Elemental stones

"This is all mana stones!?" Rachel exclaimed, her eyes wide in disbelief.

Nathan's jaw dropped as well. If all these enormous gems were truly mana stones, how much would they be worth? Judging by the colors, they didn't seem like low-grade stones either.

"No, these aren't mana stones," Ethan answered before Justin had the chance to speak. He was still running his hand over the crystals, his expression stiff. "Mana stones only come from the hearts of monsters. You can't find them in mines like this."

"Exactly. According to the lore, mana forms within the hearts of living creatures," Justin added.

"But… the heat coming off them feels so similar," Rachel asked again, with a hint of disappointment.

Ethan shook his head. "These aren't mana stones. They're elemental stones."

"Elemental stones?" Nathan echoed in confusion.

"Yes. In the lore, elemental energy gathers in certain minerals and forms these gems," Ethan explained.