Chapter 1 — Chapter 1

We stood at the edge of a fiery volcano, from which billowed clouds of black smoke and ash. It was hot, and my skin instantly broke out in sweat, mixing with black streaks of dirt.

"I don't understand... why?" I stared at the man, bewildered.

"Your naivety was charming only in bed. Now, it's too much!" he grimaced in displeasure.

"I don't understand..." I sobbed, tears streaming down my face.

"My future wife won't tolerate a mistress in the house, especially one carrying a bastard. I don't want to upset the mother of my firstborn!"

"What about me and our child? You promised..."

"Gods," he rolled his eyes, "accept this sacrifice!" and, looking me in the face, he said, "Have a nice flight!" Gregor smirked and pushed me.

***

I feel no pain at all. Only the smell of burning flesh haunts me. It's as if it has embedded itself in my memory, sending its tendrils deep inside...

***

"She doesn't mean anything to you, does she?" Lady Rilie's whiny voice, as always, carried a hint of hysteria.

"No, of course not. Our marriage is settled, and I have no need for bastards!" came the velvety voice of my beloved.

I quietly stepped back, hiding behind the corner and retreating to my chambers. All this feels like a bad dream, and I think I must be mistaken, that I misheard everything...

This can't be my beloved; I must have dreamt it all...

I lay down on the bed, pulling my knees to my stomach, wrapping my arms around them. I closed my eyes, picturing Gregor, his words, tender kisses, and passionate nights...

Just the memory of it made me flush with heat.

No, he couldn't have betrayed us!

***

What a strange dream... I didn't watch any movies yesterday, did I? Yet the faces of the man and woman, even their names, are etched into my memory.

I think I slept well. Stretching, I limbered up my body and opened my eyes... looking around and realizing: I'm either still dreaming, or...

What other possibilities could there be?

I'm on fire, surrounded by flames... beneath me is lava!

I froze, comfortably perched on a rock that was floating in the bubbling lava.

Well, if this is a dream... then I'm in a volcano. And judging by the moving walls, the lava will soon overflow the crater, and I'll be thrown out...

And who am I?...

I looked at myself: it's all confusing, I am fire in the shape of a female body. I feel no pain, and that's the main thing...

At that moment, the lava reached the top and seemed to pause at the edge. Without hesitation, I stepped onto a stone ledge and climbed higher.

"Okay, pour out... but in that direction," I gestured towards the mountains, "there's such a nice little green island with a lake..."

The lava seemed to wait for my command, instantly flowing in the right direction.

I shrugged and looked again at the blue lake, the trees, and, it seemed, a small house...

"How do I get down there?" I fretted. If I dive into the water, maybe I'll stop burning?

The rock beneath my feet trembled, and an explosion sounded behind me, hurling me into the air. In an instant, I was flying...

I have wings!

I tried to look at myself while airborne, but couldn't see much. I have wings, slender bird legs, and a magnificent fiery tail.

This dream just keeps getting more and more interesting...

Diving towards the lake, I plunged in without a second thought, already back in my normal human body. The water boiled around me, cooling me down.

"Wow," I surfaced from the cool water. I headed towards the shore but paused before reaching it. The water calmed, and I looked at my reflection.

A cute doll-like face, plump lips, a tiny nose, and, it seems, golden eyes framed by thick lashes. Long blonde hair almost to my knees. My body, though, looks too young, almost childlike, am I even five feet tall? And a strangely rounded belly that looked unnatural on such a slender frame.

How old am I? Eighteen, twenty?

I stepped out of the water, walking over small pebbles to a path leading to the house. Wrapping myself in my hair, dried by the breeze, I walked and hoped someone was waiting for me there...

As I approached the house, I slowed my steps. I had no idea who lived there or how they would react to a naked girl...

This dream is getting more absurd by the minute...

And if this is a dream, I could at least be wearing a dress...

Instantly, as if alive, a silky piece of fabric grew on me, turning into a beautiful yellow dress. I stood still on the path, watching as silver embroidery ran across the fabric, ribbons cinching the sides. The sleeves hid my arms, the bodice and cuffs covered in white lace.

"Hmm, not bad, now if I only had some shoes, with high platforms and heels... I'm a bit short!" Lifting the hem of the dress, I revealed the underskirts, and from beneath them peeked bare feet. Stockings appeared on them, and I felt underwear materializing on me, along with laced-up boots on my feet. "Well, that's also nice. Thanks!"

I don't know who's helping me..., but the dream is getting more enjoyable.

I approached the house and knocked.

"Come in!" a voice called out.

"Good day!" I opened the door and stepped inside. "I'm a bit lost..." I started to say.

"You're not lost! You've come where the gods sent you!" a voice grumbled from someone unseen. "Come closer, Fire Girl!"

"Come closer to where?" I looked around, confused. The living room-office was empty!

"Every time, the same thing!" the invisible voice exclaimed in frustration. "Come to the table!"

I approached the desk cautiously. There, on an iron stand, lay a book, its leather cover embossed with a phoenix.

"I'm here..."

"Don't be scared..." the book... snorted! A face appeared on the cover, looking at me with disdain. "I'm your assistant. Direct all your questions to me!"

"What questions?" I looked at the book. "This is a dream..."

"Gods..." the face on the cover rolled its eyes. "This must be my punishment, no doubt..."

I didn't like the episode with the book; it was so condescending. Glancing around, I spotted an archway, beyond which was a kitchen.

"I think I could use a snack!" I turned and walked toward it.

"Wait, accept your role!" the book shouted.

"No, I don't need that!" I waved it off.

In the kitchen, I found a regular stove with iron rings on top. Moving one aside, I discovered wood and kindling. Finding no matches, I almost slapped my forehead.

"I am fire myself," I tried to visualize a flame on my finger... Then, snapping my fingers, I tried to spark at least a small flame.

"That's not how it works!" the book had perched itself on the countertop.

"How does it work then?"

"Don't try to ignite fire on yourself; it's already part of you. Imagine it inside the stove!" the book instructed. By the way, what gender is it? Probably female, given the nagging voice...

I scratched my ear, thinking "It would be nice to light a fire in the stove." The stove puffed out smoke, and the wood inside started crackling. Quickly grabbing the skillet from the shelf, I placed it on the stove. In the basket, I found some eggs, and in the cupboard, a jar of butter and some bacon.

After setting everything to fry, I filled the kettle with water from a bucket and put it on the second burner. I found some bread, sliced it, and started setting the table.

"Where's the sugar and tea?" I looked around. There were so many cupboards; I started opening them, but they were either filled with dishes or empty.

"Close them, imagine, and then open the cupboard," advised my helper, the book.

Following her instructions, I was surprised to see new items in the cupboard. I took out a sugar box (though not the usual refined sugar, but yellow, almost like glass) and a jar of herbal tea. Placing the eggs on my plate, I brewed tea in a small clay teapot and added sugar to my cup.

"Well, bon appétit to me!" I sat down at the table.

"While you eat, I'll explain where you've ended up. And this is not a dream!"

"It is a dream!" I waved her off.

"What's the last thing you remember? Before you woke up in the volcano?"

"How do you know about the volcano?" I froze with a piece of bread at my mouth.

"I know everything about how you got here. Try to remember what happened before that."

I slowly poured myself some tea, stirred in the sugar, and spread butter on my bread.

"Well, I went to buy groceries... Wait, I wasn't asleep," I rubbed my forehead again.

"And then what?" the book urged me on.

"I came home from work, so tired I forgot to buy groceries. But since I work late, I had to go early in the morning," I remembered. "Or was it another day?"

"And then?"

"Actually, I asked my boyfriend to get them..." I paled.

"And what did he do?"

"We argued because he ate everything and didn't go shopping."

"And then..." he urged me on.

"I don't remember!" I cut her off, feeling no obligation to explain. "So, this isn't a dream?"

"No."

"Then explain," I relented.

"The gods sent you here to replace the one who watches over the mountains..."

"So, what happened to the previous...?" I pondered, "The Mountain Mistress, where did she go?"

"Her time is up..." the book was vague. "It's time for a new Mountain Mistress!"

"Why me?" I didn't like that decisions were made for me.

"Only the gods know the answer!" the book declared dramatically.

"Oh, sure! What a great answer!" I started to get angry. "Let's get to the point. What am I supposed to take over, and what are my responsibilities?"

"I don't quite understand where you're from..." I could almost see the book pursing its lips in displeasure.

"I'm from a place where I no longer exist!"

"You are the Guardian of the Mountains. You can control lava, stones, earth... You are risen from the Flame, the Primordial!" She spoke of strange things, as if I was supposed to know them.

"So," I stopped her. "I'm supposed to watch over the mountains, preventing lava, landslides, avalanches, and mudflows from destroying this planet?"

"Planet?" she echoed.

"Well, the place where we are now?"

"World!" the book rustled its pages and slid under my hand. "Our world is flat, surrounded by walls, beyond which are other worlds," she showed me a map of the place.

"So, it's possible to leave this place?" I was already calculating if I could escape.

"You can't escape," the book suddenly saw through me. "And if you don't take the position, you'll turn to dust..." she suddenly got offended and decided not to mince words. "If you don't think about yourself, think about your child!"

"How did you know..." I was scared; my pregnancy was only eight weeks old!

"I'm a magical assistant!" she snapped shut, offended. "You're not alone; in a few months, you'll be a mother!"

"And me - into ashes?" I was surprised.

"But the gods need help, and they've given you a chance to start a new life."

"And a chance for revenge... because now I have magic, right?" I bit my lip, remembering the dream and why I ended up here.

"Revenge..." the book was surprised. "I don't know, Mountain Mistresses usually minded their own business, not meddling in worldly affairs. They didn't care about people... You're a higher being! Plus, you have a lot of magic..."

"Can I clarify something before I agree to take over?" I gripped my tea cup with both hands.

"Of course!" she was pleased.

"Do the gods interfere with what I'll be doing? Tell me without exaggerating!"

"No..." she hesitated. "They don't care about you or the people. They need the world to remain intact. If the world dies, it will collapse the bubble and affect neighboring worlds... An entire leaf would die, which is very bad for the Tree of the Universe!"

"Wow... Can I read more about that later?" I was interested, and the news that I'd be my own boss was encouraging. I quickly finished my delicious breakfast.

"I have so much knowledge, answers to almost everything! I'll teach you how to use magic!" she was excited, floating up. I wondered how she stayed in the air...

"What do I need to do?"