Charles and the others were ready to kick Skyler from the chair. But before they could, Skyler opened his clenched fist. Instantly, a low, barely audible clink of something hard striking the scale echoed through the air.
That sudden, quiet noise was immediately followed by a thunderous bang as the left side of the scale slammed straight to the ground, as if it couldn't bear the weight of whatever Skyler had just dropped atop it.
All eyes immediately snapped toward the source of the sound. What they saw made their eyes nearly pop out. The guardian, in disbelief, started coughing up blood on the spot. What Skyler had just dropped on the scale was a tiny, even smaller than a pinky nail, sparkling shard of an ordinary crystal!
It was so tiny, they could barely see it!
The guardian clutched his heaving chest and pointed a trembling finger at Skyler.
"You—!"
Skyler replied solemnly.
"Don't you dare ask for more! This is already all I can barely part with."
He finally stood up.
