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Rosemary led the way through the cracked obsidian paths of Ardent Hollow, her magenta hair glowing faintly against the shimmering heat haze. She gestured to Sorrel, who was carrying the rolled-up parchment map, and began to explain in a voice as smooth as silk.
"Ardent Hollow is more than just lava and ash. Beneath the crust lies the Gemwater Caverns—a network where volcanic heat and underground springs meet. The pressure here causes gemstones to grow along the cavern walls, and in certain pockets… unique crops flourish."
Oliver squinted at her. "Crops? Here? I thought everything was fire, rocks, and things that want to eat you."
"Not quite," Rosemary replied with a knowing smile. "There are plants here that thrive only because of the volcanic soil—Ignis Root, for example, which tastes sweet if boiled, deadly if raw. Or Scorchvine, a creeping crimson plant that grows near magma vents and can add spice to a dish… or strangle the cook if mishandled. And the rarest of them all—the Ash Bloom, which only flowers underground where water drips on hot stone."
Oliver tilted his head. "Sounds dangerous."
"That's because it is," she said simply.
Sorrel scanned the map and nodded toward a marked point. "Looks like the first ingredient location is through the Emberfall Basin. What's the catch?"
Rosemary's expression hardened. "The basin is home to Flare Drakes—smaller than dragons, but faster, and they spit bursts of flame instead of streams. Their eyes are drawn to anything shiny… so avoid letting your gear glint in the light." She glanced at Oliver, whose new ruby necklace caught the flickering glow of nearby lava. "That includes you."
Oliver quickly tucked the ruby into his shirt. "Right, right. No shiny. Got it."
They followed a winding trail until the smell of scorched stone and sulfur thickened. In the distance, flames licked up from pools of molten rock, and beyond them, in an enclosed chamber, was the kitchen—or what passed for one in the volcanic regions. A single girl stood at the counter, hair tied in a high, fraying bun, moving with frantic speed as pots boiled and flames danced unnaturally around her.
Rosemary stepped forward and introduced her. "This is Lira. She's preparing a dish for the Slime Queen—a ruler whose gelatinous body changes color with her mood. Fail her, and she might dissolve you. Please her… and she may grant you the Salamander elemental."
Lira sighed in exhaustion. "I've tried everything. But the Slime Queen wants something new—something with a fire-born essence yet a taste of the underground." She pushed a list toward them, written in hurried script.
Hunting Recipes – Salamander Challenge:
1. Ash Bloom Petals – Found only in Gemwater Caverns where boiling water meets volcanic steam.
2. Ignis Root – Grows near cracked basalt ridges, harvest with insulated gloves or risk blisters that never heal.
3. Emberfruit – Looks like a glowing red pomegranate, grows only inside abandoned Flare Drake nests.
4. Scorchvine Pepper Seeds – Clusters hang over molten flows; cutting them without burning requires chilled blades.
At the bottom of the list, Lira had scribbled a warning:
> Beware the Firefang Beetles—small, metallic-shelled insects that swarm when disturbed and ignite their own bodies before charging. Their shells can be used for garnish… if you survive collecting them.
Oliver read the warning aloud and then raised an eyebrow. "This is… basically a grocery list that could kill us ten different ways."
Sorrel smiled faintly, rolling up the map. "Good thing we're not here to be bored."
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