Pov Elsa Frostine

After coming out of my daze, I looked around, my eyes widening with astonishment.

The small underground river wound its way through the darkness, its waters shimmering with an ethereal and magical glow. Each ripple of water seemed to emit its own light, illuminating its surroundings with a soft and charming luminescence. Around the waters, huge crystals of different colors rose majestically, like sentinel guardians of the underground river.

Standing at approximately 50 centimeters tall, these crystals emitted pure mana that filled the air with a sense of power and mysticism.

The ground surrounding the river was covered in a shiny black stone, reflecting the light from the crystals and adding a dark yet beautiful contrast to the landscape. Every step on this stone seemed to resonate with a magical echo, as if it were imbued with the same energy flowing through the river.

Throughout the area, the mana was extremely pure, almost palpable in its intensity. The magic's vibration could be felt in the air, creating an atmosphere of awe and reverence. Some plants and trees covered in moss could even be seen, nourished by the magical energy emanating from the surroundings.

"High-grade mana crystals," exclaimed Lysandra with wide eyes filled with excitement, her expression bordering on ecstasy as she cautiously approached the radiant crystals scattered throughout the environment. Each one of them emitted a mystical glow that seemed to hypnotize her.

With a gleam of anticipation in her eyes, she reached out her hand toward one of the crystals, whose fiery red glow seemed to dance with the promise of power. Upon contact, a small explosion of mana enveloped the area, and the flow of magical energy from the crystal slid into Lysandra's hands with celestial grace.

"What an impressive amount of mana!" she exclaimed in awe, her eyes sparkling with delight as she marveled at the other crystals adorning the place, each one representing a treasure trove of hidden power.

Meanwhile, Anthony's voice echoed from his shelter under a tree with crystalline green leaves. Several fruits of vibrant colors swayed in the tree's intricate branches, their shapes and hues as exquisitely unique as the most precious jewelry. Some of these fruits boasted whimsical contours and shone with a crystalline brilliance, showcasing their magical nature.

"Magical fruits abound in this area," announced Anthony reverently, his eyes scrutinizing every detail of the fruits with fascination. "Though venturing into these lands is dangerous, fortune smiles upon those lucky enough to stumble upon treasures like these," he added, underscoring the rarity and significance of these findings amidst the risky enterprise of exploration.

My eyes diverted toward the river, whose waters shimmered with an ethereal glow. They were so crystal clear as to appear transparent, and I hurriedly approached its edge. Kneeling before them, I attentively observed the fluid movement of the water. My pupils dilated with surprise as I caught sight of a fish swimming inside, its beautiful turquoise hue shining under the sunlight.

Its eyes, tiny rubies embedded in its face, captivated my attention with their singular beauty.

"It's a magical creature, with a high level of mana inside," commented Lysandra beside me, her voice resonating with a tone of amazement. I looked at her curiously as I listened to her words. "Its flesh is extremely delicious and, moreover, can help you to some extent in expanding your mana veins," she added with a tone of profound knowledge.

With an agile movement of her fingers, a small branch sprouted from them at an impressive speed, and in an instant, the fish stopped moving. Lysandra's branch pierced the fish's head, ending its life instantaneously.

The fish moved in her hands, disappearing quickly, and with a small smile, she moved towards the other crystals. With the help of her branches, she began to detach the other crystals and also transported them to her ring.

Little by little, all the crystals disappeared, looking at Anthony he was also doing the same with the fruits on the trees: "I recommend you start fishing," Lysandra's mocking voice echoed in my ears.

*****

Several more hours passed, during which Lysandra and Anthony immersed themselves in the task of collecting all kinds of fruits and treasures scattered around the place. My astonishment grew with each discovery they added to their collection, aware of the immense value each object represented.

Although a small pang of concern made its way into my heart as I watched them strip the environment of part of its magic, I couldn't help but marvel at the resplendent beauty of the crystals that dotted the landscape, granting it a unique and ephemeral magical glow.

Suddenly, my attention focused on Anthony, who approached me with a radiant smile, holding a bottle in his hands. Without warning, he submerged the container into the nearby river, and slowly, the water began to recede, revealing the riverbed now exposed to the daylight. Watching the scene with a mix of astonishment and confusion, I listened attentively to the words coming from Anthony's lips.

"Surprised, aren't you? You shouldn't be," he said calmly, his gaze shimmering with a spark of mystery. "Just consider how you think this place came to be what it is now. Many platinum-ranked hunters knew of this site, and some even dared to venture here," he continued, his voice resonating with authority. "But none of them returned. Many disappeared, or worse yet, met their end here.

This place is a trap, in fact, Lyasndra, just like me, also knows it's a trap, which is why we haven't moved yet; he will come to us," he declared solemnly, his smile taking on a sinister tone that sent shivers down my spine.

The space around us began to vibrate, the walls around us started to crumble, even the ground began to shake, small explosions could be heard growing louder and louder, and his smile widened even further, projecting a sense of power that engulfed everything in its path.

"The guardian has arrived," he announced solemnly, as the aura surrounding him grew in intensity, emanating a force that seemed to defy the reality around us.