Kalem entered the room where Arithon waited, his heart beating wildly in his chest. The long corridors had only added to the mounting tension. The scholar was a figure shrouded in mystery, and now, after days of travel, Kalem would finally find out the truth about the strange crystal he had discovered. He walked up to a long wooden table at the center of the room, the dim lighting casting flickering shadows along the walls. Arithon stood there, waiting, his long robe trailing the ground as he adjusted his spectacles.
The scholar, as Kalem had quickly surmised, was not quite what he had expected. He was older, of course, with deep-set eyes that shone with intelligence and curiosity, but his overall demeanor was almost whimsical. Kalem could feel an intense sense of knowledge and eccentricity radiating from him, which only made his palms sweat more.
As Kalem approached, he reached into his pouch and gently pulled out the glowing crystal. "I have something I need you to look at," he said, placing it on the table between them. His voice wavered slightly, betraying his nerves. "I think… I think this might be the Crystal of Omrin."
There was a moment of silence. Arithon blinked at the stone on the table, then slowly raised his eyes to Kalem. For a brief moment, the scholar's face was unreadable—his eyes scanning the stone like a hawk sizing up its prey.
And then, unexpectedly, Arithon let out a booming laugh.
It was so sudden and so loud that Kalem jumped back, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. The scholar was doubled over, clutching his stomach as he continued laughing, so hard that tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. "The Crystal of Omrin?" Arithon gasped between fits of laughter. "The Crystal of Omrin! You think *that* is the legendary artifact?"
Kalem flushed a deep shade of red, utterly mortified. "I—I don't know," he stammered. "I just thought—"
Arithon waved a hand, still catching his breath, and wiped a tear from his eye. "My boy, I haven't had a laugh like that in ages. Truly, you've made my day." He composed himself, though a smile still lingered on his lips. "But the Crystal of Omrin? No, no, that's not what you've found."
Kalem's face fell, embarrassment coursing through him. "Then what is it?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Arithon, now more serious, leaned over the table and examined the crystal more closely. His fingers traced the edges, and his brow furrowed in thought. "It's not a bad find," he said after a moment. "Certainly rare. It's what we call a *Lynthian Crystal*, a mineral formed deep within the earth, near the world's ley lines."
Kalem felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. "So, it's valuable?"
"Oh, yes," Arithon replied, his tone thoughtful. "But not in the way you think. The Lynthian Crystal doesn't hold vast magical power like the legends of the Omrin stone, but it does have a unique property." He paused, holding the crystal up to the light. "It absorbs and amplifies ambient magic—particularly the magic of living beings."
Kalem's curiosity piqued. "Amplifies magic? What does that mean?"
Arithon chuckled again, though this time it was softer, almost fond. "It means that if someone attuned to magic were to carry this crystal, their spells would become more potent, their connection to the magical energies of the world heightened. It's an excellent tool for mages, and in the right hands, it could be worth a fortune. However…" He trailed off, his eyes flicking up to meet Kalem's.
"However?"
Arithon tilted his head, studying Kalem intently. "You don't strike me as a mage, lad."
Kalem rubbed the back of his neck, still feeling the sting of his earlier embarrassment. "I'm not," he admitted. "I'm a blacksmith."
The scholar smiled faintly. "I thought as much. So, I assume you've no intention of using the crystal for its magical properties?"
Kalem shook his head. "No. I just… I wanted to know if it was worth anything."
Arithon leaned back in his chair, regarding the young blacksmith thoughtfully. "In terms of raw value, yes. It's worth quite a bit, especially to the right buyer. But the real question is, what do you plan to do with it?"
Kalem hadn't thought that far ahead. He had spent so much time trying to uncover the crystal's identity that he hadn't considered what to do once he knew. The thought of selling it had crossed his mind, but now, with the knowledge of its true nature, he wasn't sure.
"I don't know," Kalem admitted, feeling the weight of his uncertainty. "I don't have much use for magic. Maybe I should sell it?"
Arithon hummed thoughtfully, his fingers tapping against the wooden table. "That would certainly be an option. But you might want to consider this: in the hands of the right mage, this crystal could become something extraordinary. If you were to find such a person, someone who truly understood its potential, you might be able to strike a far more profitable arrangement."
Kalem frowned, unsure of what Arithon was suggesting. "What do you mean?"
The scholar's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "The Lynthian Crystal has the potential to be more than just a magical amplifier. If combined with the right materials, forged in the right way… well, it could become a legendary artifact in its own right."
Kalem's heart skipped a beat. "You mean it could be forged into a weapon?"
"Or armor, or an amulet, or any number of things," Arithon replied, leaning forward with excitement. "It all depends on who wields it—and what they choose to create with it."
For the first time since arriving in Maelon, Kalem felt a spark of hope. He had come here seeking answers, and now he had not only discovered the crystal's true nature but also learned of its potential. The idea of forging something legendary, of creating an artifact that could stand the test of time, stirred something deep within him. This was his chance to make something truly great.
"I need to think about this," Kalem said, his voice steady.
Arithon nodded, smiling warmly. "Take all the time you need, lad. The crystal isn't going anywhere."
Kalem stood, feeling the weight of the decision before him, and tucked the Lynthian Crystal back into his pouch. As he turned to leave the scholar's study, he couldn't shake the sense that this was only the beginning of something far larger than he had ever imagined.