Just like the Level 3, 5, 13, and 17 quests typically go, the fault lies on the player. You didn't read how to obtain it when the game told you, nor did you look it up it seems. I got my first Protean Crystal when I was level 1, solo chaining mobs right outside the gate. I believe it was somewhere in the 20's during my chain. Either way this is a non-issue compared to all the other massive ones that Eureka has.