Luther groaned, the kind of groan that could probably rattle the rafters, as he collapsed onto the couch in the room the group had prepared for them. A "sleepover," if anyone dared call it that, felt more like a command center in a slightly chaotic hotel. Through the window, the town was a mess. Buildings ruined in the earlier explosion were now being pulled apart by townsfolk, while their knights patrolled stoically, either to help or to ensure no one got any bright ideas about looting the rubble.

Luther shifted uncomfortably, coughing lightly, which Alina immediately interpreted as a near-death crisis.

"Here," she said, appearing as if from thin air, holding a glass of water. "Drink. And no fainting, okay? We don't have time for dramatics."

"Dramatics?" Luther muttered, dryly. "I was going to see how far a cough could get me in life. This is all highly experimental."

Aithur raised an eyebrow. "Experimental? You mean reckless. Big difference."

"Reckless is my brand," Luther said, taking a slow sip. "Do try to keep up."

Around him, the rest of the group had stationed themselves like an overprotective choir. Eldric and Aithur sat cross-legged across from him, observing silently. Liliana stood like a sentinel, sword at her side, and Alina hovered nearby with that "mother hen" aura that made Luther want to roll his eyes… or roll out of the room entirely.

"You do realize you're still eighteen," Aithur said, a teasing lilt in his voice.

"Eighteen in this empire is adult. So unless someone plans to give me bottles and diapers, I'd appreciate it if you all stopped treating me like a toddler."

Liliana's arms crossed, sharp as ever. "You need rest. Take it. Or I'll force it on you. And yes, really make you a baby."

The demonic sword leaned against the couch, practically snickering. "She means it," it whispered.

Luther froze mid-breath. "Oh, fantastic. Even my sword is in on this. This is a conspiracy. I can feel it."

"Conspiracy?" Aithur chuckled. "You almost destroyed half the town today with that emerald explosion. Now you're worried about conspiracies?"

"Harsh, yet accurate," Luther said.

While the banter continued, Luther's attention drifted to Eldric. The man had gone unusually quiet, his normally expressive face unreadable. Luther's stomach twisted. Something was wrong. Eldric's silence spoke louder than any shouting.

The tension grew when Elrin entered, a barrel carried behind her by a knight. It hit the floor with a soft thud, revealing emerald crystals, identical to the ones that had exploded days before.

Liliana's hand tightened on her sword. "Everyone back. Don't move."

"Sealed," Aithur muttered, weaving his hands in intricate gestures. A faint golden aura surrounded the barrel, locking it in place.

Elrin exhaled softly. "Relax. No magic in these. All inert. I collected them from the townsfolk as requested. Everything's safely stored now."

Luther noticed a flicker of frustration on her face–the same one from when he'd insisted she retrieve every single crystal. It hadn't disappeared. She was still conflicted. And then, suddenly, he remembered.

Flashback to Elrin collecting the crystals

The sun hung high over the town when Elrin first approached the townsfolk, a determined glint in her eyes. She held a small, empty basket in one hand and her sword lightly at her side.

"Please," she called out, "if you have an emerald crystal from the recent explosion, I need it for… your protection."

A cluster of villagers stared at her, whispering among themselves. One old man muttered, "Protection? What do you mean? Are we in danger?"

A woman with a basket of vegetables stepped forward, arms crossed. "And why should we hand over our family's emeralds to you? Who even sent you?"

Elrin tilted her head, the picture of polite composure. "The Saint ordered it. These crystals… in the wrong hands, they could harm you. Please, trust me."

The villagers murmured nervously. Some hesitated, others looked at the sky, unsure. Finally, one young man held out a crystal. "If the Saint says it's for protection… then I'll give it. But tell me, what's going on?"

Elrin smiled softly. "That is not for me to say. Just know you are safe."

One by one, the villagers handed over their crystals, some reluctantly, others with a nod of trust. By the end of the day, Elrin's basket was full, though the weight of responsibility had etched lines of fatigue across her face.

End flashback

Luther exhaled slowly. "Ah… now I get it. She's still bothered because she knows some of them weren't exactly thrilled about handing them over."

Aithur nodded knowingly. "It takes more than magic to win hearts. Sometimes persuasion does it better."

Liliana's voice cut through. "Or threats."

Luther grinned. "I vote for persuasion. Less sword waving, more emotional manipulation. Safer for everyone."

Eldric cleared his throat. "I need to cross-check some information I've gathered. Back in a moment."

Luther watched him leave, catching the faintest flicker of unease in Eldric's movements. The sword whispered, "Something is off. I can feel it."

"Yes," Luther muttered. "We're all tense. But it's probably nothing… or it's everything."

As Eldric walked down the corridor, his hands clutched the edge of his coat. He murmured quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "Emerald crystals… they shouldn't have exploded. This doesn't make sense…"

Every shadow seemed heavier, every flicker of torchlight suspicious. He barely noticed the knight rounding the corner until he nearly collided with him.

"Eldric? You okay?" the knight asked.

"I'm fine," Eldric muttered, voice low, eyes darting around. Without waiting for another word, he quickened his pace and vanished down the hall.

Night fell, and Luther finally found himself alone in the cabin assigned for their rest. He collapsed onto the bed, sheets cold against his skin, and exhaled heavily. His mind replayed the day: the explosions, the emeralds, the unnerving stillness of Eldric.

"Why did the emerald explode?" he muttered aloud. The sword leaned against the bedframe, vibrating slightly, as if eager for gossip.

"Only the emeralds that came from the mountain, and only after absorbing your magic, reacted," the sword replied. "The others? Harmless. But it's… odd, isn't it?"

Luther groaned. "So basically, I'm a walking crystal magnet. Fantastic. Can't wait to see what other cursed objects attach themselves to me tomorrow."

Sleep came reluctantly. When he awoke, he was in the familiar white void, the place where he always met Alisa. She floated gracefully, her translucent green aura shimmering softly, her purple eyes sharp yet welcoming.

"Didn't expect to see me so soon," she said, smiling.

Luther grinned, sarcasm ready. "Miss me already?"

"Well, well," she said, her voice lilting with amusement, "You must be eager… or desperate."

Luther shuffled slightly, feeling a strange mix of awe and embarrassment. "Eager? Desperate? I was—uh, I didn't mean to—"

Alisa floated closer, circling him slowly, her presence both comforting and unsettling. "Relax. I'm teasing. You humans are so… predictable. Always overthinking, always fumbling."

Luther crossed his arms defensively, though his cheeks burned faintly. "Fumbling? I'm perfectly capable. I'm eighteen, by the way. Mature. Responsible. Totally adult."

Alisa giggled, a sound like wind rustling through leaves. "Eighteen, huh? You look like a teenager who just discovered he can't fly without tripping over his own feet. Charming, though."

"Charming?" Luther muttered, flustered. "I'm trying to take this seriously!"

She floated up to the demonic sword resting beside him, her eyes narrowing curiously. "Hmm… interesting. That sword. I didn't expect someone like you to remove the seal on it. Clever—or reckless."

Luther's fingers twitched nervously around the hilt. "Uh… let's say it was a combination of skill, luck… and bad timing. Not that it matters."

Alisa's smile widened. "Doesn't matter? Oh no, it matters. That sword isn't just a weapon—it's… complicated." She leaned slightly closer, her gaze flicking to him. "And you… you're connected to it in ways even you don't understand yet."

Luther swallowed, the sword's faint snicker echoing in his mind. "Fantastic. Connected to a dangerous sword, floating in a void, talking to a tree-girl spirit. Perfectly normal day."

Alisa chuckled. "Focus, Luther. The emeralds and the black crystal you carry—they're linked. The explosions, your magic… it all connects."

Luther leaned back, dragging a hand through his hair. "Linked how? Siblings? Mortal enemies? Or just two gems having a feud? Because if they fight, I'm filing a complaint."

Alisa's gaze sharpened. "To uncover the truth, you'll need to venture into Enferi Forest alone. No companions. No excuses."

"Alone," Luther echoed, blinking. "Dark forest. Potentially lethal crystals. And here I thought eighteen meant a break from this kind of nonsense."

"You'll need all your wit, skill, and instincts," Alisa said. "This is no joke. If you fail, it won't just be your magic at stake."

The sword snickered. "Finally, some excitement for you, master. Don't disappoint."

Luther groaned, rolling onto his side. "Right. Wake up, floating ghosts, and be told to risk life and limb. My life is a circus, and I'm the main clown. Got it."

Alisa's smile softened. "You can do this, Luther. I believe in you. But the forest will test more than your strength. It will test your courage, your instincts… your judgment."

Luther sighed. "Fantastic. A magical scavenger hunt for life-threatening crystals. Perfect."

The void shimmered, and Luther awoke in his bed again, the weight of the upcoming mission pressing down on him. Emeralds, forests, explosions… and now, alone.

"Morning's going to be fun," he muttered.

"Absolutely," said the sword, its voice dripping with amusement.

Luther groaned again, pulling the blanket over his head. "I hate my life sometimes."

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