"I need to touch the flames?!" I asked.
"Yes, so you can absorb their divinity and obtain Master Hephaestus' First Blessing. There are Four Blessings he created in total, distributed on the four Divine Smithies." The Divine Forge Spirit said. "This is but the first you've encountered, but there are three more scattered around Arcadia, somewhere."
"I see…" I said. "S-So I just touch it?"
I slowly approached the flames, but the Divine Forge Spirit stopped me.
"First of all, do you have the Skill that would allow you to connect with the Divine Forging Flames?" The Spirit asked.
"The Skill to… Oh! The one I haven't learned yet!" I said. "I haven't learned that one because I couldn't use it without Divine Flames! But I guess this is where I should use it."
"Indeed. Learn it if you can." The Divine Forge Spirit nodded patiently.
[You exchanged 200 Skill Points!]
[You learned the [Divine Forging Flame Spirit Furnace: Lv1] Subclass Skill!]
[Divine Forging Flame Spirit Furnace: Lv1]
A Unique Skill that cannot Level Up through Skill Points and will only Level Up through constant practice and improvement of the Hephaestus' Successor Subclass.
Through the power of Hephaestus' Divinity dwelling within you, you're capable of creating a Divine Contract with a Divine Forging Flame, which are Spiritual beings of their own, often referred as "Fire Souls".
By channeling the power of your Contracted Divine Forging Flames, you can summon a part of their bodies anywhere you go to both forge new items with them and to use to fight, albeit limitedly.
As this Skill Level Ups, the Contracted Divine Forging Flames become stronger, their Volume, Firepower, Mass, Divinity, Spirituality, and Quality increases by +25% with each Skill Level.
By summoning their power, you can summon the Divine Forging Flame Spirit Furnace, a special Building that can be summoned and unsummoned at any time, which will grow larger the more Divine Hephaestus Smithies you find.
Contracted Divine Forging Flames:
I felt a strong energy gathering into my chest, as all my friends watched in shock as a Divinity started dwelling within me.
It was very faint, however, and could only be called a fragment, or perhaps only a leftover essence. But I could tell, every Skill from the Hephaestus Successor Subclass was like a piece of Hephaestus knowledge and powers granted to me.
It was up to me to utilize them and help them grow to the strength and power they once had while being wielded by their original master.
"Excellent, I can already feel your power rising."
The Divine Forge Spirit then slowly merged with the rest of the Divine Flames, surprising us.
"What is he doing?!" Ambil asked.
"I am merely going back to where I belonged originally." The Divine Forge Spirit said. "I am Ignis, the Divine Forging Flames Spirit, a manifestation of these flames, and one of the four children of Hephaestus!"
The flames within the Divine Forge blazed with divine, golden and white flames, transforming and evolving as they went back to their original form!
I see… So this is what really happened! The Divine Forge Spirit ended weakened and separated his "Flame Soul" from the Divine Forging Flames before they were to exhaust themselves.
And by giving him that jewel I got from the Quest, not only did I open the Smithy, but I also managed to help him regenerate to his former glory.
"It is indeed as you thought, Planta."
The Divine Forging Flames Spirit raised from within the Divine Forge, his new body looking ten times as large as before.
He was now exuding a Divine Aura of crimson and golden flames, there was two arch-shaped floating flames behind him, resembling divine ornaments.
His arms became muscular and strong, and he revealed a red skin beneath such flames, which now worked as clothes around his body.
He had a young and handsome face, with sharp yellow eyes, and a small red jewel in the middle of his forehead. His entire body was ripped yet lean, and he had short red hair.
Rita's first reaction was something I saw coming from a mile away!
"He's really quite the stud!"
Lily also followed her words… I could not have expected anything else from her either.
"T-This is the Divine Forge Spirit's true form?!" Even Brisingra blushed a bit. "W-Wait, he has a name too?"
"Of course I have a name, my name is Ignis." Sighed the Spirit. "Hey, I know you're watching…"
He glanced at me and then, the Great Spirit of Harvest and Nature emerged out of my body, transforming into a beautiful lady made of plants and wood.
"I have been watching for a while! So what?" She asked angrily. "Do you want me to give you a pat in the back or something?"
"Pay respect to your superior, perhaps?" Ignis giggled.
"You're not my superior!" The Great Spirit said angrily. "I am also technically Lady Gaia's daughter…! And I am the Great Spirit of Harvest and Nature, I'm great and amazing! I don't need to pay respects…"
"Is that so?" Ignis kept teasing her.
"Ugh…" The Great Spirit then glanced back at me. "Thanks to Planta, I'm growing much stronger so don't annoy me!"
"We'll be living together very soon, so you better get used to me." Ignis joked around.
She seemed very disgusted with that!
Did these two had some history together? It feels like they know one another from a while, but the Great Spirit never said anything!
Oh well, I can't really waste my time thinking this.
"Alright, let's leave this relationship between the two of you for later…" I sighed. "First things first, as you said, Ignis. So do I just touch you?"
"Give me your hand." He asked politely.
I extended my hand towards him, as he gently bowed and then kissed it, while looking at Mark's eyes.
Mark was keeping himself calm but couldn't help to grow angrier, his entire body was set ablaze in that moment.
And at the same time, I felt Ignis powers becoming one with me, a deep connection, almost similar to the one I have with the Great Spirit was formed!