As he rose from his crouched position, he couldn't help but steal a quick glance around, ensuring that his illicit gain remained safe and hidden.
After believing no one sees his action, he let out a silent sigh of relief.
The adrenaline still coursed through his veins. But for now, he had successfully eluded suspicion.
Evening descended upon the underground cavern through the gap, casting long shadows over the miners toiling away in the depths of the earth.
As the last rays of daylight faded, the miner knew it was time to conclude his shift.
The laborious work had yielded its rewards in the form of precious mana crystals.
He, together with his fellow miners, each carrying the fruits of their labour to exchange them with coins.
Their faces bore the sweat and grime of a day's work in the depths of the earth.
The miner cautiously approached one of the counters.
He cleared his throat and slid the mana crystal across the wooden surface toward the clerk.
The clerk, a middle-aged man with a ledger in hand, glanced up from his work and offered a perfunctory nod.
The clerk picked up the crystal.
He examined them briefly before reaching for a small set of scales, carefully placing the crystal on one side and a set of weights on the other.
Nodding in satisfaction, the clerk recorded the weight of the crystal in his ledger.
He then reached for a pouch of coins, the dull clinking of metal against metal filling the air as he counted out the miner's payment.
As each coin was carefully placed into the pouch, anticipation hung in the air.
Finally, with a last nod, the clerk handed over the pouch of coins to the miner. "Good work," he stated plainly.
"Thank you," the miner replied. He accepted the pouch of coins with his rough, calloused hand, the testament to his laborious efforts.
Their transaction was complete.
He pocketed the coins with a sense of satisfaction and turned to leave.
Carefully, he began his journey towards the exit. His steps were slow and measured.
He couldn't afford for even the faintest clink of the hidden mana crystal to give him away.
Every move was precise, every breath calculated as he inched closer to the underground cavern's exit.
Nearing the exit, a line of other miners formed ahead of him, their silhouettes flickering in the dim light.
They exchanged weary smiles and nods, their eyes reflecting the shared exhaustion of their labour.
To an outsider, they were nothing more than diligent workers, returning to the surface after a day of toil in the depths of the earth.
But as they approached the exit point, where stern-faced soldiers stood guard, the atmosphere grew thick with tension.
The soldier in charge, a tall and imposing figure signalled each miner to stop.
The mining company was adamant about preventing any valuable mana crystals from being smuggled out illicitly.
"Next!" barked one of the soldiers, his voice cutting through the heavy air.
He pointed at the miner, signalling for him to step forward.
His eyes, sharp and unyielding, bore into the miner's soul. It was clear that this soldier took his duty seriously.
"Show your pockets," the soldier commanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
The miner began to empty his pockets, revealing meagre contents like a few coins, a crumpled piece of paper, and a battered piece of bread wrapped in a cloth.
The soldier continued to watch, his eyes narrowing slightly. It was a moment of intense scrutiny, each second stretching into an eternity.
With a curt nod, he motioned to his fellow soldier, a burly man with a stern expression. "Body check," he ordered tersely.
The burly soldier stepped forward, his gloved hands poised to conduct a meticulous search.
He began with a pat-down, his fingers probing the miner's clothing for any hidden contraband.
The miner stood still, his heart pounding as the soldier's hands moved over him.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the soldier nodded, seemingly satisfied. "You may proceed."
With a sense of profound relief, the miner collected his belongings, including the pouch of coins he had received as payment for his hard day's work.
He stated his thanks to the soldiers, trying to appear as composed as possible.
The miner's heart didn't settle until he was a considerable distance from the mine, and the city's clamour had faded into the background.
His steps quickened as he approached the path leading to his village.
Under the evening sky, the first stars began to twinkle, casting a faint, ethereal glow over the landscape.
The miner trudged along the well-worn path before arriving at his modest home, a humble cottage nestled in the embrace of the countryside.
It was a place far removed from the bustling city and the ever-watchful eyes of the company.
Immediately, he entered his home and closed the door behind him.
In the dim light of an oil lamp, he retrieved the carefully concealed mana crystal from his boot.
It was a precious gem, glimmering with an otherworldly radiance.
"Beautiful," Despite seeing the crystal every day, he found himself muttering under his breath, unable to contain his admiration for the precious gem.
He then transferred the mana crystal into a small, leather pouch, ensuring it was well hidden.
When the night sky completely darkened, a soft knock echoed through the room, making the miner's heart skip a beat.
He approached the door cautiously before his hand poised to open it.
The door revealed a mysterious figure, draped in a black cloak, standing before him.
"Did you obtain it?" the enigmatic man inquired, his voice low and shrouded in secrecy.
The miner nodded in response, his heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. "Yes, wait a second," he replied, moving quickly to retrieve the pouch containing the crystal.
With caution, he passed the pouch to the mysterious man.
The enigmatic figure took a quick glance at the contents and, seemingly unsatisfied, muttered, "This is too little," in a somewhat disappointed tone.
"It's hard to even smuggle out more than that amount," he reasoned, trying to defend the quantity.
The mysterious man seemed unwilling to argue further. He withdrew another pouch, this one filled with glimmering silver coins, and tossed it to the miner. "As promised, your reward," he declared, his voice carrying an air of finality.
The miner caught the pouch, feeling its weight and the jingling of coins within. Gratitude filled his voice as he responded, "Thank you, sir."
It was a significant reward for a risky endeavour, far more than the wage he received.
As the mysterious man disappeared into the darkness, he couldn't help but wonder what plans the buyer had for the precious mana crystal.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m