Book One Chapter Twenty Six: Volcano Temple Intro

Book One Chapter Twenty Six: Volcano Temple Intro

Eventually, Qube sorted the matter by setting out along the black path. It took a minute for the others to stop arguing long enough to notice that she was now far ahead of them. She felt no particularly disabling heat, and the others seemed just fine, so she was forced to conclude that her outfit, while looking no different from the one she had worn her entire life, was nevertheless effective.

The volcano loomed above them, and it was only when they got closer that they realised it was not just lava that the volcano was spewing out. In the rivers of molten lava, tiny eyeballs on stalks would occasionally pop up out of the stream and blink at them before retreating. As they got closer to the moat around the volcano, they could see strange gelatinous bodies moving to an unseen current.

By the time they got to the moat itself, several pairs of eyes were looking at them curiously. After a moment, one of the eyes raised up, as a strange creature emerged. It looked like a giant slug made from jellied lava, about the same size as a wolf, with a slit where its mouth should have been.

The slugs eyes blinked at them one at a time. It was, Qube thought, oddly cute.

Brrblp? it blew some bubbles in the lava, tilting its eyes inquiringly at the Chosen One and his party. The Chosen One examined it thoughtfully. Perhaps encouraged by his study, the lava slug pulled more of itself out of the lava and opened its mouth, revealing it to be a perfect circle lined with razor sharp teeth. From that maw came the sound of a tea kettle boiling, a high pitched scream of hot air that washed over the group.

In an instant, the Chosen One had his magical bent stick in his hand, and flung it directly at the creature, hitting it square in the face. The creature stopped its scream-singing with a squeak, its eyes retracting as it sadly submerged itself back into the moat. The other pairs of eyes also disappeared, several bubbles appearing in the lava as if to express their displeasure.

The Chosen One caught his magical bent stick as it zipped back to him.

That was disgusting, he said.

I thought they were kind of cute, Qube replied.

Urgh, well probably have them dropping from the ceiling onto us later or something, the Chosen One said, rubbing his right ear as if to remove the memory of the lava slugs screech.

Perhaps our greatest Mage in all the kingdom can tell us something about these beings, Sewer Bard said with a touch of malice as he idly strummed a few notes on his lute. Definitely Bad Guy glared back at him. Uh oh. Seems they still hadnt overcome their yelling match from earlier.

If the Chosen One requires anything from my extensive knowledge, he has but to ask, Definitely Bad Guy sneered. Sewer Bard looked angrier than Qube had ever seen him before. Come to think of it, shed never actually seen him interact with a male before for any duration of time except for the Chosen One. Maybe he didnt like men? She pondered the notion for a moment before dismissing it. No, far more likely, he just hadnt had a chance to see just how dedicated to Good Definitely Bad Guy was. She would have to make sure they did some bonding exercises after this Fire Temple, so they could get to know each other.

Shall we? he asked the Chosen One with just a hint of malice. I do believe the fate of the world rests on our mission.

The Chosen One refocused, and then passed his hand through a Save Point next to the archway. Qube rubbed her eyes - how had she missed said glowing blue orb until that very moment? Then the Chosen One stepped through the archway and, as its shadow seemed to consume him for a moment, Qube felt the world spin. She closed her eyes to contain her nausea, and when she opened them realised that she was inside the volcano.

Had she had she stumbled through the archway accidentally? She hadnt felt this sick since the Golden Prophecy oh! She shook her head, trying to clear away the fog in her mind. She must be doing something wrong! She was supposed to be by the Chosen Ones side, not staring off at mountains or whatever! She hurried to the Chosen One, nearly stumbling in her haste. He reached out to steady her, and then looked confused.

I didnt know you could stumble, he said. Qube looked at him, now also confused.

Before either of them could continue confusing each other any more, they were interrupted by a soft hissing sound. Looking down, the group realised that they were standing on a rock, which was slowly sinking into lava.

Quick, jump! Chosen One called, before running and jumping onto another large rock gently bobbing in the lava, which immediately began to sink. Qube, trying to contain her panic, jumped, and saw a line of rocks, conveniently leading to the middle of the volcano. Somehow, despite the fact that lava was constantly flowing from the lip of the volcano, it seemed as if it was mostly confined to the walls of the volcano itself, with only a small amount bleeding from the sides, creating a mini moat. After a few short hops, the group were all standing on solid ground that covered the entire middle of the volcanos crater. Next to them was a hole, with a wooden ladder leading down into darkness.

By the time the group had caught their breath, the rocks theyd been jumping across had bobbed back up to the surface of the lava, ready to be used again. Qube, having no real understanding of the properties of lava, could only glare at them for their resemblance to platforms, one of her top five most hated things.

If there were platforms in this volcano, she was going to be cross.

After testing that whatever the ladder led to was safe in the tried and true fashion (meaning the Chosen One kicked Sewer Bard down the hole), the party climbed down the wooden ladder. The heat of the volcano didnt seem to affect the wood at all possibly it had been treated with whatever made their clothes Fireproof, Qube reasoned. Concentrating on the rungs, she had to gently nudge aside the Chosen One from the foot of the ladder, as, for some strange reason, he hadnt moved.

But all thoughts as to the wisdom of using wood inside an active volcano flew out of her head once she landed in the next room and realised exactly why the Chosen One was transfixed. Standing as still as a statue, the Chosen One was looking around him, stars in his eyes.

For this new room was huge. It stretched from one side of the volcano to the other, with only the slowly upwards-travelling lava marking where the walls were. The rest of it was just one giant space.

And all of it, every last bit, was made out of gold.