Chapter 2: The Queen of Flames (Scene 4 - 11/08/2023)

“Wake up.” the words were fierce from the voice which shook Saki to consciousness. The soft and gentle soles of the strangers bare foot pressed Saki’s head firmly to the ground.

“W-wah…” Saki questioned in a hazed state. She had not a clue what was going on or why she was being stepped on.

“Who are you? And why did I wake up in your arms? Are you some kind of Ice Kingdom pervert?” that foot pressed even more firmly into the cheek of Saki. It felt equal parts nice and terrifying.

“M-my name is S-saki. A-and no! I-i’m not some kind of pervert. I swear! I-i’m just a blacksmith trying her best to make it!” Saki’s eyes finally made their way up to the figure which stood over her. 

She was an absolute beauty. She had long locks of red hair which trailed along her spine until it reached her waistline. Fiery red eyes which seemed to pierce into the soul of Saki. A cute, pale complexion adorned her face without a wrinkle in sight. She seemed very short- even from the position Saki was in- and her revealing threads clung to her figure like a stunning hourglass which reflected from the small rays of daylight peaking into the cave.

“Saki huh?” her eyebrow raised as she released her foot from Saki’s face. “Not a clue who you are. You don’t seem to be dangerous anyway and you could have very well killed me in the state I was in. I’ll let you off the hook, this time. My name is Emarosa, The Queen of Flames.”

Emarosa took a few steps back and sat on the cave floor to inspect Saki from a distance. Her first clear memory was being held by the kitsune with everything before it being like a blurry fog. 

“Suppose I should thank you then.” Emarosa spoke up. “At the rate my flames were burning I doubt I would have made it in that state of hibernation much longer.”

“O-oh. It’s no problem at all! I.. I would have done it even if you weren’t a Goddess! J-just so you know.” Saki affirmed. Emarosa’s revealing attire made Saki blush as it became just a bit clear that the flame elemental was ideal to Saki’s attraction.

Emarosa crossed her arms under her chest and looked out at the frigid landscape that blanketed the entrance of the cave.

“What I should be asking you however is: Where does your allegiance lie? Are you from the Kingdom of Fire? Or from that revolting Ice Kingdom?” Emarosa spoke up. 

Saki quickly sat up and pressed her legs together against the rocky floor of the cave.

“I am an orphan born from the Kingdom of Fire.” Saki responded quietly.

“Good. Then you can help me get back to Bucking. I need to report to Queen Alectrona.” Emarosa said firmly.

“Queen… Alectrona?” Saki cocked her head a bit in confusion. That name was unrecognizable to her. 

“Yes. The Queen of the Fire Kingdom.” Emarosa repeated.

“A-are you sure you're not mistaken?” Saki said with a hinge of doubt in her voice. “The Kingdom of Fire doesn’t have a Queen. Well.. not since Queen Blanche defected to the Ice Kingdom. I thought you already knew that though? Was Queen Alectrona her maiden name or something?”

Emarosa paused and looked at Saki with a face colder than the whipping winds of winter outside. 

“No. I am not mistaken. You’re clearly messing with me. Save my life or not; I don’t take kindly to liar’s or jokers. I’d choose your next words carefully.” 

Saki gulped. 

“No.. No really, I'm not lying! I swear! What would I gain from lying to you?” Saki’s voice shook as she spoke. “K-King Apollo is the only ruler of The Kingdom of Fire. A-and he has been very angry ever since Queen Blanche defected. T-there has been a lot of tension on the Border recently..”

Emarosa focused on Saki’s pattern of speech and determined that she was - in fact, telling the truth. 

“This doesn’t make a lot of sense now does it. The King Apollo I know married Queen Alectrona from childhood. He never had an ex wife.” Emarosa’s face grew a bit colder as she began to realize exactly what was going on. “... What year is it?”

“50AA.” Saki responded, her confusion only growing more on her face. “Magic only came into the world 50 years ago with the Awakening- or so i’ve been told anyway.”

Emarosa stood up with a haste as she looked around the cave system. She had never before felt fear, but this uncertainty of her current situation was likely the closest she’d ever come to it. 

“Somehow…” Emarosa paused, taking in her thoughts and emotions. “Could I have… somehow been transported to the past?”

Saki’s eyes grew wide as she heard this and quickly jumped to her feet. She knew the power of the elements when it came to magic but she had never before heard of someone gifted with the ability of time travel. 

“That- That seems impossible!” Saki protested. “A-are you sure you didn’t just like… Hit your head and forget what year it was?”

The flame elemental made haste towards saki and pressed her against the wall aggressively. Her hand slapped against the jagged stone next to Saki’s head.

“Are you calling me a liar?” Emarosa growled at her in a fit of rage. The small and powerful flames begin to flare up from the corners of her eyes.“You dare criticize me in such a way?”

Saki’s ears and tail perked up in terror as she closed her eyes tight. The aggressive nature of the woman caused a blush swelling with arousal and fear to wash over her face. What could she say? She was into aggressive women like Emarosa.

“N-no I'm not.. C-calling you a liar. I-i promise!” Saki stuttered more. “I-i’m just confused. I-i’m sorry!!”

Emarosa took a deep breath and started to calm down. 

“Well. That’s good then. I still expect you to help me however. We need to figure out what is going on. Why am I here? What i’m supposed to do to get back; and if i can’t, what i’m supposed to do now.” 

Saki’s ears perked up as she was assigned to helping the girl. Honestly, her life was beginning to lose purpose outside of her small smithing business. Helping someone out was just what she needed to change her outlook on life!

“O-of course. I’ll help you!” Saki said with a smile, the sound of her tail brushing back and forth against the cave wall a reflection of her happiness. “I’ve got everything I own in this bag with me more or less. We can go wherever you need to go!”

The elementals eyebrow cocked as she was surprised at how eager the woman she had just threatened was to help her. 

“We should head to Bucking as we planned then and start looking for answers.” 

“Of course! My hometown of Claywind is along the way! I’ll just pick up the little tidbits I have at my shop once we get there!” Saki paused for a moment. “It.. it may be a good idea if you didn’t show those flames in the city. The Guards might think you’re a voidsent..” She said quietly.

“Is that so? I suppose the people of this time have yet to master the conjuring of elementals; they must be afraid of us.” Emarosa spoke matter of factly. The town of Claywind rung a bell for the woman however, but her memory was far too fuzzy to remember anything but the name. “Lead the way I suppose.” 

It took less than an hour for Saki to pack up her makeshift camp along with the help of her newfound partner, Emarosa. The moment the snowstorm outside had died down the two would set off on the short journey to Claywind and the much longer voyage to Bucking, the capital of The Kingdom of Fire.