For as prepared as Lucia tried to be, it seemed like there was always something to pick on. Especially when it came to inspections, Mother had been particularly hard on her lately. Maybe it's because Natalia is starting her adventuring career, maybe she's expected to be a good example. Maybe. It still felt ridiculous that she was bringing the hammer down like this. For the woman that had always been harsh to the point of brutal, it's just starting to feel cruel. Even today, she'd just barely gotten away before breaking to the point of tears. So the Black Company signet hanging from her neck had gotten a little dustier than she'd noticed, and her pack wasn't in perfect order... it was functional. Everything was functional. Why did Mother have to push like this?

Frankly, Lucia is still sniffling by the time she gets to the Furnace. At least the heat does plenty to dry her tears, and the sweat staining her face is enough to cover any residual mist in her eyes. Can't look weak, not when there are others who could stumble upon her. It's just... it's getting harder. It's getting harder to do this on her own, it's getting harder to not feel so lost. Emotionally lost. At least Lucia knows pretty well where she's going.

Able to drum up some treasures for herself, she tucks them into her pack. Decent spoils for the day, all told. Little pieces of stained glass, some empty bottles from some sort of wizard's abandoned lair, shards of pottery with ornate designs. It's enough work that she feels entitled to some sort of break, finding a quiet corner to curl up in. Though it felt like she was never more than arm's length away from the lava, at least she's far enough back to have the illusion of safety.

Setting her pack down and beginning to disassemble the carefully rolled and packed contents, Lucia sets aside a canteen and a snack. No use in putting everything back just yet, she'd do it when she got ready to move on. What she forgets to account for is Capo, her very large beetle, and his interest in what she's laid out around them. As the creature inspects, sniffs at one of the empty vials, it seems to create a ripple effect. One topples over, and then the next, followed by the final one. All three bottles roll away, before Lucia can stop them.

All three, lost to the lava. At this point it's laugh or cry, and she can't hold it against her companion. It's not his fault. At least he hadn't been swept away in the very small avalanche, and that's all that matters. "That's okay buddy, I hadn't even logged them yet." What Mother didn't know couldn't make her more angry, and that's enough for Lucia.