The air was thick with sulfur and anticipation as the tungsten boat moved through the wide lava channel while rowed by the two gondoliers. Tall iron buildings surrounded the channels like sentinels.
"It's beautiful, isn't it, Magmae?" Ignisabeth looked at the town of Flamisle with a smile as she placed a hand on her teammate's shoulder, Ignisabeth's dark skin glowing beneath the lightless skies while the world around them was illuminated by the molten rock.
"It is..." Magmae replied softly, her arms shyly wrapped around her legs as she was sitting in the back part of the tungsten gondola, her anxious eyes powdered with eye shadow over her pale face.
"It's going to be okay. We've been in your position once." Ignisabeth gently carressed Magmae's dirty blond hair.
"Well, she's not the talkative one, is she?" A beige-haired gondolier, standing at the frontal part of the boat, took a glance at Magmae, after which she took a look at the team captain who was standing next to her. A chuckle followed, earning the sculling woman a frown from the team leader.
"I'll say it one last time. She's here for an audience, Incinera. Not for another round of mockery." The team captain looked down in disgust at the gondolier in the white uniform consisting of a bodycon dress and a padded headband.
"Oh joy, just tried to have a chat, miss Blaze. Well, nevermind then... Ashlynn." Incinera looked up at the towering presence of the team captain, whose 1.96 meters of height cast a shadow over the gondolier's stature. She acknowledged the prestige of her guest with a nod as she continued rowing. "Well, it won't be long... no, Scoria?"
"We're almost about to descend!" A fiery orange-haired gondolier in the back part of the boat looked at her colleague. She sheepishly mimicked Incinera's grin as she and her colleague rowed in unison.
"Good..." Ashlynn crossed her bulky arms, her one-piece swimsuit made of black volcanic ash clinging to her muscular form like a second skin. She looked around at the iron buildings built on streets made of volcanic rock, countless Tephra walking over the streets and past the channels as part of their daily business, with some of them standing still to give Ashlynn's physique a stare.
"What's with them?" Magmae said softly as she took a couple of quick glances at the two gondoliers, shivers sent down her spine from seeing the two rowing women behaving in a way that felt nothing more than artificial. Ignisabeth replied to her teammate's question with a shrug.
"Well, there's the entrance." Ignisabeth stood up, placing her hands against her sides as the gondola approached a large tunnel that had been built in the lava channel, the cavernous space welcoming them.
"Hold on tight, Alphas!" Incinera said as she decreased the power of her sculling while the boat made its way into the tunnel.
"Do as she says." Ashlynn gave her two team members a stern look, gesturing for Ignisabeth and Magmae to sit and place their hands against the edges.
Tension riled up as the boat began to descend down into the core of the molten planet, picking up speed by the second. The initially dark and empty walls were getting filled with light-blue minerals, glowing and forming a path for the guests in a sense that almost felt welcoming.
"Still gorgeous... almost feels like the first time again." Ignisabeth looked around with a look of awe on her face, excitedly looking from left to right at the many diamonds glowing in the walls and adding to the mesmerizing atmosphere.
"And this is what we see every day..." Scoria said in a calm and deadpan manner that almost came off as weary. Soon after, the lava beneath the boat underwent a shift as well, turning from red hot magma to a luminescent light-blue flow of mystical heat infused with diamonds, with black crystals beginning to emerge from the ceiling. "Alright, we're almost there..." The tour guide smiled as the intensity was lessened by a bit, the boat slowing down as it made its way into the core.
"Oh joy, the tour is over. Mind the gap, beauties!" Incinera placed her hand in front of her mouth as she giggled, earning another eye roll from Ashlynn.
"Take my hand, Magmae." Ashlynn turned to her teammate, reaching out with a ripped arm.
"Yes..." Magmae nodded as she clung onto the team captain, her arms wrapped around Ashlynn's limb as the team captain led the way.
"Ah, the Alphas. Honorable Pyrhenes, champions of Eruption. Masters of our signature sport."
"Altezar." Ashlynn spoke up as she stepped foot in Magma Heaven's core, looking up at the black dragon who resided there. His black body made of alloyed tungsten and volcanic rock was illuminated by the glowing dark crystals emerging from the ceiling, with veins of pure orange lava visible on his sooted dark-grey belly and black dragon wings.
"Ah, miss Blaze. It's been a while. What brings you here, honorable Tephra?" Altezar said in a deep and domineering voice with a pompous edge to it, his orange eyes burning with curiosity.
"We're here for Magmae Rockwell. She has been accepted into the Alphas. We ask you to give Magmae your blessings as you have done to us." Ashlynn remained levelheaded and direct, her deep and authoritative voice echoing through the core as she looked the fearsome dragon in the eye.
"Very well. Come forwards, Magmae..." Altezar looked down at the young woman who was still clinging onto Ashlynn.
"You have to let go now." Ashlynn looked at ther teammate, her stoic voice almost having a sense of regret and sympathy to it. With some hesitation, Magmae let go, her legs trembling as she took a few steps forwards.
"Look at me." Altezar demanded. As a deafening silence followed, Magmae slowly began to lift her head, looking the dragon in the eyes. She gasped and began to sweat with shivers down her spine. Altezar scoffed. "Don't be scared of me, child. I can feel your potential. Your future, Magmae, is a fruitful one."
"You can do this, Magmae!" Ignisabeth said softly as she tried to cheer her friend on, only for Ashlynn to cut Ignisabeth off with a gesture.
"Remember who you are. You, Magmae, are a Tephra. You are at home on this seering planet. A descendant of Pumisse, the first Tephra born from my flame. The heat does not tear you down, for it sustains you. As an Euruption participant, you are a Pyrhene, and as Pyrhene, you embody strength, resilience and skill on this terraformed planet. Take pride in who you are in this world, Magmae..." Altezar's domineering voice softened as Magmae was showered in a burst of white light from above, the young woman responding with a gasp.
"I... I...""  After the light had faded, Magmae sat down on her knees, hyperventilating with relief in her voice.
"You have been blessed. I'll be watchful of your journey, honorable Alpha." The dragon finished his sentence with a deep sound that almost resembled a chuckle.
"Thank you for your blessing, Altezar." Ashlynn stepped forwards once more as she bowed down to the draconic creature.
"My faithful nymphs, return them. Their work is done here." The dragon said as he directed his attention to the two gondoliers.
With their job done, the Alphas returned to the gondola. After a lot of sculling from the two nymphs, the team eventually made their way back to the molten surface, the glowing red and orange hues of the lava welcoming them.
"I... I did it..." Magmae, curled up in the back of the gondola, began to cry tears of joy as several gasps were heard. "Ashlynn, Ignisabeth..." In response, the team captain squatted down after approaching her teammate.
"Welcome to the Alphas, Magmae." Ashlynn gave Magmae an approving nod as she placed her hand against Magmae's cheeks. With a faint smile, she gave the shy Tephra a welcoming hug, with Ignisabeth joining in on the embrace.
"Thank you..." Magmae breathed another sigh of relief.