[treasure] minecraft moment (PART 2)

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It didn’t take long for Surya to find one of his favorite spots: a cave nestled in a far corner of Rhiza, bordering the steep slope of The Vault’s cliffs. 

The cave itself has been left relatively untouched from the outside world, aside from Surya’s occasional visits and the family of crystal farmers that had been cultivating the caves in this area for generations. Said farmers were close with Surya, and despite being unrelated, they’d entrusted him with the cave’s location - on the condition that Surya would visit the farmers from time to time to share the gorgeous jewelry he’d make out of the crystals that thrived in the cavern. Surya, pleased with such an accommodating agreement, was more than happy to accept.

The variety of minerals in the sediment gives the large clusters of crystals a beautiful glow of an array of colors that make this cave unique in Surya’s eyes. Sure, there may be a vast number of caves similar to this one, but the towering bulk of some of the crystals present are certainly an impressive show of just how old this cave system truly is. Stalagmites have grown so tall, they practically pierce the ceiling of the cavern; and stalactites droop so low towards the ground, Surya has to constantly watch his step, lest he accidentally misstep and smash his face into one - ouch.

Of course, Surya is a meticulous and calculated individual. Attention to detail is all a part of his job as a jeweler and appraiser, and Surya would be damned if he were to become careless now. One of the greatest joys in collecting his own crystals, gems, and ore for his craftsmanship is paying his respects to the lands that provide such beautiful materials. He’d never take advantage of one’s kindness, nor would he ever dream of defiling such sacred grounds. This cave in particular is a testament to the passion, love, and hardships of those before him, the generations of crystal farmers that take great care to preserve such a unique structure and its contents. 

Those cursed with greed may take more than their fill, destroying the naturally-formed crystal structures for their own gain, carelessly mining the minerals to their eventual depletion. Surya, however, carefully extracts small fragments of the newer gems - softer and more pliant than the larger clusters hardened over time. Not only does it require less labor to mine, but it also results in little to no damage to the surrounding crystals. 

Pocketing the small shards into the sturdy pouch tied around his waist, Surya takes his time to inspect each gem. While most of the shards will be refined to later be made into jewelry, some of the more uniquely imperfect stones will be kept as part of Surya’s collection - or hoard, as some would call it. Surya adores decorating his living space with his findings as well, and he takes great pride in the perfection of his craft. While others may share Surya’s adoration for the imperfections, he simply prefers to offer only the best of his craftsmanship to buyers. Though, that pesky little demon, Vatra, may find use for some of the scraps - whether for their bladesmithing work, or just to add to their own collections… Surya stores that thought in the back of his head for later consideration.

Content with his current findings, Surya gives one last appreciative hum to the cavern before him, before walking to the water-filled entrance he came from. The cave is essentially an air pocket from the small lake it resides beneath, offering an otherworldly glow to the waters that reflect from the dazzling crystals within. It’s a beautifully serene hidden spot, and even before completing his current trip, Surya still looks forward to his next visit.

WORD COUNT: 628