The buzzing sound in the tunnel faded, replaced by the sound of clanging.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The metallic clangs became a symphony of sorts as Ben began humming another song to pass the time. Despite the new form he had taken, the grinding process remained just as monotonous and boring as ever. Swinging his pickaxe over and over again, he mined the Grimslate blocks, carving out space, and trying to get the recipes he needed. 'If only I could multiply this pickaxe...' Ben thought with annoyance.
The repetition was wearing on him, and he struggled to keep his focus on the task. With his ability, he could create multiple arms, but multiplying the artifact itself was impossible. Using his arms to simply break through the blocks wasn't effective either—it would only damage the blocks without unlocking the necessary understanding. 'Once I get this, I can craft a proper Grimslate pickaxe and start creating Krell to do the work for me.'
The sound of the pickaxe striking the stone continued, and the system notifications filled his mind.
[Ding! You obtained 1x Grimslate!]
[Ding! You obtained 1x Grimslate!]
[Ding! You obtained 1x Grimslate!]
[258x Grimslate]
[Understanding 0.258%]
While Ben busy with the boring grind, Elvira was having quite the opposite experience. She was having fun immersed in studying the Empyran crystal. In the past, access to this kind of crystal had been reserved only for the clan leader. 'If only I had this access in my past life... things would have turned out so differently. Those bastard!'
Anger flared in her gaze, but it quickly disappear replaced with a heavy sigh 'forget it, this time it will be different.'
Elvira continue experimenting, she study they energy, it flow and strength. Than a realization come to her, the crack on the crystal is leaking energy. She than start taking out some object from her storage each item will certainly make Ben complain, 'If you have that why don't you tell me? I can use more mana.'
But in her defense this kind of items is limited, and if Ben absorb it, the item will turn to dust. So instead she prefer to keep it as material for future use. Elvira than try to utlize it to patch the crack.
BAM!!!
Unfortunately the result is the material turn into dust. 'I don't have the materials to contain this energy... It'll either explode or the crack will just get worse.' Her fingers traced the edges of the crack, frustration creeping into her thoughts.
'What a waste. If I could just use this energy... It feels like a higher quality than mana.' The energy inside the crystal was too strong. She needed something that could contain that power—something strong enough to hold it in place without collapsing under the pressure.
Elvira's brow furrowed in concentration as she shaped another magic circle in front of her. But just like the material, as soon as she tried to channel energy into it, the circle trembled violently before shattering into nothing. 'Is this thing just useless?' Frustration simmered in her heart, but she refused to give up. 'I don't believe I can't find a way to use it. There has to be something.'
Her finger begin to move again forming another circle. As it flickered to life, she closed her eyes and murmured softly. "Library of Memories."
Immediately, the world around her shifted. In her mind's, a vast library materialized—rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stretching far beyond her sight. She walked forward, her gaze scanning the endless collection.
'Empyran crystal.' At her spoken words, the books began to stir. The shelves seemed to vibrate slightly before they started shifting, books sliding out of their places and rearranging themselves. The shelves themselves moved, parting to make room for the ones they had selected.
One by one, the books gathered into a single row, then slid down the aisle toward her. As the final book slid into place, a cupboard at the end of the row clicked open. The cupboard itself seemed to shift, its doors creaking forward to present the selected book.
'This is less than I thought…' Elvira thought, staring at the single book that lay before her. This library, a culmination of knowledge gathered over two lifetimes, and yet there was only one book to show for it.
Her fingers hovered over the book's hard cover, tracing the texture. Slowly, she opened it. The moment she did, her surroundings began to shift once again.
The familiar cave walls dissolved, replaced by the cool, polished surfaces of a study room. The walls were carved from a marble-like material that gave the space a luxurious feel. The furniture, crafted from wood, giving out a warm atmosphere. At the center of it all, a young girl with long autumn hair sat at a desk, her red eyes darting between the large magic tome spread open before her.
Elvira's gaze softened as she recognized herself in the child's curious expression. The young Elvira, eyes wide with wonder, raised her hand and asked, "Teacher, is there any other source of energy besides mana?"
The elderly man seated beside her smiled warmly. His features were etched with years of wisdom, and his eyes twinkled with amusement at her relentless curiosity. "Mana, child," he began, his voice soft but steady, "is already one of the strongest sources of energy we know. There's still so much about it that we don't understand. We've only begun to scratch the surface of its true power."
Young Elvira pouted slightly, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. Her red eyes widened, and she leaned in closer, giving the elder man an almost pleading look. "But… is there anything else?"
.
The older man chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, you're a royalty. At some point, you'll hear this. But remember, don't tell anyone I told you this—I don't want to get into trouble." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "There's also something called the Empyran crystal. It's the source of energy that powers our entire clan, make sure we can live safely. It's incredibly powerful, more so than mana in some ways."
Young Elvira's eyes lit up with even more curiosity. "How does it work?"
"Ah, I don't know how it works, only that it does. I've heard rumors that we hire specialized people to maintain and harness the crystal's power. They're called Magus." His voice lowered even further. "But honestly it's better if you avoid them Elvira…."