Chapter 24: The Hunt for the Perfect Stone

Maxim and Daniel stepped off the train into the bustling city of Rukovna. It wasn't their usual scene. Tall buildings loomed over them, and the streets were crowded with people going about their business. But they weren't here to sightsee—Maxim had a plan.

There was a specific shop in town, The Alchemist's Corner, renowned for its rare stones, crystals, and artifacts. Maxim had heard of it through some online forums, and Daniel had eagerly tagged along, excited about the possibilities of what they might find.

"You think we'll find something that works?" Daniel asked as they made their way through the maze of narrow streets.

"I have no idea," Maxim admitted. "But it's worth a try. If the right stone can store mana, it could change everything."

They arrived at the shop, its wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze. Inside, the smell of incense hung thick in the air, mingling with the scent of polished wood and old books. Glass cabinets lined the walls, each one displaying an array of shimmering stones, from rough chunks of crystal to finely cut gems.

A woman behind the counter gave them a welcoming smile as they entered. "Looking for something special?"

Maxim nodded. "I'm interested in stones or crystals that can... hold energy."

Her smile widened. "You've come to the right place. Feel free to explore. Each stone has its own properties, and some are said to have powerful effects on energy manipulation."

They started moving through the shop, Maxim's eyes scanning the various stones. He reached out, touching one—a small, polished amethyst. Closing his eyes, he focused, trying to push a small amount of his energy into it.

Nothing.

He moved on to a quartz crystal, feeling the smooth surface under his fingertips. Again, he focused, trying to channel his mana. He felt a slight flicker, but it was faint—barely anything.

"Anything yet?" Daniel asked, watching him closely.

Maxim shook his head. "No, it's like they're... resisting. They don't seem to be able to store anything."

He continued down the aisle, testing stone after stone. Each time, the result was the same—either nothing happened, or the stone seemed to push back against his energy. Frustration was beginning to set in. What if this was a dead end? What if no stone could do what he needed?

Then, he came across a small, dark stone, nearly hidden at the back of one of the shelves. It was rough and unpolished, unlike the others. He picked it up, feeling its cool surface, and once again focused on pushing his energy into it.

This time, something different happened.

There was a faint pull, as if the stone were absorbing a small amount of his energy. Maxim's heart raced. Could this be the one? He pushed a little harder, concentrating.

Suddenly, the stone gave a soft crack. He opened his eyes, startled. A tiny fracture had appeared on the surface, barely noticeable, but there nonetheless.

"Did you see that?" Maxim whispered to Daniel, holding up the stone.

Daniel's eyes widened. "Yeah. What happened?"

"I think... it absorbed some of my energy, but it wasn't strong enough. It cracked."

They exchanged a glance, both realizing the significance of what had just happened. The stone had been able to hold a small amount of mana, but it hadn't been stable enough to handle more.

Maxim quickly placed the stone back on the shelf, glancing around to make sure no one had noticed the damage. The last thing he needed was to get into trouble for breaking merchandise.

"We should go," Maxim muttered, feeling a surge of disappointment.

They made their way out of the shop, the woman at the counter waving them off with a friendly smile, completely unaware of the cracked stone sitting behind her.

As they walked through the city streets, Maxim's mind raced. He had been so close. The stone had worked—kind of. But it wasn't strong enough to handle the amount of mana he needed to store. If it cracked after just a small amount of energy, it was useless to him.

"What now?" Daniel asked as they walked toward the station, the excitement from earlier fading.

Maxim sighed. "I don't know. I thought we were onto something, but... none of those stones were right. That last one cracked the moment it absorbed a tiny bit of energy."

"Maybe we need to find something stronger?" Daniel suggested. "Something that can handle more power."

Maxim nodded, but doubt gnawed at him. "But where do we even find that? I mean, it's not like we can just walk into any store and ask for a magic crystal that can store mana. And even if we could, who's to say it would work?"

They reached the train station, the noise of the bustling city filling the air around them. Maxim glanced back toward the way they had come, a sense of frustration settling in his chest. He had been so sure that this trip would lead to something, but now he was leaving empty-handed.

As they boarded the train back home, Maxim stared out the window, watching the city fade into the distance. His mind was already racing with new ideas, new possibilities. The answer was out there—he just had to keep looking.

And in the back of his mind, one thought lingered: if stones could crack under the pressure of his mana, what other materials could be tested? Could something even stronger hold the energy he needed?

He glanced at Daniel, who was already looking up potential sources for stronger materials on his phone. The search wasn't over yet.