They walked through the gate and were immediately welcomed by the flourishing flower bushes and the breezy wind.
"So this is heaven, huh?" Fynnis said in astonishment.
"It really is…heavenly, guess you won't expect anything less from God himself." Lucia said.
"I'm not crazy, I'm in heaven right now, this is just too amazing!" Kallyne squealed, holding herself back.
"Heaven used to be just a big floating platform with a council, these extra designs were added by the God of Natures, to make it seem livelier." Montell explained.
Montell led us to a huge white staircase, and he climbed up, "Come on, the council is upstairs."
As he was about to take his second step, he paused. He looked up, and saw nothing.
"He's not here yet? Usually he would hear me and take a look out of curiosity…"
"Who are you talking about, Montell?" Fynnis asked.
"No way, are you concerned about me?" A loud and proud voice came from the gate.
They all turned around to see a tall silhouette with cloudy hair, winter coats and a wide smirk.
"I'm flattered~" he teased.
"Layven…you're late." Montell replied with a deadpan expression.
He walked forward confidently, "Whatcha talking about? I'm not late!" he said. Then he disappeared in the mist that appeared out of nowhere.
The next second, he was resting his arm on Montell's shoulder, "It's you who's early, buddy~"
Fynnis jumped in shock, "When did you came here?"
"I'm as fast as a gust of wind, this level of speed is light work." Layven said relaxingly while checking his nails.
"You're so awesome!" Kallyne whispered.
"Quite the charismatic person you are." Lucia chuckled lightly.
Layven turned to Lucia and bragged, "Of course, that's kinda my thing. I'm fast and smooth, just like my title——God of Wind." Then he caught up to something.
"Unlike quiet little Seycole who is still hiding outside that gate!" he purposely said it loudly.
There was a sigh, then someone appeared behind the gates. It was a mystical looking young woman with green hair and an elegant body wrapped around in silk clothes.
"I was hoping to come in when the meeting starts, so that I could avoid hearing your so called 'flamboyant' noise up close." she said with a gentle yet intimidating tone.
"Oh typical Seycole, always acting like a Victorian Princess," he walked over and bluntly rest his arm over her shoulders.
"But you do it in a really beautiful way, I like that." he teasingly flirted.
"Shameless romantic." Fynnis, Lucia and Kallyne said in unison with a flat face, except for Kallyne of course.
Seycole placed her hand on Layven's palm, just to suddenly stab him with rose thorns, making him jump and let go.
"And you act like a protagonist in the most obnoxious way possible." she insulted with the lightest tone possible.
"She's deadly." the trio's words synced again.
"Ouch, you really got me there, that hurts…" he swung his hand and said, then he strolled towards Fynnis and looked at him closely at the eye, "Anyways, is this the new God of Flame you talked about, Montell? Doesn't look like a good pick to me."
Seycole glanced at Fynnis and analysed his body, then sighed, "Who picked him? I'll be respectful as possible, but he doesn't fit the image for a proper God of Flame."
Layven lifted Fynnis's arm and flipped it around, he chuckled and mocked, "Not a single popped out vein, even your muscles aren't sturdy enough. Did Roledge pick you on a whim?"
As Layven was about to continue teasing, Lucia smacked his hand off Fynnis's, her face showed an unsettling dark aura.
"Hands off, Fynnis might not have the strongest of body, but just wait until you see him fight, with a bit more training he will trash you so hard you'll cry off your main character face." she hissed.
"Tell them, Lucia!" Kallyne cheered.
Layven was shocked, but then he smirked, "Ooh, this puppy bites. Fine, I'll back it up, since I don't wan't you to feel embarrassed." he said as he shook off his hand and went up the stairs.
Seycole walked past them and said to Fynnis, "I'm sorry for what he said to you, he's quite a moron." then she walked off.
The situation left Fynnis speechless, he barely moved at all.
Montell did a facepalm, breathed out deeply and said, "Come on then, let's get going."
They all walked up the stairs, and Fynnis spoke to Lucia, "Um, Lucia? Thanks."
"Oh it was nothing, really. You didn't deserve his criticism, that's a fact." Lucia lightly smirked.
"No, he was right. I'm not fit for a god. I mean, I'm just a normal teenager who's barely done anything in life. Of course they'd be shocked that I was picked." Fynnis looked down, his walking pace slowed down until he just stood there.
"After I retrieve that ring, you'll take it back and tell your chief they picked the wrong guy so they can search again…"
"What are you talking about?" Lucia slapped his shoulder, "The previous God of Flame picked you himself, which means he had faith in you, idiot. And stop looking down on yourself, you're the perfect fit, I wouldn't say that if I didn't see it in person." she scoffed and continued walking.
Fynnis stared at her and broke into a smile, then he caught up to match her pace.
"Hey Fynnis, I've been meaning to ask, why did you have a fake ring back then?"
"Oh I made it so that you'll leave thinking it's busted since nothing would happen if I wore it."
"Huh?!"
"My bad."
They reached the top and saw everyone standing in silence, seemingly watching something.
"What's happening, what's everyone staring at?" Fynnis asked as he walked closer to see a bald bulky man sleeping on the council table.
"When was he here?" they all thought in unison.
"Uh, Quyan? Wake up." Montell tapped his back.
"Mm…huh…huh-oh! Oh my bad, guys! Has the meeting started yet?"
"Yes, in less than a minute."
"This man's voice tone doesn't match his appearance at all…" Lucia said in disbelief.
"I concur, it was hard to believe a hulk like him speaks like a comedian." Seycole nodded.
"He's like The Rock but a god, hah!" Layven joked.
"What a surprise. Right, Kallyne?" Fynnis said, but Kallyne was unusually quiet. When he looked at her, she was looking at Quyan in awe.
Seeing a big man like Quyan laughing awkwardly, she sighed in amazement, "He looks so dreamy…"
"-yne…Kallyne?" Fynnis snapped his fingers trying to call her.
"Wha-yeah?" Kallyne woke up from her thoughts.
"Alright, the meeting starts now, get to your seat." Montell announced.
The originally ceramic white chair changed shape after the Gods of Natures sat on in: Layven's seat turned into clouds, Seycole's seat grew vines with flowers blooming, Montell's seat liquified etc.
Fynnis looked for his seat, then he saw a chair with a fire symbol on it, he hesitated for a bit and sat on it, the seat didn't alter shape.
"Don't worry, it's probably because the Ring of Flame isn't present." Montell explained.
"Yeah, probably that…" Fynnis looked down.
Quyan looked at Fynnis's expression and thought, "Montell is clearly trying to cheer him up, if a person wears the ring even once, the seat will alter. Maybe he isn't the one after all, and he's disappointed in that fact."
But Quyan doesn't know that Fynnis looking down wasn't due to disappointment, but because he was panicking.
"I look so out of place, I'm like an elementary school kid in high school right now!" he screamed internally.
Suddenly, the crackling of fire echoed, and the seat started burning with red hot blazing fire, startling Fynnis.
"WOAH! I've never seen Roledge's seat burn THIS bright, I take what I said back, I'm REALLY impressed!" Layven laughed.
Seycole sighed, "I'd hate to agree with Layven, but I can't say I'm quite astonished with the flames."
Standing behind him, Lucia and Kallyne recoiled in shock and amusement.
Montell tapped Quyan's shoulder and whispered to him, "Still think he's the wrong pick?"
Quyan smiled and shook his head, "This kid…even without the ring, he still burns brighter than most of the previous owners…"
Montell nodded in satisfaction.
"This kid…is something else."