Chapter 47: Ability Crystals

  The sunlight was already dwindling by the time Chastity squeezed her way out of the fissure, having been underground for quite some time. She greedily inhaled lungfuls of fresh, chilly air. Every muscle ached from her exertion.

  Reequipping her armor, the Paladin put some distance between herself and the cracked, rocky pavement. Although the Alpha Lute Spider did not or could not pursue her, she wanted no hint of anything arachnid for the foreseeable future.

  Finding an overhanging rock ledge suitably far from the cave system, she gathered kindling and sticks, even breaking off the handle of the small pickaxe for fuel. She was eventually able to make a decent fire and huddled up with her back against the rock wall.

  I’ll rest here for now, she thought. It was a clear night, and the unfamiliar stars twinkled above a spackled moon that looked similar, but not identical, to her own.

  At first light I’ll set out for Goldenberry. It’ll be easier, and safer, to navigate by day.

  Famished, Chastity retrieved the jar of Holy Elf Ear Pickles and ate several more. She felt the same boost of Holy Power flowing through her as before. It wasn’t ideal, but she needed calories. Screwing on the lid, she noted that the jar remained about a third full (yes, Chastity is an optimist). She also drained most of her canteen.

  Chastity was unsure if she would actually be able to sleep; who knew what other dangers might lurk near this boulder field? But between the warmth of the fire and the holy mushrooms in her belly, she found herself growing heavy lidded. She kept her quiver of javelins close and allowed herself to nod off.

  She awoke with a start. The fire was out, and dawn crept up between the mountain peaks. The night had thankfully been uneventful. Stretching her stiff neck and vigorously rubbing her arms to warm up, Chastity broke camp.

  It took nearly the whole day to navigate in reverse back to the village, and she managed to signal for the ferry crossing before she lost the light entirely. A particularly cold wind picked up, and most of the halflings had already retired for the evening. Tired and once again hungry, she decided to check in with Charlie and the others in the morning.

  She made her way to the small shack at the end of the street where Kobelt should be waiting. In the fading light, she stopped to study the building. It looked different than before.

  She could see there was a plot for a modest garden outside, surrounded by a sagging wooden fence. Nothing but frozen dirt now. There was also a wooden sign out front she hadn’t noticed before. The paint was faded and chipped, but she could make out the word Sprout before the rest became illegible. Possibly part of the surname of the former resident. But that wasn’t what was different…

  Aha.

  Chastity looked up and saw a strange contraption protruding from the roof. Some kind of topsy turvy metal and wood construction, nailed together and completely out of place, wrapped around the chimney and spread out like a large funnel.

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  That definitely wasn’t there before!

  Chastity knocked gently on the door before opening it. Kobelt sat cross-legged on the floor, tinkering with something in his lap. A small fire crackled in the fireplace. The gnome greeted her nonchalantly.

  “You’re back. You fight goblins? You save dwarves?” he asked.

  Chastity shook her head wearily.

  “The cave was abandoned. Well, except for some nasty creatures deeper in. I did find the remains of one deceased dwarf, poor soul, but I think he might have been killed by a giant spider.”

  She shuddered.

  “Ah. Too bad, too bad. There are other mines. They move slaves elsewhere. Much greed for gold,” the gnome said matter-of-factly, returning to his work.

  “Kobelt, did you do something to the roof?”

  “Yes! Kobelt improved Sprouthome.” The gnome stood and walked to where several pipes hung from the ceiling, ending above a large cauldron.

  Sprout Home? I kinda like that name… thought Chastity. And it’s about as tiny as a sprout.

  The gnome continued, “Kobelt made a snow-catcher. Catch the snow on the roof, then heat from chimney melts the snow, then get drinking water here. Help yourself.”

  “Wow! You built all that yourself? In two days?”

  Kobelt nodded, then returned to his other project. Chastity was impressed. She assumed Charlie had been generous in providing all kinds of scraps for Kobelt to work with, although she didn’t really want to know where he was getting them. She also hoped there weren’t any Goldenberry Village H.O.A. bylaws they had violated.

  Chastity, ducking beneath the low ceiling, went to the cauldron and saw a pool of clear water and a large wooden ladle for drawing. She refilled her canteen and took a swig.

  “That’s great, Kobelt!” she said. Then, changing the subject, “Do you know where any of those other mining operations are?”

  “No. Since Kobelt was captured, Kobelt only work that cave. But Kobelt heard them speak about a Great Mine somewhere else. Much bigger, Kobelt thinks. Whole army of goblins there probably.”

  Great…

  It was a problem for another day. Chastity unfurled her bedroll on the crooked floorboards and unpacked her traveling kit. She remembered the mysterious red crystals in her Inventory. They might be able to purchase Sprout Home fair and square with one of those.

  Maybe Kobelt will know what these are.

  She drew them from her Inventory and held one up.

  “Kobelt, do you know what these are? I found them in the mine. They look pretty valuable.”

  Kobelt gave a quick glance, then turned away, shaking his head.

  “No. Not valuable. Those are ‘false rubies.’ Fragile. Squeeze them too hard and they break. Look pretty but useless.”

  “Oh…” Chastity sighed with disappointment.

  But why would that dwarf go through all the trouble to hide them? Do dwarves know more about rocks and stones than gnomes? And why is the system telling me that they have some sort of unknown effect?

  Lying on her bedroll, Chastity fiddled with one of the crystals.

  Maybe Kobelt’s wrong, she thought. She began to squeeze the crystal. It felt solid enough in her hand. She gradually increased the pressure.

  Crack!

  In an instant, the red crystal shattered. A surge of energy entered Chastity, and the next thing she knew not a trace of the crystal remained.