The glow of the lava pools cast flickering shadows across the stone walls as Ignatius, the Fire God, leaned back against a jagged boulder. Beside him, Lucifer, the Devil God, lounged with an amused smirk, his crimson eyes glowing faintly. Valorant, the God of Weapons, was the last to join the gathering, a broad grin on his face and his weapon harness slung casually over his shoulder.
"I'll admit," Ignatius began, swirling a small flame in his palm, "Sara has been surprising me lately. She's actually starting to take her training seriously."
Valorant snorted, plopping down on a nearby rock. "That must be a first. She's usually too busy causing chaos to focus on anything productive."
"She's still causing chaos," Ignatius replied dryly, "but at least now she's managing to channel it into something useful."
Lucifer leaned forward, his sharp features gleaming in the firelight. "The Chief God improving her skills? That's news worth hearing. What's changed?"
Ignatius hesitated, his mind flickering to their recent moments together. "Let's just say she's… motivated."
Valorant raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Motivated? By what, or should I say who?"
Lucifer chuckled darkly. "This is getting interesting. Ignatius, are you holding back something we should know?"
The Fire God scowled, tossing the flame into the air where it dissipated. "Don't read too much into it. She's just… determined to prove herself."
Valorant laughed, shaking his head. "If you say so, old friend. But speaking of interesting developments, have I ever told you about my time with the Goddess of Stars?"
Lucifer's eyes widened, and Ignatius groaned. "Oh no, here we go again," he muttered.
"She was radiant," Valorant began, leaning back with a dreamy expression. "Her eyes sparkled like galaxies, and her laugh—"
"Enough," Ignatius interrupted, though a small smirk tugged at his lips. "You've told that story at least a dozen times."
Lucifer, however, was intrigued. "Wait, the Goddess of Stars? You? How did that even happen?"
Valorant feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. "I'll have you know, Lucifer, that I am quite charming. It was a mutual attraction."
"Mutual, huh?" Ignatius said with a chuckle. "If I recall, she banished you to the Void for a century."
"That was a misunderstanding," Valorant said hastily, though the tips of his ears turned red.
Lucifer burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the cavern. "I've seen gods do many things, but being banished by a lover? That's a first."
"It wasn't just her," Ignatius added with a grin. "There was also the Sea Goddess, the Goddess of Winds—"
"Okay, okay!" Valorant interrupted, holding up his hands. "Let's not dwell on the past."
The group dissolved into laughter, their usual seriousness momentarily forgotten.
Lucifer shook his head, his amusement evident. "I never expected you to have such a colorful history, Valorant. It's… enlightening."
As the laughter subsided, Ignatius glanced at his companions, a rare smile on his face. Despite their differences, moments like these reminded him why their bonds as gods mattered, even amidst chaos and unpredictability.