The morning sun streamed through the windows of the small cottage, painting bright squares on the wooden floor. The heavy silence of disappointment from the night before was gone, replaced by a new, focused energy. Cade's unbelievable claim and Sienna's unwavering belief had lit a fragile but determined spark of hope in all of them.
Over a simple breakfast of coarse bread, sharp cheese, and sweet berries, a plan began to form. The five women leaned over the rough-hewn table, their voices a low, serious hum. Cade sat among them, feeling a responsibility he had never felt before. This was for him. This was because of him.
"The list," Sienna began, her voice calm and steady, taking charge. "Let's break it down. Grey Iron Ore, Earth Root, and sun-basking. The sun-basking is simple. The other two are not."
Raven, always direct, stabbed her knife into the table to mark her point. "The Grey Iron Ore is the easiest of the two to find, but the most dangerous to get. The old mine shaft in the western hills is picked clean of surface ore. The good chunks are deeper in. And that place is unstable. Wooden supports are rotten. I'll go. I'm the fastest and the lightest on my feet. I can be in and out before the sun is at its peak."
Cade immediately shook his head, a fierce look in his green eyes. "No." The word came out louder than he intended. All four aunts looked at him, surprised by the force in his voice. "This is for my beast. For my journey. I have to be the one to get it. I have to earn it."
Raven's expression turned skeptical. "Boy, this isn't about pride. That mine hasn't been safe for years. A wrong step, a loud noise, and the whole thing could come down on your head. You have no experience."
"I'll be careful," Cade insisted, his jaw set with a new, stubborn determination. "I won't go far. But I have to do this myself." He looked at his mother, pleading for her understanding.
Sienna watched her son, a storm of fear and pride warring in her heart. She saw the boy fading away and the man beginning to emerge. It was terrifying and wonderful all at once. Finally, she let out a slow breath and nodded. "Alright. You will go. But," she said, holding up a hand to stop his celebration, "you will not go alone. Raven will go with you. She will wait outside the entrance. She is there only if there is trouble. You must listen to her if she tells you to run. This is not a negotiation."
It was a compromise, but a fair one. Cade accepted it with a nod. "Thank you, Mom."
Zara, the herbalist, spoke next, tapping a finger on the table. "The Earth Root is a different kind of problem. It isn't dangerous to get, but it is tricky to find. It doesn't grow in our usual gathering spots. It prefers the mineral-rich soil near clean, fast-running water. The closest stream that might have it is a half-day's walk to the east, near the base of the Jagged Peaks." She looked directly at Cade. "I can take you to the area and show you what to look for, but the gathering must be yours. You must be the one to find and dig it up. The bond requires your effort."
And so, the day's missions were set. The air was charged with purpose.
An hour later, Cade and Raven stood before a dark, jagged hole in the side of a rocky hill. The entrance to the old mine was like a rotten tooth, held open by splintered wooden beams that looked ready to snap. Cold, damp air drifted out, carrying the smell of wet stone and deep, old shadows. Cade held a small leather bag and a heavy hammer. His heart was beating a rapid rhythm against his ribs.
Rraven stood with her arms crossed, her grey eyes missing nothing. "Listen carefully," she said, her voice low and serious. "This isn't a game. Go in. Your eyes will adjust. Look for rocks that have a dull, grey, metallic shine. Grab five chunks that are about the size of your fist. Use the hammer to break them free if you must, but be gentle. Don't touch the walls. Don't go further than the light from the entrance allows. If you hear so much as a pebble fall, you drop everything and you run. Don't look back. Just run. Understood?"
"Understood," Cade said, his throat dry. He took a deep breath of the fresh morning air, steeling himself, and stepped into the darkness.
The sunlight faded alarmingly fast, leaving him in a murky, grey twilight. The tunnel was narrow, the walls rough and cold to the touch. The only sounds were the scuff of his boots on the rocky ground and the loud, frantic beating of his own heart. He could see chunks of rock littering the ground, but they all looked the same in the dim light. Doubt crept in. How would he find the right ones?
He focused on a pile of rubble, thinking about the ore. To his amazement, his ability stirred. A faint, shimmering grey outline appeared around a few specific rocks. It was a soft, ethereal light that only his eyes could see. Relief, sweet and powerful, washed over him. His cheat worked on materials, too!
Material: Low-Quality Grey Iron Ore Usable:Yes
A grin spread across his face. He wouldn't have to guess. He quickly knelt, picking up five chunks of the outlined rock. They were cool and heavy in his hands, their rough texture satisfying. He placed them carefully in his bag. The task was done in minutes. It was easier than he had dreamed.
Elated, he turned to leave, the weight of the ore a promise of the future. But as he turned, his boot kicked a loose stone. It skittered across the ground and clattered against the tunnel wall.
The sound was too loud in the silent tomb.
There was a deep, groaning creak from above him. Dust and a shower of small pebbles rained down from the tunnel ceiling, pelting his head and shoulders.
Cade's blood turned to ice. Fear, cold and sharp, seized him. He didn't think. He just ran.
He lunged for the bright circle of the entrance, coughing as dust filled his lungs. He stumbled out into the blinding sunlight, falling to his knees on the grass, gasping for air.
Raven was there in an instant. She didn't hug him. Instead, she grabbed his arm, her grip like iron, and yanked him further away from the mine entrance. Her body was tense, her piercing grey eyes fixed on the dark hole, scanning for any sign of a larger collapse. When several long seconds passed and nothing else happened, she finally looked down at him.
"I told you to be careful!" she snapped, but the anger in her voice was edged with raw, undisguised concern. She looked him over, her eyes quickly checking for injuries. "Are you hurt? Did anything hit you?"
"No… I'm okay," Cade panted, his heart still trying to beat its way out of his chest. He held up the leather bag, the weight of the ore inside suddenly feeling immense. "I got it. I got the ore."
Raven let out a long, slow breath, the tension in her shoulders finally easing. She looked from the dusty bag to his pale, determined face. A strange, new respect flickered in her eyes. The boy had nerves. He had walked into danger and done what he set out to do. He hadn't panicked completely. He had even held onto the prize.
"Good," she said, her voice returning to its usual gruff tone. She reached out and ruffled his dusty hair, a rare, almost awkward gesture of affection. "Don't ever scare me like that again. Now let's get back. Your day is only half over. You still have a root to find."
---
The walk back to the cottage was quieter, the shared brush with danger creating a new understanding between them. Cade saw his aunt not just as a fierce and sometimes scary hunter, but as someone who truly, deeply worried for him.
When they returned, Zara was already waiting by the door with a small pack ready. "The Earth Root is a stubborn plant," she explained, handing him the pack. "Its leaves are broad and green, shaped like a heart, but the valuable part is the root itself, which is a thick, pale yellow color. It will be growing near the water's edge, but the root will be buried deep. You'll need to dig for it." She pointed to a small trowel tucked into the pack.
She led him to the eastern edge of the forest, where a narrow animal trail began. "Follow this path. It will wind for a bit but it will lead you straight to the stream. I have other, more common herbs to collect in the meadows nearby. I will be within earshot if you call. Remember, look for the heart-shaped leaves near the water."
Cade nodded, adjusting the pack on his shoulder. He set off alone, the lizard—Rocky—poking its head out from the front of his shirt, curiously watching the world go by. The walk was peaceful, a stark contrast to the dark mine. Birds chirped cheerful songs overhead, and the forest was alive with the rustle of small creatures in the underbrush. He felt a profound sense of purpose, a connection to the path he was on.
He found the stream easily, its water clear and cold as it rushed and bubbled over smooth, mossy stones. He began his search, walking carefully along the bank, his eyes scanning the vegetation for the heart-shaped leaves Zara had described. He saw ferns, mosses, and plenty of other plants, but none that matched. The sun climbed higher. His initial patience began to wear thin. Doubt whispered in his ear. What if it wasn't here? What if he had been wrong? What if he failed this simple task after succeeding in the dangerous one?
Then, he remembered his ability again. He had used it to identify the ore. Could he use it to find the root?
It was a new idea. He closed his eyes and thought, Find Earth Root. Show me the Earth Root.
He opened his eyes and focused, letting his gaze sweep slowly, carefully, across the lush bank of the stream. He wasn't just looking with his eyes; he was pushing his intent out into the world.
For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, a soft, warm, golden glow caught the edge of his vision. It was about twenty paces downstream, coming from the base of a large, ancient willow tree whose long, graceful branches dipped into the flowing water.
His heart leaped into his throat. He ran over, his boots splashing in the shallow edge of the stream. There, partly hidden behind a curtain of hanging willow branches and a patch of ferns, was a small cluster of plants with broad, perfect heart-shaped leaves. And beneath it, his ability confirmed, was the prize.
Material: Earth Root Quality:Good Usable:Yes
He knelt, his hands almost trembling with excitement. He used the small trowel and carefully dug around the plant, working with a gentle precision he had learned from watching Zara. Finally, he unearthed it: a thick, gnarly root the color of pale sunlight, smelling richly of fresh soil and life. He had it.
He stood, holding the precious root in his muddy hands, a wave of pure accomplishment washing over him. He had faced down fear and frustration, and he had won. He had two of the three materials.
He looked down at Rocky, who blinked his shiny black eyes slowly, as if in approval. "Just one more day in the sun,buddy," Cade whispered, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Then everything changes."
He turned and began the walk home, the two ingredients secure, ready for the final, simple step.