The faint glow of the torches flickered against the jagged walls as Torya stepped deeper into the mountain cavern. His boots crunched on the uneven stone floor, damp from condensation. The air here was different—dense, metallic, and alive. Every breath carried a subtle taste of minerals, as though the mountain itself exhaled something ancient.
He stopped near the center of the chamber, and for a moment, the only sound was the quiet dripping of water echoing from somewhere unseen. The light of his torch reached the nearest wall, and his eyes widened.
The stone wasn't just rock—it shimmered.
A deep green hue dominated the entrance walls, veins of color winding through the gray like living serpents frozen in stone. Beneath the green, faint gold shimmered when the flame's light touched it, blending with reddish streaks that looked almost molten. Further into the depths, other hues joined—silvers and blacks, faint traces of white crystals catching the glow.
Torya slowly exhaled, his heart beating with both wonder and disbelief. "so much colors," he murmured under his breath.
The magnitude of what they had found settled on his shoulders. A mine filled with this many types of ore could change everything for their tribe.
Behind him, the hunters stepped inside, carrying more torches to light the wide cavern. Their eyes widened in awe. The orange glow revealed layer upon layer of shining veins, twisting through the rock like threads in a celestial tapestry. The cavern seemed to stretch endlessly, with tunnels splitting off in several directions, each one promising further discovery.
Kael, one of the youngest hunters, stepped forward. Barely older than the youngest initiates. His sharp eyes and quiet nature made him observant, and though his build was slender compared to the others, he carried himself with discipline.
He lifted his torch higher, the warm light illuminating his curious face. "Chief… the walls are alive," Kael said softly, reaching out to touch the shimmering stone. His fingers brushed against the cool surface, and he felt a faint vibration beneath the tips. "It's like the mountain is breathing."
Torya smiled faintly. "In a way, it is. What you feel is Aether—the world's pulse. The ores carry it inside them, just waiting to be drawn out."
Kael's eyes gleamed. "Is this what you felt when you awakened, Chief?"
Torya paused at the question. His red-patterned arms glowed faintly in the dim light as if in answer. "Something similar," he said at last. "But this… this is bigger. This is the land itself showing us its heart."
Behind them, the other young hunters murmured in amazement. Some of them knelt beside the veins of copper and gold, others chipped small fragments from the walls to examine. They were young, but not foolish; they understood that this find was beyond anything their people had known.
Nova's voice suddenly hummed inside Torya's mind—calm, analytical, and precise.
[Analysis Complete.][Detected Ores: Iron, Copper, Gold, Silver, Tin, Lead, Salt, and Obsidian.][Depth Range: 0.3–4.1 meters from exposed surfaces.][Estimated Aether Density: High.][Recommendation: Secure perimeter. Establish excavation teams. Implement rotation guard system to prevent resource theft or enemy intrusion.]
Torya nodded subtly. "Understood."
To his men, he said, "Spread out. Explore every tunnel and mark the paths that lead deeper. Don't wander alone—move in pairs. Call out if you see anything unusual or dangerous."
"Yes, Chief!" the hunters answered in unison, their voices echoing against the cavern walls.
Kael turned to him before joining his group. "Should we mark the paths with our torches, Chief?"
"Good thinking. Leave a line of soot along the wall as you go. We'll follow it back later."
As the teams dispersed, the cavern came alive with movement—footsteps, scraping tools, the crackle of torches. The sound of excitement mixed with the careful discipline of a people who knew they had stumbled upon something sacred.
Torya stayed near the central chamber, watching his people vanish down branching tunnels. He turned slowly in place, letting the light of his torch play across the mineral veins once more. The reflection of green copper shimmered like flowing water. The golden threads pulsed faintly, responding to his Aether as if recognizing its kinship.
He placed a hand on the wall. The stone was cool, but he could feel the faint hum through it—a rhythm, slow but constant, like a heartbeat deep inside the mountain.
"Eight ores in one place," he murmured to himself. "No wonder the goblins guarded it."
[Nova: This deposit could serve as a foundation for the tribe's growth. Mining efficiency will increase if host forges specialized tools using Flame Hands. Recommend testing metal fusion properties—bronze alloy potential between copper and tin.]
Torya raised an eyebrow. "Bronze alloy… I'll try it once we secure everything."
A soft rumble echoed through the chamber, breaking his thoughts. From one of the right-side tunnels, Rahn's voice rang out. "Chief! We've found something!"
Torya strode quickly toward the sound, his torchlight revealing the tall hunter kneeling by a wall that shimmered with faint silver. Behind him, Daren and Loren were clearing away loose rocks.
"Look at this," Rahn said, pointing. "This section has two mixed together. The texture is different from the others—smooth, but heavy."
Torya crouched beside him, running his thumb over the stone. It was indeed smoother than normal ore, and there was a strange luster to it. "Good find," he said. "Mark it. We'll extract samples later."
Kael appeared from another tunnel, carrying a small chunk of translucent crystal. "Chief! There's more of these in the western passage. They sparkle when the torchlight hits them."
Torya recognized it immediately. "Salt."
"Salt?" Kael tilted his head. "the one we use for food?"
"yes," Torya said.
Kael smiled sheepishly. "Then we're rich, Chief?"
Torya laughed softly. "Rich in work, perhaps. But yes, Kael, we've been blessed."
The hunters chuckled lightly, the sound echoing warmly in the cavern. For a brief moment, the fear of goblins, hunger, and cold vanished—replaced by hope.
After another hour of exploration, they regrouped in the main chamber. Everyone carried samples: reddish iron, green copper, dull gray lead, glittering gold dust, and pieces of black obsidian sharp enough to cut flesh.
Torya stood at the center, studying their finds laid out on a flat stone. "This mine…" he said slowly, "will change everything. But it will also draw attention. We must protect it."
The hunters nodded solemnly.
Rahn stepped forward. "Chief, the tunnels are deep but stable. We can set traps at the entrances in case the goblins return."
"Good. Do that tomorrow," Torya said. "For now, mark every path you explored and memorize them."
Kael glanced at the veins of ore glowing faintly in the dim light. "Chief, how will we carry them back? We don't even have carts."
"That's the next challenge," Torya said, his expression turning thoughtful. "We'll need sleds, ropes, and something to carry the heavier ore. The tribe must help once the path is cleared."
He looked back at the glimmering walls, his eyes reflecting their colors. "A happy problem to have, wouldn't you say?"
Kael grinned. "A problem worth having, Chief."
Nova's voice hummed again, quieter this time.
[Mapping Complete. Estimated total ore yield—exceptional. Recommend establishing guard rotation: minimum three watchers at entrance. Optimal mining time—daylight hours to minimize Aether interference.]
Torya nodded subtly. "We'll follow that."
He turned to his people once more, raising his torch high. The flames cast long shadows across the stone, making the metallic veins gleam like rivers of light. "Listen well," he said. "What we found today will shape the Emberkin's future. But we must be wise. The mountain has given us a gift, but if we're careless, it will take it back. Starting tomorrow, we'll begin preparing tools for mining. Everyone will have a task—miners, guards, crafters. We will make this ours."
A chorus of determined voices filled the air: "Yes, Chief!"
The echo lingered in the vast cavern like a promise.
Torya smiled faintly, the flicker of flame reflected in his red-patterned arms. "Eight ores," he whispered to himself, "and eight chances to forge our future."
As they began the trek back toward the entrance, Kael walked beside him, holding his torch close. "Chief," he said quietly, "do you think the other tribes have places like this?"
"Maybe," Torya said. "But none of them have what we do—a tribe that fights as one."
Kael's eyes glowed faintly, catching the reflection of the torchlight. "Then we'll protect it with everything we have."
Torya nodded. "That's the spirit. Remember this day, Kael. The day the Emberkin found the heart of the mountain."
When they emerged from the cavern, the night air greeted them cool and crisp. The stars hung bright above the peaks, and behind them, the cave mouth shimmered faintly, as if reluctant to let them go.
Torya looked back one last time, feeling a deep sense of pride and purpose. The mountain now belonged to them—not through conquest, but through the courage to seek and claim their destiny.
Tomorrow, they would return with tools, ropes, and plans. Tomorrow, the true work would begin.
For now, he took a deep breath, turned toward the path home, and smiled.
"A happy problem indeed."