Heri has to put the crystal spike away at last moment, it wouldn't be that harmful, but he is attached to it. Well, he is physically attached to it, but this being his first empowered means that there is also some sentimental value to it. "I did it." He waves the black crystal and absently changes it shape to something more dull.

Tobir joins the hugpile, flopping over Kenta's back to hug Heri around the neck and also peer at the crystal.

"Is it the same as the Henries'?" He asks.

"Similar vein of making magic weaker when close enough to the crystal. ...The default range feels shorter? Maybe? But... I think something about it is more selective?"

"It's really cool how you got something so similar but still different," he says, "I wonder how similar yours will be?" He directs at Kenta. "No telling what mine is, though." 

"What's all this commotion about?" Remi asks, stepping back out on the deck. 

"Heri got his crystal!" Kenta says raising Heri's arm to show off the onyx-like rod.

"Oh!" He crosses the deck to kneel down next to the three of them, reaching out to squeeze Heri's shoulder, "Well done, Heri! Anti-magic?"

"Yeah! It's a bit different, though. Still, what did we tell you? Today's the day!"

"Indeed, you did tell me," he laughs. "Many times! It started to lose impact after the first week or so."

Tobir sticks his tongue out at him, before looking over at Heri, "We should test it, see how it differs from the others," he suggests. He raises his arm to show off the plant manipulation one he carries everywhere, "We've got plenty of other crystals to use it on."

"We should! Sorry, uncle Remi, but we have a different kind of science to do."

"Ah, well. I think I can forgive you this once," he agrees. 

Time to do science to magic?

The best time!

Heri's crystal has the ability to diminish magic, the closer the lesser the magic's power. Their preliminary tests show it can't break magical things, only weaken their abilities. But it can "atune" to specific frequencies, creating exceptions to what is affected or not. Henries can figure out how to do that with their crystals, but takes more practice. Heri is content with the results.

They're pretty good results! Tobir wonders what it means that Heri got more control over that aspect, if anything. This alt stuff is so weird to think about, sometimes, even when they've grown up surrounded by it. 

He kind of wants to double down on working on his own crystal, now that one of them has managed it. 

They're welcome to spend the rest of the trip working on it. Remi can do all the sample gathering on his own, given the special occasion. 

Heri can give some extra help, now that he is past the milestone of getting his own empowered crystal.

Remi appreciates the help!

Eventually, once everything they need has been gathered, they can return to the outpost, the boat skimming across the waves and eventually pulling in to the deep natural harbour where the island's river meets the ocean. There are a few buildings set up at the mouth, and the waterfall is just visible in the distance, falling from a great height down a sheer cliff on the mountain that dominates the skyline, much of it covered by dense green vegetation. 

Remi guides the boat up to the dock, and then interrupts Kenta and Tobir's focus to direct them in bringing the samples into one of the buildings, before releasing them upon the unsuspecting island. 

"I think we'll have to have something of a celebration, this evening," he adds. "We'll cook something special and pick out some movies from my laptop, how about? Heri's pick." 

"Oh, can we rewatch a couple episode of Cosmos? And maybe that sci-fi movie that Tobir likes. Oh, and Blade Runner for Kenta's aesthetic sensibilities."

"Oh, thanks!" Kenta says hauling some samples.

Tobir gives Heri a quick hug as he passes him on the way back to the boat, "You're the best," he agrees.

"Sounds like we have a plan, then," Remi says. 

There's a few more things to haul in, and then he lets them go, "I'll be busy with this for the next few hours," he tells them, "Remember to be back before dinner, I'll need your help in the kitchen."

"Okay, uncle. We will just take a look around the island."

He chuckles, "Be careful around the falls," he reminds them knowingly, "Don't fall in yourselves." 

"I think he knows about our secret lair," Tobir whispers as they leave, pretending to be shocked.

All they have to do is follow the river to reach their destination. The waterfall is actually two (or two-and-a-half) different ones, each falling from a different height. To the left of where the river begins is the tall one, which falls down from near the top of the mountain, becoming little more than mist by the time it hits the lake at the bottom. The other hits the lake on two sides, the middle one falling straight down from half-way up the mountain, and the right-most one falling in stages from the same source, creating something like a giant's staircase effect. All together this leaves the lake enclosed by falling water on three sides, with the river coming out of the fourth.

The path leading into the cave goes under the misty falls, leading around to the open space behind the central one. The slick rocks are very slippery, but the path isn't too difficult to navigate if you're careful.