Jer Patch
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Chapter 40: Accidents
🕑 Added 2025-03-12 15:00:06 +0000 UTCThe hunk of meat slipped from my hand as I hit the stone floor in shock. Everything moved in slow motion as I carefully wrapped my fingers around the meat. I shoved it in my mouth, almost choking before swallowing. That helped the worst of the shakes.
Unable to stand, I slowly crawled across the rough floor to the pot next to the fire and sipped on the edge of the bowl while lying on my side. Eventually, I finished the rest of the warm soup. Warmth from the fire soaked into me as I focused on my breathing, and the food in my stomach. As my body absorbed the energy, the darkened vision lessened before going completely away. Still, I waited even longer, just breathing, before I dared pull more food from my inventory.
I devoured two more hunks of meat before I sat up in silence.
It took a while to go over my notifications before I came to a solid conclusion. Creating the Bloomstone Crystal had used up every drop of energy I had, plus some. It reminded me of the fight where I’d blacked out after being injured. I’d been bare inches away from the same thing happening here.
Interestingly enough, the soup had helped more than the raw meat. I wasn’t sure why, but I pulled the pot closer to me and added more water to it before yanking out the cutting board. If each artifact took the same amount of energy out of me, I didn’t know if I had enough food to finish this dungeon.
This was only phase 2, after all.
“I need to sleep more than I am,” I said aloud. Sleep helped regenerate energy, I just didn’t need to sleep that much normally, and only did when my brain felt like it had nothing left. Eying what was in my inventory, I realized I had to change my strategy. I tossed the cut-up meat into the water.
Lenna had stored some mushrooms in my inventory as well, so I added those to the pot. Then I gave it a stir before putting it near the coals.
I used a little water from my canteen to clean up my hands and face before heading back into the room with a bed for a nap.
I assumed I woke a few hours later, and headed to the mines to refill my water. Once back, I stirred the soup mixture a few times before sitting back at the table.
Three more artifacts to go. The next one needed to be simple, to save on energy.
I pulled a fire crystal to the center of the work space and started singing a classic rock song to myself. It glowed brightly, making me smile, and I got to work rolling the straight edges into a ball before making it into a loop. I slid it a few times over my hand, making sure it fit, before adding a sharp edge to the back of the loop. Again, I slid it over the rest of my hand to make sure it was comfortable around my wrist.
It took a few more twists to get it how I wanted and I placed it back in the center of my hand. Brass knuckles, for the win. Well, crystal burning sharpened knuckles, but it worked. Or at least, I hoped it would.
[You have created a set of Burning Knuckles.]
[Quest Updated: 2/4 artifacts complete.]
I didn’t gain a level for it, but it also hadn’t taken much energy to create. Right now, the trade-off was worth it. Not to mention, I could use my new melee weapon as a light source if I needed to, since it could stay on my wrist. It’d give me another crystal weapon if my spear got left behind, stuck in a creature or dropped like it had so many times already, and I wouldn’t need to create a way to connect it to my belt.
Two more to go.
I really wanted to mix crystals again, like I did with Fire and Forest with Hammy’s armor, but I hesitated. I only had so much food to last me until I got free of this dungeon.
Instead, I pulled the tiny air crystal in front of me and took a few moments to get a feel for the energy inside. It kept leaping around, reminding me of my jumping ability. An idea came to mind, and I pushed the image of me jumping, along with the intention of a super jump. Something even more powerful than my normal jump that used energy while I was fighting. This would pull the energy from the air crystal instead.
The crystal sparkled in my hand, glowing a bright silver, before vibrating.
[You have created a Soarstone.]
[You have leveled your profession.]
[Quest Updated: 3/4 artifacts complete.]
“Fuck yes!”
I pulled my inventory crystal out from under my shirt. Next to it hung the small healing crystal I’d created earlier. With a push of energy, I created a small hole in my new Soarstone and then added it to the cord, before placing the bundle back under my shirt. The bulky crystals were noticeable under the cloth, and I’d bet they would make my armor fit a little weird, but they’d be worth it.
I needed to figure out a better way to wear the crystals I’d gathered, since I couldn’t put them in my inventory crystal. I also wanted to try the Soarstone out, but now wasn’t the time to be leaping all over the place.
Even though I wasn’t tired or hungry, I got up, stretching, and headed over to the fire to give the soup a stir. It still needed more time to cook, so I headed to the courtyard to take a short walk around the fountain, letting my mind wander.
While the fourth creation could be something simple, I still really wanted to do something that involved all the crystal types. The bulky crystals under my shirt bothered me, and that was without my armor, which sat in my inventory for now.
Once I put that back on, they’d be very uncomfortable.
They needed to touch my skin to be used, which took several ideas out from the get-go, like a belt. The knuckles weapon worked because it sat around my wrist and my hand was free. Could I make them thin enough to wear as a necklace? Solid rings around the neck were a fashion statement from when I’d gone to a normal school back on Earth. Something like that might work.
I sat back down on the bench and pulled my leather cord out. Each of the crystals stood out from the others. The inventory crystal had a slight golden sheen to it, while the healing crystal had a slight blue, and the Soarstone had a silver tint.
The Soarstone was the smallest, while the others were bigger. The inventory crystal was about the size of a golf ball, while the healing crystal was bigger yet.
All three were just too bulky.
I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths before focusing on the inventory crystal, since I’d had it the longest and it had several key possessions inside it. Connecting with the energy inside was like speaking to an old friend. Instant and strong.
Inspiration struck, and I sang under my breath as I made it malleable. I flattened it, as I grabbed the healing crystal. The connection wasn’t as stable with the water crystal as it became flexible. It didn’t want to flatten as much, and it curved a little more along the edge, attaching to the inventory crystal and leaving a small gap near the bottom.
Last I snagged the Soarstone. It quickly responded, like an eager puppy wanting a treat I held in my hand. It sunk into place into the gap near the bottom of my new whatever-it-was. As the three crystals glowed, I slipped them under the collar of my shirt and pressed the combined mass into my upper chest, just under my neck.
Heat came off of them, but I pressed down, shaping the mass to fit like a breastplate. I very slowly pulled away from the connection and the crystal cooled down. I’d left a few holes along the top and weaved the leather thong through before putting it over my head.
The crystal plate still felt warm as I slid it into place, fitting nice and snug against my skin, hidden under my clothing. The extra thickness wasn’t noticeable at all.
No notifications popped up.
I let out a sigh, knowing it wouldn’t have been that easy. The crystal necklace didn’t do anything new, it just fit me better.
I cheated and created something I already knew how to make, or at least had seen my brother create. Taking one of the fire crystals, I focused on energy concentration and the storage of energy. Instead of making it burn, I wanted it to gather energy that could be used later.
The ding came quickly.
[You have created a crystal battery.]
[Quest Updated: 4/4 artifacts complete.]
[Quest Completed: You have unlocked Phase Three of the Hidden Crystal Dungeon.]
No levels, but that was to be expected from creating a battery.
The knowledge crystal from the dungeon glowed a bright silver color and the old man appeared again. He smiled softly, nowhere near where I sat, but I could still see him well enough.
“You have completed the Second Phase of the Hidden Crystal Dungeon. Creativity has its place in our Profession. During the creation of something new, did you feel a connection to the crystals? More than energy, something akin to personality or emotion?” He waited a moment, like he expected a response.
It got awkward.
“Yes, I did.”
He nodded. “Good, good. Hopefully, your level is closer to fifteen now. Phase Three is about connecting with the crystals on a deeper level. This knowledge crystal will now unlock the library. You will need to hold it up to the wall opposite the workbench. The library is a collection of our knowledge.” He paused, his eyebrows drawing together. “It contains the knowledge crystals from many of our Crystal Singers. When you leave the Dungeon, you bear the responsibility to return here someday and place your own knowledge crystal inside. If you have joined the ancestors, then any of the elders can access this place and place your crystal inside.”
He turned to face a slightly different direction, like someone spoke to him. He frowned. “To complete this Phase you must find the crystal you connect the most with. Each of us connects more strongly to one element than the others, and you must find yours. Once you feel confident in your abilities, take this crystal past the water crystal mine to the crystal archway.”
The image suddenly flickered off.
“Okay…” I whispered to myself before climbing to my feet and taking the crystal to the far wall. While I felt confident in my abilities, I wanted to check this library out. I held the crystal up to the wall and a burst of energy erupted from the point. A bright white outline appeared on the wall, thin at first before flashing stronger. The light forced my eyes closed, and when I opened them an archway adorned the wall.
Inside sat another small room. This one had shelves covering the back and left-hand walls. Row after row of crystals sparkled with an inner glow on those shelves. A smaller table sat to the right, with an inventory crystal on it along with another knowledge crystal.
I started with the knowledge crystal.
A young female jungle folk appeared, reminding me of Lenna. She held a staff in one hand. “Welcome to the library. I am the librarian, and it is my pleasure to meet you. Someday, I hope to see you in person. There should be an inventory crystal in this room with stored food and a comfortable chair.”
She smiled, her teeth almost glowing white. “The records contained within this room cannot be removed once placed inside. If taken out, they will shatter. It is a safety precaution in case the Forgers ever discover this place. May that never happen.” For a second the image flickered before it steadied.
This time the jungle folk had aged. Her hair had patches of white, and she leaned on the staff.
“We have expanded the library to contain our oral histories, as well as knowledge related to our Crystal Songs. The war with the Forgers has stretched longer than we could have imagined. So many lives lost.” She paused and wiped a tear away from her face.
“Hopefully in your day, you can sing under the forest leaves. If not, your sacrifice is treasured. Our people depend on your strength.”
The image flickered again before I could think about what she had said.
This time, wrinkles covered her face and her white hair flowed down her back. Her back arched deeply, and the staff was the only thing that kept her upright.
“We made the hard choice to limit those learning the songs, to reduce the likelihood of the Forgers finding our people. You have been chosen to take up the burden and replace one of the elders.” She paused, bowing her head before straightening. I swore she looked directly at me. “May you pass the final challenge and be free to take up your duty. Study hard, learn all that you can, and never forget your song.”
Then the image vanished.
What had I stumbled into?
