"So where should we start looking?" I asked. "Legends says that you must jump into Mt. Verana to test your courage and audacity." All the blood drained from my face. "You don't mean the v-volcano did you?" When I first came to Mydril I spotted the volcanoes admiring it from the view, though I guess I would get to experience it in person. "I'm sorry, but it must be done." I did not feel brave at all. "Unfortunately I cannot join you in your test, as you may have already notice, I have a family of my own." I remember the photo from Gerald's home. "And my wife is expecting me home, if I don't come then she'll have me for dinner." Gerald laughed, "But that doesn't mean I'm leaving you, I'm always with you right here." He pointed at my chest. "Lissy will take you to Verana, and Ace, I have faith in you, you will succeed." Gerald said with a determined but frightened look. Gerald left the room and it was only me and Lissy. "Come on, let's get moving." We went outside and made our way North towards the intimidating volcanoes. My heart was pounding, my body was shaking. "Do I really have to jump in that?" I pointed toward the volcano. She didn't answer, she just looked at me with pity.
We made it to the bottom of the volcano, I looked up and swallowed hard. The side of the volcano was steeper than I would've liked it and a bit taller than expected. Luckily, Lissy has amazing physical strength thanks to her ability, unfortunately I don't. I climbed first so if I fall Lissy could catch me, and I hate to admit but she did save my life a couple of times. As we approached the top we started hearing chanting, I didn't understand what they were saying but it didn't sound good. We hid behind one of the rocks protruding from the side. I looked over the rock and saw a group of about twenty men all dressed in ragged robes. I noticed one of them near the mouth of the volcano, he wore golden laced robes and possessed a dark staff with some sort of symbols inscribed all around it. During mid-chant he stopped and turned towards our direction, everyone else followed his lead. I quickly put my head down but realized it was already too late.
Before I even had time to react, the rock that was concealing us just turned to dust. "Now children, shouldn't you be home with your mommy and daddy?" The leader had a hoarse and raspy voice almost like he was suffocating. Then he pointed at us and said "Kill them." Lissy moved with extreme speed knocking down the waves of men coming towards us. She slowly made her way towards the leader, then the ground started to shake, the rocks were moving and changing. I was mesmerized by the event, then the rock formed what looked to be a man. The rock man swung his fist at me, I barely dodged and I was lucky that I did. Instead of hitting me the rocky man hit the ground next to it, a few seconds later that piece of ground turned into dust. I admit that I did wet my pants a little. From the corner of my eye I spot Lissy, she had rock men surrounding her, "If you do anything she dies." The man cackled loudly, even without him taking Lissy hostage I probably couldn't do much.
One of his followers jabbed me in the back with the hilt of his dagger. "Move." He said. I did as told and I slowly inched toward the mouth of the volcano. "The gods demand a sacrifice." He looked towards me and smiled. His follower pushed me into the hole, I was too shocked to react, I could hear Lissy's muffled cries. I expected to feel pain but instead a felt small cold pinpricks across my body. That's when I realized I'm in water! I released some air from my mouth to see which way was up, once I figured that out I swam up to the surface. I looked around me, there was a luminous blue light engulfing the place around him. I looked to my left and spot a small piece of land. I climbed up and I noticed a jagged rock protruding from the ground.
In the middle of it was a blood red crystal, there was a dragon like carving on it. The crystal resonated a red glow, I outstretched my arm and touched it with the palm of my hand. The crystal then flashed brightly, it felt hot and cold at the same time. I looked at where the crystal used to be, it was gone. I started getting memories in my head, there was bloodshed, death, war, pain, and suffering. The memories flowed through me and I couldn't control it, the pain was too much for me. I welcomed death itself until the memories stopped. There was a warm feeling in my body, I felt awake and strong, I felt like I could do anything!
Before I realized, I was shot up towards the sky. I broke through rocks, dirt, and air, I felt invincible! Then I got a warm feeling over my body, there was yellow light everywhere, when I broke through I realized I just flew through lava! This power was amazing. I looked at the man's face and smiled at his facial expression. I notice Lissy, she was all bloodied up. I didn't know if she was still alive or not but it didn't matter. I am pissed and I'm going to take revenge.