The hill wasn't very high, perhaps three hundred feet. It was barren, devoid of any greenery, and riddled with strange, jagged rocks. They jutted from the ground like countless giant swords plunged into the earth, making the distant peak resemble a massive graveyard of blades. At the summit, a cave glowed, the light from within flickering like fire.
"A volcano?" Ethan paused, surprised. Damn, what a wasted trip. But since he was already here, he couldn't just turn back empty-handed. He decided to get closer and investigate.
As he approached, a suffocating heat wave rolled over him, so intense it felt as if the air itself might catch fire. From the foot of the hill, he could see flames licking the cave walls. A sharp, burnt smell reached his nose, and he instinctively turned to look at Little Empty, still perched on his shoulder. The monkey was covering its nose with a tiny hand, eyes wide. Ethan reached up to touch his own head and winced.
