The Outer Market buzzed with morning energy as Gustav lingered by Mara's stall, examining a batch of crystal pepper while mulling over Kael's warning about the aura root raid. "The shipment travels through Ironwood Pass tomorrow at dawn," Mara confirmed, wiping down her counter. "It's a narrow gorge—easy for ambushes." Gustav nodded, tucking a map of the pass into his pouch alongside the aura compass and aura-preserving oil.
He set off for the pass an hour before sunrise, navigating winding trails through pine forests until he reached the gorge's mouth. The compass pulsed steadily, guiding him to a hidden ledge overlooking the road below. As light crept over the hills, a convoy of three wagons appeared, guarded by armed men—with Black Spoon scouts lurking in the nearby rocks. Gustav crushed a handful of ironpetal herb (harvested from the cliff face as he climbed) and mixed it with glow moss, tossing the blend into the air. The mixture released a sweet, aura-charged mist that blurred the scouts' vision and calmed the convoy's horses, disrupting their ambush formation.
Just as the Black Spoon members moved to attack, Kael emerged from the shadows, distracting two of them with well-timed rock throws. Gustav seized the moment, channeling his Gastronomic Aura to create a barrier around the lead wagon, shielding the aura root crates. The scouts, disoriented by the mist and outmaneuvered, fled into the woods.
The convoy's leader, a burly man named Torvin, approached Gustav gratefully. "You saved us—those syndicate rats would've cleaned us out. Take this," he said, handing over a small sack of aura root shavings and a note with coordinates to a hidden grove of starfall grain.
Gustav met Kael at the pass's exit. "Nice work," Kael said, grinning. "Guess teamwork ain't so bad." Gustav smiled faintly. "Temporary. But thanks." They parted ways, and Gustav headed to the starfall grain grove, where he harvested a handful of the golden, aura-infused grain.
Back in the city, he ground the starfall grain with aura root shavings and ironpetal herb to make a savory porridge, channeling his aura to bind the flavors. As he ate, he felt his aura's precision improve—he could now sense faint energy signatures from miles away. He updated his log: "Today: thwarted Black Spoon raid at Ironwood Pass, harvested ironpetal herb and starfall grain, gained aura root shavings and new coordinates. Stealth and aura barrier control are advancing. Two and a half years until the Hunter Exam—planning to explore the starfall grove further."
With the compass glowing toward the grove's direction, he began drafting a plan to map the area, curious about what other rare ingredients might lie hidden there.