The lamplight flickered gently, casting soft shadows across Felix's wooden workbench.
Felix's hand moved carefully. His brush dipped into a small vial of glowing ink, and with a steady breath, he traced another delicate line on the talisman's surface.
"Just a little more," he whispered, barely moving his lips.
Each stroke had to be exact. Not just copied, but understood. The protective talisman he was trying to recreate came from a forgotten book, its pages brittle with age. It was said to ward off powerful magical attacks, but the book didn't explain everything. It gave symbols, not answers.
He had studied those symbols for weeks, trying different materials, testing patterns again and again. Now, he was close—he could feel it.
Suddenly, a shadow moved over his bench. Felix looked up quickly.
Seris stood at the doorway, her expression serious—but there was something else too. Her eyes held a quiet excitement.
"Young Lord," she said softly, "you need to see something."
Felix blinked, still halfway focused on the talisman. "Is it about the fruits or herbs?"
She shook her head. "No. It's something different. I found a cave. A hidden one. And inside… well, I think it's important."
Felix hesitated. The talisman wasn't done. One mistake and he'd have to start over. But Seris wasn't the type to make a fuss over nothing.
He set the brush down carefully. "Alright. Show me."
The forest felt different this time. Familiar trees lined the path, but Seris led them deeper, past the places Felix normally explored. The air grew cooler. Thicker. The light dimmed as the canopy above grew tighter.
They walked in silence until they reached a large rock wall, half-covered in moss.
Seris stopped. "Here."
Felix raised an eyebrow. "A rock?"
She smiled slightly. "Watch."
She reached out and brushed aside some vines. Her hand moved over the surface, fingers pressing into the stone. With a soft sound, a narrow opening appeared—just wide enough for them to slip through.
"I found it by accident," she said, stepping inside. "I was following a strange energy. It led me here."
Felix followed her in. The passage was tight at first, the air damp and cold. The deeper they went, the more the walls seemed to hum with quiet energy. It wasn't threatening—just… ancient.
After a short walk, the tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber.
Felix stopped in his tracks.
In the center of the cavern stood a towering structure of crystal, rising like a frozen explosion from the ground. Its many sides reflected the soft light coming from within the crystals themselves. Blues, silvers, and faint golds shimmered across the walls.
The formation pulsed slowly, like it was breathing.
"…What is that?" Felix breathed.
"I don't know," Seris said quietly. "But it's powerful. I can feel it."
Felix stepped closer, eyes scanning the structure. At first, it looked like random angles and reflections—but then he saw it.
Symbols.
Lines etched into the crystal. Curves and marks that looked almost familiar.
"These glyphs…" he said, tracing one with his finger. "They match some of the ones I've been studying. But they're arranged differently. Stronger."
He looked up, eyes wide.
"This isn't just decoration. This whole thing… it's a giant talisman."
Seris tilted her head. "A talisman? That big?"
Felix nodded slowly. "Yes. The structure, the light, the symbols—they're all part of the design. But it's not just for protection. It could be for sealing something. Or powering something. Maybe both."
He stepped back, taking in the full size of the structure again. "I've never seen anything like this."
Seris moved closer, almost without thinking. She reached out and touched the crystal.
A pulse of energy shot through her fingers, quick but sharp.
She gasped softly, pulling her hand back. "It reacted…"
Felix turned toward her, alert. "Are you alright?"
"I think so. It didn't hurt, just… surprised me. Like it noticed me."
Felix frowned. "That confirms it. It's still active."
He looked up at the tall crystal again, heart beating faster.
"If I can understand this… if I can learn from it… then my talisman work might improve or be a key to a breakthrough."