Chapter 18 – Part 9: Dante and Iris vs Gaia – The Trial of the Infinite Volcano

You cannot extinguish fire but you can whisper to it, until it chooses to dream, the red wound of the Multiverse, he volcano of infinity hidden deep in the forgotten veins of the  multiverse where worlds are no longer named but sighed rises a crimson colossus a mountain that breathes like a living being its veins not of water, but of ancient lava they call it Gaia mouth a glowing wound, a gash torn into the flank of reality it hasn’t screamed in a thousand eternities but today, it growls the ground trembles the sky loses its color and in its depths, the fire roars hungry it is not a monster it is not a curse it is a memory that no longer wants to be forgotten the gods stay far none can contain her none except, perhaps,those who have chosen not to fight the emissaries of peace Dante, dressed in white, crossed with deep red walks slowly.

His blade remains sealed on his back he doesn’t even touch it he’s not here to cut the fire—
he’s here to listen Iris walks beside him stripped of her glamour, her masks, she wears only what’s essential a gown of fallen night, and in her hand, a lantern of liquid shadows, its light chasing nothing but revealing everything at the edge of the crater Hope watches them leave, her hands clenched to her heart.

— “Give her a dream please.”

the ascent he summit is a world in itself the stones scream the air burns the lava breathes like a wounded heart when they reach the crater’s edge she appears Gaia a woman tall as mountains, made of molten stone, ancient moss, and weeping lava her eyes two faded suns

not extinguished just… tired she does not speak she groans then, finally her voice falls like a boulder into a well.

— “Why should I sleep? why not burn it all?”

The mountain isn’t angry she’s tired tired of only being seen as a threat she lays down her trial:

— “Put me to sleep without force oothe my pain without conquering or I will rise and set all worlds aflame.”

Iris the reflections of memorie: She says nothing she simply walks around the crater she places small mirrors of shadow liquid fragments of night each one reflects a forgotten memory rain falling on a burning stone, a child stroking warm rock, green moss sprouting beside a geyser.

Gaia shivers.

— “I had forgotten… what gentle silence feels like.”

Anger falters.

Dante – the tea and the Breath: He sits calmly takes a small empty cup places it at the volcano’s edge he fills it with nothingn or maybe… with the moment.

— “When I drink, I give thanks.”
His voice is calm not persuasive present.

— “I thank this heat that boils water, that warms my heart, that teaches me patience, ven the burning pain is a fire we can learn to love.”

He drinks and the volcano listens slowly the mountain’s breathing slows the lava bubbles gently the rumbling fades the red light turns orange, then amber, then golden Gaia steps back she no longer roars she weeps tears of fire but gentle, like the last sigh after a long insomnia.

— “You did not defeat me you looked at me nd I wanted to rest.”

She bows Gaia’s Mouth becomes a basin of warm dreams clouds return cosmic fireflies drift through the mist and the multiverse, for the first time in ages, breathes Dante offers a second cup to Iris she raises an eyebrow, then softly smiles she doesn’t drink but she sits beside him until the fire falls asleep.

End of Chapter 18 – The Trial of the Infinite Volcano.