I froze at the sound of a scream from inside Seraphina's shop. She had mentioned her shop was protected against thieves. What if I triggered some magical trap if I tried forcing my way in without being her? Concern for her safety overrode my caution and common sense. I grasped the doorknob and flung the door open. Luckily, I wasn't zapped into next week.

The shop was empty. Display cases glittered in the light, but there was no sign of Seraphina. There was no overhead light going, either. She usually kept the shop illuminated from above with her unique light gems.

"Seraphina?" I called out, my voice echoing in the silent store.

No response.

I raced past the display cases, eyes darting around for any sign of her. My heart pounded in my chest as I searched.

"Seraphina!" I yelled again, louder this time.

Still nothing.

I spotted the back door and hurried towards it. As I yanked it open, I noticed the door at the end of the hall was ajar.

"Seraphina!" I shouted, fear creeping into my voice.

"Varix?" Her voice finally rang out, sounding surprisingly calm. "Stay out there."

I froze, confused by her tone. It didn't match the scream I'd heard earlier.

"Are you alright?" I asked, torn between respecting her request and rushing to her aid.

"I'm fine," she called back. "Just give me a moment."

Judging by the crack and tinkle of shards hitting the ground, something ricocheted off a wall and smashed into what sounded like glass.

"Ouch!"

"Seraphina! I'm coming in!"

"Wait! I have this under control. You'll make it worse."

I stood there, uncertain. What had caused her to scream? Why did she sound so composed now?

"Dammit," I muttered but respected her words advising me to stay put.

Seraphina appeared in the doorway, looking slightly disheveled but otherwise unharmed. She wore a high-necked blouse with lace details around the collar and cuffs and a high-waisted, ankle-length skirt. The colors ranged from deep purples to rich burgundies.

A colorful gemstone-studded belt wrapped around her waist.

She shook her hand up and down as if shaking off pain.

"What happened?" I asked, relieved that she was okay. "I heard you scream. What happened to your hand?"

Seraphina's cheeks flushed. "It's a little embarrassing, actually. I was working on a new, um, let's just say a new spell. It didn't go as planned. Glimmer was in the way when …" she trailed off, then said. "I mean. It was no big deal—just a mishap. I was working on something new and rather special when a… Well, a gem reacted negatively and shot across the room, hit the wall, then hit my hand."

"Glimmer? I'm lost here."

I walked to Seraphina, took her hand, and rubbed it between mine.

"Thank you." She smiled softly.

Seraphina's eyes darted to a corner of the room where a pile of gems sat on a bookshelf next to several dusty old tomes. The books had worn brown leather and partially moldering spines with an embossed runic script.

"Why don't you shut the door?"

I broke away from Seraphina and went to close the door. She pulled out one of her silencing stones, muttered over it, and the sound in the room grew muffled as if a vacuum had sucked away all the noise.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice sounding flat in the enchanted space.

Seraphina sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I was working on a new enchantment, something designed to help you. But it went awry."

I frowned. "That turned a gem into a bullet? Yikes. I'm glad you're not seriously hurt."

She laughed. "I was more shocked than anything. That's why you heard me scream."

"I didn't realize your work could be dangerous."

She nodded, her eyes flickering to the corner of the room where the pile of gems sat on the bookshelf. "Enchanting isn't always easy, Varix. There can be unintended consequences."

"I'm just glad you weren't injured. When I heard you scream, I feared the worst."

Seraphina gave me a small smile. "I appreciate your concern."

I remembered her mentioning a name earlier. "What did you mean by Glimmer?"

Once again, her gaze darted to the corner of the room. She hesitated as if weighing her words. "That's something I'll tell you about another time."

"Just tell him," a deep voice rumbled from the corner, making me jump.

I spun around, my eyes widening as the pile of gems on the bookshelf shifted and changed. They took on the shape of a large lizard, slowly uncoiling itself and straightening.

"What the–?" I exclaimed.

Seraphina placed a calming hand on my arm. "Meet my friend Glimmer. He's my trusted advisor."

The creature, now fully formed, regarded me with glittering eyes. "Greetings, human who is named Varix," Glimmer intoned.

I stared at the chameleon, trying to process this new development. "I... I didn't know you had a talking lizard in your shop."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Seraphina chuckled. "Glimmer is more than just a talking lizard. He is a crystalline chameleon. He was my previous host's familiar. He's taught me much about using the enchanter's spells and imbuing gems with power. I don't know what I would have done without him after transmigrating here. He understood exactly what had happened to me and taught me how to survive out there." She pointed toward her door, which led back into Everspring.

"So he has been hiding in here this whole time?"

Seraphina shrugged. "Not hiding, per se. Glimmer prefers to keep a low profile. He's not exactly a common sight in Everspring. Or anywhere, for that matter."

"Why not?"

Glimmer said, "My kind are exceedingly rare. We are not of this world, but rather from an ethereal realm. My coming here was as much my fault as the old Seraphina’s. I have found great comfort in my life here, but it was not always thus. We have been called ethereal sages who gained wisdom by absorbing the knowledge and experiences of countless realms. Some of my kind exist to provide counsel to powerful beings.

"Our realm would be quite foreign to you, and I say this knowing and understanding that you come from an equally strange world. Ours is a serene sanctuary with floating libraries of knowledge, much of which is stored in tranquil gardens."

Glimmer painted an image of his home that was breathtaking.

"What a fascinating place you come from. Are you able to return?" I asked Glimmer.

"Not at this time. For now. I have much knowledge to absorb."

"Is that why you sleep all the time?" Seraphina teased.

"I am an old being. I need rest."

Seraphina chuckled.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Glimmer. Any friend of Seraphina's is a friend of mine."

The chameleon regarded me for a long moment before nodding. "Likewise, Varix Vel'Naris. I have heard much about you from Seraphina. I have also observed much of you while you were in this room."

"Oh… oh shit!" I exclaimed.

"Fear not. Just as Seraphina was brought here against her will, I understand why you are in this body and why you are disguised. Morthisal’s essence is long gone. I sensed that the moment you walked into the shop."

"Yeah. The whole disguise thing is kind of about keeping my head."

"Understood." The lizard bobbed its head up and down.

I turned to Seraphina. "So he's been your teacher?"

"He has been for five years, yes."

Glimmer said. "Seraphina is a quick study. She has a natural talent for enchanting. Some of that was inherent, but she is indeed quite smart."

"This is true," I smiled at Seraphina. "So, you've been hiding a magical chameleon in your shop this whole time?"

"I didn't have a choice. He blends into any gems. Glimmer was here long before the real Seraphina."

"This is true. Her mother was an extraordinary enchanter before she retired."

"Mom is the human half of my heritage," Seraphina added.

"Is she still alive?"

"She is. I think she and my father are coming to visit in a few days. You'll get to meet them."

"Will they like me?"

"That is a good question."

"All you're giving me is ‘that's a good question?’"

"Pretty much."

I laughed. "Okay, Miss Mysterious."

She smiled, but her face grew more serious. She held my hands and stood back. "I need to tell you something."

"Oh? I need to tell you something as well. I think I need your help."

It was Serphina's turn to say, "Oh?"

"Yeah. But, you go first."

"No. You. What I have to say is going to be shocking."

"Well, hold onto your pants. Mine is going to be shocking, as well." I took a deep breath and quickly gave Seraphina a rundown of what had occurred at my tavern this morning when I woke up.

Seraphina gasped. "Varix, that's... concerning."

"Very," I said.

Glimmer, who had been listening intently, spoke up. "It is happening quicker than expected."

I turned to the crystalline chameleon, my brow furrowed. "What is happening quicker?"

Seraphina exchanged a glance with Glimmer before turning back to me. "Varix, that's what I need to tell you. Something Glimmer and I have been discussing."

"Go on."

Seraphina took a deep breath and began to explain. "Remember when I hid your pendant, The Heart of Shadows, to protect it from potential relic hunters? Well, it turns out that the spell I used is beginning to devour itself. It's not a permanent solution. I was worried it might not last, and it seems my doubts were right."

My stomach dropped. "What does that mean?"

Glimmer tsked, his crystalline scales shimmered in the light. "It means that the power within the pendant is growing unstable. The spell Seraphina used was temporary. It cannot hide Morthisal's essence indefinitely."

Seraphina nodded, her expression grave. "We need to find a way to permanently seal the pendant's power within you and erase Morthisal for good. If we don't, his power could continue to grow within you. Power in and of itself can be useful. I wield it daily. But Morthisal's powers were explicitly created to call to the dead and make them heed your commands. From what I gather, he was also able to influence people and other races. Isn't that what Urzan told you?"

"Yeah," I said and sank into a nearby chair. The thought of Morthisal's power breaking free, of the destruction it could cause, was almost too much to bear.

"How can we fix it?" I asked.

Seraphina knelt beside me, taking my hand in hers. "We'll figure it out together, Varix. Glimmer and I have been researching possible solutions, and we have some ideas. But we will need to visit at least one other place. There is a library at Stormcrest Bay that may contain a book I need for further study."

"Yes. If we get close to it, I can absorb its knowledge," Glimmer added.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked Glimmer.

"I'm doing it for her, of course." Glimmer inclined his head at Seraphina. "She is the happiest I have seen her in a few years."

Seraphina's face flushed. "Oh, stop that," she admonished Glimmer.

Glimmer hopped down from the bookshelf, his movements graceful despite his crystalline form. "As we were saying. There are ancient texts that speak of rituals and spells capable of binding or forcing the absorption of powerful artifacts. We must delve deeper into this knowledge if we hope to find an answer."

"What about the Emberfae? Nyria mentioned that they specialize in hunting down and destroying dangerous relics. Could they help us?"

Seraphina considered this for a moment. "It's possible. The Emberfae are known for their expertise in dealing with magical artifacts. But we would need to approach them very carefully."

"I suspect they would have a special way of dealing with me," I added grimly, remembering Nyria's talk of melting rogue relics in their fires. They'd probably toss me in, as well.

Seraphina squeezed my hand, her eyes filled with determination. "We won't let that happen, Varix. We'll find a way to protect you and deal with the pendant safely."

Glimmer nodded in agreement. "Indeed. The key is to act swiftly but cautiously. We cannot afford to make any missteps in this delicate situation."

"Agreed. I just got the tavern up and off the ground, and now this."

Seraphina pulled me close. "Varix. You should return to The Shadow's Respite and continue like normal. I may have a special gem I can bring you tonight to help suppress the dreams. I made a similar one for a client."

"Thank you, Seraphina," I pulled her close and whispered next to her ear.

She pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Oh. Are you familiar with the upcoming Market Day?"

She grinned. "I am. It's a lot of fun. Would you care to accompany me on a date? We'll walk around and eat samples all afternoon."

I gulped. "I'd love to, but…"

"But?"

I sighed. I wanted to hang out with Seraphina all day, not make more food. "I had an idea to make a booth, do a cooking demonstration, and hand out samples to drum up more business for the tavern."

She playfully slapped my chest. "That is a wonderful idea. I'll be your booth babe."

I laughed. "Really?"

"No. But I'll stop by to try your samples. Maybe hang out to make you look good."

"I would love that," I said and kissed Seraphina.