Arc 1 - The Crystal Puzzle

The oppressive energy of the dungeon weighed on us as we moved through the chamber, the eerie glow of the crystals casting long shadows on the walls. Every step we took seemed to echo in the vast, silent space, a reminder that we were deep within a place that was as much a living entity as it was a structure. The sense of unease followed me with each step, a constant companion that gnawed at the edges of my thoughts.

After our encounter with the hidden pit trap, everyone was on edge, their senses heightened to the point of paranoia. Even the normally stoic Mellander seemed more cautious, his green eyes constantly scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the unease in my siblings, even in Zephyr, whose usual grace was tinged with nervous energy.

"Let's take a moment to catch our breath," I suggested, my voice low but carrying enough authority that the others nodded in agreement. "We need to think this through before we do something that might get us all killed."

Zephyr passed our plan to gather thoughts to Mellander somehow as the humans joined us in searching for a good spot.

We found a relatively safe corner of the chamber, away from the treacherous pit and the glowing crystals that lined the walls. The floor was uneven, but it was dry, and that was enough. We settled down, forming a loose circle, with Mellander's group keeping a wary but still close distance from us.

Orsus, still visibly shaken from his near fall, sat down heavily next to Ignar, the human warrior. The large man glanced at Orsus, his expression at first hardening as he saw the wolf's wide, amber eyes fixed on him.

"What...?" Ignar murmured and Orsus made a growling sound. I knew it was a way he was showing that he wanted some attention, but the warrior didn't seem to understand and put his hand on his sword.

"Wh..what do you want?!" The human warrior seemed unsure, as Orsus kept on looking at him.

Orsus, still feeling very grateful for the save, leaned forward and, to everyone's surprise, gave Ignar's face a lick with his large, warm tongue. The warrior first screamed surprise but then chuckled, wiping the slobber away with a gloved hand, but there was no mistaking the softening look in his eyes. "You're welcome, big guy," he muttered, his voice softer than I had ever heard it. "Just don't lick me like that, my armour will get rusty with this amount of fluids" he laughed to himself. Orsus seemed not to care about his lack of understanding of human speech. He waved his tail and lay down happy that he thanked so well.

I watched the exchange with a mix of amusement and relief. It was a small moment, but it felt significant—proof that, despite our differences, we could connect on some level. I caught Ignar's eye and gave him a nod of thanks, which he returned with a slight smile. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for this uneasy alliance even after our adventure in the dungeon? Having humanoid allies somewhere in the world could prove useful.

Lorelin moved closer to Orsus, giving him a reassuring nuzzle. "Aren't you sweet brother," she murmured, her voice soothing. "I'm glad we can work together like that even with all we've learnt and experienced about humans during our life."

Orish, never the one to be a pragmatic and melancholic wolf, was already scanning the room with his keen eyes, just like the elf on Mellander's team. "So... What do we do about those crystals?" he asked, his tone serious. "We shouldn't just leave them as they are, but messing with them could be dangerous."

I nodded in agreement, turning to the druid. "The crystals are the key to weakening the dungeon, but they also pose a significant risk. We need to figure out how to disrupt them without causing a chain reaction that could bring this place down on our heads."

Zephyr, sensing the gravity of the situation, moved closer to Mellander. The two exchanged silent communication, a series of images and emotions that conveyed their thoughts more effectively than words could. Mellander's brow furrowed as he considered the information, his mind working through the possibilities.

After a moment, Mellander began to speak, his voice calm but filled with urgency. "Let's resume... These crystals are ancient conduits for dark energy," he explained again, addressing his group while I translated for mine. "They're drawing power from the surrounding environment and channelling it deeper into the dungeon. If we disrupt them, we might weaken the dungeon's core, but there's a risk that doing so could destabilize the entire structure."

"So, we need to be precise," I said, thinking aloud. "If we can find a way to disrupt the crystals without causing a catastrophic collapse or end of the world..." I tried to joke but I guess no one felt like laughing. Zephyr was like a translator for what I said, as Mellander wouldn't understand most of the things I've said.

The fae nodded, his expression thoughtful.

Suddenly the dwarf spoke. "There might be a way," he said slowly, "but it won't be easy. The crystals are attuned to specific energies—if we can match those frequencies and then disrupt them, we could potentially neutralize their power."

After I translated the words, Orish frowned, his sharp mind already working through the implications. "But how do we find the right frequencies? We can't just guess."

Mellander hesitated, then looked at Zephyr, who was still standing close by, putting our words into images for him. "We might be able to use a combination of my magic and Zephyr's wind-based abilities to create a harmonic resonance," he suggested. "If we can match the resonance of the crystals, we might be able to disrupt them without triggering a collapse."

I could tell this was going to be tricky. "So we need to find the right combination of magic and wind to create the right frequency," I said, more to myself than anyone else. "And if we get it wrong..."

"If we get it wrong we could trigger a chain reaction that destabilizes the entire dungeon," Ignar finished grimly thinking the same way I did, without even knowing that.

"But if we do nothing, the dungeon's core will continue to grow stronger, and it could become unstoppable," Lorac added with a serious tone.

The weight of the decision settled over us, heavy and suffocating. There was no easy answer, no clear path forward.

I could use a manual right now... or some cheats. Like really... I've never been good with some kind of logic games and puzzles...

"Let's do it," I said finally, standing up, my voice firm. It seems that movement made the humanoids realise we're up for the challenge.

"Big brother, we need to approach this carefully. Maybe let's start by examining the crystals more closely, looking for any clues that might help us figure out the right frequencies." My sister spoke in her tender voice.

We moved as a group toward the nearest cluster of crystals, their eerie glow casting unsettling shadows on the walls. Mellander and Zephyr took the lead, their combined magic and wind swirling around the crystals in a delicate dance. The rest of us watched, tense and alert, ready to act if something went wrong.

As both the druid and the griffin worked, I activated [Eyeglass] again, hoping to glean any additional information from the crystals.

[Activating skill: Eyeglass]

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Crystal Resonance Puzzle

Objective: Disrupt the flow of dark energy within the crystals without triggering a catastrophic collapse.

Instructions:

-Each crystal resonates at a specific frequency, determined by the surrounding environment and the dungeon's core energy.

-To disrupt the crystals, you must create a matching harmonic frequency using a combination of magic and wind-based abilities.

Be cautious: An incorrect frequency could cause the crystals to amplify the dungeon's energy instead of weakening it.

Notes: The resonance pattern can be detected by observing the crystals' light patterns and vibrations. The solution requires careful observation and precise timing.

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