Chapter 167- Flame Eternal No Longer

Chapter 167- Flame Eternal No Longer

[Keeno POV]

About a week after our fight with that delicious scorpion not much else had happened. We ran into a small herd(?) of those cactus things and managed to catch two. Drinking the cactus juice was an...experience I’d rather not ever go through again. It didn’t taste like anything really, but it messed with my head worse than any alcohol and I almost ended up burning more than half of our supplies...On another note, Geri and Freki have ceased being Irbs of black with a small glow in the middle and have become a glowing orange and blue orb. Ama said that meant they were almost through their adolescent phase, but it would still take a bit for them to ‘hatch.’

Today we were passing one of the smoking pits in the ash. It was close enough to the road that we could safely walk to it so I can check it out and see if there was anything I can do about it or the flames or if it would be a more persistent issue than I can handle in one fell swoop. We neared the edge of the massive smoking crater and I felt the familiar heat of Fia’s flames, though they were more concentrated than I’d ever felt personally. Looking at them through the smoke the red orange of the flames with a slight tint of gold flickered and moved in the way only flames could, mesmerizing me further.

“Hmm. I rate them 8/10.” (Keeno)

“Pfft. Fia’d be so mad at you for that.” (Mostima)

“Well, these are unrefined compared to the current quality of her flames.” (Keeno)

I produced a small blue flame in my palm.

“See, compared to this, it’s like it was made by an amateur. A very good amateur, but an amateur nonetheless.” (Keeno)

“Sorry, the look the same to me.” (Mostima)

I just shrugged my shoulders and looked down into the pit again.

“No time like the present.” (Keeno)

I took a step forward, summoned one of my swords, and stuck it into the surprisingly sturdy wall of the pit and began sliding toward the fire. I saw Margaret, who was standing next to Mostima, reach out but she was stopped. Sliding down, the heat continued to grow more intense and comfortable. When my feet hit the bottom, I sank to my knees in loose ash, but only that far. Wading into the flames was nice. The searing heat felt nice on my exposed skin and made it feel like all impurities were being cleansed.

I waded as far in as I could before the ash started to cover my belly. I then released a small flame from my hand. The two mingled together for a moment before my flame began to grow, replacing the red-orange of Fia’s. The flame spread like, well, a wildfire in a drought ridden forest until the entire crater was awash with cerulean light and a heat so hot it could melt and evaporate metal. I don’t know if it was another aspect of my Solar Authority, but when my flames took over Fia’s, it was like I could feel the area the flames touched, though it only lasted for half an instant. Once I was completely sure my flames completely consumed Fia’s, I waved my hand, and the flames rapidly cooled until the completely went out, leaving an empty pit.

“Mostima, Huginn, Muninn, some assistance please.” (Keeno)

My two feathered friends flew out of my tails and I saw Mostima raise her gravity stave and a strange, almost wet feeling assailed me as Huginn and Muninn grabbed the end of my chains and began lifting me up. Once I was back on the ground next to Margaret and Mostima, the eternal feeling vanished.

“That felt weird.” (Keeno)

“Well, just accept that as punishment for scaring me like that. It’s not good for any of us to watch you fall into a pit of ever burning flames.”(Mostima)

“You were scared? For the one person here who hasn’t so much as turned a bit red from the sunlight, or ever said anything about being hot, or loves taking baths in boiling water?” (Keeno)

“Hehe. Just stating what Margaret’s too flustered to say. Ain’t that right?” (Mostima)

“...Yes. It would have been nice to know you are immune to burning.” (Margret)

Volundr stopped and nodded after a second of contemplation.

“Apologies. My age has made me prone to rambling.” (Volundr)

Glancing over at Mostima, I thought about anything she’d like to hide. She’s told us pretty much everything about herself, the only exception being how she Fell.

“Where are my manners. Please, allow me to make a better spot for discussion.” (Volundr)

Turning around, he lifted his hands and quietly chanted something. A rumbling feeling under our feet occurred and next to the path a makeshift cave rose from the ash.

“Please, I will have some tea prepared shortly.” (Volundr)

He moved into the cave, his robes making it seem like he was a specter floating. I followed shortly after, the others filling me a moment later.

Chaos Realm:

Luna: ...

Tamamo: ...

Atmos: ...

What?

Atmos: You’re different now.

Tamamo: You give off the same vibe as Luna.

Luna: Abyss?

And Luna wins the prize. In all of my domain I have transcended godhood and become the Abyss of Chaos and Nihility. Order, Astraea, and Nykuro are still undergoing their transcendence, but they should be finished soon.

Luna: What exactly does that imply?

Basically we are merging completely with the Concepts we control so that we are one and the same. Just like you are the embodiment of all Fluff that has, is, and ever will be, it’s the same for us, though in our respective Concepts. But that aside, nothing much for any of you I consider family at this point. It just means I can relax the rules for you slightly more without upsetting balance.

Atmos: Oh?

No traveling to Keeno’s world. Luna I allowed that one time, but I really don’t want others to know about my preferential treatment.

Atmos: Fine.

Feel free to cake people though.

Atmos: I’ll take what I can get.

Tamamo: Wha-

!!!

Luna: Oh!

Atmos: This is going to be interesting.

Tamamo: What I was saying isn’t important. This development is more interesting.

Luna: Keeno has two more fluffy friends now. Payto, help me with the blessing.

Go whenever you are ready.