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"Shovel?" "Check!" "Ropes?" "Check!" "Pickaxe?" "Check!"

Paku and his two companions Luca and Tiki were preparing for their biggest mission yet. They had heard rumors about a mysterious source of life crystals, a very valuable alchemical ingredient, and followed the trail of information to a small town near the mountains. Paku, the mienfoo leader, had spent the entire morning buying supplies and getting everything they needed. Luca, their wizard braixen, had taken on the task of gathering some more information about the dungeon that was said to contain those crystals. Tiki, the eevee alchemist, had stayed in their inn room and spent the day brewing potions.

"So, the cave full of life crystals really exists? This isn't just a myth that has proliferated from town to town?", Paku asked the wizard. Luca nodded and explained: "Yes, I met several people who all confirmed the existence of this place." "Serious people?" "Yes, Paku, even serious people. Shop clerks, the innkeeper and even the friggin' priest say that it exists.", the braixen insisted, "However, they also urged me to reconsider our plans." "Why though? I think I remember you mentioning that you cannot die in this dungeon because it contains so many life crystals.", Tiki commented. "I fully agree. The high density of life crystals should even prevent the body from taking any damage at all. The perfect dungeon for exploring, if you ask me. But I'm certainly not willing to put it to the test.", the wizard stated, "Still, this is a nice safety net to have." "Well, this sounds like a dungeon that is just begging us to come and collect its riches. I mean, just a handful of those crystals sells for a fortune already.", the mienfoo rejoiced with a smile. "And you're really sure that this is a good idea?", the eevee interjected nervously, "You also said that no one ever returned from there." "Oh, don't worry so much, Tiki. We're seasoned, experienced adventurers after all.", Paku claimed completely convinced, "Whatever lurks in there won't even know what hit 'em once we show up!" "Oh. Well then."

The mienfoo wasn't wrong. It wasn't the first time they went exploring. Otherwise they'd hardly even have enough money to buy the equipment required for this expedition. Nevertheless, a little caution was advised in any case. They weren't real warriors, just a team of ragtag adventurers. Before this, Paku had been an errand boy working for a noble lord. Tired of doing the same boring chores every day, he ran away to seek adventure. He was their fighter and de facto leader, but only because he had some experience swinging a stick and had the most stamina and strength of the three. After some time, the mienfoo had met Luca, their wizard, during a bar fight. Things had gotten a little ugly and this cute braixen had saved his ass in just the right moment. Luca had actually been trying to join an explorer team before, but almost every team had rejected the poor boy. The battle-hardened warriors and experienced rouges didn't want to bother with a puny novice wizard. It also didn't help that the feminine braixen was often thought to be a hooker and not a wizard. At least Luca had managed to make use of this confusion to keep himself financially afloat, although he wasn't particularly proud of it. The eevee Tiki was the latest addition to the team. He had been an alchemist's apprentice that escaped his dominant, horrible master. Even though he wasn't a proper alchemist yet, he was surprisingly adept at it and continued to learn with the help of a thick book he had snatched from his old master.

Young and hopeful, these two words described them best. Their ambitions for this next mission were high. Maybe this would even be the first dungeon where they fought an actual fight. In every mission before, the main obstacles had been traps, unfortunate terrain and an aggressive bug now and then. With the money they hoped to raise from this expedition, they wanted to finally buy some of the better gear and weapons. If the dungeon was really as rich in crystals as everyone claimed. Paku grimaced, they had spent almost half of their resources on this mission. It mustn't be a failure! Luckily, a few handfuls of life crystals would be more than enough to recoup their expenses.

"So, the backpacks are ready. Tiki, here's yours.", the mienfoo handed the eevee a fully loaded backpack. Then he pointed at the next one: "Luca, you take yours, I'll take mine. Then we're ready and set to go!" The contents of the heavy burlap sack clanked as he lifted it up. Next they moved downstairs and were greeted by the innkeeper, a friendly old samurott. "Hey there, ya three. Are ya leavin'?", he exclaimed with a sonorous voice, "Hope yer not really tryn' to visit that darn place, are ya?" Paku looked at him with a confident smile and stated: "Yes, that's exactly what we're going to do. Just wait and see!" The samurott sighed and replied somewhat disappointed: "There has to be a reason why no one's goin' after this wicked treasure. Can't stop ya though, so do what ya will. Be careful, fellas, wouldn't wanna lose you fine folk to whatever waits in this wretched hole." He waved the three adventurers farewell as they departed. Both the mienfoo and the braixen were full of eager anticipation. Only Tiki, the little eevee, was still doubtful, and the words of the innkeeper kept troubling his mind for the coming hour.

The three companions left the cozy little town and followed a well-established trail into the mountains. No one else stopped to hail or greet them. For most, they were just a few odd little strangers. It didn't diminish their joy though. Being back on the road, setting one foot after another, that was the most wonderful feeling. Paku and Luca began to sing a wandering song, and even Tiki chimed in reluctantly. They walked on and on, passed by smaller dwellings, fishing spots along a little mountain creek, logging camps and ultimately mining camps further uphill. The sun was beaming, illuminating the nature around them and making it shine in mesmerizing colors. The winds were blowing gently, there was always a breeze of fresh mountain air around them.

Eventually they left the beaten track. The paved road ended at a particularly large ore mine. Afterwards only a very narrow, serpentine path remained. The three friends exited civilization and headed into the unknown wilderness. Over the next few hours, they hiked uphill, through a narrow pass and down into a picturesque valley. "What a beautiful day, what a beautiful meadow!", Luca exclaimed happily. Even Tiki's doubts were all gone by now. Merry and full of energy they walked on until the evening dawned.

The adventurers set up camp under a large, blooming tree, leaned back and enjoyed the landscape illuminated by the last rays of sunlight. Tiki, the alchemist, was obviously in charge of cooking. Luca ignited a little pile of dry twigs and branches, the eevee put his pot on the fire, and soon the smell of stew filled the air. "That was a wonderful first day!", Paku spoke with his mouth full. The others nodded and Tiki added: "It's so calm and peaceful, too! No rude wildlife, no thorny thickets and not even bad weather. I don't think we've ever had so little trouble on an exploration before." Luca had gotten somber and quiet all of a sudden. He murmured warily: "One might think that things are going a bit too well." "Oh, don't be a downer! We've come this far and there's nothing to worry about yet.", the mienfoo tried to cheer up his friend. "Well, we do know that the dungeon exists, but I've never gotten a detailed description of its location. We could be forced to spend another day or two if we're really unlucky." "Could be, sure. But walking isn't really a problem for us, is it?", Paku objected confidently, "I've got an idea. Why don't you perform some of your dances to get in a better mood?" "Oh, yes! dances!", the eevee added happily. The braixen finally smiled and nodded: "Alright then. Sit back and enjoy."

The girly wizard gracefully lifted his wooden staff. Small droplets of liquefied light dripped from its tip and froze in the air. Luca painted a little picture made of pure, condensed light. Then he stood up and started dancing around, whirling his staff through the air and skillfully crafting a much more refined glowing image. The braixen moved with breathtaking grace while he added more and more strokes to the ever growing display of light. He varied the colors, the appearance of his strokes and added some fascinating sparkling effects. It was very obvious that the wizard had the time of his life doing this show. In another life he may have become a performer, an artist that enraptured huge audiences with wondrous, but temporary glowing pictures. But here and now making his two friends wow and gasp was reward enough for him. He finished with a furious finale and received exuberant applause from Tiki and a hug from Paku. "Thank you, Luca."

Before they could go to sleep with their bellies stuffed and their minds soothed, some security measures had to be taken. Paku put his quarterstaff and dagger right next to him. Once this was over and their mission successful, he should get a real sword, the mienfoo thought. Tiki pulled out a little vial and added a few drips to the empty, but still warm pot. It was a concoction that would slowly evaporate and fill the area surrounding them with an invigorating vapor. In case of a surprise or ambush, it would help them wake up faster. Luca's preventative measure was the most involved. The wizard cast a protective sphere that spanned almost a hundred feet and alerted them if something large was about to enter. Now they could sleep in peace without having to worry about anything anymore.

The next day began at dawn after a calm and completely uneventful night. The three adventurers picked everything up and swiftly moved on. "Look at the sky, nothing but a few tiny clouds!", the eevee exclaimed overjoyed. "Yes, this is going to be another good day.", the mienfoo agreed. After they had set off, the braixen pulled out his flute and played along to the singing of his companions. Bright and jolly faces all around!

As if things couldn't have gotten better still, they arrived at their destination around noon. After they had passed a hill, the wanderers were greeted by a fascinating view. Right there, nestled against the rock, was a gigantic stone entrance portal. It looked like a well-preserved ruin from ancient times and it was absolutely massive! Four monumental columns held up a heavy roof, forming a spacious porch. The floor was paved with smooth rocks and the entire building was surrounded by large, evenly spaced trees. Upon getting closer, engravings on the wall behind the columns became visible. "This is astounding!", Luca exclaimed what each of them thought. The three friends rapidly traversed the final bit and stepped onto the ancient ground. "Just look at those murals.", the wizard braixen whispered in awe. The engravings were even more beautiful up close, revealing stunning detail that somehow had survived the test of time. There were depictions of countless scenes accompanied by a clear, but completely indecipherable script. One figure remained a constant on all pictures, a royal stag with huge antlers. The mienfoo and the braixen weren't to well versed with history and religion, but their eevee companion had a knack for this stuff. "This looks a lot like a temple for Xerneas, the god of life. Would make a lot of sense to find life crystals in such a place." "But why here, of all places?", Paku wondered. "Maybe they found the crystals and thought it would be a great idea to worship the god of life here." "Fair enough."

The portal leading into the dim, dusty old temple was wide open, but it didn't look exactly inviting. "Come on, we have gotten this far and this is just an ancient ruin, nothing more.", Luca spoke. His friends hesitated, so the braixen led the way with a slightly shaky walk. He lifted his staff and cast a flaming ball of light to guide their advance. Now, the other two followed him into the forlorn monument.

The first room was even more impressive than the portal. It was a colossal entrance hall with an extremely high ceiling and several large statues standing on a wonderfully polished floor. The braixen let the light ascend and explode in a shower of glimmering sparks to illuminate the nigh endless room. Something felt off about this place, though. The air didn't smell stale and stuffy, instead an indescribable, eerie essence floated around and filled their nostrils with a strange tingle. Looking up they got a huge surprise when they discovered the blinding dazzle of uncountable life crystals. They hung from the roof like big, golden stalactites and they covered almost the entire ceiling! "Oh, wow. Those are the most crystals I've ever seen in one spot.", Tiki gasped exhilarated, and Paku and Luca were simply speechless by the bounty sparkling above them. "Hey, what are you waiting for? We should try to get them down!", the eevee alchemist said.

They tried everything they could, but to no avail. Their ropes and hooks didn't reach far enough. Magic didn't work either, because regardless of the spell Luca tried, he simply couldn't penetrate the dense magical barrier surrounding those crystals. In a last effort they tried to fling rocks at it, but they bounced off and fell back down with a loud clack. Life crystals were really hard and durable, and even the cold stone floor ignored any attempt to damage it. It seemed as if everything was frozen and unable to be damaged, it was quite unsettling once they noticed. "Dammit!", Paku yelled exasperatedly. A life of prosperity was so near, and yet so far. Tiki grabbed his arm and whispered anxiously: "Hey, maybe we should go. This place looks like it doesn't want to be disturbed. It's giving me the creeps!" The mienfoo stared at the blinking ceiling and nodded with a disgruntled huff. "Sure, let's move on."

A few smaller doors exited the entrance hall. The adventurers chose the one closest to them and moved on. Guided by the wizard's light they delved deeper into the temple. Everything was brimming with this strange aura. The place felt weirdly alive, even though the stone was barren and there were no plants or fungi anywhere. They aimlessly wandered through endless corridors and eventually the structures around them became cruder and the influence of the ancient civilization faded. They left the temple and entered a system of countless caves. "Hey, Luca, you're memorizing our path, right?", the mienfoo asked uncomfortably. The braixen nodded: "Otherwise I wouldn't have gone this far." "Are you guys sure that this is the right way?", Tiki unhappily squeaked from behind.

Not much later the mienfoo remarked: "Wait, look, there is a crack in the wall!" "Oh no.", the eevee howled fearfully. "Shh. Let me get a closer look. Luca, I need some light!" Paku grabbed the pickaxe and smashed it against the cracked wall. His intuition proved him right, a few strikes later the rock disintegrated into a heap of rubble. He entered the cavity behind it and couldn't believe his own eyes when he spotted a vein of life crystals. They were just in front of him, waiting to be mined! "Have you found something?", he heard the braixen ask. "You bet! Oh, this is great! We're gonna be rich!" The others joined him, and together they extracted the gleaming prize. In the end, the three friends had a few handfuls of this valuable material, enough to make their journey a success already.

A sudden noise coming from outside startled them. The ruins weren't as lifeless as they seemed! Luca extinguished the magic light and Tiki anxiously pressed himself against the wall. The footsteps were getting closer, and only Paku was brave, or stupid, enough to crawl to the opening and take a peek. He saw two large guys walking through the tunnel, one of them carrying a torch. It was an obstagoon and a luxray, both armed to the teeth and definitely not here for fun. Those must be mercenaries or bandits that followed the call of treasure, Paku thought. And they didn't look like they would be too happy about potential competitors.

The mienfoo turned around and whispered: "There's two of them. If we're lucky, we can get the numbers advantage and surprise them." "Wait, you wanna fight them?", Tiki objected afraid. "They are pretty big and strong, imagine them surprising us instead. We'd be toast! Look, it's either us or them." "Paku's right! Lead the way. Let's do it!", Luca whispered. They sneaked out of their recess and tailed the two bandits. When the two men finally stopped, the three adventurers attacked them in a coordinated strike. They had actually been preparing for this very moment since forever. Theory became reality and the assault actually worked, or so it seemed. Luca cast a blinding light that dazzled the two muscular figures. Paku then struck from behind, smashing his quarterstaff with a hearty swing over the obstagoon's head. While the large man collapsed, the mienfoo continued moving and put the luxray out of commission with another vicious blow. They definitely should've worn helmets, the little warrior grinned. Tiki on the other hand waited a little aside, clutched his dagger and hoped that the other two wouldn't need him.

Caught in the rush of battle, Paku drew his dagger and attempted to slit the luxray's throat. But nothing happened, no incision, no blood, not even a scratch. Confused, he tried it again and again. Completely shocked he jumped away and stared at the fallen behemoths with widened eyes. "Why the hell doesn't this work?", he yelled. Luca was just as stunned. The braixen stood frozen and tried to fathom the unexpected. Only their eevee was still clear in the head and hastily ran to each of them, slapping and tugging them while screaming "Quick! Quick! Move!". His two companions finally awoke from their daze and all three hurriedly scurried away from the two unconscious men. They sprinted through the hallways, never looking back, until they eventually reached a point where they felt safe. Completely out of breath, Paku slurred: "They cannot be hurt! What kind of magic is this?" "The people weren't lying. You really can't die in here. I never really trusted this claim until now.", Luca added nervously, "This is terrifying!" Only now did they realize that the magic not only protected them, but their enemies as well.

"Where are we?", Tiki asked timidly. Shocked, the three adventurers stared at each other. "I- I don't know anymore.", Luca gasped desperately. A moment of frightening silence passed. Paku broke it when he declared with as much certainty as he could muster: "We can't be too far from the entrance. The walls show signs of civilization again. Let's calm down, set up camp and have a rest before we try to get out tomorrow. Maybe we find another vein of crystals, maybe we don't. The most important thing is that we already have one bag full of them. More than enough to make up for this expedition." The eevee nodded with a distraught grimace, he looked miserable and appeared as if he was about to cry. The braixen didn't look much better, but he whispered a faint: "Of course."

They hastily cobbled together a camp. For lack of wood Luca had to use his magic to heat up the pot so they could have a warm meal. During the whole time none of them spoke a single word. As soon as they had eaten, they took care of safety and huddled together. Paku put his arms around his friends and pulled them closer together. Maybe this mission was a little beyond what they were capable of. At some point, they also had to take care of provisions. Their waterskins were full and they still had enough to eat. But just in case they got lost and couldn't find their way back to the exit this week, they should make sure that they knew of at least one water source nearby.

The little mienfoo was truly afraid. They had never been in such a dire situation before. First of all, they weren't alone in here. And the fact that they couldn't die in here didn't make it any better. The thought of starving forever because you just can't die, no matter what happened, was harrowing. Fortunately, the soothing black veil of sleep soon engulfed him and with it his worries.