A sharp tap... tap... echoed through the glowing cave. The sound cut through the stillness like a blade. Reth's [Threat Perception] flared in his mind. Danger. He drew his sword.
Asthia was already crouched, blade ready, eyes locked on the dark space beyond the softly glowing crystals. She tugged Reth's hand, then pointed to the left—to a jagged rock jutting from the wall, pulsing faintly with light.
"There," she whispered. "Hide."
They moved fast and quiet. Reth pressed into the rock's shadow. Asthia crouched beside him, her silver hair tucked beneath her hood, sword held low to stay hidden.
Footsteps approached. Tap... tap... tap. Slow. Not boots. Too light. Maybe claws. Or metal.
[System: Threat Perception Lv. 2 – Hostile Presence. Distance: 30 meters. Movement: Approaching.]
Reth held his breath. Asthia didn't move. She signaled: stay low.
The crystals dimmed and brightened in strange rhythms, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls.
Tap... tap...
Closer. Twenty meters now.
Asthia glanced at Reth. Her look was clear: be ready.
He nodded and steadied his grip. [Refined Sword Technique Lv. 1] helped him focus on the blade—its balance, its feel. His body coiled, ready.
Then the figure appeared.
Tall. Thin. Cloaked.
It moved with a smooth, strange grace. Its hood concealed its face. Something metal hung from its belt. Curved. A hook?
[System: Unknown Entity – Mana Signature Detected. Threat Level: Moderate to High.]
Asthia put a hand on Reth's chest, holding him back. The figure stopped. Its head turned slowly toward their hiding place.
Tap.
It froze.
The cave seemed to hold its breath. Light flickered and faded. Reth's instincts screamed to act. Asthia's grip tightened. Wait.
The figure tilted its head further, as if sniffing the air. It stepped once, then stopped again. A low, rough sound came from under the hood. Not human.
Reth tensed, ready to strike.
Asthia's eyes told him no.
The figure stood still for a long moment, then turned and walked away. Tap... tap... Fading into the distance.
They stayed frozen.
Only when the sound was gone did Asthia let go.
"Too close," she whispered.
The cave glowed softly again. Reth's heart was still racing. His [Threat Perception] buzzed low, steady but no longer urgent.
Asthia stood carefully, blade still in hand. She scanned the tunnel.
"We keep moving," she said. "That thing might return."
Reth nodded, rolling his shoulders. His hand stayed near his sword.
"What was that?"
"Not human," she replied. "Its mana was... wrong. Maybe a construct. Or worse." She adjusted her nearly burnt-out candle. "Let's go. We're not chasing."
They moved deeper into the tunnel, guided by the dim glow of the crystals. The air turned cold. A hum vibrated faintly beneath their skin. Reth's System pinged again, but no threats were marked. Still, he stayed alert.
The passage widened. More crystals lined the walls, glowing green and purple. The ground sloped downward. The air smelled faintly of rust and blood.
Asthia paused at a fork in the tunnel.
"This way," she said, pointing right. "Feels heavier. Like it's pulling us."
"You're trusting a feeling now?" Reth asked.
She gave him a flat look. "You learn to listen in places like this. Move."
They continued. Crystals grew scarce. Bare rock took over. The hum grew louder. Reth's chest buzzed with it. [Threat Perception] stayed quiet, but something was close.
The tunnel opened into a wide chamber. The ceiling vanished into darkness. Crates, shattered tools, and bones littered the ground. At the far end, a flicker of orange light. Voices. Low. Urgent.
Asthia knelt behind a broken beam. Reth joined her.
The voices became clearer.
"…they said he's dead," one rasped. "The City Lord's son. Skull split."
Reth froze. Asthia looked at him, eyes hard.
"Dead?" a second voice said. "No way. He was a noble. City should be on lockdown."
"It is. Guards everywhere. Word is it was an outsider. Big guy. Wore a hood. Had a woman with him. Sound familiar?"
Asthia glanced at Reth. Sharp. Cold.
She pointed toward a nearby crate hidden in shadow. They crawled low, careful not to disturb the bones.
Reth reached the crate. The lid was cracked. Damp. He looked to Asthia.
She signaled: open it.
He lifted the lid. A faint blue glow poured out.
Inside were mana crystals. Dozens. Some cracked. Some whole. All pulsing with power.
Asthia leaned close. "Mana crystals. This many? What are they planning?"
A voice drew closer.
"...move the next shipment before dawn. City Lord doesn't want delays."
Asthia shut the lid quickly.
Reth's [Threat Perception] pinged lightly. Movement nearby, but not toward them. The smugglers were busy.
Two figures passed, carrying another crate. Orange firelight danced behind them. Neither looked back.
Asthia touched Reth's arm. They slipped along the wall, quiet and fast, following the smugglers through a narrow side tunnel. Lanterns flickered. Dust hung in the air. The crystal glow faded behind them.
At the tunnel's end, the smugglers opened a heavy door.
"…keep it quiet. We're almost outside,"
Reth and Asthia waited. Once the last smuggler passed, they slipped through.
Outside, early morning light touched the hills. Redhill stood in the distance. Near its base, hidden behind rocks, was a fake cave mouth. A gate was built into it.
Two guards stood watch. One looked half asleep.
Asthia gave a signal. Reth circled right, low to the ground. Asthia moved left.
Thump.
Reth struck the first guard. The man dropped silently. Asthia knocked out the second with a blow from her sword hilt.
They dragged the bodies behind some stones.
Over the gate, an old sign:
Mining Designation 14B — Iron/Metal Resource Deposit. Authorized Access Only.
Asthia frowned. She looked back toward the cave.
"This is marked as a metal mine," she said. "But it's a mana crystal vein."
Reth stared at the gate, then the cave.
"So what does that mean?"
Asthia's eyes narrowed.
"It means someone's hiding something big."