Seraphina stopped in her study and looked for Glimmer. The crystal chameleon was a master of disguise. After five years, she was still no better at spotting him than she had been when she had first arrived.

"Glimmer. I need you."

"Of course you do." Glimmer's deep voice sounded behind her.

Seraphina turned and found him on a shelf behind a glass display filled with a myriad of gems. That was her working stock for simpler spells. Small gems and crystals that could be imbued with just about any minor enchantment.

"We have a problem," Seraphina said as she brushed past her desk and walked to the back door. She put her hand on the doorknob, closed her eyes, muttered a few words, and then turned it. The door clicked and opened.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to clean up and change my clothes. Give me a few minutes, then we can discuss the gnolls."

"Gnolls?"

"One of them is a shaman."

"I see," Glimmer intoned and was quiet for a moment. "Were you out all night?"

"You didn't notice?"

The crystalline chameleon slowly shook its head. "I did not. I was quite sleepy."

Glimmer was a strange creature that could reach an almost hibernating state for hours, days, and once for an entire ten-day period. She had asked him about it once, and he had been dismissive. She wasn't sure if it was an age thing, a crystalline chameleon thing, or a Glimmer thing. She tried not to feel hurt that he hadn't noticed she was out all night.

Seraphina hustled through her study, chatting with Glimmer as she made her way up the stairs. Her bedroom was on the second floor, and the stairs ended in a hallway that curved around until it reached her room. The window in her bedroom overlooked the street below.

Even though Seraphina was not the original inhabitant of her body, the room was still populated with items of elvish origin. Delicate, intricate tapestries hung on the walls, depicting scenes from elven lore. A beautifully carved wooden vanity stood against one wall, its surface adorned with an assortment of enchanted brushes and combs.

Seraphina had not yet invited Varix to stay the night, but she knew it would happen soon. It had been a long time since she'd had company stay over.

After being transmigrated into this world, Seraphina learned that her previous self had had a boyfriend named Lorian Frostboon. He was a stereotypical elf with all their weird habits, like staring off into space for hours at a time or spending an entire day composing a single poem about a blade of grass.

Elves were known for their love of nature, sure, but Lorian had taken it to the extreme, often ignoring Seraphina's presence when he was lost in his own thoughts. He had been pretty enough, but his aristocratic nose, soft eyes, and far too soft lips had been a little odd to her. If she ran into him now, she would probably have a completely different opinion of Lorian since she had been in Mythralon for five years and had grown accustomed to life here.

Seraphina had quickly grown tired of Lorian's quirks and had gently let him go within the first week of her arrival. He had simply shrugged and left without much protest. As far as Serapina could tell, Lorian had been alive for hundreds of years. Who knew how many relationships he'd had in that time, so this was probably the norm for him.

As Seraphina removed her clothes, she pulled her top to her nose and inhaled, catching a hint of Varix's scent. Her thoughts drifted to him, and the conflict still existed within her. She was undeniably attracted to him. Crazy about him. But the fact remained that underneath his skin lay the body of Dark Lord Morthisal. He was a truly despicable figure, and it often gave her pause. It wasn't just Morthisal's actions in life that repelled her, but also his appearance. His skin resembled a rotting dead fish, and his face was a nightmare of hard planes and cruel lines. Seraphina couldn't imagine the horror of waking up to that sight if Varix's pendant ever fell off while he was sleeping.

Despite this, Seraphina's feelings for Varix ran deep. She wondered if she was falling in love with him. A soft smile touched her face as she thought about the night they had just spent together. She tossed the shirt on a pile of dirty laundry.

While not as large as the one at The Shadow's Respite, the bathroom was still impressive. Seraphina, a gem enchanter, had made numerous enhancements to the space. She had brought in running water heated by her magical gems. Although much of Everspring resembled a medieval village, the use of magic allowed for modern conveniences like running water.

She quickly showered, using a homemade bar of soap from a vendor in town. Most items in Everspring contained lavender, and Seraphina always appreciated the calming scent. Once clean, she brushed her hair and put on her regular work clothes.

Glimmer suddenly appeared with a burst of shimmering light. "Tell me about gnolls?"

Seraphina recounted her conversation with Mira and Alic about the gnolls. As she spoke, Glimmer grew silent, his crystalline form almost dimming.

"This is interesting news, indeed," Glimmer said. "Gnolls are not known for their peaceful nature. If they are gathering in numbers, it could spell danger for the town."

Seraphina shook her head, her brow furrowed. "I agree. However, they don't seem interested in threatening anyone, according to Mira. They are looking for something. A pre-cataclysm city that supposedly exists beneath Everspring."

Glimmer hopped onto the vanity, his crystalline form catching the light. "Ah. That."

"So there is a city down there?"

"In a manner of speaking."

Seraphina crossed her arms over her chest. "You've never mentioned a city underneath the village."

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"You have never asked."

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "You know? You're about as intuitive as a salad."

"Thank you."

Seraphina blew out a breath. "Tell me about this city."

"First, tell me what you know about what you call the cataclysm."

Seraphina took a seat on the bed. "Not much. Well, almost nothing. There was a cataclysmic event that reshaped all of Mythralon. I assume the elves know more, having been around for so long."

"The elves were a side effect of the event, much like me. It was more of a sundering. Beings that are long gone, and the predecessors to the humans of Mythralon, tried to merge crystal spires across multiple dimensions. This would have allowed interdimensional travel. There are worlds and worlds out there, and worlds within worlds."

"I'm sorry. You know what happened during the cata- I mean, sundering?"

"Second-hand knowledge, I assure you. I would not have mentioned it except for the fact that someone is looking for a lost and long dead city. I doubt they can access it from anywhere around here. It would be too deep. Even I cannot find it."

Seraphina pondered this information and said, "They think they can locate it. The shaman is convinced he can locate it. Get this. They want to perform a ritual in Varix's tavern, in the cellar. They think it will help them find the city. Apparently, there is a system of caves under Everspring."

Glimmer clicked his crystalline nails against the dresser as he found a spot where a bright sunbeam broke through the space between her bedroom drapes. Seraphina went and spread them a little wider so Glimmer could be bathed in sunlight.

"Thank you, love. Now. As to the sundering."

Seraphina listened intently as Glimmer began to explain the event that had destroyed the world, her violet eyes fixed on the crystalline chameleon. She moved around the room, putting away clothes and organizing her vanity, but her attention never wavered from his words.

"The sundering," Glimmer began, his voice resonating with ancient wisdom, "was not a single event, but a series of catastrophic occurrences that reshaped the very fabric of Mythralon."

Seraphina paused. "How did it start?"

Glimmer's crystalline form shimmered as he spoke. "It began with the emergence of the Crystal Spires. These were not mere structures, but interdimensional beacons of pure magical energy. They rose from the earth and connected Mythralon to various magical realms. They were created by those that came before the emberkin."

"Like Nyria, the relic hunter?"

"Precisely."

The relic hunter had almost discovered the Heart of Shadows. Only with her enchantments and Zyn's assistance had they managed to stop the relic hunter from discovering Varix's pendant.

"So what were these crystal spires?" Seraphina's brow furrowed. "I've never heard of them."

"Few have," Glimmer replied. "Their existence has been largely forgotten or dismissed as myth. But they were very real, and very dangerous. They were formed with magic that is long forgotten and best left that way. Thankfully, the old mages are long gone, their bones ground to dust."

"Were you there for this?" Seraphina stopped and asked.

"This occurred before my time. Barely. Much of my knowledge of the event is secondhand."

"Such power…"

"Indeed. Dark Lord Morthisal's powers paled in comparison to those creatures."

"Why crystal spires?" Seraphina moved to her wardrobe, hanging up a dress. "What made them dangerous?"

"Their power," Glimmer explained. "The sudden and uncontrollable eruption of these Crystal Spires created intense magical surges, disrupting the fabric of reality."

"That sounds destructive."

"Indeed it was," Glimmer nodded solemnly. "Portions of the land were thrust into different realms, and entire regions became intertwined with otherworldly landscapes."

Seraphina sat on the edge of her bed. "Is that how creatures like you came to be in Mythralon?"

Glimmer's form pulsed gently with an inner light. "Some. This event gave rise to unique creatures like myself and transformed ordinary beings into those with extraordinary abilities. Ours was an ethereal realm. It was pierced by one of these spires."

"Wait. How big were these things?"

"Some were as tall as your home. Others rose higher than mountains."

"Fascinating." Seraphina stood, pacing the room. "What about the gnolls? Could the sundering have created them too?"

Glimmer was silent for a moment. "It's possible," he finally said. "The merging of dimensions could have given rise to many new species. Gnolls might indeed have been a side effect of two worlds colliding."

Seraphina stopped by the window, gazing out at Everspring. "So, these Crystal Spires... do they still exist?"

"Parts of them, most assuredly," Glimmer replied. "The enigmatic Crystal Spires are believed to hold the secrets to controlling interdimensional travel. There may be ancient scrolls and murals in this hidden underground city that explains their use, though they would have long faded to dust."

"Let's hope." Seraphina turned to face Glimmer. "The crystal is what the gnolls are searching for?"

Glimmer nodded. "Most likely. These cities are remnants of the world that existed before the sundering. They hold many secrets and possibly great power. It is possible the gnolls are looking for their ancient homes with no ulterior motives. Perhaps their passed-down traditions and stories have led them here. Or perhaps not."

"There could be great danger in this city," Seraphina lowered her voice.

"Indeed," Glimmer agreed.

Seraphina sat back down on the bed. "Glimmer, why haven't you told me about this before?"

The crystalline chameleon's form shimmered slightly. "Knowledge, especially of such magnitude, can be dangerous if not properly understood or used. I deemed it unnecessary until now. There are many tales of the old world which I have not mentioned, for they serve no purpose, and they lead to nothing good."

"There are scholars who would pay a fortune for what you know."

"Yes. Information to add to dusty tomes. Tomes that will sit on shelves for years, decades, centuries. What good would that knowledge bring?"

She shook her head. "So, what does this mean for the gnolls' search? And for Everspring?"

Glimmer's crystalline eyes seemed to darken. "They should be gently dissuaded from their goal. The city is deep. So deep they would never find it, no matter how good their delving skills are. Let them perform their ritual, and when it fails, you and Varix should gently guide them away from Everspring. They can continue their search somewhere else."

"But what if they do find what they are looking for?"

Glimmer's body darkened. "I will make sure they do not sense anything. When are you going?"

"As soon as I retrieve my staff."

"Might you ask to delay the gnolls? We would do well to take precautions, which means time to prepare."

"I agree completely." Seraphina nodded, then pursed her lips and tapped them with a finger. "Idea. I'll run over and ask Varix to stall the gnolls. If they've waited this long, what is another few days, or even a week?"

"Prudent." Glimmer replied. "I assume Varix is the one you stayed with last night?"

"That's none of your business," Seraphina said, blushing slightly.

"There is no judgment. He makes you happy. You have not been happy for a long time."

"I have, too, been happy!"

Glimmer stared at her. His weird eyes were unwavering.

"I thought you said ‘no judgment.’" Seraphina laughed before heading back downstairs. She would pick up her staff, just in case.