Chapter 161 - The Miner's Dream

Sonder let her mana flow outward again, focusing on the stone and dirt around them. She and Lunt had already uncovered a small thread of iron in a dying vein, but it wasn't enough for the dwarf. Just a bit more and he had enough to craft an entire set of armor.

The sensation of the earth responding to her was becoming more familiar now—a subtle hum.

She brushed against the tunnel walls and floor, searching for something out of place, something that felt different. 

Then she felt it. It wasn't like the muted presence of iron ore. This was sharp, vibrant, and cut through the dull hum of the surrounding stone. The intensity startled her, though not uncomfortably, sending a shiver through her senses. 

"Wait," she said, raising her hand. "There's something here."

Lunt paused mid-swing, lowering his pickax. "More ore?"

Sonder shook her head. "I don't think so," she murmured, turning toward the sensation. It was coming from deeper in the tunnel, down a narrow, partially collapsed offshoot. "It's something else." 

Lunt hesitated briefly, glancing at the dim, unstable passage. Then, with a shrug, he slung his burlap sack over his shoulder and followed. The air grew thicker as they ducked under low beams and stepped carefully over fallen rubble. 

Sonder stopped abruptly, placing her hand against the cool stone of the wall. She let her mana pulse outward, and the energy surged back, clearer than ever. Just beyond the surface was something concentrated and alive with strange power. 

"Here," she said, stepping back and gesturing to the wall. 

Lunt narrowed his eyes at the spot, his fingers running over the rough surface. "Doesn't look like much. But if you're sure..." He raised his pickaxe. "Let's see what's hiding in there." 

He swung hard, the pick striking with a sharp clang. The stone resisted more than before, but Lunt's strikes were strong and steady. Piece by piece, the rock fell away, and then a faint shimmer caught the light of the lantern. 

"Wait," Lunt muttered, his voice suddenly hushed. He crouched, brushing away the loosened debris with his thick fingers, revealing a cluster of crystals embedded in the stone. 

Their surfaces shimmered with a mesmerizing glow.

Sonder stepped closer, raising the lantern higher to get a better look. The crystals seemed to pulse faintly, seemingly absorbing the light.

Lunt's mouth hung open for a moment before he let out a low whistle. "By the forges... that's no ordinary crystal."

"What is it?" Sonder asked, her cloudy eyes narrowing as she studied the formation.

"Luxorite," Lunt said, his voice filled with greed. "Rare as dragon's teeth. Used for crafting enchanted items, forging weapons, and even powering magical constructs. This stuff's worth more than gold. A fortune, easily." 

Sonder tilted her head. "And it's just... sitting here, waiting for someone to find it?"

Lunt grinned, though his focus didn't waver from the crystals. "Guess you were right to trust your... not-magic." 

He carefully resumed his work, chipping at the surrounding rock with precise, deliberate movements to avoid damaging the crystals. Each piece he loosened revealed more of the shimmering formation.

"We'll need to be careful," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "Even a chip of luxorite is worth a small fortune, but damage it, and it's worthless. Handle this right, and we've struck a vein most miners only dream about."