Chapter 55: Not a simple crystal
The descent was slow, careful. The passage wasn’t wide, forcing us to move in single file. Jagged rock formations jutted out from the walls, some damp, others oddly smooth as if something had worn them down over time.
Felix shivered. "I hate this. I hate this so much."
"Noted," I muttered. "Now be quiet."
The deeper we went, the more unnatural the air became. The mana was thick—thicker than it should’ve been for just residual energy. Something had gathered it, condensed it. That either meant we were close to the crystal or... something else had made this place its home.
A faint blue glow pulsed further ahead, barely visible through the darkness.
Wallace sucked in a breath. "There. That has to be it."
Julien grinned. "Finally, something easy."
Mira shot him a flat look. "Never say that. You’re asking for trouble."
I held up a hand, signaling them to stop. Something was off.
The cave was silent. Too silent. Even in mana-rich areas, you could hear the occasional drip of water or distant scurrying of creatures. But here? Nothing.
I narrowed my eyes, scanning the rocky path ahead. The faint glow came from a chamber just beyond a narrow passage. The air shimmered slightly around the entrance.