What the fuck. I suspected that those creatures had to have some kind of intelligence, but to have a leader that is a sentient, looks like it, crystal? Wow. That was something else.

I mean, should I be surprised? After all, I was not that different from it that much.

But that brought a different question. Why did it know about all this? And those images of MIRE? Why did I see that? Were those just images pulled from my head? Or someone else’s maybe? Did that mean that those visions… or memories rather belonged to this crystal?

How the hell should I interpret that?

During my pondering I failed to realize that the crystal dimmed once more, leaving just a singular spark bouncing inside, like a strange eyeball. It was shining its light around the cave, scanning its surroundings, stopping on each of the bodies, lighting them up for a second, then moving along.

That is until its gaze found me.

I swear, if it had a face it would most likely be slack-jawed.

I mean, can it even see? Not like it noticed me before so what gives? What’s up with that reaction? I was here all the time, why be surprised now?

Who are you?

Again with this.

Why are you still up?

Because I’m not as weak as those fucks, duh.

How did you hide from me?

I didn’t. You’re just blind as a… eh, rock?

I don’t like your attitude.

I don’t like you either, especially after knocking my… wait a second, you can hear me?

I… can? I can. And you can hear me? How is that…?

I tilted my head in confusion. This “conversation” if you even can call it that, was giving me a headache. Since neither of us spoke directly and just were thinking to ourselves, or at least I assume that's what that crystal entity was doing, it made me feel like I am some sort of insane person. Schizophrenia much?

-I have no fucking clue - I said aloud, breaking the silence. - What the hell are you even?

The entity did not respond, instead the small light that was still directed at me grew about twice its size and focused on me even harder. Well, at least it did not seem to be hostile at the moment, which was a plus.

You… are like me? But… not? You seem familiar, yet I don’t remember you.

-Well, I am partially made out of crystal, so I guess that’s that… By the way, thanks for not attacking me.

Attack?

-You did knock out a couple of people - I gestured to the bodies on the ground. - Plus killed a lot more upstairs. Coming here I never expected I’d be having a conversation instead of fighting… Not like I’m complaining, I definitely prefer this - I quickly added.

Kill? I’d never. Knock out… that was just an unfortunate aftereffect.

-I guess your presence itself is enough… - I agreed with the creature. - But didn’t you control those vines to attack us above ground?

I do not control them. I just listen to them.

-Listen?

Yes. They let me listen and I let them leech my mana. As you notice, I have an abundance of that.

-What are you listening for then? Does that have something to do with those two?

Its demeanor instantly changed. Even without sound I could feel the hostility.

Don’t touch them. I won’t let anyone harm them.

-Okay… but aren’t you the one harming them now?

I can’t help it. Besides, they are resilient. They will be fine.

-Uh-uh… well, this is a problem. You know, the thing is, as far as I am aware, you kidnapped them. To be honest, I don’t really care, but…

Then leave. And take the rest with you.

-I could, but there is a small issue. We’ve been hired by the current king to recapture this woman and the kid. I don’t think he’s gonna back up that easily.

Axelrod?

-Ah, you know him. Yes. He seems very interested in those two as well. Why are those so popular lately? I thought you were looking for something else…

My goals are not for your concern.

-I guess. Well, no matter. So, I assume I can take those two?

I pointed to Bert and Odar.

Sure.

I moved to pick up both of them and take them out of the immediate area. Still under the watchful “eye” of this entity, I slowly removed each of them from the cave and dragged them away until I finally stopped hearing the humm.

Bert soon woke up. I assume it was thanks to the combination of the environment being less mana polluted, his weapon, and me carrying him with the crystal arm and absorbing some of the overflow mana.

-What’s happening… Where are we…?

-Still underground. Can you walk?

He was a bit groggy, but a lot more sober than the last time.

-Huh. I guess you build up some tolerance…

-Maybe… how about you though? You look… different?

-What is it this time?

I looked myself over, trying to find yet another anomaly on my body, but couldn’t find anything significant.

-Your head…

-What’s wrong with my head?

I started inspecting my face just to notice that I had my hands full of hair.

-For fuck’s sake… this goes beyond balding…

-I… well, if you want to be blunt like that…

-Whatever, I’m not going to deal with that now. In any case, do you remember what’s going on?

He scrunched his face, trying to think.

-We came here to find the missing people… found some strange crystal… and then…

-Then?

It looked like he had a hard time remembering, which was odd to say the least, but not completely unexpected.

-Well, we found them - I finished for him, saving him the effort to remember. - In the process, you both got knocked out. Doesn’t matter. What’s important right now is that you need to get Odar out of here.

-Why…? If we found them then…

-I never said we recaptured them.

I explained briefly what happened, although I did not mention my “discussion” with the entity.

-I need you to get out before you end up like him. I don’t know how long that weapon of yours is going to save you. Odar already got completely wasted and doesn’t seem like Axelrod can take control again.

-Okay… what about you though? And the captives?

-I’m staying. I have the best tolerance for whatever is happening down here. I’ll try and get them out, but I’ll need time.

-For what? What’s down there exactly?

He wanted to look down the corridor, but he swayed a bit too much and had to lean on the tunnel wall just not to fall on the ground.

-That’s the thing, I am not sure. Looks like Axelrod does, but his first contact did not fill me with confidence. That’s why I need you to try and convince him to NOT come here as well. Let me handle this on my own.

-And why should I listen to you?

-Why not?

-...

-What?

-Okay, fine. But I am not sure that I can do anything to convince him. He is a king after all, I think you might have forgotten that one.

-I am very well aware. Now move.

-Right… ah, before I forget…

-Hm?

He started digging through his clothes and procured a small pouch, tied with a piece of string. He untied it and proceeded to bury his whole arm inside.

-Uhhh… I don’t know if it’s a good idea, with all that mana raging…

-You want help or not?

-I never asked for it, but sure, go for it.

He apparently found what he was looking for because he started pulling back his arm out. With some difficulties I have to add, whatever that was, it was pretty big. Big enough so he had to untie the pouch completely. It even started stretching, like it was made out of rubber.

A bit strange. I was familiar with dimensional bags already, but have never seen one opening like that.

What he pulled out though was a very familiar item. One that I never expected to see.

Felix’s book. Or rather the remains of it, including the drive.

-Why the hell do you have THAT?

-King told me to keep hold of it, saying it might be useful. He mentioned something about a bargaining chip…

-Ah.

-So I thought you should take it, since, you know…

-Not a bad idea.

If what we thought was correct and that entity was indeed interested in technology, it could actually work.

That is, if it was still functional. I did not want to assume, but having it inside some kind of pocket dimension created by magic might have had some effects on it. I mean, it might have worked the other way around, but since the spell was still working…

That got cleared out pretty quickly. As soon as it left the bag, I suddenly felt a lot less pressure and the corridor dimmed significantly.

-Your crystal…

-Ah. So it IS still working.

Light emitted from my crystalized parts got cut by about a half.

Sure enough, it still had its anti-magic properties, meaning it was still intact. Good.

-Why didn’t you get this thing out sooner? You all wouldn’t be wasted then!

-King explicitly said to not do that because it interferes with his magic.

-Hm. Well whatever. Give me that and get the hell out.

-On it.

Seconds later he was dragging Odar away, wobbling slightly. It was clear that even with his weapon and away from the source, he still had difficulty enduring this environment.

I, on the other hand, felt a lot better. I stopped feeling the tingling of the mana pressuring me all around and even my vision finally normalized. Although the last one I probably should consider a downgrade in a way, but that’s besides the point.

I had to consider what exactly I should do with this thing. I couldn’t exactly just show it to the entity, nor could I hide its power - especially in this place, it was quite obvious.

On the other hand, how would it react to the crystal itself? If I remembered correctly, those kinds of devices should not work even remotely close to our Origin Crystal, but that one was, while similar, definitely not the same. So what would happen here?

There was no point in delaying the inevitable, so I just hid the drive in one of my inner pockets and started walking back to the room.

As I was making my way back, I again started hearing the humm, but besides that, even after I entered the cave with the crystal, the entity was quiet. The crystal was still alive and lit, so I assumed it was still fine, even in the presence of the anti-magic field of the drive. Same with the drive itself, I was still not glowing like a christmas tree, so it was indeed working fine.

-Ehm.

I cleared my throat, trying to announce my presence.

The reaction I got was, well, strange to say the least.

The crystal pulsed once, and the light that was filling it split into smaller sparks, sort of like it did before when it was “looking” at me, but this time it was maybe ten or fifteen of those that started bouncing between each other, frantically shining their light into every corner of the cave.

-What the hell… - I muttered, covering my eyes when about five of the sparks found me and centered their light right at my face. - Yes, hello, we’ve been through this already, still just me.

After I spoke, the light calmed down a little, although the number of lights did not decrease, still looking around the cave, albeit this time a lot slower and more careful.

I can’t sense you. Explain. Why are you here?

I guess the item in my pocket was indeed strong enough to even suppress this thing’s power.

-I already told you I am interested in those two. I never said I am leaving.

What do you want?

This time, I got a hint of annoyance from the presence. Hah, so I can even annoy a rock. Shit, look who’s talking.

-Ehm. I want to at least have a talk with one of them then. You don’t seem hostile and from what I understand you want to wake them up somehow. Since you’re certainly not going to just give them to me, nor want to explain properly what the hell is going on… Maybe we can somehow come to an agreement…

You’re a pain in the ass.

-Do you even have an ass? - I blurted before I managed to stop myself. - Never mind, forget that.

Hahahah…

Listening, or rather having someone laugh inside your head is a bizarre feeling, let me tell you.

If you are so interested, I actually did have one. But let’s not get into that.

In a stupid way that actually confirmed what I wanted to ask.

-So you… what are you actually?

Don’t you think it’s rude to ask that without first introducing yourself?

-Ah, my bad. To be honest, I didn’t expect you to be interested. Hi, I’m Mor, I’m a bit new to all this mercenary bullshit. Human, mostly, unbelievably to some. Currently working by proxy for Axelrod, but you’ve heard all that already.

Interesting name. I can’t really give you mine because I don’t really remember it. Used to be a human, I think, but now stuck as this.

-Thanks…. Well, let’s get back on topic. I came back to hopefully strike a deal with you.

…?

A feeling of suspicion and curiosity flew through me.

-See, according to Axelrod, you seem interested in, eh… “artifacts”...

Now confusion was added to the mix.

-And so it happens that we… or rather just me now, have one on hand and might be willing to part ways with, if you’d given those two away back to us…

The presence did not reply, instead I could feel a bunch of images flow through my head, although it was too fast for me to even recognize a single one, I only managed to register just a blur of colors.

I don’t intend on giving them back. But I might be interested in the artifact. What is it?

-Hrm… the word is that you’ve been following it for a good while, so maybe you will change your mind… - I teased the presence, hesitating to show it just yet.

What is it.

It was now more irritated and curious than suspicious.

-An old piece of… anti-magic… if you catch my drift.

Anti-magic? You have it on you? Show it!

It was excited now.

Not only it. In the corner of my eye I saw some movement and noticed small roots, or vines, moving somewhere deep in the corner of the cave. I guess the “informants” were curious as well.

I did not feel any hostility, so I decided to trust it and pulled out the small rectangle from my pocket.

-Here. Can’t really give it to you to inspect, but…

The “eyes” of the crystal focused immediately on me, but then suddenly hesitated, spreading about a bit. I could feel the presence be confused for a second and double its efforts to see the item, I guess in vain.

You weren’t lying. I can’t see it. Or rather I can see the nothingness. That thing really is anti-magic…

-Ah. I guess your sight is magic based… - I muttered. - Nothingness, eh? I mean, it fits…

But, so what? If Axelrod thinks that this is enough to buy me, he is mistaken.

-More like to buy her not you - I said under my breath. - Is she really that valuable?

Family is priceless.

-I guess… wait a second. Family?

…?

-Wait, you’re telling me those two are your family? Like, literal family?

Why would you care? Aren’t you just a muscle for hire?

-Ha. Me and muscle? Very funny. But you’re not completely wrong about the “for hire” part. Never mind that - I quickly corrected myself back on topic. - Just answer me. You don’t mean a literal, blood and flesh family, right?

I was not sure if it was because it was annoyed or just because I finally was found out, but from the creeks and shadows a bunch of small creatures started slithering out. Some familiar vines, some looked like just slugs or even something that looked like a very large stick bug. They were still calm, but were observing my movements intently. I also started hearing some noises back from the corridor, probably some more creatures were swarming towards the place. It did mention that it was not controlling them, but I was not so sure about believing that at the moment.

Well, it took them long enough. Though I did not care. What the presence said peaked my curiosity and hell if I was going to just forget and don’t ask.

After a moment of silence it finally replied.

I have limited memories of my human life. But that I am certain of - yes, literal family. What of it?

-Okay, next question. Probably even weirder than all other combined. Were you married?

I need to add to my achievements - had made a sentient rock dumbfounded. Hell, maybe even flustered?

Ah…? That is indeed a weird question. But why does it matter? I don’t remember anyway.

-Well, normally it would not but I was hoping that you’d confirm my hypothesis.

What hypothesis? Can you stop being annoying and just speak openly?

-If you insist. Does the name “Noli” tell you anything?

If an emotion could ever describe someone blanking out, that’s definitely what I felt. Even the lights in the crystal stopped moving, frozen, shining directly at me. The usual humm stopped as well, and if not for the creatures shuffling on the edges of the cave and somewhere in the back, the silence would be deafening.

The sudden pause in our conversation also made me realize - the noise coming from behind me was getting louder and louder. It also sounded a lot more like… a gallop?

A horse? Down here?

Yes… yes it does… how in the hell do you… LOOK OUT!

The soundless warning echoed in my mind before several things happened at once.

First of all, the creatures that were hiding in the shadowy corners, outside my sight, suddenly sprung towards me. Most of them were very similar to the leeches I had the “pleasure” to already know, although they looked more like plants this time. Or it was just because they were covered in dirt and soil. Behind them, was now a humanoid figure, made out of, well, branches, with a growth similar to a brush where a torso should’ve been, forming a bunch of spike-like thorns instead of a head, ready to shoot those right at my face.

Second, from the back of the cave, where I came from, ran out Axelrod, in the flesh.

Or rather I should say, in the plant…? The thing is, he was half-transformed. Back in the palace, I’ve seen him use his magic to create weapons out of his arms, but now he went all out it seems.

His bottom part was formed akin to the mounts we came here on: four-legged, with twisted branches forming those strange, almost tentacle-like legs. Instead of his arms, he again had the same weapons he summoned when we fought at the capital, but this time, the strange leaf-blade was glowing, just like me not so long ago.

And just like a large spot right next to where his heart should be, in the middle of his chest.

Even though he definitely noticed me, he did not intend on stopping and was running straight at me, full speed.