The sound of pickaxes striking rock could be heard, but with decreasing vigor, as many workers walked back and forth carrying stones and carts filled with ore. The workers were exhausted and frustrated, aware that their efforts were in vain as long as the mine remained obstructed. Meanwhile...
"Hey, Herman, get back to work!" The supervisor's voice caught the attention of the young man who was truly tired and had sat down on the ground to take a break. "We have no work, Lariet! The mine is blocked," Herman commented. Lariet just put his hand over his face.
"What are we going to do? No work, no money... I need to support my family." He remarked. "We've sent a request to the royal palace, haven't we? It shouldn't take long for them to send some powerful cultivator to check out our situation." Herman responded, trying to be optimistic, standing next to his supervisor, who was looking at the entrance of the mine, which was really huge.
