Rather than a wedding hall within the walls of the Blazer Kingdom, the next day led the ceremony to the top of a volcano. The ring around the crater was large, and the mountain itself had a distant view of the dwarfed kingdom. Atop the ring, an outdoors hall was constructed with blocky, smooth obsidian seats in two columns, divided by a bright orange carpet. At the end of the carpet, the Officiator stood in vast light grey vestments, with orange cracks resonating and lining the authoritative robes. His wrinkly and aged face held cooler skin than most attendants of the ceremony, as well as only short coal-black hair around the side and back of his head. The rest was covered by an ashen hat, a cone-shaped crown with a thin plateau at the top.

Avgi stood beside the elder Officiator, his clothes seemingly unfitting for the occasion at first, yet encapsulating a different form of royalty than what was custom to his fiery surroundings. He was wearing the same golden shoulder cloak and violet tunic as when he slayed the Aquadragon, and his hair and eyes matched the dazzling gold of his clothes, gleaming orange from the blazing light exuding from practically every person sitting in the gallery, much less the sky. What stood before the princess was not one of her own kind, and was welcomed nonetheless by every assured eye present. His sword was not on his person, but hung from a stood-up rack towards the back of the outdoor hall.

Blassandra, on the other hand, was surrounded in a dress that exploded with importance. It was dark crimson, from her neck to her feet, with puffy shoulders, large-cuffed sleeves that hung from her wrists, and a skirt that consisted of two stacked and thick layers, curling in and out and hiding her lower body entirely. The jagged black crown on her head continued to resonate with the home she belonged to, as did her freely long-flowing hair that spilled like magma from the crown.

An aged, yet controlled and respected hand raised into the air. The Officiator’s voice was gentle and strong. "Embers and Ashes alike. We gather on this day to answer a question that most lovers must eventually encounter and solve."

He had no script in either hand, despite every single word seeming ingrained into his very soul. Slowly did his hands drift through the air, turning to Blassandra and Avgi, one after the other. "Will this bride and groom, gathered today, through all manner of tribulation and suffering, in every conceivable challenge and conflict, join together to fight against all that would oppose them, and aim to always come out still blazing yet?"

Throughout the speech, the couple looked at each other with smiles. They were more excited and serene, potentially even nervous in a way. The first to be broken out of silence was the groom. "Avgi Dawn of the Brilliant-"

That was because he interrupted the Officiator, almost on reflex. "I hold no specific allegiance with any kingdom, sir."

To acknowledge such a sentiment, there was a slow nod. "Very well. Avgi Dawn, to state the very least, you are a hero to many, and a savior to more. Today, you have come here to settle a question that concerns our people heavily."

Then, he turned to the bride. She held no objection."Blassandra Blazer of the Blazer Kingdom, you are the only one who stands next in line for a throne threatened by many. Today, you have come here to make a declaration to the people you will one day rule."

With their vows set, the Officiator turned forth to the crowd, addressing everyone sat straight up and proper, everyone leaning forwards, everyone struggling to keep their heads up, and the royalty. When it came to the Volking and Cinderqueen, they were leaning forwards, awaiting the finality almost impatiently. Their brows were furrowed, eyes glaring down what was soon to be a daughter and son-in-law.

All that was left was one more prelude to that fateful choice; "Now then, if anyone wishes to speak of any reason that these two should not be lawfully wed… Speak now, or forevermore extinguish your doubts."

At that moment, at the very same time, Avgi and Blassandra both casually raised their hands above their heads.

Blassandra began, sheepishly. "We have a reason."

Avgi continued, firmly. "It won't work between us. We're not in love, and we're not ready."

Where the crowd of commonfolk and nobles alike turned to each other in confusion, the Volking silently grumbled into the air. "Very funny… Get on with it…"

All that appeared in the Officiator’s facial wrinkles were a smile. "Then, by the power invested unto my hands, I shall pronounce you bachelor and bachelorette."

Both the king and queen almost sprang out of their seats entirely, their hair flaring upwards and skin going bright, doing nothing to hide the sheer shock in their faces. Their shout was in unison. "WHAT!?"

Despite the heat in the air rising, the Officiator remained calm and happy, speaking to Avgi and Esca without hesitation. "As you agree to disagree with the future offered unto you earlier today, find that you are free to follow your own paths for another day."

Before the unmarried couple could take one step down the lane, all closure was cut short by the current royalty’s synchronous roar and command; “HALT!”

The king continued, blazing hair pointing to the sky, and burning eyes pointing into the soul of the bachelor. “Avgi Dawn, our supposed hero… You would dare make a mockery of our ceremony!? HAVE YOU NO SHAME!?”

Meanwhile, the queen’s flared glare was fixated on her daughter, who stared back with a silent defiance. “And you, Blassandra! You should know better! We raised you to be a great royal successor, and you would spit in the face of our kingdom in our time of need!?”

Finally flinching before the rage that rippled the air, Avgi spoke with the slightest hint of nervousness. “Listen, Your Majesty, I do appreciate what you’ve given me. Your patience, your offer, your hospitality, it’s all real nice. That doesn’t mean I gotta be forced to do something like this, though, no matter what problems you think it'll solv-”

He wasn’t even given a chance to finish at the very end of his sentence. Eyes grew brighter and hotter, as the Volking lashed out from his seat entirely, slowly encroaching on Avgi step by step. “Then you would know of the dire state we’ve endured, and still yet turn away!”

His stature grew almost feral, step by step, snarl by hiss. “The sheer amount of privilege you’ve been allowed is absurd! You stand atop Mount Ashe, the birthplace of our magic!”

Heat only grew greater, bathing Avgi’s golden clothes in a scarlet glow until there was no gold left. “These grounds are where the original Blazers made their names known! And you could have become one of us!”

Avgi held a bead of sweat when the Volking raised his face to the sky, and howled with enough rage to wreathe his entire head in the blaze. “YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN MY BELOVED DAUGHTER ON A PLATTER! AND YET YOU WOULD REJECT IT LIKE A SPOILED-”

This time, the Volking was interrupted by the very ground itself trembling under everyone, making him fall onto his back. Blassandra lost her footing, thanks to the high heels under her feet, forcing her to fall against Avgi. The aforementioned bachelor spread out his feet to keep them planted firm, and he caught the bachelorette without buckling. Everyone in the gallery, previously silenced by the tension in the air, suddenly gripped their seats and varied in reaction from yelling to freezing up entirely, to diving out of their seats and frantically scrambling across the ground. As for the Cinderqueen, she dove towards her husband, staying on the ground until the quake subsided.

Only when the tremors ended did the stabilized Avgi and Blassandra turn around, seeing the old man that looked so serene before, now exuding a pressure that rivaled the healthy Volking. His previously-extinguished features bloomed with vigor, despite his figure remaining calm and composed. His eyes weren’t even open. “Every non-royal present, you may proceed to the reception at the foot of Mount Ashe. Rest assured that this will be handled with little issue. As for you. Volking. Cinderqueen. I urge that you allow these youths to explain themselves. Have you forgotten what this sacred ceremony was created for?”

With permission granted, the people had no hesitation with getting up and walking out, some taking their hats from the jagged rack on the way to a rough staircase carved into the mountain.

Once only the royalty and hero remained, and the king and queen could stand back up, the old man continued. He seemed calm, but seethed slowly yet. “This is not a celebration of a guaranteed marriage. It is a ceremony meant to commemorate a decision. A decision that will carry on towards a long future, for years to come. No matter what that decision may be, it must be treated with great respect, and acknowledged as the correct decision, made by competent minds who understand the weight that pulls their hand.”

Despite his points, the two leaders seemed to hold objections, regardless. They looked at the officiator with both respect and resistance, silently attempting to muster up any counterpoint they could. Below their angered glares were fearful hands, grasping desperately for something to hold onto.