Gustav set out two days later, timing his journey to coincide with the full moon's high tide—when tidepool pearls, his target, would be most accessible in the coastal shallows. The aura-boosting amulet Elara had traded him hung around his neck, its warm glow steady against his skin as he traveled south through rolling hills that gave way to sandy beaches and jagged cliffs. The aura compass pulsed with a soft blue-white light, guiding him toward Coral Tide Cove—a sheltered inlet marked on Torvin's coastal map, where giant aura-clams grew in tidal pools, their shells holding pearls infused with ocean and lunar energy.
The air carried the sharp scent of salt and seaweed, mixed with a faint, briny sweetness that signaled the presence of the pearls. As he reached the cove, waves crashed against the rocks, sending sprays of water into the air that caught the morning sun like scattered diamonds. The high tide had just begun to recede, revealing a network of shallow pools between the rocks, where the aura-clams lay half-buried in sand and coral. Torvin's map noted that the pearls formed when the clams absorbed lunar aura during full moons, their surfaces glowing with a pearlescent sheen and their energy boosting long-term stamina and aura stability.
Harvesting the pearls required patience and precision—prying open the clams without damaging their delicate mantles would preserve the pearls' full potency, while rough handling would leave them dull and lifeless. Gustav pulled out his aura-harvesting tongs, now fitted with soft coral tips to avoid scratching the shells, and waded carefully into the warm shallows. He channeled his Gastronomic Aura into a gentle, soothing stream, letting it flow over the clams to calm them before he began working.
As he pried open the first clam, a flash of blue-white light caught his eye—a perfect tidepool pearl, about the size of a marble, resting in the clam's mantle. He carefully lifted it with the tongs and placed it into a padded, water-resistant pouch connected to his portable aura cooler. Just as he moved to the next clam, a low growl echoed from the deeper water—a tidepool guardian seal, its fur silver and sleek, its eyes glowing with the same pearlescent light as the pearls. The creature was known to protect the aura-clams, attacking anyone who took more than their share or harmed the shells.
Gustav paused, mixing a small amount of aura-nut paste (for earthy balance) and swampglow berry juice (for sweetness) into a ball, tossing it into the water near the seal. The creature approached slowly, sniffing the blend before nudging his hand gently, signaling that he could continue. He harvested six more pearls before noticing a large boat anchored just outside the cove—Black Spoon flags fluttered from its mast, and Rook stood at the bow with a team of men carrying large dredging nets.
"Thought you'd hide out here," Rook shouted, gesturing for his men to lower the nets into the tidepools. "We'll dredge every clam in this cove—once we have all the pearls, we'll control the stamina-boosting ingredient market across the region." Gustav felt his aura flare with frustration as he watched the nets scrape against the rocks, threatening to crush the clams and destroy the pearls.
Just as the men waded into the cove, a small fishing boat sped around the cliff, its captain—a weathered man with gray hair and calloused hands—shouting, "Get away from those pools!" The captain, who introduced himself as Finn, tossed a handful of coastal stingweed into the water; the plant released a sticky sap that tangled the dredging nets, slowing the syndicate members down. Kael emerged from behind a rock, having followed Gustav from the city, and tossed a rope that wrapped around the boat's anchor rope, pulling it loose and sending the vessel drifting slightly.
"Looks like you've got more friends than we thought," Kael grinned, as he helped Finn untangle the nets from the rocks. Gustav activated an aura barrier around the remaining tidepools, using his Gastronomic Aura to shield the clams while Finn used a long pole to push the Black Spoon boat toward the open sea. Rook roared in fury, but the incoming tide made it too dangerous to stay—he ordered his men to pull back, vowing, "We'll find another way to take what's ours—you can't guard every corner of this land!"
After the syndicate boat disappeared into the distance, Finn shook Gustav's hand. "I've been protecting these pools for twenty years—those pearls keep our coastal communities healthy. In return for saving them, take this tidal chart—it marks every spot where rare coastal ingredients grow, including fireweed in the nearby volcanic coves." He handed over a worn leather chart, and Gustav thanked him, noting the new locations on his map.
Kael added, "I heard rumors that Black Spoon is working with a rogue Hunter who can sense aura—they're using him to track every rare ingredient site in the area. We'll need to be more careful from now on." The three parted ways—Finn heading back to his village, Kael to the Rusty Spoon to gather more info, and Gustav to the city as the tide began to rise again.
He arrived at the Outer Market as evening fell, finding Mara speaking with a group of traveling merchants who specialized in stamina-enhancing goods. "Tidepool pearls!" one merchant exclaimed, his eyes wide as he examined the glowing gems. "These will sell for a fortune to hunters and warriors preparing for long expeditions." Mara traded him a coastal exploration pack—including waterproof clothing, a tide gauge, and a pouch made from seal hide to keep pearls safe. "This will help you on your next trip to the volcanic coves," she said, and Gustav thanked her, tucking the pack into his gear.
Next, he went to Torvin's workshop, where chefs and expedition leaders had gathered for a special class focused on long-journey cuisine. "Today, we'll make tidepool pearl and aura-nut stew with coastal fireweed greens," Gustav announced, laying out his ingredients. He explained that the pearls' ocean-lunar energy would boost stamina, while the aura-nuts added earthy stability and the fireweed (which he'd harvested during a quick detour to the volcanic coves) provided a mild, warming kick to balance the dish's coolness.
He demonstrated how to channel his Gastronomic Aura into the stew as it simmered, weaving the ocean's energy with the tree's ancient power to create a dish that glowed with soft blue-white light. The aroma was a mix of brine, nuts, and smoky greens—inviting and grounding. As the attendees tasted it, an expedition leader named Sara said, "This would keep my team going for weeks on the road—we'd never have to stop for rest breaks as often." Gustav spent the rest of the evening guiding them through each step, from extracting the pearls to balancing the flavors with fireweed, answering questions about how to store the dish for long journeys.
By the time the workshop ended, Torvin presented him with a book of volcanic ingredient lore, filled with notes on fire-infused plants, minerals, and creatures that thrived in the nearby volcanic regions. "The fireweed you harvested is just the start—there are even rarer ingredients there that can boost aura strength," he said, clapping Gustav on the shoulder.
Back at his shelter, Gustav spread out the tidal chart and volcanic lore book, updating his training log: "Today: traveled to Coral Tide Cove, harvested tidepool pearls, gained the trust of a tidepool guardian seal, stopped Black Spoon from dredging the pools with Finn and Kael's aid, traded for a coastal exploration pack, and taught stamina-boosting expedition cuisine at Torvin's workshop. Ocean aura manipulation and large-scale defense tactics have improved greatly. Two and a half years until the Hunter Exam—planning to explore the volcanic coves next for fire-infused ingredients like magma root and ashpetal flowers."
He held the volcanic lore book in his hand, tracing his finger over a map of the coves, then glanced at the aura compass, which glowed faintly with a warm orange light toward the southwest—the direction of the volcanoes. He imagined the smoking peaks, glowing plants, and new creatures that awaited, already packing his heat-resistant gear for the journey.