Her appreciation for her only goes up every moment she shares with her. She admired her determination, her willingness to take action, her empathy and care, and most of all, the empress of fire seemed to be entranced by the coalition leader’s green eyes.
“Your eyes…” Cynikka let out, “Have they always shined as brightly as emeralds…?” Cynikka’s weakened state has taken away her filter, the words she would usually keep to herself seem to just manifest themselves out of her lips.
Cass flinched, almost accidentally letting go of the woman she was supporting. She felt the heat in her ears grow as she turned her head towards her to let out an awkward laugh. She didn’t say that… Right? She cleared her throat and tried to play it off as the queen just being too weak.
“Haha… You’re really just saying anything now huh? We’ll get you some food and water once you’re out of here.” Cass replied, now avoiding Cynikka’s gaze. She did not want her to make any more comments, she feared she would not be able to take anything like that. Besides, she needed to be on her guard, she may be weak but she was still the queen of Infernus.
As they made their way out of the cave and up the volcano, Cass made sure Cynikka was climbing as well as she could. There was a part of her deep inside that loathed the idea of even helping her, but she really did not want to see anyone this hurt. She looked up to see that sky had turned into the golden orange of sunset. If Cass timed it right, they would arrive back at the coalition at the dead of night, hopefully allowing her to sneak Cynikka in. There was no sign of Saps, which meant they had no reason to take a detour.
Eventually they made it to the rim of the volcano. Cass sat Cynikka down and fished the pouch of bread before holding it out to her.
“Please, eat. It’s good, I promise.” Cass pleaded.
Cynikka looked at her, then down at the pouch, before reaching in and taking a piece of bread. She felt the softness and the crunch once her grip tightened a little. She felt her stomach grumble before immediately taking it to her mouth and giving it a smell.
“It smells good… My thanks…” Cynikka replied, before taking a bite. The taste was divine, bread had never tasted this good before. She savoured every bite, she did not wish for butter or anything, she was simply happy to be eating again. As soon as she finished the piece she had, she took another, and then another, then another, until eventually the pouch ran empty.
Cass smiled and let out a small laugh before moving closer to her. She reached for her bottle of water and held it out to her.
“Wow, ate all of it huh? You should wash it down.” Cass spoke. She felt the wind in her hair and watched as the golden glow slowly faded in the background. A moment of rest during this journey was just what she needed. Still… It didn’t stop any of the painful memories that resurface from time to time, but still, this moment of peace between her and Cynikka, she would not trade it for anything.
Once Cynikka finished the bottle, she set it aside with an awkward clink, still clumsy from having only one good hand. The cool air brushed against her skin, soothing after the bellowing heat beneath the molten earth. She let herself sink into it, savoring the way the breeze carried freedom in its invisible fingers. She enjoyed the wind as much as Cass did—perhaps even more.
Her gaze drifted from the fading sun to the woman beside her, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow into that golden glow. The light caught on Cass’s profile, painting her in fire and honey, every line of her face softened yet sharpened at once. Strands of her orange and pink hair glimmered like molten threads, shifting with the breeze. The sharpness in her eyes seemed almost gentled by the dusk, but the power beneath them was undeniable. Cynikka’s breath stalled; she couldn’t tell if the warmth on her face was from the sunset or from the pull Cass seemed to have over her. Cass then turned to Cynikka, that smile on her face that Cynikka cannot seem to get out of her head. Not like she wanted to.
“What?” Cass asked, feeling her face for crumbs or dirt, “Why are you looking at me?” She continued.
Cynikka simply smiled, before shaking her head. She felt the wind blow past her, making her follow along.
“Nothing.” She replied, “Just… A nice sunset, is all.” She stated.
Cynikka would not reveal her feelings at that moment.
At least…
Not yet.