Sorry But I Won't Die Here

chapter 32: The Mana Stone

  The forest was colossal, foggy, and archaic. Its canopy was eclipsed by beech, pine, and willow, and sparkling light dancing between the branches allowed for a hodgepodge of sprouts to burst from the moss-covered grounds below.

 Swooping climbing plants waved from every tree, and a mishmash of flowers, which claimed quiet corners, spruced up the otherwise homogeneous view. A hodgepodge of animal sounds, belonging mostly to critters, echoed in the air and were in harmony with the raging river currents crashing against boulders.

Hours passed, we also fought some monsters along the way. From small orcs to butterflict (a butterfly monster with a huge appearance and it's a carnivore). And even some dragons are flying in the sky.

"Haiz, how much longer do we get there?" I asked while holding my head because I'm dizzy

"A couple more minutes, I think it's up there"

Asmodeus pointed his finger to a large cave and it's not that far from where we are standing

"Oh, then let's rest a bit"

I sat down on the ground and drink water

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, I'll just rest a little bit"

Precious mana stones have an important significance in the life of all people. Claveroy stone is one of the rarest variety of precious stones found in different parts of the world and is available in almost all colors except for a few colors like violet blue etc. Claveroy with its flesh stone color gives a resemblance to a fingernail.

Claveroy is cryptocrystalline and we can find intergrowths of silica minerals quartz and moganite in it. Another variety of Claveroy is Sardonyx which comes in red and black color. Moreover, artificial coloring is also given to it since ancient times to make it appear red or black. Dyeing treatment is also used and most of the black Claveroy sold is artificially treated. The black onyx stones because of their elegance it are used to make jewelry. There are other black gems like diamond, sapphire, and onyx. But they are way cheaper than Claveroy stone.

Some said it holds the power of dark magic. A lot of magicians tried hard to obtain this stone, but they ended up dying because they don't have dark mana. Since the nature law said "One that holds the power, may obtain stone that is suitable for them" that means, you only can have mana stones that have equal to your power and mana.

Unlike me, I have darkness and void mana. I'm sure that I can handle the stone much.

"Ah, it's almost dawn," I looked up to the sky

"We should get to the cave fast then," Asmodeus replied

Holding my throbbing head I try to walk

But suddenly Asmodeus lifted me and I was surprised

"H-hey, what are you doing?"

"If you keep on walking, we won't get there"

"So you're saying, I'm slow?"

Asmodeus laughed

I've never seen him laugh before, it's quite pleasing to see his smile

"What are you looking at?" he asked

"No, it's just you look better when you smiled"

"........."

Right at that moment, I can see his red face and I laughed

"Geez, I didn't know you're weak to flattery," I laughed into tears

Asmodeus's sulked face made me laugh more. He's really cute.

'Wait what the hell was I thinking?'

"We're here," he said

The cave is spacious and it had a long tunnel which we need to cross. Once we enter the end of the tunnel, the glimmering lights from the crystals reflected on the water, making the cave more beautiful. There are a lot of gems on the cave walls too. I heard dragons eat gems and crystals, so probably they lived here. 

So, all we need to do is to find the stone

"Eh, isn't that the stone?"

Asmodeus pointed his finger to the corner of the cave, there is a black stone shining.

'Wait, is it that easy?'

"Camelia, what's wrong?"

"I don't think getting the stone is that easy"

Suddenly, there's a sound coming from the corner of the cave.

Savage onyx eyes sit rooted within the creature's long, long skull, which gives the creature a rather intimidating-looking appearance. Several horns sit atop its head, just above its thick, pointy ears. A row of tendrils runs down the sides of each of its jawlines. Its nose is thick and has two enormous, rounded nostrils and there's a crystal growth on its chin. Four large teeth poke out from the side of its mouth and show a glimpse of the terror hiding inside.

A thick neck runs down from its head and into a slender body. The top is covered in smooth skin and a row of fan-like growths runs down its spine. Its bottom is covered in small scales and is colored slightly darker than the rest of its body. Six long limbs carry its body and allow the creature to stand arrogantly and elegantly. Each limb has 5 digits, each of which ends in strong claws seemingly made of stone.

Slender wings grow to start from just above its shoulders and end down at its pelvis. The wings are somewhat triangular, a specialized layer of seemingly color-changing skin makes up most of the wing and long tendril-like growths grow from many parts of the bottom sides of each wing.

Its elegant tail ends in a curled tip and is covered in the same smooth skin as its body.

It's a dragon

"How dare you trespass my place," the dragon said

'It can talk?'

"Huh? why are you so surprised? Have you never seen a talking dragon before?"

I and Asmodeus shake our head

The dragon looked confused, but it looks like it realized something

"Come think of it, how did I read your mind?"

"E-eh, you're not supposed to read minds?"

"No, I can't read minds unless they hold some special power. But it's been a long time since I saw such a person"

"Ah, probably because she holds the power," Asmodeus said and he looked at me

"Makes sense. Hey young girl! what power do you have anyway?"

"I have darkness and void"

The dragon was speechless, then it sighed

"Haiz, so you're that prophecy.."

"Huh? What prophecy?"

"You might've known about this, but let me tell you.."