Page 51 of Heiress of Fire

Davina nodded, confusion striking her again.

The pathway stretched past the villages. Davina scanned the nearby small towns; some houses were completely burned down while others stood high and mighty with a few outer charred walls.

Davina turned to look at Ron, but the view of his beautiful face was replaced by an image of them traveling forward. Toward the ashen lands of the Desolate Highlands which were considered cursed by everyone in Bellatorm, including the Aurisans.

“Where is it telling you to go?” Davina asked. He motioned his chin straight ahead, toward the Desolate Highlands.

The Desolate Highlands were colorless green lands surrounding the volcano that stood by the edge of the cliffs of Auris. Freya led the Aurisan revoltists to the volcano to use their power to cause a devastating eruption to occur. The provocation of the eruption was used as a ploy to provoke the King into action, but only cooperating in his decision of remaining silent for many centuries.

Aurisans of later generations claimed the land to be cursed, which is why it was named the Desolate Highlands. No one would come and visit the once beautiful hills on this part of the island.

Davina had never come this far to the outskirts of Auris Island, but as the green grass turned into gray dust and she trudged through the dead plants, the bones of deceased animals, and gray tree trunks, she felt the scene becoming familiar. The perspective she saw through her eyes matched the image that kept flashing across her mind.

“Ron, where to?”

“The volcano.”

“Okay.”

She recalled the way the Mistran messenger had informed Master Abigail that the Highland’s inactive volcano was emitting gas and ash.

“Is everything okay?” he asked with a raised brow.

Davina shook her head. “Of course, why wouldn’t it be?”

“Are you okay?” Ron asked, his hand reaching for her arm.

“Everything’s fine, don’t worry.” She smiled.

“Alright.”

The smell of sulfur burned into her nostrils as the booming of the bubbling magma resounded beneath her feet while they reached the rocky surface of the volcano. She looked upward and found the peak of the volcano to be dark and tall. Intricate lines with an orange hue ran from the mouth of the volcano and down to their feet.

Another flash passed through her vision.

Davina barely felt the atmospheric temperature rise. Nonetheless, she was worried for Ron. She glanced at Ron, yet it seemed like he didn’t notice the heat of the imminent volcano. How fresh was it inside of that suit?

“You can wait here while I go to the top,” Ron said.

“No.”

“No? Why not?” he asked.

“Because I think that I feel a pull to the volcano as well.”

He stayed silent for a few long seconds.

“What do you think it means?” he asked.

“I have no idea.” She shook her head. There was no handbook when it came to finding their armor, but it was already out of the ordinary for Ron to find his armor on different islands.

What could be the reason that they are both being called to one place? And then the place they were called to was a volcano that could erupt at any given moment.

“Then I’m glad you’ll be joining me on this one.” Ron grinned.

He held out his hand to her, while his sword was gripped in his other. She smiled before wrapping her fingers in his warm hand and they began to climb the rough surface of the volcano. Ron would stop whenever she stumbled and would pull her closer to him. She nervously chuckled yet he didn’t seem to mind that she kept tripping over the rock.

As they reached the top, lava was already gurgling below them with a deep rumble. Its color had been different shades of orange and yellow, the same colors that signified Auris.

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