Beneath the Surface

Ethan awoke early the next morning, his mind already buzzing with thoughts of the deep tunnels. He could feel the pull of that strange power he had sensed the day before—something old, something buried beneath layers of stone. It called to him, urging him to explore further, to see what secrets the mountain held.

The other miners were still asleep in their bunks, the sound of heavy breathing and the occasional snore filling the barracks. Ethan dressed quietly, slipping out into the cold, predawn air before the usual hustle and bustle of the day began. He needed to act before anyone noticed his absence.

As he made his way toward the mine, Ethan's thoughts turned to his fellow classmates. He had kept his head down, working the mines and honing his abilities in secret, but he knew that they were out there, gaining strength in their own ways. Some, like Greg, had embraced their new forms and thrown themselves into mercenary work. Others had likely joined the ranks of the Magic Apprentices, learning the intricacies of the world's magical runes and spells.

Ethan's fingers itched with the thought of magic. He had always been drawn to the idea of it, even back on Earth. But here, in this world, magic was real—tangible. The runes he had seen carved into the tools and walls of the town were more than just decorations; they were the keys to controlling the raw forces of the universe.

One day, he promised himself. One day, I'll learn the runes.

But for now, the mines offered him something else—an opportunity to strike out on his own, to find something valuable enough to fund his escape from the Dwarven-controlled work force.

As Ethan descended into the mine, he activated Earth Sense, letting the subtle vibrations of the stone guide him. The regular tunnels were familiar to him by now—veins of enchanted ore and mundane minerals crisscrossed the walls, waiting to be extracted. But he wasn't interested in the regular work today. Today, he was going deeper.

[Earth Sense Activated]

He felt the faint pulse of power again, stronger now that he was further from the surface. It was like a heartbeat, a steady, rhythmic thrum that echoed through the stone. His feet carried him forward, deeper into the mine's twisting tunnels. There were fewer miners this far down—only a handful, and most of them were too focused on their own work to pay him any mind.

The deeper he went, the more the air changed. It grew colder, drier, and the light from the enchanted crystals embedded in the walls dimmed. The tunnels here were older, less traveled, and the weight of the mountain pressed down on them, the stone thick and unyielding.

Ethan paused at a crossroads, staring down two separate tunnels. One was narrow, with jagged rocks and unstable-looking walls. The other was wider, with smoother, more carefully hewn stone. The pulse of power seemed to come from both directions, but the narrow tunnel called to him more urgently.

It's riskier, he thought, eyeing the unstable rock. But if I'm going to find something valuable, I'll have to take chances.

He stepped into the narrow tunnel, his footsteps echoing faintly in the enclosed space. The air grew colder still, and the light from the crystals dimmed even further, leaving only faint glimmers to guide his way. He activated Identify, letting the system scan the walls around him as he moved.

[Identify: Stone – Unstable. Magical ore detected: Moderate grade. Enchanted crystal veins detected: Low grade.]

Ethan frowned. The ore here wasn't as valuable as he had hoped, and the instability of the stone meant he would have to be careful. But as he moved deeper into the tunnel, the pulse of power grew stronger, more insistent. Something was down here—something worth the risk.

After several minutes of careful walking, the tunnel opened into a small chamber, the walls lined with jagged crystals that pulsed faintly with light. In the center of the chamber, partially buried in the stone, was something that caught Ethan's eye immediately—a cluster of deep purple crystals, their surfaces shimmering with a faint, otherworldly glow.

Ethan's heart raced as he approached, kneeling to examine the crystals more closely. He activated Identify, eager to see what the system would reveal.

[Identify: Aetherite Crystals. Grade: High. Magical affinity: Spatial. Extremely rare.]

Ethan's breath caught in his throat. Aetherite. He had never heard of it before, but the system's description was enough to make his pulse quicken. The crystals were extremely rare, and their spatial affinity meant they could be used in powerful enchantments—possibly even teleportation spells.

This... this could be it, he thought, his mind racing. This is what I need.

If he could extract these crystals and sell them through the system's store, he would earn more than enough system currency to buy the Basic Magic Rune Training—maybe even more. But the thought of removing the crystals also filled him with a sense of dread. They were deeply embedded in the stone, and the instability of the surrounding rock meant that one wrong move could trigger a collapse.

I need to be careful.

Ethan took a deep breath and activated Earth Sense again, focusing on the vibrations of the stone around the crystals. He could feel the weak points in the rock, the places where the pressure was too great. Slowly, carefully, he chipped away at the stone, removing the crystals piece by piece, each one glowing faintly as he placed it in his Inventory.

[Inventory Updated: Aetherite Crystals x5]

After what felt like hours, Ethan had extracted five crystals. They were small but heavy, each one pulsing faintly with magical energy. He carefully stowed them in his inventory and took a step back, surveying the chamber. The pulse of power was still there, but it was weaker now, as though the crystals had been the source of it.

This will do for now, he thought. I need to get out of here before someone notices I'm gone.

But as he turned to leave, a faint flicker of movement caught his eye. He froze, his heart skipping a beat. Slowly, cautiously, he turned back toward the chamber.

There, in the shadows at the far end of the room, something stirred.

Ethan's hand instinctively moved toward his pickaxe, his muscles tensing. His eyes strained against the dim light, trying to make out what was there.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, a low, rumbling growl echoed through the chamber.