Trivitrite, or chill crystals

One would not expect anything in Rubeus to smell cool and fresh, let alone underground deep in the mines. This land is known for its hot climate, the overabundance of volcanic activity, and its spicy food. Yet there is indeed a specific smell the miners know to look out for. It is a strong scent of freshness, like a winter breeze with something sweet and minty about it. Some have compared it to the smell of ice cream. As soon as a tunneler detects it, the digging process comes to a halt before the tunnel accidentally gets flooded with molten rock. The rest of the extraction happens careful and slow, because the crystals causing the smell are still very valuable and sought after. But all mineworkers know fully well that their presence also indicate that there is magma nearby.

Trivitrite is the scientific name for the crystal formations, named after its triangular glassy appearance. But colloquially they are simply called chill crystals. The crystals occur in pockets of gas trapped in the Rubean stone, heated by an active magma pool in the vicinity. The staves are long, thin and triangular, ending in points that could be sharp enough to cut skin. Clusters of the crystal can look like glassy sea urchins. They are usually cloudy and stark white, but impurities in the crystal can make it look pink or even ruddy. It is the interaction between the forming crystal and the air around it that causes a strong, cooling scent. The gas that is needed for its formation is harmless, but the magma that is needed to heat its formation process is very dangerous indeed.

Once extracted from the caverns in which they grew, chill crystals are highly valued by the Rubeans. Just the presence of a crystal can help cool down the surrounding air. It is usually combined with a fan of sorts, or placed on an open windowsill to catch any breeze entering a home. The lovely fresh scent can spread across an entire room. When the sharp edges are smoothed, they can also be worn as jewelry. Even though the crystals erode away to spread the smell, quality jewelry can last decades. And although the crystals are said to have a sweet taste on the tongue, it is not encouraged to consume them in raw state. The shards can be as sharp as needles. People do consume chill crystals, but only after it has been properly ground down to powder and mixed with gum, or dissolved in a citrussy drink.