[Open.]

A brief word from Soldrake caused a white glow to be emitted from a pillar that she was touching. The light expanded to wrap the entire pillar before stretching out to the entrance of the giant cave.

Rummmmble!

With a roar, the sealed entrance was opened. The cave rested behind a giant dragon statue and was usually sealed magically.

The white light spread along the walls and the floor of the cave, while subtle blue light, which was unique to crystals, slowly brightened the dark cave.

Raven turned around.

A dozen soldiers and around fifty workers gazed at him in shock.

“Is that bright enough?”

“Yes. We will examine the layouts of the cave and start mining right away.”

“Good. If you require more workers, consult with the captain and recruit more at your discretion.”

“I’ll do as you say, Your Grace. Come on, boys! Let’s go in.”

An old laborer bowed to Raven before entering the cave with the other workers. The mine had been closed for more than a decade with magic hence it posed little danger. Raven confirmed the other workers and soldiers working on repairing the wooden barriers that surrounded the mine, then left. He didn’t forget to place two griffons as messengers for emergencies.

***

“Now we only need to see the mines and the sawmills that the Seyrod family gave us.”

The place that they just left was the last crystal mine left in...