The Birth of Fantasy

Chapter 24

We were slightly broken by the time we reached the cavern where they had mined copper, the miners seemingly taking a day off. Seeing as the palisade was still intact, we decided to rest. I sat down to clean the cores found on Kiszo's kills so I could put them to use. Kiszo, on the other hand, walked around the cave's perimeter, returning not more than fifteen minutes later.

"Whatever is going on with the creatures has also affected the ore deposits. I can see pure copper and even seams of tin within the wall. When they get back inside, it's going to be a plentiful bounty for the village."

I just nodded. I wasn't interested in the metals at this time. I couldn't see myself as a future blacksmith. Finished cleaning off the last core, I popped it into my mouth and was still disappointed in not finishing the restoration of my channels.

[ System Notification ]

Rank D Jade Core has given 12 Energy
Mana Channel's Restoration 402/500

"Ninety-eight to go," I said to the now sitting panther.

I scanned the room and noticed the raised platform at the center that held the gateway back to the old village. Curious, I got up and walked over to investigate. At the center was a metallic ring embedded within the stone platform. No inky blackness to show the gate was active. I kneeled to get a good look at the ring and noticed markings spaced around the ring evenly. I couldn't quite make them out within the torched lit cavern.

"Kiszo, can I borrow a torch?"

She tossed me one from her bag, and I lit it on one of the dungeons. Going back over to the platform, I kneeled to get a look. The eight marks were some kind of runes, glyphs, or symbols. Hell, they could have been chicken's scratch for all I knew.

"Kiszo. Do you have any kind of paper and something to write with?"

She dug around her bag before pulling out a small makeshift book, a block of something, and what looked like a metal pen. "Here, Porcu always had me carry this around in case I came across a new flower or herb so I could sketch it for him before harvesting it. I won't be needing them anymore. You can keep them, Zeal."

I never thought to ask about Porcu. I guess that meant he hadn't made it out of the village. I felt a pang in my heart, as I kind of liked the odd goat. I looked down at the bumpy block of dark green and the metal pen. The pen looked like the old-school dip inside ink kind to use. The block left me stumped. So I asked Kiszo about it.

"Put the block close to the flame and will begin to bead up. Dip the pen in one of the beads and use it to write."

I laid the block on the stone and slowly waved the torch over it. In a few seconds, the surface seemed to sweat and form beads of dark green liquid. I dipped the pen's tip into one, and the pen sucked up the ink. I opened the book, finding that the first few pages were filled with amazing sketches of flowers and little notes explaining what part of the forest it was found. There were also notes commenting on the colors and description of its scent.

Turning to the first blank page, I drew the eight symbols, mimicking them to the best of my ability. I blew on the still-wet ink for a few moments till I could see the symbols now dull and dry. Closing the book, I tapped the metal pen on the rim of the old gate to allow the extra ink to flick to the ground. The bumpy block, now solid, went into my bag with the pen and book.

Kiszo removed two large sleeping packs from her bag. I needed to get or make a larger bottomless bag for myself as soon as possible. We chatted for a bit before I looked at her missing arm. Seeing me look, she explained one of the new giant Gnit's had taken it off when they first appeared in the forest. Kiszo, seeing my worry explained one day, she would find a healer in one of the larger cities to grow it back. She didn't seem to beat up about only having three arms.