The gift of ash

[Nephrite]

Well, for now he will continue on!

[Anastasia]

Another path. This path ends in a waterfall of platinum, barring the way ahead unless you feel like rushing through a cascade of the stuff. It gathers in a deep pool to the sides, where little rivers along the walls cause it to flow down and ahead.

[Nephrite]

"The few times we've looked for secret passages behind waterfalls there's never been anything." Moore says. "But I wonder if we're supposed to forge ahead or just go up. It's not exactly difficult to pass through the platinum for us, though."

[Anastasia]

"There's a first time for everything," Kaja declares, going right through the platinum. "Here!"

[Nephrite]

Moore follows him through!

[Anastasia]

A cavern lies beyond the waterfall, with stairs going down.

[Nephrite]

"How inviting." Moore says as he proceeds on and downwards!

[Anastasia]

"...wait." Cresiel says, "Is it ever the right choice to descend when the point is to ascend the Holy Mountain?"

[Nephrite]

"Hm." Moore stops and turns around. "...No, I suppose we have been going up this whole time, haven't we?"

[Anastasia]

"The truth of Celestia is never hidden," Cresiel goes on, "It doesn't hide in the shadows, it doesn't cower from being found." Cresiel strides out, a gesture sending the platinum away from him, not daring to touch his flesh. "It always goes higher and always goes forward."

[Nephrite]

"Well that's not -exactly- true..." Moore says as he flies out and starts to go up the waterfall. "There's a lot of things I found inside the mountain and had to go down to find."

[Anastasia]

Cresiel merely flies up while Kaja chuckles. "Is there any point arguing with such pretty words, though?"

[Nephrite]

"The correct response is, 'As always, Moore, you're an exception to many rules.'" He says with a grin as he flies along.

[Anastasia]

Up you fly. Up the river of lava, to a platform aside it. On this is a stairway going up. Cresiel goes up it and onward.

As you do, you can smell smoke.

[Nephrite]

Moore wrinkles his nose as he goes along.