Venture through the fiery hellscape.

As you continue through narrow pathways between smouldering stones, you wonder in hindsight if it would have been wise to bring Yin along with you. This might even resemble the world she comes from. Though on the other hand, there's the entire second half of the island to explore, where Shivra would have been the better choice. Perhaps neither would have done well here, as they'd always suffer on the opposite side. The attention of your eyes is stolen as you ponder silently, by the silhouette of a great vessel sailing past the sun overhead. By the looks of things, there's a port for airships somewhere upon Thunderbeard's floating base.

"This land has been changed so much by ancient magic," Eva comments quietly. Then suddenly, flames erupt from atop a cliff face. She jumps in panic, gasps in fear, and grabs your arm tight in search of safety. After her heart settles down, she looks up to you and smiles nervously. "Sorry. That one got me."

"You're smoother than usual. Slippery even," you say.

"Dixby's potion sure is a weird one." She releases you from her grasp and stares down at her shiny brass hands. "The heat isn't effecting me anymore, but I still feel kind of warm? I can't explain it. But the heat doesn't burn my skin."

Amara flexes her fingers, passing her silver staff back and forth between her hands. "Even my focus is becoming too hot to hold. I am not sure what to do."

"And I'm going to be honest," Fava admits. "I think I'm starting to cook inside my own body, as weird as that sounds." She tugs on the collar of her top, though it does nothing to prevent the true source of her pain. The interior is likely turning into an oven.

Vyzia looks to them. She readjusts the strap of her massive pack, and then reaches out to take hold of Amara's staff. She plucks it from her hand, and hangs it over her right shoulder bunched up against her magic spear. Then she looks to Fava, and after pondering a moment, she hoists her entire body over the opposite shoulder. She does all this without speaking a word, and then continues marching forwards.

"Ah. Thank you," Amara says with a polite bow of her head.

Meanwhile, the back door of Fava's body swings open, and the tiny pixie comes fluttering out. Her entire body is drenched with sweat--hair and dress clinging to her skin. She flutters back over to the rest of the party until she drops down lazily onto your head. "That's better," she whispers.

Dixby undoes her overalls, allowing the suspender straps to fall loose. She takes the bottom of her shirt, and fans herself to the best of her ability. "It's still hotter than I expected," she mutters. "If anyone needs anything, I have two more potions that may or may not help with the heat."

"I think Lalarin might need it most," Eva says.

"I'm fine over here. I mean, I'll survive," says Captain Silver, yanking at her blouse enough to where it may bring her a malfunction. It doesn't seem like she cares. "What about you, Xue?"

He shakes his head.

Though she hasn't said a word, Rabbit's Foot has been lagging behind. When all eyes turn back to her, she blushes lightly with embarrassment. She's been trying to hold strong, though clearly she's cooking within her suit. She tugs on the window between her cleavage, snapping it tight back against her skin. "I'm uh... Well, all right. I admit. The spandex is killing me a little. But I can make it."

"Here. Take it," Dixby offers with a vial in her hand.

"All right. If you insist. I suppose I won't be at my best as a hero if I become a steam cooked rabbit." Then after a quick swig, she returns the empty glass back to Dixby. She takes a deep breath, and then the realization hits. If something strange happened to Eva, and it's a potion made by such a mischievous gnome, what's going to happen to her? She starts looking all over her body, expecting her skin to turn brass as well, or maybe even purple or green. Though enough time passes where she grows confused, as nothing is happening at all.

"Are you all right?" the gnome asks.

"I was waiting for some sort of side effect."

"Oh no. The remaining two are just straight up heat resistance potions. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Then why did you say it may not help?!"

"Results can vary sometimes. I'm just cautious."

"You're anything but..."

Eva turns and plants her hands on her hips. "Wait a minute. If you knew what those two were, why did you give me the one strange one?"

Dixby chuckles. "Well, yours was the stronger one, so doesn't that make you more special?"

"Does anybody need the last one?" you ask. "If you're overheating at all, take it. I don't want any of you passing out because you wanted to act tough."

Niki glances back from the front of the line. "Probably Dixby herself, right?"

"She has a point," Amara says. "I believe she is the one who is currently acting tough. We have two dragons, two sunhearts, and it seems to be that the others are doing as well as they can. Dixby, you form is small, and I can tell that the temperature is effecting you most. Take the last one."

Stax nods. "Yeah. My tits are like a waterfall right now, but I've had worse. I'll grab some water from Vyzia's bag there, and after that, I'll be good as new. As for you, you're a gnome. Not made for the wilderness like a goblin."

"And I drank a whole cask of water back on the ship!" Bek shouts. "If I keep sweating like this, I won't have to take a piss, so it all works out."

Lynx glances over. "I don't think that's--"

Snow brings a finger to her lips. Her ears twitch. "We are being too noisy," she says as she slowly notches an arrow to her bow. "I fear something is nearby."

You look to the gnome. "Dix. Drink the potion quick, and then stay behind us."