Gustav set off at mid-morning, following Torvin's tip toward Silverveil Falls—a cascading cascade tucked deep in the eastern woods, said to harbor moonveil algae, a rare aquatic plant that absorbed lunar aura from the mist and glowed with a soft, cerulean light. The aura compass around his neck pulsed steadily, its brass face warming as he cut through dense stands of ironwood trees, their bark rough and cool beneath his fingertips. The air grew thick with moisture as he neared the falls, carrying the scent of wet stone, pine, and something faintly sweet—an indication that the algae was nearby.
As he emerged from the treeline, Silverveil Falls came into view: a curtain of water tumbling fifty feet into a crystal-clear pool, surrounded by moss-covered boulders and twisted willows. The mist rising from the pool caught the sunlight, creating tiny rainbows that danced across the surface. The compass pulsed brighter, guiding him to a narrow crevice in the rock face where the moonveil algae clung—thin, thread-like strands that swayed with the current, their blue glow intensifying in the shade. Torvin had warned him that harvesting the algae required precise aura control: too much pressure would snap the strands, and too little would leave them rooted to the rock, stripped of their energy.
Gustav knelt at the pool's edge, rolling up his sleeves and channeling his Gastronomic Aura into a fine, gentle stream. He extended his hand, letting the aura wrap around each strand of algae like a silken net, carefully loosening them from the rock. As he pulled the first handful free, a splash echoed from the pool—a water wraith lizard, its scales shimmering like wet obsidian, emerged from the depths, its red eyes fixed on him. The creature was known to guard the algae, attacking anyone who disturbed its habitat. Gustav remained calm, crushing a small piece of moonveil algae and offering it to the lizard. The algae's cool aura soothed the beast, and it sniffed the offering before retreating to the pool, allowing him to continue harvesting.
He filled two moisture-sealed pouches with moonveil algae, admiring their blue glow against the dark cloth. Just as he fastened the last pouch, voices echoed through the trees: Rook, the scarred leader of the Black Spoon Syndicate, emerged with four armed men. "You thought you could escape us forever," Rook growled, brandishing a sharpened iron rod. "That algae's worth a fortune on the black market—hand it over, or you'll regret it." Gustav stood his ground, activating an aura barrier around his pouches. He tossed a handful of moonveil algae mixed with crushed glow moss into the air; the combination reacted with the mist, creating a blinding blue haze that obscured the syndicate members' vision.
Suddenly, Kael appeared from behind a willow tree, tossing a rope that tangled around Rook's legs, sending him sprawling. "Told you I'd keep an eye on their movements," Kael said, grinning as he knocked aside a man's blade. Together, they drove the syndicate members back into the woods—Rook swore revenge as he fled, but Gustav knew they had bought themselves time. After Kael vanished into the undergrowth, Gustav waded back to the pool, harvesting a few more strands of algae before heading toward the city.
He arrived at the Outer Market as the afternoon sun began to dip, finding Mara tending her stall amid stacks of crystal garlic and ironpetal herbs. "Moonveil algae!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening as he laid the glowing strands on the counter. "Healers will pay double for this—its aura helps with nerve regeneration. I'll trade you these aura-harvesting tongs—they're forged from black iron wood and infused with a faint aura to make delicate harvesting easier." She handed him a pair of sleek, dark tongs, and Gustav thanked her, tucking them into his pouch alongside the compass.
Next, he headed to Torvin's gourmet workshop, where a group of chefs awaited his arrival. Torvin had advertised a class on aura-infused aquatic dishes, and the room was filled with the scent of simmering broth and fresh herbs. "Today, we'll make moonveil algae soup with starblossom cream and skyroot shavings," Gustav announced, laying out his ingredients. He demonstrated how to channel Gastronomic Aura into the soup as it simmered, weaving the energy of the algae, starblossom, and skyroot into a harmonious blend. The soup glowed with a soft blue light, its aroma a mix of cool stone, honeyed earth, and sweet starlight. As the chefs tasted it, they gasped—each spoonful enhanced their aura perception, making the room's energy signatures clearer than ever.
Gustav spent the rest of the afternoon guiding the chefs through the process, answering questions about aura control and ingredient pairing. By the time the workshop ended, the chefs had mastered the dish, and Torvin presented him with a leather-bound book of ancient gourmet recipes, filled with notes on rare ingredients from across the continent. "This will help you plan your future hunts," Torvin said, clapping him on the shoulder.
That evening, back at his shelter, Gustav updated his training log: "Today: traveled to Silverveil Falls, harvested moonveil algae, calmed a water wraith lizard, fended off Black Spoon retaliation with Kael's backup, traded for aura-harvesting tongs, and taught aura-infused soup making at Torvin's workshop. Aura precision and aquatic ingredient handling are advancing rapidly. Two and a half years until the Hunter Exam—Torvin mentioned a nearby Shadowgill Cave where glow-in-the-dark mushrooms grow; planning to explore it next."
He ran his fingers over the ancient recipe book, then glanced at the aura compass, which glowed faintly toward the north—the direction of Shadowgill Cave. He imagined the dark tunnels, the shimmering mushrooms, and the new challenges that awaited, already mapping out his journey in his mind.