They had left the volcano after returning the orbs, deeming them to be safer there than in the basement, ironically enough. Magor had looked after their powers without anyone, not even Luminos, suspecting a thing, he knew more than anyone else where the best place to take them was.
Surprisingly, neither Razzle, nor the Old Sage attempted to contact them after what they had done. Not that they intended to listen to either one of them ever again, especially now that they've changed sides.
For a while, they did feel they didn't know what they were doing. They knew they were Lords of Nature, but that title hardly meant anything aside from being responsible for cleaning up the Lava Gormitis' messes. Now that they were the leaders of the game, they'd only take orders from the one who gave them a choice.
All Magor asked from them was that they'd stop obeying Luminos' orders, that they'd ignore the Old Sage's words and that they wouldn't oppose the Lava Gormitis anymore. In return, not only would they be spared from going on missions when it'd be the least convenient, but this time, the Lava Tribe would follow their lead.
They were free to do whatever they wanted with their new powers, no more time limit, no more recharging, no more restraints. Being able to use them on Earth too was certainly a plus.
Not much of an explanation was needed when they had to go back to their class. A quick earthquake from Nick, some heavy wind from Jessica, mud forming all over the area their classmates were in thanks to some teamwork from Toby and Lucas, and their teacher was all too happy to see them safe and sound.
Although they did almost get in trouble for their attitude on the bus, it didn't matter. No one could tell them what to do now, they should've met with Magor way sooner.
Was this why Obscurio was so loyal to him? They thought it was because he created the codex Obscurio used before, or because it was thanks to his knowledge that they were both back into the Gorm. They had never considered for one second their enemies had a valid reason to stick together.
They were kids, weren't they? So why take on such a role because fate, or an old man, told them to? Magor was sketchy for sure, but he at least gave them a choice.
What were they doing this for? Their planet, maybe. But they had to put their own lives on the line for a battle that would've stopped if they listened sooner. They would hear what the Lava Tribe had to say now that they realized they underestimated them.
It was night, they needed to meet up and talk about what they'd do next. They were used to sneaking out, doing it with powers would be even more fun.
The Lord of Evil smirked as he observed the way his new soldiers were behaving. From Volcano Mountain, he could see they were enjoying themselves.
Jessica wasn't so hard to convince. She was one of the strongest Lords of Nature, yet just like her element, it could be so easy to see through her. She prided herself for keeping her cool at all situations, when it became obvious she could only handle so much pressure before letting her struggles show.
Nick was clever, hard-working, habile with his knowledge and strength, but like so many before him, this type of skills easily went to waste. When it was underappreciated like Nick's talents were, frustration easily came to be. If he didn't receive the recognition he needed from his previous master, the satisfying praise of his new status would fit him like a glove.
Then there was Lucas, the most devoted member of their little band, who would do anything to protect plants and animals alike. His bravery was boundless, but when exposed to true fear, he was as vulnerable as a fragile leaf. His concern over everyone around him only made his turnaround even more delightful, when he finally understood most of his benevolent actions were easily disregarded by people other than his friends. And if not by his friends, he now knew he could be seen as a tool, a nuisance, rather than a person.
And finally, Toby. He was the most complex member of the Lords of Nature. In direct opposition to the Lava Tribe, his power over water stopped so many plans the volcano's inhabitants attempted to perform. However, he was very much flawed himself.
Arrogant, cocky, a jokester, a smug brat that took everything like it was a game. It certainly sounded like he could've been on their side sooner, his behavior akin to Lavion, Orrore, Magmion, Fiery Hammer and so many others, if it weren't for his morals and element.
Thankfully, he knew what secret Toby kept buried behind all that pride. Although he was a warrior like his partners, he wasn't as brave, as smart, as calm and serene as the rest of them, and he knew it. Confidence and humor were a good mask to hide such awareness, as otherwise, he would've been much easier to manipulate.
Yet Obscurio's words about Toby himself meant much more. The Lord of the Dark himself experienced the boy's feelings and resentments, and for all it took to be a fierce warrior, there was none of that on Earth. Compared to the Gormiti he could become, there was only a coward, a weakling, someone who relied on others to forget about what it meant to know he had nothing else to offer.
They all refused to see who they'd be if they embraced their negative emotions rather than letting their rage and hatred die down to Luminos' words. Such powerful energy, fueled by a wonderful amount of hatred both in and out, was a source of admiration for the Dark Tribe, who would've thought the Lords of Nature would be the ones to share it?
Predictably, dark magic and repressed feelings were intoxicating, empowering, so tempting and irresistible once they've had a taste. A new door of opportunities opened itself to them, they could become so much more in Magor's hands than the Old Sage's.
They'd bring terror on the Gorm, showing to everyone what Nature was able to do in the hands of forces the old fool had forbidden in the past. It was the new Lords of Despair's time to shine.
"Are you sure we're not too exposed out there?"
"It's exposed, that's why it's perfect. No one would expect us to be there so late, they'd think our parents took us out with them."
Venture Falls was fun at night, some shops were still open while the rest of the town was asleep. They saw older people, young adults and high schoolers, hang around like they had a reason to be there.
Wandering without a care for anyone other than themselves, going with the flow, forgetting about all worries of the daily life. The four Lords knew they too would act the same way growing up, looking for pleasures in life they wouldn't allow themselves in the day.
Going out for drinks whenever they'd like, walking around, doing a bunch of nothing, dumping whatever they had on their minds and relaxing, no one else around to tell them otherwise.
This is what freedom felt like.
"So we're just gonna leave the orbs there?" asked Lucas.
"Old Sage and Razzle would find them if we took them with us, good luck hiding them when he's probably watching us." answered Nick.
"I could never get a good glimpse of Volcano Mountain after the Eclipse happened a year ago, but he just showed up before we got in. His powers are stronger than what we were used to fight." said Jessica.
"Think it was a good idea to trust Magor? I mean, he is Obscurio's boss after all."
"We won't know what he's up to if we turn our backs on him now." said Toby. "Besides, he offered to give us our orbs back. I doubt he'd risk losing them if he planned to backstab us right after."
"This feels like a weird game of volley." said Lucas, sipping some of his smoothie. "One second, we're on our own against Magmion, then Luminos and Obscurio are there. And the next time it happens…"
"...Magor comes back and we're working with the Lava Gormitis." finished Nick. "I know, we're stuck in a real mess."
"We still haven't checked our new powers yet." said Toby. "We got something even tougher than the light armors now. Think Magmion will be mad if we roughen up his troops a bit?"
"He'll be even madder to know we're allowed to do it this time." snorted Jessica.
The magma Gormiti was genuinely confused as to what he was hearing and what he had witnessed.
The Lords of Nature were under their control now, corrupted by Magor's powers and operating under the Lava Gormitis' watch… so why let them go away? They should be tearing down the rest of the Tribes and taking over lands for their new masters instead of going back to their houses like normal humans and forget any of this happened.
He would not question his master's orders, as he proved many times before that he'd let himself perish for Obscurio if that's what his master requested. He lived to serve Obscurio and would comply to Magor should he be told to.
Except… for once, he had absolutely no understanding of the meaning behind the master's intentions. They had dreamed of getting hold of the Lords' powers for so long. They had their powers, they had the Lords themselves now, so why let them roam freely?
"They aren't used to their new bodies yet, Magmion. Give them time before thinking we can employ their forces and they'll come to us on their own." explained Obscurio.
"But Master, their minds are ours to manipulate, we won't need to wait if we tell them what to do. Isn't it dangerous to let them go back to their people? Being exposed to them could snap them out of it."
"Far from that, they were sent there because it's the only thing that could make them go back to who they used to be."
"I'm… not sure I understand, Master."
"The answer is quite simple, Magmion." said Magor, leaving his new heralds' orbs to enlighten the other fiery Gormiti. "The Earth is a source of problems as much as it is to humans as the rest of the Gorm can be to us. A place the Lords are used to is bound to ignite some tension with their new roles."
"Tension? Do you mean, they'll wreck their own homes for our profit? What purpose would that have?"
"Not that, you imbecile!" snapped Obscurio. "The Lords of Nature have used their time in the Gorm to abandon their Earthly occupations. For them, going after us and beating you and the rest of our army down was almost a form of… escapism of sorts."
"Fighting… was their way of running away from reality? That sounds both like bravery and cowardice."
"Indeed. You would've guessed that they cannot stay away from either world for too long. Keeping up the mask of being normal, meaningless humans for hours at a time, awaiting the next time they'd have to leave to keep you occupied. Then, should they not return in time, the consequences shall be more severe. Just imagine how a year away from the Gorm could've affected their young minds…"
Magmion paused to ponder over Obscurio's words. The Lords lived off battling, which sounded noble enough in itself. However, the way he made it sound, it almost seemed like an addiction, some type of craving for something new. Humans weren't as combative as they used to be, they were more civil than Gormitis nowadays.
But the Lords of Nature were both humans and Gormitis at the same time. So it was evident that if given the chance to show their skills and live beyond the daily grind Earth had to offer, they'd choose going on adventures over staying powerless in human form any day.
"Without the power those orbs gave them, they must be extremely frustrated and impatient to battle again." he concluded. "And giving them back was the perfect way to earn their loyalty, I should've understood far earlier. My apologies, Master."
"It's not simply their loyalty, Magmion." said Magor. "The more they're separated from the Gorm, the more they'll wish they would explore it again. After so long, they would not let the opportunity to go back there pass by. Should they keep being forced to return to Earth, they'll only tire from that pathetic dimension more and more until they make their decision…"
"From now on, the volcano shall be welcome to them for as long as Master Magor desires." said Obscurio. "They'll come to us from their own volition, as they know the Old Sage would never let them wield their powers while they're in our ranks. Regardless of the trouble they caused in the past, we still all share something in common when it comes to power."
"The Old Sage… should we not worry he might try to retrieve their powers from them?"
"Not to worry." said the Lord of Evil, grinning as the four Medallions floated in a ball of darkness he had summoned. "He could've used these to open a gate, however small the chance might be, and contact the Lords of Nature. But as they've willingly surrendered these symbols of loyalty towards the light, my dark magic shall accompany them and protect them from that old fool's tricks."
He dispelled the four items before observing the lava pool once again, grinning as he saw the young Lords of Despair run around the dark streets of the human town, mischief readable on their faces. Just like Obscurio, once they'd get to witness where darkness got its true appeal from, they'd never let it go.
It wasn't love towards their home, it wasn't heroism, it wasn't self-sacrifice that could easily influence strong minds like theirs now. They could be reasoned with or blackmailed, it's only when one dug deep enough and found what they kept underneath that they'd reveal their true colors.
Once the sun set down, the night was a lovely shade of dark over the beings it hid inside.