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The Steam Gardens stretched wider than any of them had expected. Pillars of basalt jutted from the earth like broken teeth, each dripping with condensation. Between them, fields of glowing flora swayed as if breathing: Ash Bloom Petals with ember-glow tips, Cinder Vines curling like molten rope, and Scald Pods—round, pulsating vegetables that leaked hot vapor whenever the air shifted.
"This," Lira muttered, crouching low, "is where most cooks burn their skin off. Scald Pods are mandatory for the recipe, but they explode if you grab them the wrong way."
Oliver crouched next to one, eyeing its pulsing glow. "…So you want me to harvest a vegetable that's basically a live grenade?"
Rosemary's lips curved into a faint smile. "Consider it a noble test of your dexterity."
Oliver scowled. "I don't remember nobles on Earth having to dodge landmines just to make soup." Still, he reached for the pod cautiously, trying to mimic Lira's movements.
Sorrel, meanwhile, stood near the steam pools, whiskers twitching. The air tasted wrong—not just heat, but something sharper, like ash laced with hunger. His paw grazed the surface of the water, sending faint ripples of Vita into it.
The pool shimmered—then shifted.
From within the steam, shapes rose: lizard-like creatures with magma veins glowing under obsidian hides. Their eyes burned like molten gold, and when they hissed, the vapor throbbed with their breath.
"Fire drakes," Rosemary said calmly, though her hands tightened around her conjured flame. "They nest in the Steam Gardens. Most are territorial, but… these are watching us too intently."
The largest drake let out a guttural screech. The steam swirled violently, and suddenly, they surged forward.
"Yeah, that's hostile!" Oliver shouted, stumbling back with the pod still in hand.
Lira swore under her breath, drawing two curved knives from her belt. "Sorrel, drown them!"
Sorrel didn't hesitate. He thrust both arms outward, his fur shimmering as Vita surged. A torrent of water burst from his paws, crashing like a wave across the cavern. The front drake was swept back into the basalt pillars, hissing as its body cracked and hissed under the sudden chill.
The others weren't so easily dealt with. One drake lunged through the stream, jaws snapping toward Oliver. He ducked just in time, rolling behind a basalt spike. "Sorrel! Less splash zone, more aim!"
Rosemary raised her palm, golden fire weaving into an intricate shape—then she thrust it forward. Her flames coiled like ribbons, wrapping around a drake's legs. It shrieked, collapsing to the ground, pinned by fire that didn't burn the stone, only the beast.
Lira darted in, her knives flashing, carving through the softened joints of the creature's armor. "Focus!" she barked. "We can't waste Vita here—more will come if the steam carries word."
Sorrel grit his teeth. The water swirling around him condensed into sharp spears, hurling through the haze. Each struck true—bursting into sizzling steam as they pierced scales.
Oliver scrambled to his feet, gripping the ruby he'd pocketed earlier. A mad idea sparked in his mind. He shoved the ruby against a glowing Cinder Vine, and to his surprise, the gem pulsed brighter, almost feeding on the vine's heat. The glow sharpened into a thin, hot edge—like a blade.
"Okay… okay, I can work with this." He swung the improvised weapon at a drake that lunged close, the ruby edge cutting across its hide with a hiss like quenched steel.
The beast recoiled, snarling. Oliver grinned despite the sweat dripping down his face. "Not bad for a guy who used to microwave frozen pizza."
The last drake, wounded but furious, inhaled sharply. Its chest glowed—a sign it was about to unleash a torrent of molten flame.
"Move!" Rosemary snapped, golden fire blazing in her hands.
But Sorrel didn't move. His fur rippled as if underwater, eyes glowing faintly. He thrust both arms forward, calling a massive surge of water that clashed with the drake's fire breath mid-air. Steam exploded outward in a deafening hiss, blanketing the cavern in blinding fog.
When the haze cleared, the drake lay collapsed, its glow flickering weakly. The group stood heaving, sweat-soaked and steaming from the clash.
Rosemary lowered her hand slowly, the golden flame dimming to a spark. "Impressive, Sorrel. Your control is… raw, but formidable."
Sorrel shrugged, panting. "Fire doesn't like water. Simple enough."
Lira wiped her knives clean, glaring at the collapsed drake. "Don't get cocky. That was a hunting group—small. Means the alpha's nearby."
Oliver groaned, sliding down to sit against a rock. "Fantastic. Bigger, angrier fire-lizards. Just what I needed." He held up the Scald Pod still clutched in his hand. "At least I didn't drop this."
Rosemary smiled faintly, adjusting the hem of her glowing dress. "Then let's collect the rest quickly. The slime queen will not tolerate lateness… or excuses."
The steam hissed around them like mocking laughter, as if the tunnels themselves were alive and listening.
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