Free Web NovelChapter 148: Lunarisite Mine (1)
The morning sun painted the settlement in hues of gold, but for Shinon, the day felt unusually slow and uneventful. He found himself idly tapping his fingers on the wooden table in his makeshift quarters, a restless energy surging within him.
Crafting had always been his solace, his escape, but with the workshop undergoing renovations, he felt like a caged bird, yearning to spread his wings.
"I can’t believe I’m stuck here doing nothing," Shinon muttered to himself, his frustration evident.
His eyes wandered to the empty workbenches, and a sense of longing washed over him. He missed the smell of freshly forged metals and the satisfaction of creating something new.
The promise of the workshop’s renovation, made by General Ironheart himself, brought excitement along with it. It meant new tools, improved equipment, and a chance to delve deeper into his craft. But until then, Shinon needed something to occupy his time. freёweɓnovel.com
Just then, a burst of laughter echoed from the courtyard outside. Shinon looked out the window and saw Selena, Kira, Rico, and a few guards preparing for a patrol mission.
Kira had mentioned patrolling to him before, but Shinon had never paid much attention to it till now.
A sudden idea sparked in his mind, and he grinned. Perhaps joining the patrol would help him shake off the boredom and discover something interesting along the way.
With newfound enthusiasm, Shinon donned his usual protective gear and quickly made his way to where the patrol party was assembling. Selena raised an eyebrow as she noticed him approaching.
"You’re joining us, Shinon?" she asked a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Yep," Shinon replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "I can’t just sit around twiddling my thumbs all day."
Kira smirked, understanding his restlessness. "Alright then, the more, the merrier. But stay close and don’t get too reckless."
Rico chuckled and clapped Shinon on the back. "Good to have you back in action, buddy."
With that, the patrol party set off, venturing into the untamed urban wilderness surrounding the settlement.
Shinon casually chatted with the guards as they walked, trying to glean any information about the Phoenixes’ mining operation. But it seemed like they had all been instructed to remain tight-lipped on the matter.
Watching him talk casually with everyone made Kira and Rico feel like Shinon was up to something. It wasn’t like him to indulge in idle conversations until he had something in mind.
"So, any interesting spots around here?" Shinon asked, trying to steer the conversation subtly.
The guards exchanged glances but remained silent. It was evident that they were under strict orders not to reveal any sensitive information. Shinon sighed inwardly but decided not to press further. He couldn’t blame them for being loyal to their cause.
Shinon’s patrol party was one of many responsible for scouting and securing the area around the settlement. But eleven more such parties moved in rotation to ensure every area was thoroughly checked.
Shinon thought maybe it was some other party that knew about the location of the mine.
’Things would have been a lot easier if Nova hadn’t realised how much information she had divulged to me...’ Shinon sighed, thinking about his conversation with Nova yesterday.
As the day wore on, they covered a significant distance, exploring the various terrains surrounding the settlement. The landscape was rugged yet beautiful, and Shinon found himself momentarily distracted by nature’s wonders.
Only when the sun began its descent did Shinon seize an opportunity to reach for his radio discreetly. He checked to ensure the channel was secure and then attempted to establish a connection with General Ironheart.
"General, this is Shinon. Do you copy?"
There was a brief silence before a static-filled response came through, "Shinon, is that you? Is everything alright?"
"Yes, sir, everything is alright. I had a good reception, so I thought it was the right time to make a call," Shinon said, trying to keep his voice low.
"Hmm, I see."
"I’m with the patrol party, and I was wondering if you could provide some intel." Shinon jumped straight to the topic.
"What do you need to know?" the general replied, his tone serious.
"I recently got to know about a mine the Phoenixes are operating. I heard it produces a rare ore called Lunarisite, and I wanted to work with it," Shinon inquired. "Any idea where it might be located?"
"Hmm... is that so?" The general hesitated momentarily before responding, "I can’t disclose the exact location over the radio, but I can tell you it’s in the northern region, not too far from the settlement."
Shinon was taken aback by the general’s forwardness. He had assumed that he would require to manipulate the general into giving him the information.
"I know what you’re thinking about, Shinon," the general continued. "You can think of it as a sign of my seriousness to work with you."
"Understood, general," Shinon replied, his mind racing with possibilities. "I’ll appreciate your forwardness then."
"May you succeed in your endeavours," the general replied before disconnecting.
Shinon smiled, but not like a maniac, as he knew to be discreet about this information, as it was sensitive and could put the settlement in danger if it fell into the wrong hands.
’Hm... let’s figure out a way to ditch the patrol and get into the mine.’
Shinon’s senses remained sharp as the patrol continued, scanning the surroundings for any signs of the mine. He knew he had to tread carefully, as discovering the Lunarisite could potentially change everything for his creations.
The night blanketed the sky, and the patrol party decided to camp near a tranquil stream. Selena, Kira, and Rico gathered around a small fire, exchanging stories and laughter. Shinon, however, sat a bit apart, his focus elsewhere.
His mind was filled with thoughts of Lunarisite, its mysterious properties, and how it could potentially enhance his crafting abilities.
But he also knew that obtaining it would be a challenging task. It was guarded for a reason, and the Phoenixes would not part with it easily.
Lost in contemplation, Shinon barely noticed when Selena approached him, her expression curious yet concerned.
"What’s on your mind, Shinon?" she asked gently.
Shinon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Nothing much, just remembering the old life away from this chaos. Sometimes, looking at the sky does that to me."
"I wish I could say I know what you’re going through, but I can’t because I don’t," Selena nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "However, I do know the feeling of staying in a place you don’t belong to."
"I know," Shinon replied, his voice unwavering. "But well, there’s nothing we can do about it other than accept the reality and move on."
Selena placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We’ll figure it out, Shinon. Together."
Selena looked into Shinon’s eyes and felt something pass between them. She leaned in closer to Shinon, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and puckered her lips in an attempt to steal a spontaneous kiss.
Just as their lips were about to meet, Kira, who had been observing the scene with suppressed feelings, couldn’t bear to see them get any closer.
With feigned nonchalance, she pretended to trip over an invisible obstacle and stumbled right in front of them, effectively interrupting their intimate moment.
"Oops! Sorry, guys!" Kira exclaimed, her face flushed with embarrassment and a hint of relief. "I didn’t see that rock there. Clumsy me!"
Selena’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she quickly straightened herself as Kira approached them. At the same time, Shinon attempted to maintain his composure. He couldn’t believe he almost fell for that.
’Take a hold of yourself, you dumbass!’
As the night deepened, the patrol party settled in for some much-needed rest, knowing the journey had just begun. Shinon stared at the starry sky, his mind abuzz with plans and possibilities.
