Chapter 22
The Fire Stone
As they accepted the Guardian's challenge, the friends felt a surge of energy course through their veins. The air around them seemed to ignite, as if the very fabric of reality was burning with anticipation.
The Guardian's eyes flashed with approval. "Then let us begin. The Fire Stone, the first of the elemental stones, awaits you."
With a wave of her hand, the landscape shifted, revealing a path of molten lava that stretched into the heart of a nearby volcano. The friends felt the heat emanating from the path, the smell of sulfur and smoke filling their nostrils.
Aria stepped forward, her heart pounding with excitement. "I'll go first."
As she walked the path, the lava seemed to part for her, revealing a hidden chamber deep within the volcano's core. The friends followed, their senses overwhelmed by the intense heat and light.