Gustav woke to the soft glow of the aura compass on his mat, its brass face humming faintly toward the northeast. He grinned—this was his first chance to put the tool to the test. After his usual ten-mile run and knife practice, he packed his pouch with void leaf, glow moss, and crystal garlic, slung the compass around his neck, and headed toward the Mist Valley—a fog-shrouded region Bren's guide described as home to the elusive mist blossom, a delicate white flower that absorbed aura from morning mists, tasting of rain and starlight.
The valley was wrapped in thick, cool fog, and the compass pulsed brighter with each step, guiding him toward a cluster of ancient cherry trees. As he pushed through the undergrowth, he felt the aura in the air thicken—damp, gentle, and alive with the presence of the blossoms. Peering through the mist, he spotted them: small, bell-shaped flowers hanging from the branches, their petals glowing with a faint silver light.
Harvesting mist blossoms required patience—they wilted quickly when exposed to direct sunlight or strong aura. Gustav channeled a thin, steady stream of Gastronomic Aura to cradle each blossom, plucking them one by one and tucking them into a moisture-sealed cloth pouch. Just as he finished, he heard voices echoing through the mist: two men in dark uniforms, their badges marked with a twisted fork and knife—the symbol of the Black Spoon Syndicate, a group that stole rare ingredients for the black market.
"Looks like a kid's been harvesting mist blossoms," one man sneered. "Hand 'em over, and we'll let you go."
Gustav stayed calm, activating his aura barrier to shield his pouch. "These are mine to trade—you'll have to take them from me." He tossed a handful of crushed glow moss into the air; its aura reacted with the mist, creating a blinding flash of green light. As the men stumbled back, he slipped away into the fog, using the compass to navigate toward higher ground.
When he emerged from the valley, the fog had lifted, and he headed to the Outer Market to find Mara. He laid the mist blossoms on her stall, and her eyes lit up. "Mist blossom! Perfect for healing teas and delicate sauces. The healers at the city clinic will pay handsomely for these." She handed him a small vial of aura-infused oil—used to preserve rare ingredients—and said, "Kael stopped by earlier. He said the Black Spoon is scouting more foragers—be careful."
Gustav thanked her and wandered to the Rusty Spoon tavern, where he found Kael leaning against the bar. "Heard you outran two Black Spoon goons," Kael said, sliding him a cup of wild grain ale. "They're looking for anyone with access to high-aura ingredients. I've got info: they're planning to raid a shipment of aura root next week."
Gustav nodded, filing the warning away. "I'll keep an eye out. Thanks." He left the tavern and returned to his shelter, where he prepared a dish of mist blossom tea with moonpetal mushrooms and glow moss. As he steeped the ingredients, he channeled his aura to enhance their healing properties—the tea glowed silver, its aroma light and uplifting. Sipping it, he felt his aura grow sharper, his senses more attuned.
That evening, he updated his training log: "Today: used aura compass to find Mist Valley, harvested mist blossoms, outwitted Black Spoon scouts, acquired aura-preserving oil, and learned of an upcoming raid. Aura control and stealth are improving. Two and a half years until the Hunter Exam—staying vigilant."
Curling up on his mat, the compass glowing softly beside him, he wondered what new dangers and hidden ingredients the region held. For now, his focus remained on mastering his skills, evading syndicates, and uncovering the valley's next secret.