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Chapter 32: The True Guardian of Fire Island

That voice. Light and warm, yet powerful and authoritative.

Time seemed to stand still as Keahi slowly turned his attention toward that voice, his eyes wide and unblinking. His breath hitched in his throat when his gaze fell on a being standing without fear in the large dragon claw that formed from the still glowing molten lava. The man was tall, his shoulders broad with strands of blue hair swaying in the heated winds. His blue eyes were narrow as he stared down at everyone gathered, eyeing them all critically. And yet there was a somewhat cheeky smile on his lips as his cocked a hip to his side, his hand resting there in a casual manner.

A-and that dragon… Ashkenaz Oboth?

“Who’s there?” an elder demanded, yet his voice was uncertain and shaky.

“T-that’s...” Bharath breathed as he stared up at the figure as well.

“Masou!?” Brendis yelled out in disbelief.

“No way...” Flamenca murmured as she laid sprawled out on the ground, having fallen there due to the powerful tremors.

Upon hearing his name said aloud, Masou’s smile turned into a half smirk as he focused his attention on the elders and the Fire Guards that had accompanied them. Then he moved quickly, jumping down from the outstretched claw of Ashkenaz Oboth and landed on the ground directly in front of Keahi. He stood up tall, stretching his long frame to his full height. Just like he had done the second him they had met, when Masou protected him from those bandits.

And yet, to Keahi, Masou had never appeared so tall or invincible before.

Was this even real?

“I suggest you get away from Keahi,” Masou said, with a tone that stated that it really wasn’t a suggestion, but rather a demand. “And leave those two alone,” he added, motioning to Bharath and Brendis with upturn of his chin, his smile turning a little more sincere. “After all, they’re friends of mine.”

Bharath was pressed tightly against Brendis’ chest, a look of blatant shock and disbelief on his face. “Masou...?” he whispered.

“My real name is Obsidian,” Masou said as he lifted a finger and brought it to his lips in a playful manner, like he was telling a rather silly secret. “The Fire God.”

Flamenca blanched at his words and shook her head in denial. “B-but…T-that’s impossible...”

Finally, Keahi was able to find his voice, regained his breath after it had been taken away. “M-Masou...?”

Masou turned around to face him completely, turning his back to everyone else, simply uncaring that they were there. A gentle and warm smile, one that Keahi had seen many times before, graced his lips. “Hey there, Beautiful,” he greeted. “I told you, it’s not your time to die yet.”

“H-how?”

Masou tilted his head to the side in an endearing matter, looking somewhat playfully guilty. “Acting like an almighty Fire God is really quite boring, so I decided to walk among my people as a simple man. I wanted to meet someone pure and passionate,” he lifted a hand and gently caressed Keahi’s cheek, Keahi unconsciously leaning into the warmth of his palm. “Someone like you. You care for this island, care for these people with all that you are. You were even willing to die for them. You are a true Fire Priest.”

“But the legends stated that I was to give myself to the Fire God as a peace offering,” Keahi murmured, his eyes gazing directly into Masou’s.

“No, the legends have been taken out of context,” Masou stated and seemed rather annoyed about that. “What they mean is the Soul of Fire will willingly give himself to the God of Fire, but not as a sacrifice, but as a will to live, a will to love. You’ve already given yourself to me, Keahi. No one else can do what you can. I want no one else.”

Keahi felt himself trying to swallow the large lump of emotion that had become lodged in his throat, tears threatening to fall. “Why didn’t you tell me you were the Fire God?” he murmured after a moment of silence, still looking into Masou’s eyes, still leaning into his hand.

Masou gave him that cheeky grin of his. “Would it have made a difference?”

Keahi gave a half laugh, half sob at those words, the words he had once said to Masou. “...Idiot.”

Slowly, Masou removed his hand from Keahi’s cheek and took a step back. But he didn’t move all that far. Instead he held out a hand toward Keahi. “Will you still stay with me?” he asked gently.

Keahi said nothing. Instead he bypassed his hand and instead threw himself against Masou’s chest, his arms slipping under his so that his hands rested on his shoulder blades, his fingers curling tightly around the material of his clothing. He buried his face into his shoulder as Masou’s arms moved to wrap around him, holding him close. “I love you,” Keahi sobbed into his shoulder.

“I love you, too,” Masou whispered in response as he rested his chin on top of his head.

For the next few lingering moments, Masou held Keahi in his arms as he cried, running his fingers through his hair, whispering soft words of reassurance. And Keahi could only cling to him, unable to stop himself from crying. Everything that had happened, everything he had been through mentally, emotionally and physically had caught up on him.

He had been so close to death, a death he wasn’t ready for. A death he didn’t want. And his friends, Bharath and Brendis, had also been close to death. Risking their lives for him.

But now…he was still alive. Everyone was still alive.

And Masou…Masou…

“I’m not going to treat you any different now that I know you’re the Fire God,” Keahi murmured, pulling his face away from Masou’s shoulder to look up at the immortal man.

Masou simply smiled and gently kissed him on the forehead. “Good.”

Then, he turned his attention toward Bharath and Brendis, the two other males gaping at them, along with everyone else. But that did little to concern Masou. His main focus was on the two fire wielders who had boldly defied the very Fire Council they were raised to respect. A council that was corrupted by the very own Princess

“Hey, thanks for stalling enough time for me,” Masou said as he wrapped an arm around Keahi’s shoulders and pulled him against his side, Keahi resting there comfortably. “I really appreciated it.”

Slowly, Bharath removed himself from Brendis’ arms and cautiously moved forward, toward them. “You were all this time...?” he whispered softly, his question lingering.

“...The Fire God?” Brendis muttered as he lingered behind, unsure.

Masou turned his blue eyes to Brendis and then his smiled teasingly. “No wonder you couldn’t win against me, huh?” he said playfully. “Slowpoke!”

That immediately riled Brendis up. “I’ll give you Slowpoke!” he threatened like he had done so many times before, but this time he quickly remembered just who he was actually talking too and he winced. “Ah, I mean-!”

“That’s the spirit!” Masou said, silently encouraging the Fire Guard to keep his fiery spirit toward him. “If you keep this up, you might beat me one day.”

But Brendis blushed darkly with indignity. “Don’t you patronize me!”

Masou laughed rather obnoxiously. “Haha!”

Keahi had to shake his head at the sight, somewhat relieved to see Masou acting in such a manner; cheerful, childish, outspoken. His gaze soon turned toward Bharath, the beautiful older man simply looking at him in an observing manner.

Keahi smiled and carefully removed himself from Masou’s embrace to take a step forward. “I’m here, Bharath,” he said gently.

“Master Keahi!” Bharath said as he suddenly moved forward, throwing his arms around Keahi in a hug. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. Thank you, Bharath,” Keahi replied as he wrapped his arms around Bharah, feeling him trembling ever so slightly under his hands. He was still injured; he could still feel the bandages. He had put so much strain on himself just for him.

“And please, just call me Keahi,” Keahi said as they drew apart. “After all, we’re friends.”

Bharath seemed some-what stunned. “Master, ah, I mean, Keahi,” he whispered before smiling with utter relief and joy. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

“Really, thank you both for your help,” Masou said with the utmost sincerity and gratitude as he offered a hand toward Bharath, he too no doubt able to see that he was still injured. “For everything you’ve done for Keahi and for Fire Island.”

“My Lord…” Bharath breathed as he timidly placed his slender hand in Masou’s allowing him to guide him back to Brendis, whom immediately took a hold of him.

“Hey, Masou will do,” Masou said as he removed his grip on Bharath’s hand and took a step back. “I prefer it, actually.” A wide grin then appeared on his lips. “Now then, you two don’t have to hide your love for each other anymore.”

Brendis stiffened while Bharath blushed lightly. “We…”

“It’s fine, really,” Masou said as he casually flapped a hand in their direction. “You two are the prefect examples of how the people of this island should live. Isn’t that right, Keahi?”

“Yes, absolutely,” Keahi immediately agreed, nodding to Masou before turning to gaze warmly at his two dearest friends, a sense of pride filling his chest at the thought of the two no longer having to hide something so beautiful.

Silently, Brendis and Bharath looked at the two of them, allowing their words to sink in. Finally, they smiled, both at the same time, and sincerely appreciative of their support. Bharath pressed himself against Brendis, his head nuzzling under his chin as Brendis wrapped his arms tightly around him, holding him close, neither of the two caring that the elders and other Council Members were watching.

“Well now,” Masou said, his voice now serious as he turned in an ominous manner toward the source of so much pain and suffering – Flamenca.

“What am I going to do about you?” It wasn’t really a question.

Flamenca, who had not moved from her position on the ground, caught in a state of pure disbelief and denial. Her eyes were wide, her face pale, her hair in complete disarray and she shivered under the intensity of Masou’s glare.

“I’m the Fire Princess,” she murmured, restating the words she had said countless times before. But this time her voice was soft, unsure and, to be honest, quite pitiful. “You can’t...”

“You are no longer the ruler of this Island,” Masou declared sternly as he took a step forward, moving to stand over Flamenca in a commanding stature. His eyes were narrowed, his usually playfully blue eyes stone hard and firm “As the true Guardian of Fire Island, I banish you and sentence you to exile. Your greed and selfishness are no longer wanted here. “

With one last look of disgust directed to Flamenca, Masou turned his face away, his gaze falling on a group of Fire Guards. “Lead her away,” he commanded.

Guards immediately stood to attention and bowed their heads in acknowledgment. “Yes, Fire God Obsidian!” they all stated in unison before scurrying their way over to the fallen Princess.

“You can’t-!” Flamenca began to protest as two guards snared her by the arms, hauling her to her feet.

Masou cut off any protest she would no doubt have with a levelled glare. “I just did.”

Flamenca shivered and turned her attention to Keahi, unadulterated fear and desperation in her expression. “You-!”

Keahi kinda felt sorry for his only living relative. But she had done so much damaged to this island and their people, had done things that were unforgivable. She killed with forbidden magic, desecrated the Fire Temple and almost killed Bharath.

It wasn’t sympathy he felt for Flamenca. It was pity. Even so…

He shook his head. “Goodbye, Cousin,” he said simply, motioning for the guards to take her away, blocking out her desperate cries and screams of insults and threats. No longer will she be a threat to him or anyone else.

“Are you…?” a cowering Fire Elder asked nervously. “Are you really the Fire God?”

Masou’s grin turned downright wicked. “Why don’t you ask that to Ashkenaz Oboth?” he said as he waved his hand to the side. “I’m sure he’d love to answer any question you hold.”

When Keahi heard the Fire Dragon’s deep guttural growl, he suddenly remembered that Ashkenaz Oboth had been there, watching over all of them the entire time. He glanced up at the almighty Fire Dragon, noting the way his regal head form through the towering lava to tower threateningly over everyone. He certainly looked dangerous, but…Keahi could feel a sense of mirth coming from the incredible spirit and he shook his head.

“Masou,” Keahi said as he elbowed Masou lightly in the side.

“I’m only having some fun,” Masou said as his grin turned playfully again, moving to wrap Keahi up in his arms. “After all these council members put you through, I think they deserve just a little of torment.”

A laugh, a light but real one, escaped Keahi’s lips as he pressed himself against Masou. “Fire God or not, you’re still impossible,” he murmured happily.

“Well, anyway,” Masou said casually. “I think it’s finally time for some real changes to occur, don’t you?”

“Yes!”

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