Chapter 1, with some added details:
The abandoned mine loomed ahead, a gaping maw in the earth. Ketu paused at the entrance, a strange pull tugging at their senses. It was more than just the energy readings; it was a feeling, like something ancient and powerful was calling to them from the depths. Curiosity warred with caution as they adjusted their helmet, the beam of their headlamp cutting through the dusty air. The creaking of the support beams echoed through the silence, and in the corner of their vision, the shadows seemed to writhe and shift. What secrets lay hidden in the darkness? What wonders or dangers awaited them below? Taking a deep breath, Ketu stepped inside, the mine swallowing them whole.
The air grew heavy with the scent of damp earth and something else, something metallic and faintly sweet. Ketu moved deeper, their boots crunching on loose rock. The energy readings spiked with each step, the source still unknown. They passed rusted mining carts and broken tools, relics of a forgotten era. In the distance, a faint hum vibrated through the ground, growing louder with each step. The walls of the tunnel were rough and uneven, the rock formations twisting into strange, unsettling shapes. Ketu's headlamp flickered, casting long, dancing shadows that seemed to mock their every movement. They paused, their heart pounding in their chest. This place... it felt wrong. A shiver ran down their spine, and they tightened their grip on their data pad. The energy readings were off the charts now, practically screaming in their ears. Something was definitely down here, something powerful.
Finally, Ketu reached a chamber. In the center, resting on a pedestal of rough stone, was the crystal. It pulsed with a soft, blue light, its facets catching the beam of Ketu's headlamp. Warmth radiated from it, and the humming intensified, a strange pull tugging at Ketu's mind. As they reached out, a jolt, like static electricity, arced between their skin and the crystal. Images flooded Ketu's vision – swirling nebulae of colors they couldn't name, towering trees that shimmered with bioluminescence, and creatures with eyes like molten gold. It was beautiful, alien, and utterly captivating. But beneath the wonder, a thread of unease tightened in Ketu's chest. A fleeting glimpse of a jagged, obsidian spire piercing a blood-red sky, a chorus of guttural cries that seemed to vibrate in their very bones. Then, as quickly as it began, it was over. Ketu stumbled back, their breath catching in their throat. The crystal pulsed softly, innocently, as if nothing had happened.
"Ketu? You there?" Jorin's voice was sharp with concern.
"Yeah," Ketu breathed, their eyes fixed on the crystal. "Yeah, I'm here. And Jorin... you need to see this."