As John continued his labor in the mine, he found solace in the rhythm of the work. Each swing of the pickaxe and each load of gems lifted eased the burden of his mind.
The physical exertion soon became a welcome distraction, drowning out the negative thoughts that had plagued him. Day after day, he toiled away, finding a sense of purpose in the routine of the mine.
'I feel as if the amount of peace I'm finding in this mine isn't right, isn't the [Stygian Crypt] supposed to be a world of suffering?' John wondered as he struck the stone.
Soon, a loud bell rang and declared work was done for the day. John took his bucket of gems and delivered it to the guard assigned to his side. The guard nodded and John went back to his dwelling.
Unbeknownst to John he was being treated better than most of the other slaves due to his tall physique and size and the terrifying look in his eyes.
Soon, he reached his dwelling, a cave hole in the side of the mountain.
