Submission (#3551) Approved

Wordcount: 511
Region: Zevija (mining town + gem cliffs with some fun lore)
Viewpoint Elnin: #1423 Lunarity
Comments: I like to think the gems are pretty, but given that everything in Eyre runs off magic, all those mages are getting their magic rocks from somewhere, and there likely isn't much difference between "rock crystal" and "anima crystal". Either anima is completely optional for most material, nonliving things to exist; or when we say 'non-anima-filled' we actually mean 'depleted of its natural anima and in the process of regaining it'. Now eventually I figure the mods will let me put in a submission where I just theorize about how anima intersects with the natural world for 3k words and get some sweet EC for it, but until then, I'm just gonna assume Zevija's caves have anima crystals in them too. :p
Additional notes: No kittoms were harmed in the writing of this prompt. One kittom got the equivalent of static like when you accidentally zap yourself on the car door.

His very last stop in Zevija before returning to his home of Kyendi with a backpack’s worth of souvenirs and memories. His guide beckoned the group forward, deeper into the crystal mine, and he spared himself one last glance backward to the mouth of it, one last glance to the bone-white and inferno-red Eldertree that stood and watched with an unforgiving eye.

The cave needed no light save its own: half the crystals glowed from within, reflecting that light off the other crystals in a stained-glass spectacle. Lunarity stayed close to the five other kittoms, trailing after the guide and occasionally stopping to admire the rock formations around them. One crystal shone violet, a silent mana-flame beating its wings like an ensnared butterfly within. Another burned orange like a lantern, its light flickering with its magical display.

The rocky trail they were walking upon had been cut out of the stone, filled in with sandy dirt where the original builders must have removed jewels from in its construction. It was sturdy and well-trodden, they were not the first group in this cave today and wouldn’t be near the last. Up ahead, a good two hours’ walk or maybe an hour and a half’s run at full stride, would be a small mining town perfectly happy to ship kittoms out on minecarts in exchange for some food or a couple hours’ work helping sort the gems. He planned on leaving through there, taking the minecart to the next town and finding an airship out of Zevija proper.

One of the kittoms in his group yelped suddenly, rearing back on their hind legs. A jewel stuck out of the ground, a long, thin pyramid of mixed indigo and red. They stuck their paw in their mouth, tail lashing with surprise pain.

“Careful,” said their guide, not much in the means of concerned about the situation. “Like I’ve been saying, most of these jewels are mana-saturated. Some of them still hold traces of lightning and they’ll make your hair stand on end.”

Lunarity tilted his head to one side, downcast ear brushing his elbow. “Why not remove it, then, since it’s at shoulder-height and everyone’s always passing through?” he asked.

The guide smiled. “Because the ones near the floor aren’t dangerous, just a little surprising, and someone getting a spark or two prevents the entire group from deciding to jump on the huge fire ruby powering the next town and getting scorched.”

He nodded, accepting this. A bit less forgiving than Kyendi, and for good measure: this still wasn’t a region for the faint of heart. A little shock every once in a while could save lives.

Turning his muzzle to the ceiling again, he caught sight of a cyan crystal, halfway filled with mana like a waterskin. It dripped like a stalactite, and he watched a glowing drop fall, directly above him. He made no move to dodge as it splashed between his eyes, and he felt for a moment, the briefest trace of magic.

Maybe he could linger another day, after all.