You climb the stones to the top and emerge onto a platform. It's small compared to the sheer immensity of the lake around you. Lava churns in the water, steam rising from the surface, and Haden instinctively activates her shield to ward off some of the heat.

"What is this place?" you ask, and a heavy crash answers you. The stones that brought you here fall into the room below, and the opening seals itself, cutting off your exit. "Not sure," says Maeka, "but someone has gone to a lot of trouble to keep mages away." 

"And healers," adds Alster raising an eyebrow. 

You can no longer hear the wind, but the whistling persists. Only it's different now. Deeper. Luminous patterns ripple across the waves to the unsettling tune.

"There's something there." Alster creeps to the edge of the platform. "In the water."

"We're in the core of the Mount Prata range," Maeka says. "I can sense it. We're below the volcano Mt. Zaeka. All the elements are present here."

You shiver despite the heat. Beside you, Drue shifts nervously, resting a hand on his griffin's back. Is he thinking about it, too? The mountain's power — the island's ancient protector?

The whistling intensifies, becoming a bellow that shakes the mountain. A dark shadow under the waves thrashes against the walls. Rocks crumble and plunge into the lake, and water and blue lava spray upward. You huddle close to the Guardians' shields, inching toward the middle of the platform.

"Anyone fancy a swim?" Haden asks jokingly and she gets a few smiles which help everyone relax a little. 

Go to https://littlealchemy.com/ and keep adding elements until you have made a volcano and a mountain. Add a screenshot of the volcano and mountain to Thy Quests to move on.

Next: E4Q3 Protector of Karaz Island