"What do you mean by that?" Thyr pressed.
Memphis held up a hand, signaling him to keep his voice down.
"We can't share this with everyone. They'll panic, and the mission will fall apart before it even starts."
Memphis had a point. The miners were venturing out to save the barrier. This mission couldn't fail.
Thyr nodded slowly. "You could've at least warned me, you know."
"Relax, kid. They're just stories," Memphis said, trying to ease Thyr's nerves. "No one knows for certain if the mine is actually dangerous, or if it was simply closed because they didn't want people collecting too many mana stones from there."
Even with Memphis's words, Thyr still felt uneasy about heading to that mine.
But those doubts faded whenever he thought of the people living in Greyrock's slums. They deserved a chance to live.
Thyr and Memphis were still talking when one of the guards inside the carriage noticed them.
It was the officer in charge of the operation. He spotted the two of them whispering in the back.
"You two. No talking," the officer said, his tone sharp.
He took the opportunity to address everyone present.
"Remember—even though you're on an important mission, you're still the dregs of society. Consider this your chance to change your lives."
The other miners didn't bristle at being called dregs of society. It was something they'd grown used to hearing.
Instead, they shot Thyr and Memphis looks of pure hatred. They weren't about to let anyone ruin the opportunity of a lifetime.
The two decided to stop talking to avoid causing problems. It was the smartest move in that situation.
They traveled in silence for two days. During that time, several magical beasts attempted to attack the carriage.
One of those monsters was enormous—nearly ten meters tall, resembling a giant.
The giant approached the carriage. Each step made the ground tremble. Trees stood in its path and were tossed aside like twigs by the creature's raw power.
Thyr watched as Blaze emerged from the carriage. Wings of fire unfurled from his back—one of his most famous abilities, the Phoenix Wings.
He soared toward the giant, intercepting it before it could reach the carriage.
In one hand, Blaze clutched his staff. He channeled mana and cast his spell.
"Fire Rain!"
Multiple magic circles formed in the sky, and countless fireballs began raining down from above.
Another guard rushed to assist, casting earth magic. The ground beneath the giant turned to mud, making it sink and trapping it in place.
This allowed Blaze's spell to strike the giant full force! The creature's skin began to melt under the devastating damage.
Thyr could smell the burning flesh even from inside the carriage.
"His power is incredible... I wish I could awaken mana... I could leave the city and go search for my parents..."
Two grueling days. Sleeping in the carriage, no baths. Not that Thyr bathed much to begin with.
When the carriage finally stopped, all the miners perked up. They didn't celebrate only because Officer Blaze was still inside—and they were terrified of him.
"We're here, kid," Memphis whispered. "Stay sharp."
The two of them exited the carriage together. The mine sat in the middle of nowhere, deep within a forest.
It was a massive hole in the ground. On the surface, several tents had already been set up as a temporary base.
A blue barrier protected the camp—a shield created to ensure all the miners could stay safe inside.
Blaze gathered everyone for a briefing.
"Listen up, idiots," he barked.
Silence fell. Only the sound of breathing remained.
"It took us two days to get here, and it'll take two days to return. The barrier needs to be rebuilt as soon as possible. That means we have two days to dig."
"During that time, we need to extract as many mana stones as possible. You'll be mining eighteen hours a day."
"If this mission succeeds, remember—you'll receive excellent compensation. That money will buy you a better place to live, food, clothes, and opportunities for the rest of your family. Don't screw this up."
Thyr believed Blaze's words. He genuinely believed they would receive a substantial sum for taking on this mission.
But the mission paid well for one simple reason: it was incredibly dangerous. The journey had been risky enough, but the most dangerous part still lay ahead.
Venturing into those mines—abandoned and sealed for centuries, shrouded in mystery—that was what truly frightened Thyr.
After Blaze's instructions, all the miners were ordered to collect their equipment.
Thyr stood still, taking in everything around him. No one spoke a word. The fear on each miner's face was plain to see. They were there for the money, for a chance at a better life—but there was no denying the fear gnawing at them.
A dense forest surrounded the camp. Thyr could swear something was watching him from the shadows.
Given the number of guards stationed around the perimeter on patrol, maybe that feeling wasn't just in his head.
Memphis felt responsible for Thyr. He needed to look after the young man during this dangerous mission.
"Stay with me, kid," Memphis said. "We stick together, we have a better chance of surviving."
Thyr nodded and followed. They each grabbed a sack for the mana stones and a headlamp—nothing more than a glowing mana stone mounted on a helmet.
Blaze watched everything closely. He observed every move the miners made, and once everyone was ready, he took the lead.
"I'll be inside the mine with you, making sure everyone works. Anyone slacking off will face punishment," Blaze announced.
The punishment he referred to was almost certainly death. Pickaxe in hand, Thyr joined the other miners at the mine's entrance.
This cave was different. A strange air drifted from within—cold, ancient. It didn't feel like the toxic air they'd grown accustomed to.
One miner froze and refused to move. Blaze noticed immediately. "Get moving, worm. You have work to do."
The miner still didn't budge. "Officer Blaze, what if there are creatures inside?"
The possibility existed—after all, no one had actually entered the mine to check.
Blaze laughed. "If there are, you'll die in there. I just hope you bring back some mana stones before you do."
That was the level of cruelty from the officer and his guards. The miners' lives meant nothing.
In the end, with no choice, the miner followed the others. Disobeying Blaze meant being burned alive.
Thyr and Memphis walked side by side. The cavern was dark. Despite claims that this had once been a mine, Thyr noticed something odd.
"Mr. Memphis, if this was already a mine before, why isn't there any kind of structure in here? To me, this looks more like an unexplored cavern than an abandoned mine."