Gustav set out at midday, the aura compass guiding him north toward Shadowgill Cave—a vast underground network Torvin had described, where shadowgill caps—glow-in-the-dark mushrooms infused with shadow aura—thrived in the depths. The journey took him through twisted ironwood forests and over rocky ravines, the air growing cooler and darker as he approached the cave mouth. The compass pulsed with increasing intensity, its brass face glowing faintly as it locked onto the high aura concentration within the tunnels.
As he stepped into the cave, he pulled out his black iron wood torch, reinforced with starfall grass to burn longer and brighter. The tunnel narrowed quickly, twisting downward into a maze of passageways lined with damp stone and mineral deposits. The scent of earth and decay filled his nostrils, mixed with a faint, sweet aroma that signaled the presence of shadowgill caps. Using his new aura-harvesting tongs—forged from black iron wood and infused with gentle aura—he navigated carefully, his Gastronomic Aura flowing outward to sense hidden drops and unstable rock formations.
After nearly an hour of walking, he entered a large, circular chamber bathed in soft, green light. The walls were covered in shadowgill caps—small, bell-shaped mushrooms with dark stems and glowing green caps, their aura humming with cool, calming energy. Torvin had warned that harvesting them required avoiding direct contact with their stems, which secreted a mild toxin that numbed the senses. Gustav used the tongs to grip the caps gently, channeling a thin stream of aura to neutralize the toxin before plucking them, placing each one in a padded, light-blocking pouch to preserve their glow.
As he filled his pouch, a low growl echoed from the shadows—a shadowmaw bat, its wings spanning three feet, its fur black as pitch and eyes glowing red. The creature guarded the mushroom beds, attacking anything that disturbed them. Gustav remained still, crushing a shadowgill cap and releasing its calming aura into the air. The bat circled overhead, then landed beside him, sniffing the crushed mushroom before settling on a nearby rock, allowing him to continue harvesting. He also spotted embercap mushrooms—rare, fiery-red fungi that grew alongside shadowgill caps, their aura hot and energizing, said to balance the coolness of the shadowgills in cooking. He harvested a handful of embercaps too, careful not to let their heat burn the tongs.
Just as he finished, the chamber shook with the sound of heavy footsteps. Rook emerged with six Black Spoon members, his scarred jaw clenched in fury. "You can't keep hiding," he snarled, swinging a heavy iron club. "Hand over the mushrooms, or we'll tear this cave apart." Gustav activated an aura barrier around his pouches, tossing a handful of shadowgill caps and glow moss into the air. The mixture exploded into a green haze that blinded the syndicate members, while the embercaps he tossed created small, warm flames that illuminated the chamber but did not burn. Kael leaped from behind a rock, knocking two men aside with a well-placed kick. "Looks like you're in need of a hand—again," he joked, as they fought back-to-back, driving the syndicate members toward the chamber's exit. Rook fled, vowing to destroy Gustav's supplies, but Gustav and Kael managed to push the rest of the men out before sealing the passage with a fallen boulder.
After Kael disappeared into the woods, Gustav made his way back through the cave, harvesting a few more shadowgill and embercap mushrooms before emerging into the afternoon sun. He headed to the Outer Market, where Mara was arranging a display of moonveil algae and mist blossoms. "Shadowgill caps! Embercaps!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Chefs will pay a fortune for this pair—they create the perfect flavor balance. I'll trade you a portable aura cooler—it keeps ingredients fresh by maintaining their natural aura for days." She handed him a small, brass device that hummed softly, and Gustav thanked her, tucking it into his pack alongside the compass and tongs.
Next, he went to Torvin's workshop, where a crowd of chefs awaited. "Today, we'll make shadowgill and embercap risotto with starfall grain," he announced, laying out his ingredients. He demonstrated how to channel Gastronomic Aura into the risotto as it cooked, weaving the cool energy of the shadowgills with the hot energy of the embercaps, and the celestial energy of the starfall grain. The dish glowed with a green-and-red light, its aroma a mix of earth, fire, and starlight. As the chefs tasted it, they felt their aura fluctuate between calm and energy, a unique balance that enhanced their focus. Gustav spent hours guiding them through the process, explaining how to adjust aura flow to achieve the perfect flavor harmony.
By the end of the workshop, Torvin presented him with a map of the Eastern Wilds, marking locations of rare ingredients like stormpetal flowers and aura-fanged fish. "This will help you expand your hunts," he said, clapping Gustav on the shoulder.
Back at his shelter, Gustav updated his training log: "Today: explored Shadowgill Cave, harvested shadowgill caps and embercap mushrooms, calmed a shadowmaw bat, fended off Black Spoon's largest ambush yet with Kael's help, traded for a portable aura cooler, and taught balanced aura cooking at Torvin's workshop. Aura manipulation and combat coordination have improved dramatically. Two and a half years until the Hunter Exam—planning to explore the Eastern Wilds for stormpetal flowers next."