The second day of travel brought noticeable changes to the landscape. The scrubland gave way to more substantial vegetation, such as gnarled trees with copper-colored bark and plants with emerald- and ruby-tinted leaves that seemed to thrive in the mineral-rich soil.

  The Emerald Mountains grew impossibly tall as they approached, their jagged peaks often hidden in clouds. They were so massive that they blocked significant portions of the sky, creating a background that made Justin feel even smaller than the night sky had.

  The terrain surrounding the road became more dramatic. What had been rolling hills transformed into a complex network of ridges and ravines. The road, clearly ancient and well-engineered, now spanned from one hilltop to another via stone bridges over deep gaps and fissures.

  Justin peered over the edge of one such bridge and caught glimpses of movement in the shadows far below.

  “What’s down there?” he asked Eldrin, pointing to a winged shape that had briefly emerged from a crevice.

  Eldrin squinted, his keen eyes tracking the creature as it disappeared into another fissure. “Looks like a wyvern, or something similar. Single pair of wings, serpentine body, definitely predatory.” He shrugged. “Though on this world, who can say for certain? It might be something different.”

  “Let’s hope they stay down there,” Lila said, eyeing the depths warily. “I would rather not find out how similar they are to the wyverns back home.”

  During most of the journey, Pyri tagged along, continuing Justin’s “lessons.” To his surprise, Justin found it far easier to communicate today and was even able to hold simple conversations entirely in Fyrspawn.

  His quick learning had attracted other Fyrspawns to converse with him, which only accelerated his knowledge acquisition. He now knew enough to be corrected in the Fyrspawn language and could get the correction right and memorize it almost every time.

  As the afternoon wore on, they crossed another bridge, this one so long that it took nearly thirty minutes for the entire procession to traverse it. It was while Pyri was teaching him some idiom that Justin received a notification.

  [Your Gentleman’s Agreement with Dragomir Valdrik has expired.]

  He didn’t stop, not exactly, but he did slow down a bit. He felt a chill despite the warmth of the afternoon.

  “What’s wrong?” Lila asked, noticing his expression.

  “The truce with Valdrik just expired,” Justin said. “Our little bargain is officially over.”

  They were all quiet as they processed this. It didn’t matter at this point. Not really.

  But judging by yesterday’s conversation, it might not be long at all before they were in contact with him again.

  Even if he knew Valdrik wasn’t here, he still found himself glancing back over his shoulder a few times as they continued their journey.

  By the third day, the landscape had transformed even more. The road now wound through verdant foothills carpeted with emerald grass and red flowering plants unlike anything on Eyrth. Eldrin was having a field day gathering them, his Botanical Insight boon allowing him to identify what was useful and what wasn’t, despite his lack of alchemical knowledge of this world. Pyri informed Justin that the flowers were called fire blossoms, and they were useful for Alchemists, but quite cheap.

  Justin had the feeling they might sell for quite the premium back on Eyrth.

  They also passed trees with spiral-patterned trunks and canopies of ruby and amber leaves that provided welcome shade. The vibrant colors seemed like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. The sunlight cast red-colored shade on the path before them.

  On this third day, Justin’s language skills were progressing at a remarkable pace. He found himself understanding the significance of certain flame patterns while incorporating them into his own communications when using Vorthak’s Flame. He was also getting a sense of how the flames could change the tone or meaning of certain words. Two words might sound exactly the same, for example, but be completely different depending on the flame array.

  “Ven’dara sa’leth Pyrelith?” he asked Emberlyn as they crested yet another hill. How far to Pyrelith?

  “Sa’leth mi’ta davan,” she replied with an approving flicker. Not far now. “Resh’ka nara voth Ashralaki da’voth kir’ahn.”

  “You’re beginning to speak the language well?”

  “Yes,” Emberlyn said, pleased. “The words must be breathed like fire from your mouth. You are getting close, Justin. Another month or two, and you’ll speak as we do.”

  As if to confirm her words about the short distance left, the road curved around a massive rock formation, and the full majesty of Mount Ashralok came into view. The volcano dominated the landscape, its slopes glowing with rivers of molten lava that snaked downward like veins of fire.

  At its base, where the main lava flow widened into a fiery river, sprawled Pyrelith.

  Unlike Charr, which had been built into a canyon, Pyrelith embraced the lava flow. The city was constructed on a series of massive stone platforms that extended over and around the molten river, interconnected by obsidian bridges in dozens of places that connected different districts. Black towers rose from these foundations, their surfaces reflecting the lava light below.

  From their elevated position, Justin could see that the city was divided into distinct sections—industrial areas near the lava’s edge where forges and workshops harnessed its heat, greener residential districts built in concentric rings moving outward, and what appeared to be temple complexes or perhaps even palaces at strategic points.

  “It’s enormous,” Lila breathed.

  “At least twenty times the size of Charr,” Eldrin estimated. “I’d guess around 150,000 inhabitants, maybe more. It is the Holy City of Ashralok, Guardian City of Her Eternal Flame.”

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  Justin watched it with awe. He supposed he might have called it “hellish,” but there was an undeniable beauty to the scene. “It must be hotter than the dickens down there.”

  “The dickens?” Emberlyn asked. “A place from your world?”

  “Err…not really. Just something old people say.”

  “Ah. I see. We should move on.”

  A series of switchbacks carried the road down toward the city. As they descended, they rejoined the main canyon where the lava flow originated. The heat increased, though Justin’s Ring of Ashralok’s Flame continued to provide protection.

  The procession’s pace slowed as they approached the city gates, massive structures of black metal and obsidian that stood open to receive them. Guards with crimson flames stood at attention, but made no move to impede the pilgrims. If they were surprised at the appearance of three humans, they gave no sign.

  “They probably think you’re elves from a distance,” Pyri explained. “That’s what I thought at first, too.”

  “Elves have silver or green skin, though,” Justin said, remembering his time in Eldareth.

  “Ah, so you’ve seen them, too?”

  Justin nodded and fanned his flames a bit, an acknowledgement without the need to express things further with words.

  As they passed through the gates, Justin was struck by the sensory bombardment of the city. The air thrummed with a constant undertone of activity. The rhythmic pounding of forges, the hiss of steam vents, the musical calls of merchants, and the general buzz of thousands of Fyrspawn going about their business.

  The streets were wide and paved with the same black stone as in Charr, but inlaid with complex patterns of gold and copper. Buildings rose five or even ten stories high. Clearly, the engineers had wanted to make the most of the limited space on the small islands rising from the lava flow. Their architecture was unlike anything Justin had seen before, curves and angles that seemed to defy gravity, surfaces that reflected and refracted the light of the lava rivers between. Perhaps more daring structures could be attempted, given the slightly lower gravity.

  “It’s like something out of a fever dream,” Lila murmured. “Beautiful and terrifying at once.”

  Emberlyn led them through the city’s winding streets as evening fell. Lights bloomed throughout Pyrelith. Not torches or lanterns, but contained flames of various colors that burned without fuel, suspended in ornate glass housings.

  Now closer, Justin and the rest, along with Atlas, were getting lots of stares. He wondered if most of this Fyrspawn even knew what humans were. Or if they thought they were some particularly strange breed of elf.

  Shadowflight remained perched on Eldrin’s shoulder, his feathers ruffling as the heat became more intense. The Ranger had not stopped drinking his heat resistance potions, but thankfully, he had a large supply.

  As darkness settled fully, they reached what appeared to be their destination, an enormous temple complex built against the base of Mount Ashralok itself. Its entrance was framed by twin pillars of crystallized lava that rose at least fifty feet high. Between them, a series of descending steps led to a vast courtyard where pools of still water reflected the starry sky. Behind the temple was the slope of the volcano itself, riven with lines of lava.

  Somehow, Justin knew that in the back of that temple was access to the volcano within, along with the Karedos baths.

  “The Grand Temple of Ashralok,” Emberlyn called out to the assembly. “We will rest here tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will proceed to the Karedos.”

  Justin nodded. He wondered if they were expected to go with them or find their own way after this.

  The pilgrims began to disperse, directed by the female temple attendants to various sections of the complex where they would spend the night. Emberlyn guided Justin and his companions to a separate structure.

  “These quarters are reserved for non-Fyrspawn visitors,” she explained. “Elvish delegations from the mountains, mostly. They are cooled for your comfort.”

  “Thank the gods,” Lila said. “Even with this ring, I’m about to melt.”

  The building was smaller than the main temple but no less impressive. Its interior was a single large chamber with a domed ceiling that depicted Mount Ashralok and the city before it in a glittering mosaic. Low platforms lined the walls, covered with soft cushions that looked inviting, especially after three days of travel. It looked quite large, enough to house at least fifty guests living in a communal fashion. As Emberlyn had said, it was quite cool, perhaps due to some form of enchantment.

  “Rest well,” Emberlyn said. “The ritual at the Karedos begins at dawn. After it concludes, I will help you locate the Enchanters’ Conclave.”

  Justin wasn’t sure that was their goal anymore, given his progress with the language, but they could cross that bridge when they got there.

  As she left them to settle in, Justin sank onto one of the platforms. The cushion molded to his body, offering welcome relief to his travel-weary muscles.

  He gave a satisfied sigh. “We made it,” he said. “Pretty cool, huh?”

  “Yes,” Lila said, stretching out on her own platform. “But it’s hard not to feel a bit…directionless, I guess you could say.”

  Justin arched an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’re getting bored already.”

  “No, nothing like that. But I like having something to work toward.”

  “I’m sure we’ll find some trouble to get into soon,” Justin said. “Although we seem to do a pretty good job of attracting it ourselves.”

  “I’m more interested in these baths,” Eldrin said. “A sacred ritual of the Fyrspawn should be quite the experience. Maybe we can even experience it ourselves.”

  The thought hadn’t occurred to Justin, but they could bring it up to Emberlyn tomorrow.

  Their conversation was interrupted when a priestess with bright yellow flames entered the building, bringing with her trays of food for the party. Justin could see from his monocle that she was a Level 5 Fire Priestess. Her fiery eyes were wide as she regarded Justin and his companions.

  “By Ashralok, it’s true,” she said, her flames igniting with excitement. “Humans!”

  “Yes,” Justin responded in her language. “Just here to to have a look at the city.”

  Her flames went even brighter, both with excitement and embarrassment. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know you could understand me.”

  “I can a little bit,” Justin said. “If you use simple words.”

  “Of course,” she said, setting down the tray of food. Justin noticed a few of the usual suspects from the banquet with Lord Ashrok. The vast majority of it would be very spicy, but maybe he had some tolerance because of the Cinder Whiskey.

  “You must be from Eyrth, then, the Blue World.” The priestess’s eyes went to his chest, where the chain did not completely hide the Sapphire Star. Indeed, it was impossible not to notice it.

  It was glowing.

  From the corner of his vision, he could see that Lila and Eldrin had noticed, too, too late.

  Justin adjusted his stance; that way, it would become hidden beneath his shirt, trying to play it off nonchalantly. He made an exaggerated gesture with his flames to gain her attention, and her eyes went to his face expectantly. Anything to get her not to focus on the Star.

  “Thank you for the food,” he said. “Your name?”

  Her flames subdued a bit, almost in respect, as if addressing an elder. “I am Zashkra, a lowly zal’ashralok here. It’s my job to serve the guests.”

  “Zal’ashralok?”

  “Acolyte of the Goddess,” Zashkra explained. She lowered her face. “Enjoy your meal. If you need anything, only ask.”

  She withdrew from the chamber. Justin waited until she was gone and made sure they were alone before letting out a breath.

  “I didn’t even notice the Star was showing,” he said. “It’s because I was lying down here.”

  “She may not recognize its significance,” Lila said. “To her, he may as well be a colorful piece of jewelry.”

  “Maybe,” Justin said doubtfully. “I’d rather not take chances, though.”

  He would have to be more careful in the future.

  “If it’s glowing, that means we’re close to a gate again,” Eldrin mused. “In the volcano, most likely.”

  “Another World Gate, or something local to this world?” Justin asked.

  “Hard to say. We might ask Emberlyn tomorrow.”

  It was a good idea. The more information they had, the better.

  They ate, and as Justin suspected, the food was much more tolerable today. Eldrin and Lila each took turns in the bath in the central pool. There was no privacy. If this place was built for elves, maybe the communal nature was a part of their culture. Justin, for his part, simply used his Ring of Hygiene.

  Justin recharged Atlas, and the construct resumed its usual position of keeping guard. As Justin fell asleep, he could only wonder what tomorrow, and this Karedos place, would bring.