After a long and arduous journey, Broken and the other three finally arrived at the summit of the mountain just as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. Rays of orange sunlight lit up the foggy peak, and in all directions, they were surrounded by a vast sea of clouds. The wind was even more intense at the top, whipping through their hair and clothes.
"Yeah!" RememberMe shouted loudly. "Finally, we're here. Ha ha ha..."
PussyCat, having removed her conical hat, ran with her blond hair streaming behind her. "This game is so beautiful," she said, her voice filled with awe. "If it wasn't for this game, I'd only be able to dream of something like this - climbing a mountain and taking in the beauty of the peak." She then fell silent, smiling as she watched the setting sun, the golden light reflecting in her eyes.
Forev walked towards PussyCat and stood by her right, silently taking in the breathtaking view.
The three of them had their own distinct characteristics, and even though they were very different from each other, they seemed to blend perfectly. RememberMe was bold and daring, often acting without thought and craving exciting experiences. He was always ready to dive headfirst into any challenge, his fearless attitude pushing the group to take risks. PussyCat, on the other hand, was kind and caring, making an effort to find the good in people and generating laughter with her positive remarks. Her gentle nature brought warmth and joy to the group, balancing out RememberMe's impulsive tendencies. Forev, meanwhile, was a reliable and intelligent figure who could be trusted to complete tasks with precision. Her analytical mind and calm demeanor provided stability and strategic insight, ensuring that the group stayed on track.
"Let's set up camp and get some rest," Broken suggested, looking at them.
He felt a special bond with the three of them, and it was the first time in the game that he truly felt connected to people who had suddenly come into his life, offering him kindness that he rarely experienced outside of the game. It warmed his heart and gave him a sense of belonging.
RememberMe stepped closer to him and said, "PussyCat can only use a wheelchair out there, so that's why she is so happy to climb the mountain. Just keep quiet, okay?" though his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Broken raised his eyebrows and swiveled his head towards RememberMe in surprise. "Are you sure you should be telling me that?"
"RememberMe!" PussyCat turned and called out, her tone a mix of irritation and amusement. "Did you think I didn't hear your voice? You just revealed my biggest secret in front of Broken, you know?"
"Oops... sorry...." RememberMe apologized sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't mean to."
"We should be prepared for situations like this after deciding to befriend this idiot," Forev added.
Broken thought that everyone has their own problems, but ultimately, it's up to them to decide how they will respond to their problems. He admired PussyCat's courage and positive attitude despite her challenges. She always managed to find joy and laughter in their adventures. He then turned his head to PussyCat, who was busy kicking RememberMe's leg in playful retaliation.
"I'll be mining, probably for the next few days," he announced, breaking the light-hearted moment.
Everyone was taken aback by his statement, their expressions shifting from amusement to surprise.
"Wait, wait, I didn't think to ask before, but you came here to mine, Broken?" RememberMe inquired.
PussyCat chuckled and remarked, "You must be looking for something worth more than gold, right?"
"You sure are full of surprises!" Forev exclaimed.
***
Broken had been awaiting the night to come, as the information he had received told him that the Moonstone would only become visible after darkness descended.
After waiting for several hours, however, it seemed that what he was searching for had yet to appear. "Should I stay until midnight?" he pondered aloud, his patience wearing thin.
By the time the moon was perfectly centered in the sky, the clock had just struck 11 PM, and he noticed faint, shimmering lights appearing in various places around him. The lights gradually revealed a rock that glowed brighter than the others, emitting a soft, ethereal glow.
The atmosphere at the summit of the mountains was incredibly dark, the only light coming from the millions of stars in the sky and the crescent moon. But around him, a few faint sparkles began to appear. He walked up to one of them and, tentatively, ran his hands over the stones.
"This must be the Moonstone," he whispered.
His eyes lit up with excitement as he pulled out his pickaxe. "There are a lot of them! I'm going to finish this quest right away!" he declared, his voice filled with determination.
RememberMe, PussyCat, and Forev were standing near their tents, watching Broken from a distance.
"See, it seems he has found what he was looking for." RememberMe raised his head and squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look at Broken in the distance.
"He really is so mysterious," PussyCat replied with a chuckle. "I'm really curious as to what he's looking for in a place like this, in the middle of the night."
"He said he wanted to mine something," Forev added. "It seems that thing is quite rare since to mine it he has to come to this place and wait until midnight."
RememberMe then smiled broadly, standing up with determination. "I'll approach him, just in case he needs some help," he declared, taking a step forward.
"But couldn't we just respect his privacy a bit, RememberMe?" PussyCat interjected. "He clearly said he would do this himself."
"You sure will be a pain for him if you try to help out!" Forev added.
RememberMe let out an exasperated "Tsk!" before heaving a sigh. "Alright, then I'll just watch from afar, hahaha," he conceded, sitting back down with a grin.
Broken grabbed the pickaxe with both hands and, after taking a deep breath, began to strike the shining rocks. He repeated this several times until he heard a crack, and a notification suddenly appeared in front of him.
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
"Huh?" Broken was taken aback as he saw the notification that had unexpectedly appeared before him.
"Who would have thought that chipping away at this rock wouldn't be as simple as mining iron ores?" he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards into a barely visible smile.
He swiftly moved to another rock and repeated his actions, striking his pickaxe against it in the hopes of reaching the ore deep inside. Yet the same result occurred.
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
"Wait!" Broken trembled as he failed to mine the object he thought was Moonstone despite his numerous attempts.
"Are there any special requirements I need to fulfill before I can mine this thing? Like, do I need to increase my Mining Technique to increase my chances of success?"
There were still a few moonstones left. He could still keep trying!