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…the fundamental building blocks of evolution, grant everyone special skills and magic power.

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Thor’s eyebrows furrowed as he asked, “What system?”

Verdant tilted her head to one side and looked quizzically at them. “You do not even remember the System? How much have you humans forgotten?”

“Apparently, quite a bit,” Thor said dryly. “The world has changed since you last met us. I am coming to realise that we have forgotten more than I could have imagined. This system… It has to do with magic, I take it?”

“Yes…” Verdant bobbed distractedly up and down as she thought. “Where to begin… The Crystal Fae came into existence when a group of humans made fundamental alterations to the fabric of the weave, forcing a new structure upon the Threads of Destiny. Apparently, they were quite surprised when we appeared. Our creation was considered a residual consequence of their principal goal, which was to create a predictable system for using essence.”

“What do you mean, predictable?” Matt asked.

“In its most fundamental form, the threads, the essence, what you call magic… It does not care about humans or intelligence, it just is. Like a background to everything. The old way of accessing the weave was only available to very few humans, and it required them to spend a lifetime in careful and deliberate training.”

“Cultivation…” Matt whispered, mostly to himself.

“Yes. Cultivation. I know little about it myself. The cultivators were always… They always seemed to look down on us Crystal Fae. We were an affront to their creation, and they never quite forgave us for existing.”

“But they created you?” Thor asked. “When they created this System. And you… feed on essence?”

“Yes. And, in a way.” She answered. “We do not eat or digest essence, but it is as good an explanation as any. We require the essence to drive our purpose, our being. The essence is our life’s blood, a structure for our existence. Without essence, we would cease.”

“You just… die?” Thor asked.

“Not as you know death,” Verdant said. “Without essence, we go… dormant. Our crystalline structure remains preserved, stored within our bodies as pure information. We can continue our existence if we regain essence, but once dormant, we cannot search for essence. We would require assistance, and… And we do not trust anyone. Our supply is running out, and until today I have not woken from dormancy for nearly five hundred years.”

Thor was tapping his chin distractedly as he looked at Verdant intently, and Matt took the opportunity to ask, “And how do the essence crystals work? We have not seen them before.”

“You have not? That is strange, as anything intelligent will leave one behind when they die. They represent the Framework, capturing the essence of the dead person’s soul, a last testament to who they were. The humans who lived here held the crystals in great reverence, considering them a sacred record of the life that was lived, a map of decisions, loves and losses. They always buried the crystals with their owner to make sure their soul could find solace in the afterlife. Is this still not the custom?”

Matt caught Mia’s eyes, recognising in them a growing anger that was also coalescing inside himself. His guandao practically vibrated with an intense intent to wreak vengeance on the people who had corrupted their world, and the wave of violence that washed over him took his breath away for a moment. Something hardened inside him as he spat out the words. “No, the world outside has changed. Too much.”

Verdant’s voice shook slightly as she asked, “So… What happens to the crystals now when people die?”

“We have our suspicions.” Thor placed a calming hand on Matt’s shoulder, and he took a deep breath to get control over his emotions. With an effort of will, he pushed the guandao’s intent out, only to discover a well of raw anger that was entirely his own. The collectors… The nobles, they harvest the crystals. A stab of curiosity broke through his anger when he asked the natural next question; Why? What do they need them for? If they used skills, if they used essence, somebody would have seen. There would have been stories. But except for their long lives…

Thor continued. “As Matt said, the world outside has changed. How might the crystals be used?”

“They serve as containers for essence, capable of storing energy for later use, or they can power artefacts. Are you sure you do not know this?”

Thor scratched his chin as he looked into the distance, before asking, “Yes… But how does it work? I have an affinity for Water, and I absorbed essence from a crystal attuned to Ice.” Seeing the look on Verdant’s face, he hastened to add, “From a crystal we found on a white lurker.”

“In its most basic form; all essence is the same. A Universal energy that flows through anything and everything. Humans are more sensitive than most, requiring a compatible affinity. If the crystal’s affinity is too different from your own, the exchange is too inefficient.”

“Humans? What do you mean? Is it different for you?” Thor asked.

“Fae can absorb all essences. Even if my affinity is for Growth, that is mainly related to the skills that I can learn, and I can absorb from any essence crystal.”

“And when an essence crystal is empty, what then?” Mia asked. “Do they become worthless?”

“Cultivators can recharge them with essence. Although, from what I remember, they hardly ever did. They considered their essence a precious resource for their cultivation, and refilling a crystal, a waste.”

So cultivators can recharge the crystals? Matt spun towards Thor. “Do you still have that empty Ice essence crystal? Can I see it?”

Thor reached into his pouch and brought the crystal out.

“What does it say now?” Matt asked.

Thor focused on the crystal, before saying, “Essence Crystal of Life: Tier D. Attuned Affinity: Ice. State: 25/100.”

“So, quarter full,” Matt said and held out his hand. “Can I have it?”

Thor placed the crystal in Matt’s hand, and after taking a deep breath, Matt sent his attention into the crystal. He sensed its structure, a dense network of unfamiliar symbols. A moment later, he pushed his essence into the crystal, much like he did with the guandao. Instantly, his core responded, sending threads of essence racing out from the centre and out into his arms and then out through his hands. The crystal flashed in bright blue.

Thor leaned in, an interested expression on his face. “Essence Crystal of Life: Tier D. Attuned Affinity: Ice. State: Full.”

Excitement built in Matt. That was too easy. Verdant had said something about the efficiency of using the crystals being connected with the cultivator’s affinity, but he didn’t feel like he had spent any effort at all, and the process had only taken seconds. If I am able to recharge this crystal… And I can see all the various affinities, does that mean…?

“Verdant?” Mia asked, interrupting his thoughts. “The pact that the original people made with the Fae… You received access to the city vaults, which were filled with essence crystals?”

“Mostly empty crystals now, but yes. They were crystals harvested from the monsters that lived in the caves around the city.”

“And they kept the crystals for… what? To trade with you? To use as additional sources of essence if they needed it?”

“Yes, all of that, and they used them to fuel artefacts; magical constructs and arrays. They were in high demand among crafters and Rune Masters.”

Matt’s eyes opened wide as he listened to Verdant. Constructs? Arrays? And what is a Rune Master? Of course! He looked at one of the crystal lights hanging from a nearby post. He had noticed the elaborate symbols before. Essence crystals powered that light. Would it run out? Should they be careful not to leave the lights on like they had been? Could the crystals power other kinds of creations?

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Mia leaned forward, looking at Verdant with an intent expression. “And the Tiers, on the crystals… What do they mean?”

“They show how much essence the crystal can store.” Verdant answered. “Tier F is the lowest, and Tier A is the highest. A Tier F crystal contains about one-hundredth the essence of a Tier E crystal, and so on.”

Sometime during the exchange, Vic had pulled his dagger out and made his way around the white lurker corpses. When he returned, he held a handful of the small, gleaming stones, wearing a determined expression. “So we need to harvest these. We need as many as we can… We should search through the city to hunt for them.”

Pete was nodding at Vic, but Mia shook her head. “Almost, Vic. You have the right idea, but we’ll let others do the harvesting. What you have there is the beginnings of a currency. Our first step is to search through the city for weapons, tools and armour. When others arrive, we can sell them for crystals. That is the foundation for our economy. We will need to assign values to different jobs that serve the whole city, and once we have the farm up and running—”

“Verdant,” Matt interrupted with an apologetic look to Mia. His curiosity at what Verdant had said was practically burning. “Can you teach me the runes? Can you show me the symbols?”

“Maybe,” the fae responded, then grinned impishly. “A deal can be struck.”

Hope filled Matt, washing away the flash of suspicion from the guandao. “Then, I would like to make a deal with you. A deal for you to teach me the symbols and the runes, and anything else that might be useful. About Rune Masters, constructs and arrays.”

“I have some knowledge,” Verdant said with a sly grin. “There are others of my kind who know more, but without the Threads of Destiny, there would be no Crystal Fae, so we all know the symbols and the basic runes, like the Rune of Preservation. I might even know more than most. I am willing to share any knowledge that might be of use to you. For the right price, of course.”

“What will it cost?” Matt asked eagerly. Mia was observing the exchange carefully, a sceptical expression on her face, but she did not intervene.

Verdant pointed to Matt’s hand, which was still holding the Water essence crystal. “One of those, each week. A full Tier D crystal, I would consider a fair trade for my time and knowledge.”

Matt caught Mia’s eyes, but she simply shrugged. This was his decision to make. He did not have to think long before he looked back at Verdant. “I accept the deal.”

Verdant bowed deeply. As she said, “I confirm the deal,” Matt gasped as a shimmer of glowing threads stretched out between them, and in a flash of energy, he sensed the creation of a connection between them. Of a bond being established between himself and the Crystal Fae.

“What was that?” He asked.

“That was a Thread-backed Pact,” Verdant answered with a smile. “It is part of who we are. Any agreement made with a Crystal Fae is etched into the Framework.”

A shiver ran down Matt’s back. “What… What does that mean? What happens if I break it?”

“If we both agree to end the deal, nothing happens,” Verdant answered. “But if either side decides to just end it… Well, I would recommend against that. The Framework has its own way to ensure its rules are followed.”

“It looks like I better give you this right away then,” Matt said with an uncertain grin and held his hand out, the essence crystal resting in his palm.

Verdant flew over to perch on top of the shimmering stone. “Thank you.” A moment later, Matt felt a strange tugging sensation from the crystal as Verdant absorbed all the stored essence. “I only had three days left.” And with a grin, she added, “And I would not want to miss seeing whatever you have planned.”

“I suspect you are right,” Matt grinned back as his eyes lit up. “I have so many questions, though! What other Runes do you know? Can you help me understand the Rune of Preservation? And you mentioned constructs and arrays. What are they? What even are Runes? Just strings of interconnected symbols? You mentioned Rune Masters. Were they humans who knew the runes? The symbols are the–”

“Hold a moment,” Mia held her hand up and smiled. “If you two get started, we won’t move from this spot until night sets and we need to keep going. Matt, let’s make sure you get plenty of time with your questions later tonight.”

Matt grudgingly nodded at Mia as they all stood up and prepared to leave.

“So, what now?” Pete asked.

“Let’s check out that building first,” Mia answered, gesturing at the massive structure that was sitting in the middle of the garden, dominating the centre of the city.

The building stretched up towards the cavern ceiling far above. They were standing on a path leading straight up to the building’s front doors, and from their location, the building appeared perfectly symmetrical. Matt looked upwards, noting how the building narrowed as it reached higher. Each level was constructed from stone and wood, capped with a sloped roof that curved upward at the corners, ending in small sculptures carved in the likeness of strange and mythical creatures. A bewildering array of golden statues were placed all around the building, starting from ground level and continuing up the roof.

When they got closer, Matt saw that symbols of powers were etched into the stonework and inlaid with coloured metal. The walls were glowing with intricate carvings that wrapped around the entire structure.

“There’s something strange about this building,” he said when they approached the stairs leading up to the front door. “The threads… The energy. They go around the entire building and connect with the carvings, somehow stretching out from the structure into the area around. They seem to gather here from around the cave.”

“Is it dangerous?” Mia asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so,” Matt answered. “But–”

“It is not,” Verdant said. “This is the city’s Seat of Power. What you see are the control sigils, and the threads connecting the sigils to their constructs.”

“Control sigils? How do they work?” Matt asked. “And you mentioned constructs before… What are they?”

“You will see,” the fae answered enigmatically, and the blur of her wings zipped forward up the stairs.

Matt looked over at Mia and shrugged his shoulders. She paused for a moment before gesturing for them to follow the fae.

“This is amazing,” Thor said as they got to the top of the stairs, turning back to the garden below. Looking back down, Matt was surprised at how high up they were. They had reached a wide landing that spread out in both directions, providing a stone terrace that wrapped around the sides of the building. The platform was at the same level as the roofs of the surrounding buildings, and they could see across large parts of the city. His eyes followed the wide road they had travelled earlier, and he could clearly see the Market Sector where they had arrived into the city. As he looked around, the scale of the city hit him with full force. The area they had traversed so far was just one of several sectors reaching out in all directions, and he saw how different parts of the city had different styles of architecture and buildings.

Pete looked up at Matt as he placed his hand against the large door leading into the massive structure. “Ready?” Matt nodded and readied his grip on the guandao.

Pete pushed the door open, and they stepped inside, their formation and movement now practised and smooth. It did not take them long to confirm that they were alone in what looked like a large, open entrance hall. A long wooden desk stretched across the side to their left, with three doors spaced at regular intervals behind the desk. The wall to their right held two larger doors, and straight ahead a wide staircase led upwards in slow spirals, with landings leading off at each floor above them. Tilting his head back, Matt couldn’t see where the stairs ended as they spiralled up into darkness.

“Let’s do this systematically,” Pete said. “Vic, hide and search the rooms on this floor. If you find anyone or anything, come back here. We will hold position here.”

As Vic disappeared from sight; Pete, Matt and Thor formed a simple triangle with Mia at their centre. Vic returned a few minutes later, popping back into existence right in front of Matt.

“Nothing. To the right there’s an enormous kitchen, and some kind of wardrobe or armoury. There’s a room that looks like a restaurant. Chairs and tables, pictures and wall hangings. The rooms on the left are some kind of offices. Writing desks and shelves. And books.” The last thing he said with a grin at Matt, who immediately wanted to race over to investigate. “There was a strange metal door almost hidden behind the stairs, held shut by a heavy beam that was too heavy for me to move.”

“Ok,” Mia said. “Pete, what do you think?”

“I don’t like leaving that door closed behind us. Let’s check it out first.”

They followed Vic to a solid-looking metal door. Pete and Matt lifted the thick wooden beam out of the way, and they opened it carefully, revealing a dark space beyond. They stepped through the door and dispelled the darkness ahead by turning on a magic light crystal next to the door. How did such a wonder already become a mundane convenience? Matt wondered as he looked down a stairway that extended downwards from the small landing, its steps wide and shallow.

Weapons ready, they moved carefully downwards in formation. After walking for perhaps a hundred strides, the stairs ended with a small hallway that was lit by more magical crystals. The hallway ended in an almost black wooden double door, carved in an elaborate mural with two rows of five panels carved in a lighter wood. Each panel displayed a different scene of people and monsters locked in battle.

“Now this isn’t ominous at all,” Vic muttered as Pete and Matt gripped their weapons, ready to push the door open. Pete looked at Matt with a dubious expression before raising his eyebrows. Matt nodded back, and Pete firmly pushed the door open.

Moving inside, they found themselves in a large room, wrapped in heavy stone on all sides, with a ceiling far above them. The room was empty, except for a large and now familiar arched doorway embedded into the far wall. An archway seemingly leading directly into a massive stone slab.

“A dungeon!” Vic exclaimed, sheathing his daggers and moving forward to inspect the doorway. “What does it say above the arch, Thor?”

Thor snorted. “Vic, you really need to practise your reading.”

“Sure. Later. What does it say, though?”

Thor looked up at the arched doorway.

“The Tower Trials,” he said a moment later.