Chrys Lumenfae's Arc

Chapter 4 of 7

Chrys pulled a small crystal from their pouch and held it to the lamplight. A worker across the bench glanced over, eyes narrowing with interest. Chrys set the stone down between them without a word. The worker picked it up, turned it twice, then nodded. Quality spoke louder than introductions here. Another supplier leaned in, comparing their own samples. Chrys watched how they handled the stones, how they pointed out flaws and strengths. This was the language of the trade—gestures, nods, and stones passing between hands. After an hour, Chrys had learned three new tests for spotting weak crystals and heard about a vein opening next month in the eastern tunnels. The tree hummed with quiet conversations and deals that would last for seasons. Chrys stood, their pouch heavier with knowledge than crystals. The mine leader would hear about this visit, and that was exactly what Chrys needed. Outside, Chrys noticed patches of strange moss covering the swamp surface near the tree's roots. The moss caught the afternoon light and broke it apart into streaks of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. Each color rippled across the surface as Chrys stepped closer. They knelt and ran their fingers across the soft, damp growth. The colors shifted with every movement of their hand. This moss would be perfect for testing crystal clarity. Hold a stone above it, and the colors would show every flaw or crack that blocked the light. Chrys carefully pulled a section free and wrapped it in cloth. The suppliers inside the tree probably already knew this trick, but Chrys would find new ways to use it. Small advantages added up over time. They tucked the wrapped moss into their pack and started back toward the main mines. Every tool learned, every contact made, every test discovered—it all built the reputation the mine leader needed to see. Chrys was becoming the supplier who knew more than just where to dig. The path curved through a shallow section of swamp where lilies floated on the water's surface. As the light faded, the flowers began to glow with a soft blue-white light. Chrys stopped and watched the glow spread from one lily to the next until the whole patch lit up like stars reflected in dark water. The light was steady and gentle, nothing like the sharp brightness of crystals. Chrys pulled out their wrapped moss and held a crystal above it. The lily light was strong enough to make the colors show through. They tested three more stones, checking each one against the moss while the lilies glowed around them. This spot would work perfectly for evening quality checks before delivering to the mine leader. Chrys marked the location in their mind and continued walking. The swamp held more tools than the mines themselves. Learning to use them all—that was what would set Chrys apart from every other supplier. Further along the path, an old structure rose from the swamp mist. Chrys slowed, taking in the building ahead. A tree stood at its center, but this was no ordinary growth. Its branches and leaves looked like they were made from crystal, each surface catching the fading light and throwing it in sharp angles across the ground. The trunk gleamed with colors that shifted as Chrys walked closer. This had to be one of the old refining sites, back when the mines first opened and workers processed crystals in the open air. Most of those places had been abandoned for newer tunnels and better equipment. But this tree remained, frozen in time, a reminder of how the trade began. Chrys touched one of the crystal branches. It was cold and smooth, harder than any stone they'd pulled from the mines. The mine leader would remember this place. Everyone who'd worked here long enough would. Chrys stepped back and looked up at the crystallized canopy above. The past mattered in this business. Knowing where things came from, understanding how methods changed—it all added weight to a supplier's reputation. Chrys turned back toward the main route, their pack full of moss and knowledge, their mind full of connections between old methods and new opportunities. Trust was built on more than good crystals. It was built on understanding the whole world that made those crystals matter.