Monster Legends - Volume 1: A World Of Monsters

8. Vada's gift

"Where have you been?" Was Stella's first sentence when I arrived back in the healing centre. "Making a plan. How's Bolt doing?" "He's great. He will awaken in an hour or so." Julie answers. I smile. "Good. I have a plan. I need to talk to Vada. I don't think she's dying. There's something I heard in the TV a long time ago. I can't remember exactly, but I don't think the nearing eruption has anything to do with death. "What do you mean? Vada has protected this town for years, why couldn't it do so now?" Julie asks. "It's not that she can't, but I don't think she wants to. I'll tell you when I come back." "Shay! Wait! Where are you going?" I look back. Stella had a worried look on her face. "I'm gonna climb the volcano. Please keep this a secret." And with that, I turn around and leave.

I leave the town again. This time, I don't leave unnoticed. "Where are you going boy?" I turn to see a man in his fourties, looking at me from in front of his house. "I'm a trainer. I need to be on my way." I say. "Monsters to catch and ttain." I add. "Well be safe there, and good luck to you." He says. "Thank you." I say, waving him goodbye.

Once again, I walk behind the hill and then slowly make my way around the entire city, toward the volcano. It took a long time, at least an hour of walking, but I finally got there. The Vada Volcano wasn't the tallest by size, and fortunate for me, it wasn't very steep on the side I was on, meaning I could climb it without any special climbing equipment. "Alright. Let's do this." I say, rubbing my hands together.

At the start, I could simply walk forwards, as if walking up a small hill. The further I got, the rockier and unsteadier the terrain got, until I had to use my hands to regain my balance here and there. I looked up, and judged I was about halfway there. Using my hands and legs, I slowly climbed up, testing each rock if it can support my weight. It was slow progress, and with climbing equipment, it would have been much simpler, but I simply couldn't buy it. If I did, it would have raised suspicions and people would guess I was gonna try illegally climb the volcano. It was closed for public, as the fumes emitted from the crater were poisonous. Fortunately, all fireproof outfits were designed especially for volcano climbers, therefore they had a way to filtrate the air, meaning I could breath normally, and not have to worry about damaging my lungs.

It was starting to be very hot, so I stopped on a rock ledge, and took my backpack off my back. I take the fireproof outfit out of it and I put it on. I make sure all my body parts were under the protection of the fireproof material, and then started climbing again. I was being very careful were I placed my hands and feet, keeping as close to the now steep rocky wall, so the whole climbing process took about 2 hours. I smile internally as my hands grasp the top of the volcano, and I gasp with exhaustion as I pull myself up. A few years ago, I would not have the strength to do so. Thank god for those workouts.

Even in the outfit, it was very hot. The air smelled foul, but the material around my face kept my lungs safe. "Vada!?" I shout into the crater as I near it. It was hard to see, so I moved slowly, careful not to trip. That would be an ironic way to die, I could see myself in the news: A fifteen year old boy climbs up a volcano, trips and falls right into the burning hot lava. The police have no idea, if this was a suicide, or the boy was simply blind.
Even the fireproof outfit would not keep me safe forever.

"Vada!" I shout again. "Are you here?!" I shout as loud as I can. No response. I see the burning hot lava bubbling below me. I'm not an idiot, so I keep a large enough distance from the crater's edge. "Alright. I don't think it wants to meet me. Tarty. Your turn." The red beam appears, and Tarty forms in front of me. His skin was hard and ragged, and I knew it could withstand the radiating heat. As for the smoke...well, I'll have him checked in the healing centre. "Tarty, do your best." My Monster nods, takes a deep breath, straightens his chest, and roars into the crater.

I wince at the loud noise, echoing troughout the volcano. He roars for twenty seconds straight, and then stops." "Thanks Tarty. If that doesn't bring her out, then I don't know what will." He returns back into my Monstagram, and I wait.