-had trembled enough, at least from Auris' point of view.
She stood at the bottom of the cavern entrance with her arms crossed impatiently under her chest as she watched Sarajin and Ezekiel mining away at the walls.
"How can it take so long to dislodge a few measly minerals?" She remarked in a blunt tone.
Ezekiel stood up sweating like a pig and wiped his brows clean, "Oi, easy for you to say! These are some of the toughest stuff in all of Oreore! Why don't you quit making remarks and take a crack at it, Auris? You'll see what I mean."
Sarajin laughed as he stood up sweating just as much, if not more, "Do you want her to outshine you, Zeke?"
"Hmmm," Ezekiel thumbed his chin for a moment to think, then gestured at Sarajin lightly, "Nah, I know better than to test her might."
Auris smirked proudly with a hum and the two kept working for a little while longer.
Eventually Ezekiel's pickaxe hammer dislodged something from the stalagmite that rolled onto the ground between them both.
"Huh?" It was enough to make him drop his tool and pick it up.
"What's this doin' here?" He rolled it around in his hand while Sarajin took a look at it as well.
It was a hand-sized black and gold spherical stone, which, as Sarajin commented, "Looks like it's got an ancient clock carved into it..."
Auris's heart stirred momentarily and she found herself drawn away from the wall to come take a look, "You've found something interesting?"
"Eh, on the surface it just looks like your average Chronostone," Ezekiel commented, rubbing the back of his head in a puzzled manner, "Can't say I've ever come across this small amount before...Or the kinda symbol it bears."
Auris leaned between them and gently pushed Sarajin's head out of the way. She stared at the stone long and hard, until her brain throbbed and made her eyes wince and get wettened.
"Do you...recognize it, Auris?" Sarajin murmured.
Auris pulled away and shook her head, "It could be special. You should take it back and have it examined."
Ezekiel flicked the stone over to Sarajin and said, "I'll leave that up to you brother. It's too small to use anyways."
Sarajin tucked that away in his pocket and Auris swore she saw it glimmer for a moment, which bothered her more than it should.
The two then went back to work until they had mined up enough bits of yellow crystal off the wall to fill a few rocky crates.
"There we go, that'll give our armors some protection against Pulsa Minoria's paralysis weapon things." Ezekiel remarked.
He then patted Sarajin on the shoulder and told him, "Thanks for being upfront about their plans, brother."
"This'll reduce the casualties on both sides down to zero, hopefully." Sarajin said with a smile.
"Well, now to carry them back!" Ezekiel hauled one up on his shoulder and Sarajin held his in front of his chest.
Auris decided to show off by taking her crate and hauling it overhead with one hand, easily.
"Heh, show-off." Ezekiel humored her as he passed her by.
They made their way outside to the grace of the morning sun. There, an Argent Heaver was waiting to take their payloads and carry them back.
Sarajin put his down first, then Ezekiel. But as Auris stepped out of the cavern, she was met with a fuzzy feeling inside of her head.
"- lo- y-u-, bi- -i-"
This swift disorientation caused her to drop and shatter the crate on the ground as she fell to her knees and grabbed the side of her head.
"Auris!" Sarajin dashed to her side but she was able to stand right away.
Auris stared forward with shock and waited for the ringing in her ears to heal. She then slowly raised her head and reoriented herself to her surroundings, giving Sarajin a much needed smile.
"Seems in my rush to show-off, I tripped," Auris brushed her hand up and shook her head lightly, "Clumsy me."
She saw that Sarajin was still looking her way and proceeded to glare at him with a teasing look in her eyes, "Are you going to keep looking at me like I'm a wounded sparrow, Sarajin?"
"It was just...sudden, that's all," Sarajin patted her on the back and smiled, "I know it'd take a lot more than a dumb fall to bruise you!"
Sarajin then used his powers to piece the crate back together and store the crystals inside, loading it onto the Argent Heaver's trunk.
Auris stood back in silence and looked back, feeling like there was a faint presence in the air that only she could sense.
"Mmm..."
"You comin' Auris?" Ezekiel remarked atop his ride.
She turned and shook her head, "I'll meet back up with you later today. I...would like to go at my own pace for a bit."
"You still up for dinner?" Sarajin wondered.
"Just as long as you promise to lay off the vegetables for ONCE." Auris said with a smarmy smile.
"Heh, it's a promise then!" Sarajin hopped atop next to Ezekiel and the two rode off across the land back to Oreore.
Auris then closed her eyes to take a deep breath, whispering in a pleasant, soothing tone, "Lord Stonestein, is there something you need?"
The towering man with the hardened shield walked out behind the cover of the cavern and approached her with a respectful bow, "Your father requires your presence."
Auris turned her head with minor bitterness as she muttered, "Another check-up? Fine...I will get this over with."
"My apologies for the inconvenience." Stonestein replied.
"Hmm, I hold nothing against you," Auris smiled and gestured her hand out his way, "Shall we?"
Stonestein's rocky face managed a smile as he reached into his sack and pulled out a hexagon crystal, "Return to home."
The two were thus swiftly warped away to Sancturia...
Next Time: A Grudge of Steel