Out in the lands far and hot, a Mountain of dancing Molten, and roaring rocks.
This...was Mount Virflame.
It was a place home to Fire-types mainly. Due to the extreme heat radiating at about 140 Fahrenheit or 60 Degrees Celsius. And about 110F or 43C in Winter.

Upon the greatest Volcano, stands a Warrior. A Clan Leader of the infamous name: Dominic Axl. Most do not know his true name. Perhaps they will never know.
He was...remembering something. A fragment of the past. It seems the quiet purrs of the bubbling Molten enhanced his thought process. As he found it soothing to listen to. He stood close to the mouth. It was one of his favorite spots in the entire region.
He closed his eyes this time. And balled his paws. It seemed as if he was struggling to...think about what he was trying to project.

"Where are you Brother, what have you done?"
He asked into the thin, ashy air. It wasn't fresh, and it wasn't clear. It was also another climate he grew fond of. While he quietly spoke aloud. He seemed to be...worried, was it?
He had done so much in 14 years, that he barely can recall his childhood past. It was something his family tried to do most of the time. They seemed to be good at it. But the more time went on, the more their futures seem to be meaningless, uneventful. 'What's the point in being great when you weren't small?'
He thought in his head this time. Before he could find a sufficient answer. He heard running towards his spot. Crackled steps over the pebbles and rocky terrain they covered to get to him. He was alerted but did not pay any regard to it. His reminiscent was too important. Until:

"Sir, Captain Axl!?" They shouted and were slightly out of breath. He hesitantly turned his head. He didn't like being interrupted in such a sacred moment.
"What is it..." He asked as if the subject was a nuisance to him. His voice was husky and powerful. A winded tone, but a voice of Fear-striking power.
As they gasped a few more times. They spoke properly now.

"South Port has not received our weekly supplies! This has happened twice, and we are in desperate need of an investigation!"

Hearing this shocked the Fire-type. His eyes went wide, and he turned his head over to the large view of his Village. It was large for one, it could almost be considered a Town. But, they didn't have a Town Hall to make any governmental claims official. They didn't have the population for it...yet.
The Fire-type looked down to one of the Markets. Then scanned his eyes over to the West. He shook his head and sighed. After getting a good, broad view of his Homeland. It likely wouldn't be a surprise they weren't being supplied anymore...

"I should have seen this coming..."
The Captain said. It only left the one beside him in question. So they asked sheepishly:
"W...what are we going to do? Why has this happened, have we sinned? Did we miss a payment?" Questions birthing in the air like wildfire. But for the Captain? He had one conclusion, and it made him narrow his eyes in anger.
"I know why...the King...
He's cut us off...he thinks we're a bit too uncivil for his laws. He's always had us under his feet, and he knows it...
He knows we don't need him, despite bring the strongest Clan out of the entire land. If our armies were to clash. Well...my Men would eventually turn to victory. The King doesn't know what it's like to be in battle. And that...can be exploited." Spoken like a Warmaster. The Captain was cross, and he was going to make the one responsible pay for this crippling economy.

Although, the Citizen next to them was shocked to hear such expressive words of violence. They asked again.
"Are we going to fight? Wouldn't the King send army after army, until our Mountain is nothing but ash?"
"No...even if he were to win, he will find nothing but penniless opportunity and wasted blood.
He'll have to completely wipe this region off the face of the Earth, or bleed us dry of our wages. I won't let either of those happen...I'll take this matter into my own clutches."
The Fire-type silently gritted with anger. As he began to step in his way to the Kingdom, the messenger had yet another question.

"Wait, Dominic, your clan! What will they do without their Leader!? They would eagerly await your commands, they would be clueless without you!
Can you not send a stronger message to the one who is clearly trying to rid us!? Sooner or later, we will be forgotten!!" They panicked at him. But Axl just chuckled and softly spoke:
"Walk with me." That was all he said, as he gestured them to follow aside him. As they trailed beside him, he walked among the bleeding Molten the main vent drooled from its mouth. There were three of them, and he followed the one going down to their Town. Fortunately, it wasn't close enough to burn their homes.

"You see this? The way...the Level flows...from the mouth of our sacred Mountain?" He motioned his paw over it, and turned his head to his follower. They looked and...it was rather soothing.
"Yes Captain." Turning his head back to the burning trail. He exhaled a peaceful sigh. Then went back to his poetic illustration.

"The way it moves...slow. Untroubled by the rocky terrain it bleeds down. Reaching its destination when it sees sufficient. It could be hours, it could be days. But it reaches the endpoint... sometime.
I come here a lot. It teaches me. I remember...someone. Telling me...I can't remember who- but. They said: 'Sometimes the best things...are the ones we cannot obtain.' It was hard for me to appreciate illustrations due to me thinking too literally. Why, does never grasping the stars legitimize your claim? What about fire, the very thing we Firebenders wield to destroy. The Flames have an endless hunger; it hungers for everything in its path.

But...as I slowed down. Realizing that...slow...movements. Through the things that are not living. I understand.
The Stars bring wonder. Peace.
The Mountains, untamed and boisterous with their taunting height! Unclaimed by it's travelers. This world brings much beauty in big...and small packages.
And we are mostly surrounded by the ashes...
I like to watch the source of it. Gazing at the Heat's naked, unborn bueaty~. And when it roars? It is glorious. What does all this mean? I'm trying to help you understand.

With time. Time...we can all reach where we want. We'll reach the Heavens. We'll be immortal. We'll be Gods~...
But for now? Make use of your time. Have patience, and you will have a wonderful tale to tell. I...did my best. I was being slowed down in the past...and I can hardly remember it. It's all...a broken mirror. A mirror that refuses to look me in the eye, and tell me what I am. Regardless...
I know that...if I can keep my patience and shackless spirit. Nothing will stop me. No one can beat me down, no being will halt my trek. I hope my Apprentices, Students, and Soldiers have learned this. If they did, there is nothing to fear, my friend. They'll know when it's time to strike. When to retreat. They don't need me. I trust them, they trust me. This will put it to the ultimate test."

"Will you make it back?" The one listening asked the Captain. They were still worrisome that their most tactical Commander of their army was leaving. It was more of an unofficial-military, but the citizens still looked to it for protection. And Captain Axtin was a Golden example of that. Fearless, unwavering motivation. Nothing could sidetrack his motivation. When he had a goal, he always achieved it...and no one could tell him otherwise.
The Captain let out a chuckle and turned his head to the side. His confidence was also another weapon of his psychological-arsenal.

"Have faith. Faith breeds trust. Trust...breeds confidence. It's why I am brave, it's why I have conquered every adversary." Almost like those were his last words before departure. They reached the bottom of the Volcano now. Almost seemed like they only were just at the top. And the one following only realized it until now.
It was interesting to hear the Captain's wise words, it helped pass the time rather quickly. As they looked back to the top. It was a few hundred feet, but it was like they were never there.
Now the Fire-type turned to the one he was talking to. And smiled at them. It was always warming, comforting to see that powerful expression with such a simplistic look.

"See how precious every second can be? I hope you learned something from me. I must be off now."
"Thank you, Captain Dominic Axl." Addressing his full nickname. He gave a slow nod and turned his back.

"It seems I'll have to pass through Cryptic Forrest first. A dangerous place...
One more thing. For you to remember in your hardships." He paused this time and took a deep breath. He wanted these words to have meaning.

"The strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire..."

Now those were some deep words to remember...
That was something the listening Fire-type would ponder on in their later days.
"I'll remember those words forever Captain.
I hope you conquer your hardships throughout your journey." They humbly blessed him. But this almost made him laugh. He shook his head and made a rather cocky comment.
"I've survived the heat of Hell. And it only gets hotter~."

Sounding like he craves pain...well. There will be a lot of that in the near future...
Those being his final spoken words, he now began his venture to find the Dark Kingdom. At least now what it's called since everything is falling apart...
It would possibly take an entire week to reach it. But with no flight transportation, he is forced on foot. With his sharp Sword, polished Shield, and brave heart. He had the equipment to take on Life's worst, and he welcomed it.

'Let the worst come with their greatest sword. Strongest bow, and bravest knight...'
The Warrior thought to himself. His mind racing with eagerness. To shed blood? Or, to help his homeland.
As he walked away from the rocks, transferred to a more lush and green biome. A Forrest that riddles itself with intellect and distrust. With a place with every bush to hide, every tree for an ambush or trap. No one could trust anybody.
The Captain knew this. But he would not let this stop him. Fear? What was fear, he practically forgot such a petty little thing. He tries not to mix it with overconfidence, as he keeps humility. He is mature, but his eventual anger will be his setback...and it may cost him more than just regret...