The day of Flame's funeral

  "Hi there! I'd like to ask for directions, I'm a traveler, you know how it is haha." - An unknown person arrived at the Flaming library. The Flaming library is a place located in the Exploding Volcano, where a large part of the history of Lava Lake is kept.

  The unknown person explained their situation to the guard standing in front of the library. The guard consisted of only one person, because most of the inhabitants of the Exploding volcano were at Flame's funeral.

  The Flaming library is open to the public, but there are usually two guards standing in front of the library whose job is to check people leaving the library... to verify that they have not stolen anything, because all library property, except for fictional stories, must remain in the library.

  The guard left his position at the entrance to the library to show the unknown person the way. As soon as the guard began to explain, a person who had entered the library earlier ran out. The person jumped on their horse parked in front of the library, quickly cut the rope that held the horse by the library, and rode away.

  "Ayoooo, what's going on here in Lava lake? Hopefully that person didn't steal anything, but considering how much of a hurry they were in, I don't think so, haha." - The unknown person spoke to the guard, who stared wide-eyed as the person rode away on horseback from the library, where they had probably stolen something.

  "Well, thank you for the directions, have a nice day!" - The unknown person left the Exploding volcano... after a few hours, they arrived at their destination.

  "HELLOOO, hold me back, the plan went perfectly!" - The person sat down at a table where two other women were sitting. A map was pinned to the table, a map stolen from the Flaming library.

  The man who stole the map also came to the table and began to clap and cheer. The other three people in the room did the same. - "Siblings... the plan worked perfectly, we took advantage of a situation that doesn't happen often... almost the entire city was empty because of the ruler's funeral. Everything went smoothly and thanks to Ax's great acting, we did it!"

  "Please, putting on a show is easy, but you, brother... you are our star, the man who planned this... the man who planned how to obtain the only map of Middleworld left behind by the four wizards. Today we took a small but important first step... soon we will find the ninth Crystal... SOON, DAMN SOON!

  Ten days after the dark celebration

  Grin III and his six-member escort entered the Heart of the Exploding volcano. They were heading to the throne room, a large hall with a fiery throne at its end. It is similar to the kingdom of the black Crystal.

  Grin and the others walked through the large hall, the floor was covered in dried blood. There were a few servants and guards were in the hall... all watching as Grin approached the throne.

  Almost all members of the entourage began to feel a chill running down their spines... something had definitely happened here. The only guest who calmly walked closer and closer to the throne was Grin. Grin wasn't interested in what was happening in Lava lake; Grin's thoughts were elsewhere at the moment. Back in the kingdom of black Crystal, his father was injured. His father would be here today, but because of his injuries, Grin III was here instead.

  "Oh? I wouldn't have expected you on the throne... given your traditions or something. But never mind, mate, let's get down to business.

  In the morning, before handing over the scythe containing the red Crystal, Blaze sat down at the table and began to write a letter.

  Hi, Dad. Your vision... your goal of placing the rightful ruler on the fiery throne, I think it will soon come true. Today, my daughter will do something that I am very afraid of, and I honestly think I have failed as a mother... my daughter will fulfill your vision, and I am disgusted by it.

  In the great hall, selected people are playing large drums. Ruby is in the center of the room. The chief member of the Firekeepers approached Ruby, the chief member supervising to ensure that all traditions are followed. - "Please, throw away your old weapon."

  Ruby pulled out his sword and raised it in the air for all to see. - "Today is the day... today I will become your ruler... and believe me... I will be a great ruler!!!" - Ruby threw away his sword.

  In the presence, a person sitting on the fiery throne looked Grinn in the eyes. - "You didn't expect me to be sitting here? A little sad, but understandable... now tell me why you've come."

  Grin began to laugh loudly, as if someone had told him a great joke. - "Why am I coming? Come on, that's obvious, isn't it?" - Grin's expression suddenly became serious. - "I'm here to remind you of your duty... the duty of the entire kingdom of red Crystal. The kingdom of the black Crystal requests the support of Lava Lake in the battle against Two and his group. This group murdered several guests at the celebration for the king's second son, destroyed the entire celebration, and stole three legendary weapons. The group poses a great threat to the entire Middleworld, and king Horwann intends to fight this threat. As a subordinate territory to the kingdom of black Crystal, Horwann expects your support... even though your support should be voluntary, given what a member of Two's group did to your father."

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  Blaze continues writing the letter the night before the ceremony. But you know what, Dad, there's one thing that really comforts me. I may have failed as a mother, and my daughter will go down in history as the ruler who destroyed old traditions and who knows what else she plans to do... but on the other hand, maybe my dream will come true. The dream you put in my head.

  Ash arrived in the great hall on the day of the scythe's handover. Ruby stood before her, ready to inherit the scythe, which contained the red Crystal. Drums played in the background, adding to the ceremonial atmosphere. The Chief Firekeeper approached Ash. - "Princess Ash, are you ready to hand over the legendary item to its rightful owner?" - "Once I hand it over, I won't be a princess anymore, will I? But yes, I'm ready..."

  Back in the present, Ash rose from the fiery throne. - "I would appreciate it if you didn't try to manipulate me with the death of my father... but don't worry, the kingdom of the red Crystal will join the fight against Two and his group... voluntarily!"

  Suddenly, the scythe Ash was holding began to burn, and the fire quickly spread across the ground, setting all the members of Grin's escort ablaze. Grin wanted to yell at Ash to put out the fire, but at that moment, Ash began to speak. - "Now that you know the Kingdom of the red Crystal will be joining, there is one more thing you should know."

  Blaze's letter to her father continued. - Dad... I was raised to be someone who deserves to rule the red Crystal kingdom... I was raised to believe that I deserve to own the world... and you know what? I think that the world really should belong to me... after all, I am the descendant of the one who led the escape from Lava lake on the day of the conquest, and I am the descendant of a very powerful person from the red Crystal kingdom... I am perfect for the role of leader... right, Dad? I never thought I'd admit this, but... I don't know what Ash will do, but I'm glad she's doing it. This is how I'll come to power, dad... your little girl will have power over the whole kingdom... after all, a daughter will listen to her mother, right? Anyway, please come to the kingdom... we can rule together.

  Ash slowly but surely approached Ruby. Ash's mind was racing with thoughts of her conversation with Spark earlier that morning.

  "Spark, I'd like to ask you something." - Spark was lying on her bed, still devastated by her father's death. Spark slowly got up, looked at Ash, and asked what she needed. - "I'd like to ask you not to go to the ceremony today. You know, Spark, I've been thinking a lot. Today, I want to take a step towards a better future for me and for you... actually, for the whole of Lava lake. If you trust me, don't go to the ceremony today." - Spark stared at Ash with wide eyes, but before she could answer, Ash closed the door to Spark's room and left.

  Ash looked around to see if Spark was present. When she saw that Spark was nowhere to be found, she smiled.

  Ash approached Ruby, knelt down, and held the legendary scythe in the air in front of her head, offering it to Ruby to take. - "Ash... thank you, I sincerely underestimated you, I expected you to resist more, but you proved that you are a true member of the eed Crystal kingdom... thank you." - Ruby grabbed the scythe in his hands, raised it in the air, and wanted to shoot fire from the scythe for show... nothing happened.

  While Grin's escort burned in front of him, Ash began to speak. - "I would like to clarify one thing for you. Lava lake is not a subordinate territory of any kingdom... if there are any subordinate territories here, it is those who have lost their legendary item. From what I've heard, the black Crystal kingdom belongs to this group, right? So listen to me carefully. Never again... I repeat, NEVER again will anyone come to MY kingdom and tell me what to do. Take this as a warning." - Grin watched as all the members of his entourage around him were turneing to ash. Grin didn't care... he didn't care about those people, but he was definitely very enraged that Ash would dare to do this... but there was nothing he could do about it.

  Everyone at the ceremony was confused... what was going on? Ruby looked at Ash. - "Ash... why isn't it working...?" - "I really don't know, maybe you're just not the rightful ruler... wait, let me take a look." - Ash touched the scythe Ruby was holding in his hand. Ash said quietly, - "Oh yes, I see... did you forget that the user of a legendary item must pass it on to the new user so that the new user can start using it?" - "B-but you passed it on to me." - "That's where you're wrong, Ruby... you took it from my hand."

  Ash shouted. - "Look, everyone... the rightful ruler!" - At that very moment, the legendary scythe that Ruby and Ash were touching began to burn... the fire quickly spread to Ruby. The fire also spread to Ash, but as a user of the red Crystal, Ash was not in danger.

  While Ruby was being turned to ashes, which Ash ensured by shooting more and more fire at him, Ruby's people and a few others ran to the center of the large hall to help Ruby. These people were stopped by members of the red Crystal army, which Blaze had prepared the night before to intervene if things would get heated.

  In the presence, Grin began to laugh... it was a laugh of despair. Meanwhile, Ash finished what she had to say. - "I assume you are an important member of the black Crystal kingdom, so I will let you go. I would like you to tell Horwann one thing... Lava lake will do as it pleases, you are the ones who are our subordinates as of today. I am doing this to avenge my father and to ensure that Lava lake is safe. So... now run." - There was a lot of fire around Grin, but Ash absorbed the fire from one spot into her Crystal... allowing Grin to leave.

  Grin looked nervously at Ash. "T-thank you for your voluntary help in the fight against Two... the kingdom of the black Crystal greatly appreciates it." - Grin left.

  Ruby was nothing but ashes. Ash looked at everyone present, who were shaken with fear. - "Don't worry, Ruby was only a false ruler. Old traditions are nice until someone bad comes to power... and I made sure that will not happen. Lava lake has been an underrated territory for a long time... but today that ends. I, Ash, the eldest daughter of Flame V, the nineteenth user of the red Crystal, promise you one thing. Until the day I rule, there will be only one thought in my heart. The success of the red Crystal kingdom. Those who do not believe me, leave the territory of Lava lake within three days. Those who believe me... thank you.

  What happened at the ceremony spread quickly. Within three days, 5% of the population of Lava lake left. Another 5% would have left, but did not have the resources to do so. Thanks to Ash's speech at her father's funeral and thanks to what a great leader Flame V was... the remaining 90% stayed. The remaining 90% of the population of Lava lake believed that Ash would make Lava lake the best territory.