Astrea kneeled down and lowered her gaze to the molten liquid. She could feel it's breath, rising in and out of the pit, echoing the rising tide of a beach. But lava had a different spirit, commanding it's current much slower, and thicker. The land was alive, and the magic was breathing right beneath her, speaking to her with every breath.

She grinned to herself, covered her hand in a veil of fire magic, and dipped her fingertips into the molten lava. With every warm embrace, she could feel how it ached to reveal itself to her, just as she hungered to bond with the land. Her fingers danced on top of the thick layer, playing with it. And it stuck to her skin as if it was a burnt marshmallow, longing to feel someone's welcome touch.

It wasn't just delighted to play, but it itched for more.

Upon realizing what it desired, Astrea grinned wildly.

"Astrea..." Elijah let out a nervous chuckle, and took a step back, "My love. My Princess. My life... I don't think this is such a great idea." His hitched tone came out in a song, trying to take more steps back.

Astrea turned, and rose a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter watching her fearless pirate lover... Shaking in his boots.

"Oh don't be a baby," she laughed, and lifted a hand to beckon him closer.

He froze, "I beg to differ. Babies are quite reasonably afraid of the world. And I am quite reasonably afraid of that."

"I thought this is what Pyrians did. Play in lava pools and all. Is that not what you told me?" She wickedly grinned at him.

Elijah's laugh pitched an octave she had no idea it could reach, "Well. Yes. But, only the strong fire mages do that. That was never me. I could never."

Astrea exhaled, and lifted herself to her feet. "Alright, baby. Just hold my hand. I'll keep you safe, if you come with me."

Elijah suddenly straightened, and his shoulders relaxed, "I actually quite like the sound of that."

Astrea scoffed and rolled her eyes.

She took a quick step to grab his hand, and pulled him closer to the lava. But his body completely stiffened, much like she did when she was asked to submerge herself in water.

She resigned herself in a sigh, realizing the one surefire way to get Elijah to relax. But she didn't mind. Rather, she always found it quite endearing, and easy.

She lifted herself to her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and languidly raked her fingers through his soft curls. In a sudden embrace, she gently brought her lips to meet his, and pulled the fingers in his hair closer to her.

He let out a surprised sound of content, as his hands pulled her waist closer. She welcomed his touch, and happily indulged him.

But after a few moments, she pulled away. She grinned, and whispered on his lips, "You trust me, yes?"

Elijah froze for a moment in realization. But then he groaned in defeat, and dropped his head in her neck. His exaggerated groan persisted as he wrapped his hands around her hips, and grumbled, "Yes. Yes, I trust you."

"Good," she pet his hair, and kissed the side of his head, "It won't hurt you. I don't think it wants too."

"You think?" Elijah sighed into her skin, "That doesn't sound very promising."

"Fine." Astrea smiled, "I promise, it won't hurt you."

Elijah sighed into her, seeming to take advantage of their position and placed a soft kiss on her neck. "You won't let go, right?"

"I promise I won't let go." She laughed, far too giddy for Elijah's liking. "You ready?"

He wrapped his arms around her as if she was his life line, and he was about to be pushed off the edge of his ship. He silently nodded into her neck.

Astrea smiled, and pulled his head closer in her neck.

After a moment, she dropped their joined bodies off the edge of the pit.

She could feel his heart pounding as their bodies dropped, and splashed into the thick layer of lava.

*

"Don't stop breathing." Astrea warned, just as their bodies dipped beneath the surface and sunk deeper into the thick substance.

Elijah's arms loosed, feeling the thickness of the liquid around them. But, just as if he was pushed into the sea, he couldn't help but hold his breath.

"You said you trusted me." Astrea's voice was muffled in his ear.

Elijah grunted, but sighed, taking his first breath.

He marvelled at the sensation. He didn't feel the same heat as he did above the surface. He wasn't sure how he could breathe, but it felt cold in his lungs, despite the slight warmth on his skin. It smelt like a burning bonfire all around him.

After a few moments, Astrea's whisper was muffled by the thickness around them, "Hey. Open your eyes. You'll want to see this."

Elijah hesitantly opened his eyes, and curiously looked over her shoulder.

Everything was bursting with oranges, yellows, and reds, with the occasional molten blacks folding over the colour in fluid movements. All around them, the lava snapped, popped and cracked, as if he was swimming in the flames of a great pyre.

A frightful laugh reached his lips, because even his curiousity was too great to deny.

He stretched out his arm, making sure to keep the other still tight around his lifeline. As he moved his arm, he felt the thickness impair his movement, like he was swimming in mud. Except it was lava, burning and bubbling with life in a blinding brightness. But the brightness didn't hurt at all.

He finally noticed Astrea's hair flowing behind her. As if she was swimming, it cascaded around her, and past her. It shared the beauty of the folded blacks and light of the lava around them.

But another sudden curiosity filled him. He grabbed her shoulders, and slightly pushed himself so he could see her face properly.

The sight of her stole the cool breathe from his lungs, and filled him with a warmth that the lava around him could only dream of birthing within him.

The freckles on her cheeks shone like the stars were blazing in the middle of the day. And her pupils burned like the sun was exploding before him.

He tilted his head in a soft smile, unable to look away from her, "You're home, aren't you?" His voice also muffled in the lava swallowing them up.

Her lava hair cascaded around her cheeks as she radiantly smiled at him. "If you could see yourself, you'd know this is your home too."

For once, Elijah felt a blush rise to cheeks.

Since being exiled, he never once dared call Pyria home. He never once considered these lava plumes his home either.

But with Astrea smiling at him like that... like she could pull an implausible star from the depths of a darkened sky. Like she could effortlessly pull a flame from the deepest tranches of the ocean.

She could bring the warmth he never realized he needed, and build a home of it all around him.

They could be anywhere in the world, and call it paradise because they were together. With her, even Pyria could be home. The nation that exiled them both.

And, with the spirits of the lava on their side, they would surely make a home of it yet.

In a sudden burst of devotion, Elijah pushed his hands through the viscous lava, and placed them on her cheeks. He caressed her star-stricken freckles, and lost himself in the joy burning in her eyes looking up at him. He almost choked, realizing he was the source of her smile.

He laughed, and pulled her cheeks towards him. He kissed her as passionately as she first time she kissed him. Even through the bubbling lava, he could hear her surprised moan on his lips.

She smiled in the kiss, as she pulled at his shirt, tugging his body closer to hers.

He remembered the Oracean fireflies dancing around them as they first slow danced atop a sleeping building. He remembered the starbugs swirling around her dress as he twirled her in the night air during their first dance.

He pulled her even closer as he remembered the very first kiss they shared in Oracea. Hiding under a blanket of earth, she held him as the corrupt magic trickled through his veins, only for her to bring him back to life with the touch of her magic.

But this was more.

This soared passed everything they had shared.

The lava around them healed them, body and soul. It filled them with a life, hope, and joy he had never felt before.

The Oracean fire flies were replaced by fire fish, encircling their entwined bodies, dancing, just as the fireflies danced around her.

But this time, the fish danced around them both.

Her light-blessed touch racked up his back, and sent a more heavenly spark up his spine than any magic ever dared to.

He knew it was more godly than even the prophets themselves could gift him.