Gustav departed one week later, his cold-resistant gear—crafted from treated seal hide and ironwood fibers—shielding him from the biting wind as he headed north toward the Frostpeak Highlands. The aura-boosting amulet around his neck glowed with a steady cool light, helping him regulate his body temperature in the snow-covered landscape where the air carried the scent of pine, ice, and a faint, crisp sweetness. The aura compass pulsed with a bright blue glow, guiding him toward Glacier's Breath Valley—a high-altitude basin marked on Torvin's map, where blizzard leaf and ice crystal fruit—his targets—grew in pockets protected from the worst of the wind.
The journey took him through winding mountain passes and over frozen rivers, with snow falling in thick flakes that blanketed the ground in a pristine white layer. Torvin's highlands lore notes described blizzard leaf as a narrow, silver-green plant that grew on icy ledges, its leaves infused with cold aura and tasting of fresh snow and pine. Ice crystal fruit, meanwhile, hung from low-lying shrubs in sheltered groves, their skins clear as glass and filled with liquid that glowed like captured moonlight—their energy balancing fire-infused ingredients and boosting focus in harsh conditions. Harvesting both required careful aura control: blizzard leaf would shatter if touched by warm hands, while ice crystal fruit would melt unless stored in a cold-aura container.
Gustav navigated carefully, using his aura to sense stable ice and avoid hidden crevasses. The compass led him to a grove of frost pine trees, where the wind was blocked by surrounding peaks and the air felt slightly warmer. There, he spotted blizzard leaves clinging to the trees' icy trunks, their silver edges catching the faint sunlight, and ice crystal fruit hanging from shrubs at the grove's center—each fruit glowing with soft blue light. He pulled out his aura-harvesting tongs, now fitted with cold-aura tips carved from glacier ice, and channeled his Gastronomic Aura into a cooling field around his hands before approaching the plants.
As he began to pluck the blizzard leaves, a low snort echoed from the treeline—a snowmane stag, its coat white as fresh snow and its antlers coated in ice, emerged from behind a frost pine. The creature was a guardian of the highlands' cold-aura ingredients, attacking anyone who took more than their share or disturbed the fragile ecosystem. Gustav remained calm, mixing a small amount of lava berry paste (for warm balance) and tidepool pearl dust (for lunar harmony) into a ball, tossing it near the stag. The beast approached slowly, sniffing the blend before nudging his hand gently, signaling that he could continue.
He harvested a bundle of blizzard leaves and a dozen ice crystal fruits, placing them into a cold-sealed pouch connected to his aura cooler. Just as he finished, the wind picked up sharply, and a figure in dark, insulated clothing emerged from the snow—Kaine, the rogue Hunter Zara had mentioned, flanked by Rook and twenty Black Spoon members. Kaine's eyes glowed with faint purple light, his Nen ability clearly active as he scanned the grove.
"So this is where you've been hiding," Kaine said, his voice carrying over the wind. "I've been tracking your aura for weeks. The blizzard leaf and ice crystal fruit will let us create potions that enhance Nen control—once we have them, our syndicate will dominate every Hunter Exam in the region." He raised his hand, and a wave of aura-suppressing energy washed over the grove, causing the blizzard leaves to wilt slightly and the ice crystal fruits to dim.
Gustav activated his aura barrier, using the amulet's energy to strengthen it against Kaine's ability. Just as the syndicate members moved to attack, Lena, Zara, and Finn emerged from hidden positions around the grove—Lena carried a bundle of blizzard grass that released a cold mist to counter Kaine's aura suppression, Zara used her lava staff to create warm pockets in the snow that slowed the attackers, and Finn tossed nets woven from frost pine fibers that were resistant to cold.
"We told you we'd protect these lands," Lena shouted, as she tripped two Black Spoon members with her grass bundles. Kael appeared moments later, having followed the group from the city, and tackled Rook before he could reach the ingredient pouches. "You really need to stop underestimating us," Kael grinned, as he disarmed Rook and pushed him into a snowdrift.
Kaine, realizing his men were outmatched, activated a Nen ability that created a thick wall of snow to cover his retreat. "This isn't the end," he shouted as he fled with Rook and the remaining syndicate members. "We'll be waiting for you at the Hunter Exam—we'll take your license and everything you've worked for!"
After ensuring the grove was safe, the alliance gathered to discuss their next steps. "Kaine's planning to enter the Hunter Exam too," Finn said, brushing snow from his coat. "He'll use his Nen to cheat and eliminate anyone who stands in his way." Zara added, "The Exam is two years away now—we need to make sure you're prepared not just as a forager, but as a Hunter." Lena pulled out a small leather pouch, handing it to Gustav. "These are highland aura seeds—they grow into plants that boost endurance in cold climates. Plant them near your shelter, and they'll help you train for the Exam's harsh stages."
Gustav thanked them, harvesting a few more blizzard leaves and ice crystal fruits before the group parted ways—Lena heading back to the Eastern Wilds, Zara to the volcanic coves, Finn to the coast, and Kael to the city to gather intel on Kaine's plans. Gustav continued his journey through the highlands, exploring a nearby glacier where he found ice moss—a thin, green plant that added a subtle, cool flavor to dishes—before heading back to the city as the sun began to set.
He arrived at the Outer Market to find Mara speaking with a group of aspiring Hunter candidates, who were looking for ingredients to prepare for the Exam's physical and mental challenges. "Blizzard leaf! Ice crystal fruit!" one candidate exclaimed, her eyes wide as she examined his harvest. "These are exactly what we need to stay focused and balanced during the trials." Mara traded him a cold-aura training suit—lightweight and insulated, designed to help users build resistance to harsh climates. "This will help you train for the Exam's mountain stages," she said, and Gustav thanked her, tucking the suit into his gear.
Next, he went to Elara's clinic, where she was speaking with a veteran Hunter named Bren—the same man who'd written the field guide Gustav had used when he first arrived in Yorknew. "I've been hearing about your work protecting the region's ingredients," Bren said, shaking Gustav's hand. "You have the skill and integrity to be a great Hunter. Take this Hunter Exam preparation manual—it details the stages, rules, and common challenges you'll face." He handed over a worn leather book filled with notes and maps, and Gustav felt a surge of determination—his goal of becoming a Gourmet Hunter was finally within reach.
He then made his way to Torvin's workshop, where a crowd of Hunter candidates, chefs, and Nen users had gathered for a class focused on balanced hot-cold cuisine. "Today, we'll make ice crystal fruit tart with blizzard leaf cream and magma root crust," Gustav announced, laying out his ingredients. He explained that the ice crystal fruit's cold aura would boost focus, while the blizzard leaf cream added clarity and the magma root crust provided warm stability—creating a dish that balanced opposing energies perfectly. He demonstrated how to channel his Gastronomic Aura into the tart as it baked, weaving cold and fire energy to create a dish that glowed with both blue and orange light.
As the attendees tasted it, a Hunter candidate named Rina said, "I can feel my mind clearing—this would help me stay sharp during the Exam's puzzle stages." A Nen user added, "The balance of energies is incredible—it feels like it's strengthening my ability to control my own aura." Gustav spent the rest of the evening guiding them through each step, from preparing the ice crystal fruit to infusing the cream with blizzard leaf energy, answering questions about how to adapt the recipe for different climates and challenges.
By the time the workshop ended, Torvin presented him with a set of aura-infused cooking tools—knives, pans, and mixing bowls crafted from materials that enhanced ingredient energy. "These will help you create even more powerful dishes as you train for the Exam," he said, clapping Gustav on the shoulder. "The next two years will be tough, but you're ready to take on the challenge."
Back at his shelter, Gustav spread out the Hunter Exam manual and highlands map, updating his training log: "Today: explored Frostpeak Highlands, harvested blizzard leaf, ice crystal fruit, and ice moss, gained the trust of a snowmane stag, fended off Black Spoon and rogue Hunter Kaine's ambush with the alliance's help, learned Kaine plans to enter the Hunter Exam, traded for a cold-aura training suit, received a preparation manual from veteran Hunter Bren, and taught balanced hot-cold cuisine at Torvin's workshop. Cold aura manipulation and Nen resistance skills have advanced greatly. Two years until the Hunter Exam—planning to begin formal training in combat, Nen control, and Exam strategies, while continuing to harvest rare ingredients to prepare for the trials."
He held the Hunter Exam manual in his hand, tracing his finger over the map of the Exam grounds, then glanced at the aura compass, which glowed with a steady white light—signaling balance between all types of energy. He imagined the challenges ahead, the friends and foes he'd meet, and the day he'd finally earn his Hunter License as a Gourmet Hunter, already planning his training schedule for the years to come.