Another morning arrived, and the men entered the mine. Carrying their pickaxes over their shoulders, they advanced inward until they had come to where they had stopped the day before. Taking a moment to unload the pickaxes from their shoulders, and limber up for a day’s hard work.

Someone felt ready and swung his pick, this triggered a wave of other picks being swung. From that moment and for several hours, an unceasing cacophony of metal hitting rock emitted from the mine. When the work day was done,  the workers walked slowly out of the main tunnel, towards the guardhouse. 

They stood in line to go in and be inspected. The alert guards were there to make sure they weren’t trying to smuggle out any of the precious gems. Or at least, that the guards got their cut. Dray put his pick on the table and allowed himself to be searched. A Black stone was behind his ear. He thanked the guard for finding it, blamed himself for being forgetful and while shaking the guard’s hand, slipped him a silver coin. 

The guard looked the other way as he slipped the Black Range piece into his pocket and walked out. He walked to his house in town, and once outside his small dwelling, attempted to knock as much of the dirt off of him as possible. Once inside he slipped his Black stone into a vase by the door. Then he walked further in and greeted his mother. He always tried to clean off before, but she insisted on greeting him first. He felt her arms around him and closed his eyes. 

His wages allowed him to support his mother after his father died. He didn’t have to worry about attacks, this mining town was well defended. It was important to his kingdom. It allowed them to create strong soldiers. He could feed her and himself.

Patting her back, he followed her into the small room that served as a kitchen and dining room. “You got another one I see.” He nodded, letting her take the conversation wherever she wanted. “I’ve been saving my money, I have enough to live on for a while. I want you to find something safer to do.” 

He looked at her, at her thin limbs. “Have you been skipping meals? Is that why you’re skinny? Is that how you saved money?” He pushed back from the table and stood, a fierce scowl on his face. “Mother, I know it’s dangerous. But this way I can support you. When you try to save money by not eating I get frustrated. What’s the point of doing this work if I can’t support you?”

“I don’t want you to!”

“I know. I don’t either. But I’m too old for an apprenticeship. I’m not a genius, and the men at the mine look out for me. They make sure I can do the work and get paid.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“I just want you to look. Try something.” she pleaded, staring up into his eyes.

He blinked. “I will. I’ll look around. If some opportunity comes up, I’ll jump on it. Don’t worry.”

A silence grew between them.

“And guess what? I’m getting close, my Level bar is almost done. Once I raise another level, that will increase my chances of success.”

She simply held on to him, her wet eyes looking at him. He enclosed her in a hug, squeezing her tight.

The chance came rather quickly. A week later when he went in to work, the mines were closed, and everyone was standing around in clumps wondering what the hold up was.

Eventually the mine manager stepped forward. “Men. I know you want to know what is going on. Well, we’ve got a messenger from the King, and he’s got a message for you miners.” He stepped aside, and nodded to a man in a uniform, though none of the men had enough experience to tell what uniform it was.

“I am here, because the King’s men have found what could potentially be a new mine. The King is sending out an expedition to verify the discovery. He needs miners with an adventurous spirit to go along. In recompense, each miner will be given ten years of wages, half now, half upon completion of the expedition. In the unlikely case you pass during this expedition, the King has promised the remaining wages as well as that  of a top miner to the living family, every year, until they themself decease.”

Dray nearly stepped forward right then. His mother could be comfortable on five years’ wages, and if he did die, she would be supported. His heart struggled with him. Knowing that if he did die, what it would do to her. But, he wanted to leave. His mother had struck a hidden spot when she suggested doing something else. He had dreamed of doing something else, of being someone else. Unfortunately, rarely did anyone take apprentices at his age. And his stats and build were aimed towards being a miner. The next closest thing was a lumberjob. The odds that he would ever be sat at a desk, with a pen in his hand were astronomical.

A few men stepped forward, older men who didn’t have much to live for. Whose death might even be an advantage for their families. Dray’s mouth twisted, he teetered. The pull from behind, of his mother, and the pull forward of getting out of this town, of seeing something new. With the thought that at least his mother would be well provided for if he died, he stepped forward.

The Messenger looked at the men who had stepped forward. “Thank you brave and courageous men! You are a credit to your kingdom! The King of Stoneheights thanks you!”

He was right, his mother cried. She sobbed while clinging onto him with her thin fingers. He tried to make it right, but everything was wrong. “Mother, I'm just going on an expedition. We’re going to look at rocks! That’s all! There’s no more chance of me dying than if I stayed here! Here! Take this money!” he tried to pry her fingers open to put the money in her hands, but all she would do was to cling tighter to him and wet his shirt with her tears. He gave up and put his arms around her. Resting his head on top of hers, his eyes were distracted. Already seeing the far sights he would see on this expedition. His mind and heart had left already.