Chapter 20: Growth Boost!
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Yet growth had slowed. The ember pellets were not enough. Fenna unrolled a yellowed page she had found in the academy's sealed herb records.
"Fireheart moss," she whispered, tapping a charcoal diagram of a red veined plant. "Said to fuse with iron minerals and push reptile blood to burn hotter."
Zephyr traced the sketch. "Where do we get it?"
"Old smelter tunnels," Fenna replied. "Beyond the cliff face foundry, past the southern ravine. They closed that wing years ago. The moss only grows near warm ore pockets."
Zephyr looked at Star. The little dragon lapped water from a carved shell bowl, unaware of the danger outside.
He folded the map. "We go out tonight."
After curfew bell, they crept from the cellar. Zephyr wore his mud stained caretaker coat. Fenna donned a dark healer's cloak scented with mint to hide their tracks. Star curled in the sling, disguised under spare bandages.
At the old laundry block a forgotten chute led to the foundry ash pits. Grent had whispered of it earlier that day, slipping Zephyr a rust picked key with a grunt and no questions.
They unlocked the hatch, slid down a metal slide, and landed on heaps of cold ash. Black dust rose around them, coating hair and skin.
Zephyr coughed. "Stay low. Scouts on the wall might see sparks."