004

It was only after he had slept one more time that he finally reached the deepest area of the mine. The 'deep end' as it was nicknamed by the other miners. Because it was deep and everyone that went there met their ends.

However, as he saw what was in front of him, he couldn't help but laugh. This was probably the most beautiful thing he ever saw in his few years of life. Moon Quartz didn't get its name due to properties related to a moon but due to its color and shine. Just like a Moon, it shined in the dark with a pure white glow.

And the cavern he just entered was filled with them to the brim. To the point that the entire place was bathed in purity like none other. But what truly made the scenery magical was the small lake in the middle of it.

The water was crystal clear to the point where one could peak at whatever it covered.

Still, every rose had its thorns. This cavern was the same. It might look beautiful but it was deadly. Because the stones there were toxic.

Anyways, they wanted him to bring back Moon Quartz up so they could make even more money over his dead body?

He chuckled at the thought. He wasn't stupid and not enough of a pushover to do so. He knew he would die here as he came down. But during the two days he spent walking, he came to terms with it. He had no choice.

In the end, fate brought him here to die.

A miserable end to a miserable life, how unironic.

Since he was here anyway, he would just do whatever went through his mind. And that was to bath in the pond. Throughout his life, he had never known anything but cold showers and he had been allowed such luxury only once per week.

Yet, right here, there was a pond of water clearer than even the water he drank all these years. He would be a fool not to dive in. Dying in a natural bathtub seemed better than with a bullet in the head or on the ground. At least, he could enjoy the feeling of bathing before he died.

He took off his clothes and approached the pond. He lowered himself and entered it. The water glowed under the refraction of the light produced by the stones and as he sat in it, he felt refreshed like never before.

All his fatigue was melting away and he felt filled with energy.

To think this was what bathing felt like… It was probably the peak of his life. How ironic that it was also the lowest abyss of it too.

He remained in the water without caring about time as he silently appreciated the fluctuating movements of the water and its ripples. He enjoyed the dancing lights it created on the walls with every change.

It truly felt magical.

After some time, who knew how long, he felt hunger and took an entire ration. It was the biggest meal he ever had. He never once before ate so much at once. But now? He couldn't care less. Since he was going to die, at least, he would enjoy the remaining moments.

The problem was that the expected deadly outcome never seemed to come.

Someone infected by the Quartz should feel symptoms such as a difficulty in breathing but he didn't. He wasn't feeling bad anywhere, heck, he felt good all over. And he was unable to understand why or how it was happening.

Still, he believed death would come. Maybe he had better genetics than the previous fools who reached this place? It was only a matter of time.

But time went by and he was still there. He began to wonder if he had some kind of immunity to the stones… It was unlikely though as it was a well-known fact to the miners here that this didn't exist. Even aliens feared direct exposure to the mineral. So, what was going on?

Maybe those stones weren't Moon Quartz? They did look the part and acted like it with their glowing. What's more, this was the end of the path. Unless the previous exploded the way further down? That was unlikely though as the guards would never let someone with explosives go down. Be it this tunnel or another.

If this was the place and this was truly the Quartz, it meant that there was something here that countered its effects. He hadn't touched anything or even mined at all since arriving. He only bathed… Oh… That's when he began to wonder if it was the water that was special.

He never heard of the pond near the Quartz nor its effects from anyone. Even the oldest miners who told tales to the kids never spoke of it and they talked about dragons guarding treasures at the planet's core…

He looked intently at the water. But it seemed to be no more than water. Not like he had any ways to judge it. And he wouldn't be the one to bring a sample to the fuckers up there.

Or maybe, it wasn't the water but something else. Past the water, what was under it. Maybe there was a rock with the effect to counter the Quartz? And maybe, due to having soaked into the pond, the water earned its effect?

It seemed far-fetched but life wasn't very logical to begin with.

He had nothing to lose anyways so, he checked. He pushed one hand down into the water and grabbed a few rocks in his palm.

He slowly brought the clenched hand up and out of the water and then he opened it. As he gazed at the rocks in his hands, his jaw opened wide.

This was far beyond anything he could have ever expected or even imagined.