Sterim was sitting at his foreman table and looking out of the window. Both of his hands were supporting his head while resting on his desk as he watched his workers preparing for their decent into the mine. "Given the improvements of the cavern structure, this could hardly be called a mine. It will be a new home for many people." Sterim said to himself.

He leaned back and looked into the distance. About 2 kilometer away was the Fallen Tower leaning onto the great rock into which they were digging. He never was a fan of this tower. It might be a source of wonder and religion for some but it is only a memory of the old days. It belongs in a museum. Fast. Living under it or even in this thing is pure madness.

"Good thing we won't be needing this anymore", Sterim said as he stood up, grabbed his helmet and put it on. Today his first stops were the warehouse, the workshop and the mine entrance. He walked outside of his foreman house, locked the door  and sighed while thinking about the warehouse. Recently they lost a great worker there. Limbal was always good at finding and sorting new stuff while being on time. One day he stopped showing up and became the local maniac because he found 'nothing' under the sand. Sterim was kind of happy that he did not snap during stocktaking.

"Still a shame.", he said turning around. 

Two Words were standing in front of him. The smaller, wiry Word had 'Seemingly hidden, yet the truth is on our heart' written on his brown camo poncho. The larger Word had 'Struck down thrice, yet risen again.' on his west. The large one also had a large gun, large hands and was way too close to Sterim.

"You are Sterim.", the large Word stated. 

Sterim nodded. This was an exceedingly bad start to a day. Words only appear to take something. Usually old technology but if you are on their list then thats it.

"How may I help you?", Sterim asked.

"There is a very hard, black stone in your warehouse. We just boughed it from your boss and we are here to collect it.", the large Word replied moving slightly closer.

Sterim was surprised and wanted to start saying things like 'Why hasn't anyone told me about this?', 'This goes way too fast.' and 'I want to talk to my boss.'  Then he remembered who he was talking to. The phrase on the large Word sounded like it belonged to a vengeance chapter of their holy book and his hands were still way too close to his throat.

"Of course. Right this way."

Sterims assumed that the two Words did not know where the warehouse or the stone was.

He was wrong.

They passed a small tool shed next to which two more Words stood. Three more Words were at the well. Five more were at the front gate of the warehouse and about thirty of them stood around the warehouse. This was unheared of. The more Words gathered the worse the situation got. They entered the warehouse and it got horribly worse.

Sterim did not know where the stone was but the large Word steered him towards it. In front of a large storage rack were three more Words. Two soldiers and an old man. Sterim focused on the third Word. The old man wore a white garb with a large paladin scarf hanging from both of this shoulders. On one side of the scarf was written 'And the creation flowed'. 'Through human hands' finished the saying on the other side of the scarf. Sterim unconsciously slowed down as he read the Words of the old man while slowly opening his mouth. The old man was looking at something in his hand and beckoned at Sterim to come closer with the other hand.

What was the vivisectionist of the Words doing here?

The old man looked up and straight into Sterims eyes. His wrinkly old face seemed quite normal. It just lacked any emotion.

"Come closer, young man."

He did not even try to sound reassuring.

The large Word started pushing Sterim towards the old man.

"We are here for the black stone, as you might have been told. Where did you find it?"

"The workers found it while carving out the main cavern in the mine." Sterim said while beeing pushed to about one meter distance of the old man.

"Do you know who found this stone?"

"Not really. It just ended up on one of the carts out of the mine and got sorted under 'special mining results' which made it end up here. As per old technology standard we asked for an apraisal and that's it."

"Did anyone of the workers except 'Limbal Veruim' go insane since this stone was found?"

"Not that I know of." Sterim said slowly. This connection did not even occure to him and he was happy for it. The less he knew about this whole situation the better. The old man seemingly thought the same.

"If you find a stone similar to this one, please let us know. We will buy it from the person who brings it to us. You may go."

Sterim was surprised. He really thought something bad would happen here. Maybe that he would be taken to some awful place and tortured and killed. This went way too fast. They brought him here for just about three questions?

The large Word in turn was not surprised by all of this. He also knew how to react to Sterims indecisiveness. Sterim was grabbed by the shoulders, turned around and pushed out of the warehouse. Meanwhile the old man has shifted his focus onto whatever he was holding in his hand.

As Sterim left, he saw the Words walking towards the warehouse entrance. He hurried away before the whole group gathered. This will have consequences for him and this project. If not now, then in the near future. The Words will have their eyes on the mine and every stone that leaves it. Looking at the fallen tower in the distance, he wondered which place was more cursed now.