Diana's cheeks flushed with pride when Shane said, "Good work."
These were the words she'd really like to hear… It was not just praise from the Rank 1 Survivor, but recognition from her older brother.
She straightened her posture as her ferret nuzzled against her neck as if sharing in her triumph.
"Brother," she said softly, "that's not all. Look… you can take them now."
She pointed toward the corner of the chamber where several heavy sacks were stacked neatly.
Each bulged with the faint glow of Essence Crystals, their purple‑blue sheen leaking through the seams. The miners had gathered them carefully, treating them as treasures rather than simple ore.
Shane's eyes gleamed, but instead of rushing to inspect the haul, he turned back to Diana.
"We'll deal with those later. First… it's been a while since we've bonded, hasn't it?"
Diana blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in tone.
