Welcome back to The Violet Riddle. Last time, after following the beam, Spyro, Cynder, Ember, Flame, and Robert Langdon arrived at their destination, the unstable volcano Boyzitbig, apparently the location of the first Altar of the Elements. Langdon is obviously nervous about this being, you know, an incredibly unstable volcano, but none-the-less everyone presses on, thinking Mole-Yair will know where the marker for the Altar itself is. But they're not alone, as the "false one" has followed them. So, does Mole-Yair know anything, if he's even here? Read on to discover...
(Our tale resumes in what appears to be a mine of some sort, where our quintet is descending into the very earth in search of the answers)
Langdon: You didn't say this settlement was underground.
Cynder: We're dealing with a volcanic island, Professor Langdon, and a very unstable one at that. Surprisingly these old lava tubes are the safest place to be, as compared to, say, the surface.
Langdon: What if these fill with magma?
Spyro: If there was even a chance they would fill again, nobody would be living down here. The natives of this island are incredibly good at telling when a tunnel is safe to build in. They've apparently never mistakenly settled in an active lava tube.
Langdon: I can only hope you're right.
(As the group enters the center of the structure, a vibrant settlement can be seen, just as Cynder said)
Ember: Looks like we've arrived.
Cynder: Now all we've got to do is find Mole-Yair or Exhumor.
Langdon: Is there really any difference between these two?
Spyro: Based on what I know, not really. Not trying to sound racist or anything.
(Just as Spyro makes his comment, a small figure with a candle-topped hat appears on scene, sensing something familiar in his company.)
Mole-Yair: Can it be? Spyro, mon ami!
Spyro: (Seeing Mole-Yair before him) Mole-Yair!
Mole-Yair: It is good to see you again old friend!
Spyro: It's good to see you made it off the Skavengers' vessel.
Mole-Yair: Thanks to you, old friend. If you hadn't taken out their captain, we wouldn't have had our chance to escape.
Spyro: How're you all doing? How's Exhumor?
Mole-Yair: I'm sad to say Exhumor passed not too long ago.
Spyro: Oh my. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Mole-Yair: Ah, it was his time. But enough dwelling on the past, how are you doing?
Spyro: I wish this meeting were under better circumstances, Mole-Yair. The Guardians back in Warfang have been murdered.
Mole-Yair: Murdered!? Sacre bleu! (Now slightly confused) Wait, why does their murder bring you here?
Cynder: The Guardians left an ancient puzzle across the entirety of the Realms for Spyro to discover upon their deaths. The first part of it led us here.
Mole-Yair: An ancient puzzle you say?
Spyro: Which brings us to the question. Is there anywhere in this area that contains a purple crystal?
Mole-Yair: A purple crystal? Hmm... you'll have to give me a minute to think about that one. (Remembers) Ah, yes! I do remember one! Exhumor and I found it when we were boys! Do you by chance remember seeing a small temple with a bell last time you were here?
Spyro: Did I? I ended up getting trapped under that bell when it fell on me! Lucky I unlocked my Earth abilities, or everything would've been over then and there!
Mole-Yair: That was you? Well, regardless, the crystal you seek rests not too far from there. But I will warn you, it's near one of the more active lava tunnels of Boyzitbig. And it floods with magma quite regularly, especially recently. I fear the volcano is nearing another eruption.
Spyro: Then we'd better move quickly. Thanks, Mole-Yair.
Mole-Yair: Not a problem at all, Spyro. And best of luck in your mission!
(And with that, Mole-Yair leaves the group behind, going off to do whatever it was he was doing before Spyro and company showed up)
Flame: Looks like you're leading the way, Spyro.
Spyro: If I remember correctly, that old bell tower isn't far from here. Stick close to me.
(With that, Spyro takes command, leading the group past the settlement, and up the mountain to a degree before they arrive at an old ruined structure, with a pile of metal scraps at the center that definitely used to be a bell.)
Spyro: This is the place.
Cynder: Then the entrance to the Altar of Fire should be around here somewhere.
(With that, the group splits up and starts looking around for any sort of clue as to where the Altar entrance is. After a few moments of looking, Langdon notices something off about the architecture of the structure.)
Langdon: Hold on, something here seems off.
Cynder: (Slightly confused) Professor Langdon?
(At this point, Langdon is examining the structure in detail, noting the familiar architecture.)
Langdon: I've seen structures like this all across Asia, but notably they're almost perfectly symmetrical.
Cynder: So?
Langdon: (Points out one of the edges) So why does that edge have a point missing?
(Noting that edge, Langdon looks in its direction, and spots exactly what he's looking for.)
Langdon: Found it!
(This naturally gets the attention of the entire group, and soon enough Langdon points out the cavern entrance in the wall behind the bell tower. Realizing this is exactly where they need to go, the group heads up, with Cynder carrying Langdon up, as our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good spot to end for today. So we get a nice reunion with Mole-Yair, and finally find the entrance to the Altar of Fire. For those wondering where Langdon's references to Asia come from, after looking at concept art for Munitions Forge, the bell tower itself appears to be rather Oriental in design, so that's where that came from. Check it out on the Spyro Wiki if you don't believe me. Next time, we see the Altar proper, and... perhaps more. What do I mean? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!