The trio emerged from the portal with a sudden jolt, the cold of Frosthaven replaced by an overwhelming wave of heat. They found themselves standing on the edge of a vast, barren landscape where the ground shimmered with intense heat, and the sky above was a swirling mass of red and orange, as if the air itself were aflame."Welcome to the Burning Plains," Jack muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Not exactly a winter wonderland, is it?"Lily shielded her eyes from the harsh glare of the sun. "It's like we've stepped into a furnace. How are we supposed to find anything in this?"Alex scanned the horizon, his sharp eyes picking out details that were easily missed in the heat haze. "There," he said, pointing towards a distant range of jagged mountains. "That must be Mount Ignis. It's a long way off, but we have no choice."As they began their trek across the Burning Plains, the heat quickly took its toll. The air was so dry it felt like sandpaper against their throats, and the ground was so hot that even through their boots, they could feel it burning. But they pressed on, driven by the knowledge of what was at stake.Hours passed, and the landscape around them seemed to warp and shift, making it difficult to judge distance or direction. The heat played tricks on their minds, causing mirages to appear and disappear, tempting them with visions of cool oases that were never there."We need to find shelter," Lily said, her voice hoarse from the heat. "We can't keep going like this."But the plains offered little in the way of cover. The ground was cracked and scorched, with only the occasional twisted rock or withered tree to break the monotony.Just as they were about to lose hope, Alex spotted something up ahead—a dark shape that stood out against the fiery landscape. As they approached, they realized it was a cave, its entrance partially hidden by the crumbling rocks around it."Let's rest here," Jack suggested, already feeling the relief of stepping into the shade.They ducked into the cave, grateful for the respite from the relentless heat. The air inside was still warm, but it was cooler than outside, and the shade provided much-needed relief. They collapsed onto the rocky floor, breathing heavily.As they rested, Lily noticed something strange about the cave walls. They were lined with ancient carvings, symbols and figures that seemed to tell a story. She got up to examine them more closely, her fingers tracing the rough lines."These look like… instructions," Lily said, squinting at the symbols. "Maybe they're telling us how to reach the Emberstone."Jack joined her, studying the carvings. "It's a map," he realized. "A map of the mountain's interior. And these symbols… they must represent the trials we'll face. It's like a guide."Alex stood up, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "We need to memorize this. It might be our only chance to survive what's coming."They spent the next few minutes studying the carvings, committing every detail to memory. The trials depicted were daunting—flames that moved like living creatures, rivers of molten lava, and a final guardian that could only be defeated by someone who had truly mastered the power of fire."We can do this," Lily said, more to reassure herself than anything. "We've made it this far, and we'll get through this too."Jack nodded, though his expression was tense. "We have no choice. The fate of everything rests on us finding that Emberstone."With their spirits bolstered by the discovery, the trio left the cave and continued their journey toward Mount Ignis. The trials that awaited them would be unlike anything they had faced before, but they knew that together, they could overcome anything.As the mountain loomed closer, the air grew even hotter, and the ground beneath their feet rumbled with the distant roar of molten rock. The Emberstone was near, and with it, the next step in their quest to save their world.But unknown to them, they were being watched. Far above, a shadow moved across the face of the mountain, eyes gleaming with a fiery light. The guardian of Mount Ignis had sensed their presence, and it was ready.