Roland weighed the heavy, strangely-textured Rock Core Block in his hand, then looked up to meet Hom's gaze and asked.
"What exactly is this thing?"
Hom met his gaze. His voice was still hoarse, but it carried a certainty passed down through generations.
"This is a 'Rock Core Block.' My elders, and their elders before them, all told us so."
"It's produced in Sui Cang Hall. A... food, left over from ancient times."
"Food?"
Roland raised an eyebrow, his mind racing.
'Produced in Sui Cang Hall, a relic from ancient times...'
'In other words, this thing called a Rock Core Block is a creation from the Crystal Era?'
'But...'
'Food?'
He looked down again at the "stone" in his hand, utterly unable to connect it with anything he recognized as edible.
Hom seemed to notice the doubt in his eyes and began to explain, his tone tinged with a weary resignation.
"It is indeed food. There's no doubt about that."
