As you run, the air changes. It feels muggier, hotter, as you move deeper through the tower.

It is like a large foundry, lava pouring from its furnace, taking up almost the entire next room. It pools in a circle carved in the floor, again covered by glass, but still — the heat from the exposed lava up above hits you like a fiery wall. On a small platform, you see a curious oval object glowing bright against the blue of the lava.

The girl appears beside Talik. "Step forward, hero, and claim the artifact." Haden, only somewhat mockingly said. "What did she do?" The girl seemed impervious to the egotistic question and bade Talik (who you knew was getting the reward because she turned on the last tower, 'mages forever!') forward to the platform. 

Talik stepped reluctantly toward the platform. Even she, a Fire Mage, raises her arms to her masked face to protect herself from the scorching heat emanating from the furnace. "Maybe the mask is a useful tool," you thought as you watched her get closer. She snatches the artifact and backs away, intermittently blinking as tears stream from the super heated air that filled her eyes.

The girl approaches, extending her hand to the artifact. "So much has changed. So much time has passed since we needed to reckon the heart of the city."

She steps away, her expression darkening. "The elements are not in balance, someone is pulling power out of the system. This island needs your help. Please, take the artifact to the city. Seek the strongest of the Mages, and bind their powers with earth. Only then will the path open."

When you press her for answers, the girl only beckons. "This way," she says, and vanishes.

Define the following words from the text in the Thy Quests section below.

foundry

exposed

artifact

intermittently

reckon

Next: E3Q1 Down the River