Saga of Atlantis

"What is this place?"

As we arrived in front of a large cave-like entrance in the middle of the mountain, Grace mumbled still in my arms.

Her soft body melted in my arms as she snuggled around to make herself comfortable.

"Ever heard of Tartarus?" I asked as I placed her down softly, and by pure accident, I messed up her dress a little, giving me a view of her pure baby-white skin.

"The one from the legend?" She asked, glaring at me while she adjusted her skirt and t-shirt.

"Yeah, the one that tells about the place where Titans are imprisoned," I replied as I looked at the cave entrance.

"So...What does this place have to do with Tartarus?" She asked, standing beside me as she looked at the entrance.

"It's a dungeon that is a small part of that place," I replied, looking at her. "A place that has the same environment as the real Tartarus."

"And how do you know about this place?" Squinting her eyes, she asked, "now that I think about it, you are hiding a lot of things."

"You can always ask about it," I replied, shrugging as I walked inside. "It's not like I am trying to hide anything from you."

"And...It's not like I am forcing you to tell me," she mumbled, following me inside the cave.

"Anyway, it's going to be hot inside, so be ready," I mumbled as I took out a pair of sunglasses and put them on.

"Give me one as well," she requested without hesitation.

Passing her the one I was wearing, I took another pair and said, "Remember to stay close and don't do anything before confirming it with me."

"Why are you—"

Her words were quickly interrupted as we stepped into the cave.

The air around us seemed to change, becoming noticeably warmer with each passing moment.

The heat wrapped around us, prickling our skin with its intensity.

I moved in front of her, shielding her from the gusts of hot air that blasted from the cave entrance.

"I will say it again, stay close."

Mumbling, I raised my hand and created a small barrier against the scorching wind, allowing us to enter without being overwhelmed.

As we ventured further into the cave, the temperature continued to rise, and the glow of burning red lava shone from deep within.

Glancing back at her, I noticed that the heat became almost unbearable.

Though it didn't cause much problem for both of us, her clothes started to stick uncomfortably to her skin.

"I told you to bring a bikini."

"Shut up!"

"Why should I? You would have been a lot more comfortable in them."

"Shut up, shameless human!"

"You know your dress is almost see-through now?"

"Ahhhhh."

"Wow, never thought you would wear a black one."

Swish.

I quickly dodged her slap as I looked in front.

[Stop bullying her.]

'Man, she is blushing so much?' I replied with a wide grin on my face, glancing back at her, 'it makes me want to bully her more.'

"Anyway, Grace," I began, taking a deep breath as I looked at the entrance, "it's time for you to learn how to tame your flames."

"Stop saying that," she grumbled, making me look back at her. "Don't act like you are more mature than me."

"....I was always more mature than you, Grace," I replied, feeling the disorientation as the space around us shifted, and we found ourselves in a dungeon.

"You never were," she replied, shaking her head. "You just changed now for who knows why. And why the hell is the heat not affecting you?"

'Yeah, right my bloodline.'

I thought for a moment about Sylvia's bloodline, which made me immune to the heat.

"What can your flames do, Grace?" I asked, looking back at her. "What are its abilities?"

"Well, I can control any type of flames around me. I can ignite anything that I touch, summon a flame that can burn indefinitely with my life force, and my eyes are up here!"

Placing her hand on my chin, she abruptly made me look into her eyes as she glared at me for checking her out.

"I see," I replied, nodding my head, noticing her clothes sticking closely to her body.

"Hmmm, mind if I took a taste of you?" I asked, but I immediately regretted my choice of words. Even though asking for her blood essence can solve a lot of problems by copying her bloodline, do I have the right to ask that?

"Ede—."

"Never mind," I interjected as I walked deeper inside the dungeon, "and yeah, the flames which burn with your life force, never use them."

"Why?"

"Just don't," I replied firmly, not looking at her.

In the game, those were the reasons she died; she used those flames that burn her life.

"Anyway, what ability affects your mind the most?" I asked, glancing back at her.

"...When I cover my entire body with flames," she replied with a slight pause.

"Hmm," I hummed, nodding my head. "Let loose, Grace, don't hold back."

Growl.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the corridor, causing Grace to freeze in her tracks.

"Grace," I mumbled, glancing back at her, "use your flames."

Without warning, a horde of grotesque monsters burst forth from the darkness, their twisted forms illuminated by the flickering lava.

They moved with unnatural speed, their claws glinting in the dim light as they closed in on us with hunger in their eyes.

Nodding her head at my words, Grace summoned her black flames as they drew closer to us.

As one of the monsters jumped at her, she quickly grabbed it by its neck before engulfing it with the flames, casting an eerie glow on her face.

But even as the flames consumed her enemies, more continued to pour forth from around the place.

Grace summoned more flames and started to throw them at the monsters.

Most mindless creatures started to burn without any chance of fighting back.

"Hahaha." Amidst all this, the soft laughter of Grace echoed in the cave.

With a savage smile on her face, she continued to burn them without any remorse.

"Hahahaha." With another pure, maniacal laugh, she spun around in her place as the flames on her body began to grow.

Now, even without her doing anything, the flames were burning everything around her.

[Eden]

"I know," I replied, looking at her.

She was now acting like a maniac, slowly spinning in her place with a light chuckle as the flames continued to burn the monsters around her.

[It's serious, Eden.]

"I know that," I replied as I walked closer to her. "But I wanted to see how long she can even hold herself."

And from what I can see, she isn't going to keep those flames under control for much longer.

"Sigh..."

If things continue like this, and with all the trauma she has faced in her childhood, it will be hard for her to maintain her sanity.

And...

If someone out there triggers her emotions, she might really lose her mind.

"Sigh..."

With another tired sigh, I walked closer to her as the black flames started to target me.

[Phoenicia's bloodline]

Summoning my own white flames around me, I walked closer to her, blocking her flames.

Despite the chaos, she retained a semblance of clarity, her eyes wide with panic as they met mine.

Before she could react, I seized her waist and drew her close and brought her closer before leaning in.

I kissed her lips.