The Silver Sphinx

 

“A dance is worth a thousand words.”

proverb from Svartalfheim

 

 

Third Clerk Day of Savorus, 126 HR

The icy air bit into their cheeks as they reached the edge of the Crystal Forest. Dilae looked at the Northwind Compass in her hands, which had reliably guided them this far. The ice wolves had pulled the sledge through an endless expanse of snow, interrupted only by occasional ice formations that rose up like silent guardians from the white plain. On one occasion they had passed through a gap between two icebergs, as they had done when fleeing from the yetis. But this one had been longer and had repeatedly caused smaller chunks of ice to rain down on them. Fortunately, the magical roof of the sled had protected them. Hours had passed, the wind had torn at their clothes carrying tiny ice crystals, which had felt like pinpricks on their skin. Then, finally, the Crystal Forest had appeared before them and they had left the sled behind. As they entered the place to which the Northwind Compass had led them, they were immediately surrounded by a world of glittering ice and shimmering light. Every tree seemed to consist of pure crystal, its surface so smooth and clear that one could see through it. The trunks rose majestically into the sky, some slender and straight, others twisted and entwined like frozen dancers. The branches of the crystal trees branched out in filigree patterns, each twig a work of art made of ice. Countless icicles in all sizes hung from them, clanging against each other in the light wind and creating a delicate melody as clear as bells. It was as if the forest were singing a soft song. The light refracted in the ice trees and cast rainbow colors onto the frozen ground. The snow was covered with shimmering spots in red, blue, green and gold, as if they were walking through a giant kaleidoscope.

 

 

Dilae admired her surroundings. “I've been to a few sites in the planes,” she said with a smile. “But I've never seen anything like this.”

The deeper they ventured into the forest, the denser the trees became. The air seemed to be filled with ancient magic, tangible with every breath. Only the soft tinkling of the icicles broke the deep silence.

Suddenly Tarik paused and pointed to a nearby tree. “Look,” he whispered.

Dilae looked in the direction the tiefling was pointing and spotted a small creature no larger than a child's fist on one of the lower branches. It had the shape of a tiny woman and translucent dragonfly wings, but its body seemed to be made entirely of ice. With nimble movements, the creature wove what looked like a fine web of frost.

“It must be a frost fairy,“ Yelmalis said quietly.

As if she had heard the words, the fairy turned to them. Her light blue eyes sparkled like two ice crystals. With a graceful movement, she settled on the branch to which she had attached her web. Its shape suggested that it was meant to be a kind of spider web. “Welcome, travelers,” the fairy said. “It is rare for mortals to stray into our forest.”

Garush save Dilae a soft nod – apparently the half-orc was not keen on speaking to the frost fairy.

So the dark elf stepped forward a little. “We are looking for the ice nightingale,” she explained. “Can you tell us where to find it?”

The fairy's delicate wings moved quickly up and down. “A noble request.” She nodded gravely, and her expression suggested that she knew exactly what was at stake here. “The path to the ice nightingale is difficult to find. But I will help you.”

“And what is the price?“ Sekhemkare asked bluntly.

Tarik sighed. “Not everyone always demands something. Sometimes people actually help selflessly.”

The tongue of the yuan-ti darted out briefly. ”People, yes. But fairies?”

Dilae was about to make a reproving remark, but the frost fairy laughed, a bright, crystal-clear sound. “He has a point. Normally, I would charge for my help. But king Torvik once saved me from some very unfriendly ice mephits. So I owe him a favor.”

Sekhemkare nodded contentedly, apparently reassured that he was not indebted to a fairy – and also because he had been proved right in the end. The frost fairy, on the other hand, now began to weave her web further. But she kept folding its ends in, loosening the lower holding threads and folding up part of the web. Some of the threads she wove into it were darker than the others, shimmering light blue, turquoise and azure. Dilae was amazed to see that the fairy was weaving the net into a kind of map. Finally, a hexagonal structure about the size of a hand had emerged, vaguely reminiscent of a snowflake, with small light blue dots, turquoise lines and a few dark blue spots.

The frost fairy held up the map with both hands. “This will show you the way to the ice nightingale. But be careful: it is fragile and can melt quickly in the warmth of your bodies.”

Garush looked questioningly at Sekhemkare, but the yuan-ti had just taken a fire potion, otherwise he would have long since fallen into torpor in the icy environment.

“F-45 can carry the map,” Yelmalis suggested. “It can operate at a low heat setting and has already reduced its hull temperature to save energy.”

Dilae smiled and gently stroked the monodrone's cool metal just above the eye. “You're the one I can count on, F-5.”

The small construct turned its eye toward her. “Note: I don't understand why you insist on calling me F-5, even though my designation is F-45, Dilae of Svartalfheim. But the answer is yes, I can carry the map.”

With a smile at his familiar's answer, but also at Dilae's joy at it, Yelmalis took the map from the frost fairy and carefully attached it to one of F-45's wings.

The fairy nodded. “Follow the path this map shows. But be warned: The yuki onna who rules this forest will not easily give away the ice nightingale. May luck be with you.” With these words, she dissolved into a cloud of glittering snowflakes and disappeared.

So they set off, guided by the fragile ice map attached to the wing of F-45. It quickly became clear that Yelmalis and Sekhemkare were best at reading the unusual map of the frost fairy. So the two of them led the way, their eyes fixed on the shimmering map, while the others kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. The path the map showed them led deeper into the Crystal Forest. The trees here were denser, their transparent trunks and branches interwoven into a delicate labyrinth of ice. The light that fell through the crystalline structures refracted in all the colors of the rainbow, bathing the surroundings in a surreal, shimmering twilight.

“Careful,” Garush warned as they passed under a branch with razor-sharp icicles hanging from it.

Despite the fairy tale atmosphere, the forest was not without its dangers. The cold intensified the further they ventured forth, and Dilae felt goose bumps form on her arms. Tarik stopped once and pointed to an opening between the trees. There, in a small clearing, stood a group of ice sculptures so lifelike that one could believe real animals had frozen in mid-movement. They saw a fox about to pounce, a deer gracefully bowing its head and a small bird spreading its wings as if it were about to fly away.

“A faint arcane signature,” Yelmalis murmured, scrutinizing the sculptures. ”They seem to glow from within.”

Sekhemkare hissed softly, apparently less impressed by the sight. “Let's move on. These statues make me nervous.”

They continued on their way, discovering a few more of the wondrous ice formations along the path. At one point, they crossed a narrow bridge of pure, transparent ice, with a frozen stream flowing beneath it. Dilae could see fish swimming beneath the surface, frozen in time. Finally, the map led them to a curtain of hanging icicles. Behind them shimmered a bluish light.

“This must be it,” Dilae whispered excitedly.

It took a while to find a gap in the thickly hanging icicles that was large enough for them to pass through. It was almost as if they were entering a giant maw through fangs of ice. Dilae shuddered a little, and not just because of the cold. But after they had carefully pushed their way between two large icicles, they did not enter a mouth-like cave, but a beautiful, circular clearing. In the middle stood a single tree, taller and more magnificent than any other they had seen in the forest. Its branches formed a natural dome, under which, like a boulder, lay a large chunk of pure, blue ice. And there, on one of the lower branches, sat a small bird. Its plumage was as clear as pure diamonds, each feather a work of art made of ice and light. It could only be the ice nightingale, Dilae was sure of it. The group looked around, overwhelmed by the beauty and tangible magic of the place. But before they could approach the nightingale, they all sensed a change in the air ... It was as if the entire forest had held its breath.

Garush, ever vigilant, slid her hand to the hilt of her axe. “Something is different here,” she murmured, her yellow eyes alertly scanning the surroundings.

Sekhemkare tilted his head to one side as he tested the air with his tongue. “The magic here is ... intense,” he hissed softly.

F-45, who had been standing silently next to Yelmalis, turned its small wings this way and that. “Careful,” it warned. “My sensors indicate an anomaly in air density and temperature directly ahead.”

No sooner had the monodrone spoken than an icy wind arose. The air in front of them began to swirl, snowflakes and ice crystals condensed into a shimmering, ethereal figure. Before them appeared a woman with snow-white skin and hair that looked as if spun from thin threads of ice. She floated a few inches above the ground, dressed in a wide, white kimono. Her eyes were cold and piercing like splinters of ice, staring at each member of the group for a long moment. Dilae held her breath. The yuki onna had appeared, ready to protect the ice nightingale. Garush tensed up, apparently ready for a fight, but Tarik laid a hand on her arm in a placating manner. Sekhemkare and Yelmalis, on the other hand, bowed slightly towards the snow woman, their posture showing respect but also caution.

Dilae took heart, then took a step forward and spoke in a calm but firm voice. “Revered yuki onna, we come in peace and with a request.”

The snow woman inclined her head slightly. “Speak, mortals. What brings you to my realm?” Her voice was like the whisper of falling snow.

Yelmalis, who had pushed F-45 protectively behind him, answered. “We come on behalf of king Torvik and seek the help of the ice nightingale. His people are in danger, and only its song can break the curse.”

The air seemed to grow even colder. The words of the yuki onna, though barely louder than a whisper, blew through the forest like an icy wind, making the branches of the crystal trees tingle. “So you desire our most precious treasure. But know this: it will sing only for those I deem worthy.”

The group stood frozen, spellbound by the supernatural appearance of the snow spirit and unsure of what to do. Garush's hand lay firmly on the handle of her axe, while Tarik had stepped up to Yelmalis' side, both now standing protectively in front of F-45. Sekhemkare hissed softly, his tongue flicking out at very short intervals between his lips, as always when he was tense. Dilae felt her heart beat faster. She knew that this moment was crucial. Taking a deep breath, she took another step forward. The snow crunched softly under her feet, and the contrast of her dark skin against the dazzling white of the forest seemed even stronger than before. It was precisely this contrast that had just given her an idea ...

“Honorable yuki onna,” she said. ”I hail from Ysgard, where we know the meaning of winter all too well. If I can convince you that I honor the power of frost and winter, will you allow us to bring the song of the ice nightingale to king Torvik?” Garush gave her an alarmed look, but the dark elf gestured gently for the amazon to let her try.

The yuki onna stared at Dilae, with eyes as cold and clear as frozen lakes. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then the snow woman slightly inclined her head. “Words are wind, daughter of the dark elves,” she replied, earnestly, but no longer as dismissive as before. “Show me the truth of your heart.”

Dilae sensed all attention turning to her. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The cold of the forest, the presence of the yuki onna, the tense anticipation of her companions - everything seemed to converge within her. Then she began to sing, an old dark elven melody, a song of frost and snow, of the beauty, but also the harshness of winter. Her voice, clear and pure like a mountain stream, seemed to merge with the Crystal Forest. The icicles on the trees vibrated slightly, as if they were answering the melody. As she sang, Dilae's feet began to move on their own. Her body followed the song into a dance in honor of the Dark Maiden Eilistraee, but also in honor of winter itself. And then she heard it, deep inside her: the sounds of the Crystal Forest. Not the tones of the transparent branches and filigree twigs that they had heard since entering this place. No, it was something deeper: the Music of Existence . For that was her gift. In the fragment of the Prophecy that Bria had found, it was written: The child who dances to the music of existence - she who interweaves illusion and reality. All places in the planes had their own special melody that Dilae could perceive thanks to her gift. And while she concentrated on her own singing and dancing, she could also hear the song of the Crystal Forest.

The melody began softly and delicately, like the gentle falling of snowflakes. High, clear tones reminded of the glistening of ice crystals in the sunlight, a soft, deep undertone of the silent power of the frozen trees. Dilae took off her gloves and threw them aside without interrupting her dance, unbuttoned the buttons of her coat and took it off to gain more freedom of movement. Her movements were as fluid as water and delicate as ice crystals, her arms describing graceful arcs in the air that followed the rhythm of the melody. When she slipped out of her boots to continue dancing barefoot, she heard a worried interjection from Yelmalis behind her, but the words didn't really reach her ears. She was already too much at one with the melody of the Crystal Forest. She took off her belt and slipped out of her trousers, then her tunic, all her movements perfectly integrated into the dance. When she was wearing only her undergarment, she felt the coolness of the air on her skin, but she knew that the power of ice could not harm her at that moment. Her footsteps barely left marks in the snow, it was a dance of deference to winter and to the yuki onna. The song of the Crystal Forest now intensified, chime-like sounds were like the clinking of icicles in the wind, while long, floating notes described the wide, snowy landscape. Finally, Dilae also took off her undergarments, wearing now only a silver amulet in the shape of a snowflake around her neck – a piece of jewelry that granted its wearer resistance to cold, but she knew she wouldn't have needed it, not as long as she listened to the Music of Existence. Now, completely naked, she danced in the clearing among the crystal trees, as Eilistraee's followers had always done. Her hair glistened white as snow, but her black skin stood out against the surrounding whiteness as sharply as ink on bright silk. In every movement, every turn, there was a deep appreciation of the beauty and power of ice. The melody of the forest alternated between calm, wintry passages and more lively moments that expressed the sparkle and shimmer of the ice. At that moment, Dilae felt as if she were becoming one with the forest around her. She was unaware of her companions or the yuki onna; there was only she and her dance. And as she spun in a final pirouette, the snowflakes around her began to dance as well. They swirled around her as if drawn to her performance, forming intricate patterns in the air.

Dilae ended her dance with a deep bow to the snow woman. Breathless, her eyes shining, she looked up at the ghostly figure, and for a long moment, absolute silence lay over the forest. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Softly and silently, the snowflakes floated down and landed on Dilae's bare skin. The yuki onna looked at her and something flickered in her eyes – perhaps recognition, perhaps even something like joy. It was hard to tell with such a strange creature. Then, barely audible at first, the ice nightingale began to chirp. Its song was of moving beauty, crystal clear and yet warm, like sunlight refracting in ice crystals. It seemed to fill the entire forest with life.

 

 

The yuki onna bowed her head in a gesture of respect. “Your heart speaks true, daughter of the dark elves,” she said, her voice now warmer, as if ice were thawing in the sun. “Your dance honors winter and all that it represents.” She turned to the ice nightingale and held out her hand. The small bird, no larger than a palm and shimmering like a living ice crystal, willingly hopped onto her finger. “The nightingale will accompany you,” the yuki onna explained. “Tell king Torvik that our old quarrel is over.”

With trembling hands, from excitement but also because she was beginning to feel the cold, Dilae let the ice nightingale flutter onto her finger. The sparkling bird felt surprisingly warm. “We thank you, honorable yuki onna,” the dark elf said with a bow.

The snow woman nodded one last time, a barely perceptible smile playing around her lips. Then, as suddenly as she had appeared, she dissolved into a swirl of snowflakes and was gone. The Crystal Forest around her seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and the tension gave way to a peaceful silence. Dilae still stood unclothed in the snow, gazing at the ice nightingale. As she let her gaze wander, she saw it: Her dance had transformed the clearing. Beautiful ice flowers grew in the snow, spreading in spirals from the blue chunk of ice in the middle. Hollow spheres of ice had appeared between them, glowing from within and emitting a soft, blue light. Chains of interconnected snow crystals hung from the branches and formed garlands between the trees. The whole clearing suddenly seemed festively decorated. Dilae smiled. The power of her dance to create illusions from the melody of a place was the part of her gift that she liked best. They would not stay forever, but it had been enough for a dance in honor of winter. Only now did the dark elf feel the cold and began to tremble all over. And at that very moment, Yelmalis and Garush came running up to her, having hastily gathered her clothes from the snow.

“Put your clothes back on quickly,” Garush growled, her rough tone tinged with concern. ”You'll catch your death!”

Dilae nodded, shivering, let the ice nightingale hop carefully onto Tarik's hand and took first her underwear and then her tunic from the amazon, quickly pulling them on.

After she had handed her the trousers as well and held nothing more in her hands, the half-orc folded her arms and shook her head at Dilae. “Incredible, who comes up with such an idea? Dancing naked in the snow?”

“Call it an inspiration,” the dark elf replied, her teeth chattering. “And it worked, didn't it?”

Tarik nodded, smiling. “Indeed. That was incredible, Dilae. I have never seen anything so moving.”

“Of course it was impressive,” Garush conceded, while Yelmalis handed the dark elf her boots and cloak. “But I was really worried that you would freeze to death.”

“I guess the magic of my dance protects me from such dangers,” Dilae said thoughtfully.

Sekhemkare held up a small bottle of an orange-red liquid. “Magic is good,” he remarked. ”A fire potion might be even better. Would you like one?”

Dilae laughed. “I think I won't say no in this case. Unfortunately, the magic of the Music of Existence does not protect you from freezing afterwards.”

With a grin, the yuan-ti handed her the vial, which she emptied in one gulp. Immediately she felt relieved as a pleasant warmth spread inside her. Then Tarik let the ice nightingale hop back onto her hand.

Yelmalis studied the bird with fascination. “It's hard to believe that the yuki onna gave it to us. Your dance, Dilae, was truly magical.”

The dark elf smiled. ”I just followed my heart. The music of the forest, the presence of the yuki onna – everything came together.”

“I'm glad it worked,” Garush snorted. “I was ready for a fight.”

Sekhemkare hissed with amusement. “You always are, Garush. But sometimes it takes ... more subtle methods.”

“Let us return to king Torvik,” Tarik said with a grin, before the yuan-ti and the amazon could start a discussion. ”His people are waiting for the Song of Awakening.”

The others nodded, and so the group made their way back through the Crystal Forest. The trees seemed to be more sparse now, with branches bending to the side and creating a clear path. The light, refracted in the ice crystals, seemed warmer and friendlier. Dilae carried the nightingale carefully on her hand, and the little bird chirped softly from time to time, a sound like a tiny bell. When the group emerged from the Crystal Forest, the white expanse of the Plane of Ice stretched out before them again, endless and majestic. Their sled was standing here, with the six ice wolves still harnessed and patiently waiting in the cold. When the animals saw the group, they raised their heads and greeted them with joyful howls. The echo of their call reverberated across the snowy expanse, a welcome sound in the otherwise silent landscape.

Garush stepped forward and patted the head of the lead wolf. “Good animals,” she praised. “They have endured in this icy wasteland without grumbling.”

They boarded the sled, the amazon took her place on the box again, Sekhemkare and Dilae with the ice nightingale on the front bench. Yelmalis helped F-45 in and then sat down on the back bench next to Tarik. Sekhemkare immediately wrapped himself in a few blankets, visibly relieved to be able to warm up again after the hike through the Crystal Forest. Garush took the reins and with a soft command, the sled began to move.

 

The return to Torvik's cave was smoother than the way to the Crystal Forest. It appeared almost as if the success of their mission had appeased the plane. The wind, which had been so bitingly cold before, now seemed to blow more gently. The snowflakes that fell from the sky danced peacefully around the sled instead of beating them in the face. Dilae watched the landscape passing by. Icebergs loomed in the distance, their tops shrouded in clouds. Here and there, crystalline formations broke through the white surface, glistening in the pale light. The silence was almost tangible, broken only by the gentle sliding of the runners over the snow and the rhythmic breathing of the wolves. After several hours of travel, the massive iceberg where Torvik's cave was located finally appeared in the distance. As they approached, they could see the soft, bluish light of the ice lanterns marking the entrance.

No sooner had they brought the sled to a halt than king Torvik hurried out of the cave. His massive frame moved surprisingly quickly over the snow. His tension was almost tangible. “You have returned,” he said, his deep voice trembling with anticipation. “Have you ...?”

 

 

Dilae stepped forward, smiling. She cautiously raised her hand and showed Torvik the ice nightingale, whose feathers glistened like a thousand tiny diamonds. The little bird turned its head to look at the polar bear king with its clear, blue eyes.

Torvik stared at the bird, a mixture of boundless relief and a trace of disbelief in his eyes. “You actually did it,” he murmured. “I can hardly believe it.”

Dilae nodded. ”The yuki onna wants you to know that the old quarrel is ended.”

At these words, it was as if a huge burden was lifted from Torvik. His massive body seemed to relax all at once. “That ... means more to me than you know,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. He hesitantly held out one of his large paws as if to touch the nightingale, but then stopped, as if he were afraid of hurting the delicate creature. Instead, he bowed his mighty head in thanks to the Chosen. “Come,” he said. “Let us go into the cave. It is time to awaken my people.”

With these words, he turned around and the group followed him into the depths of his icy cavern. He led them to the chamber with the sleeping polar bears. There Dilae placed the nightingale on a small ice rock. For a moment there was complete silence, then the bird began to sing. The first note sounded, pure and clear, followed by a melody of moving beauty. It was a song beyond description, like falling snow and breaking ice, like the wind on a winter's night and the crunch of footsteps on fresh snow. It was cold and warm at the same time, sad and hopeful. Gradually, the song seemed to fill the cave with light. It streamed through the ice and enveloped the sleeping polar bears like a warm blanket. At first nothing happened ... But then, very slowly, one of the bears began to stir. An eyelid twitched, a paw moved ... Slowly, one by one, the sleeping ice bears raised their heads. They blinked in confusion and amazement, sleepily running their paws over their faces.

Torvik stood there, teary-eyed. “You have saved us,” he said in a hoarse voice. But before he turned to his awakening people, he nodded resolutely to the group. “You have kept your promise. Now it is up to me to keep mine.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” replied Tarik, speaking in a whisper so as not to disturb the polar bears, who were only just awakening.

King Torvik led them deeper into the cave system, through several winding ice passages, until they reached a small grotto. It was a marvel of ice and light, with crystal formations protruding from the ground everywhere, reflecting the soft glow emanating from the center of the cave. There, on a small mound of ice, grew a single flower. Dilae held her breath. It had to be the glacier rose that Tarik had dreamed of. It was breathtakingly beautiful, its petals as if formed from the finest ice, translucent yet shot through with a delicate blue. In the center of the blossom, a faint, bluish light pulsated like the rhythm of an invisible heartbeat.

“The glacier rose,“ Torvik explained. “The rarest flower on our plane. It has been growing here for centuries, guarded and protected by my people.”

Yelmalis approached cautiously, his eyes wide with wonder. “It is beautiful,” he whispered.

Torvik nodded. “And it is yours. You have proven that you are worthy of receiving it.”

Sekhemkare looked thoughtfully at the king. “But ... isn't it of inestimable value to you?”

The polar bear smiled. “Its value lies in the good it can do.” Then he stepped to the snow mound and carefully loosened the glacier rose from the ice.

The moment the flower was plucked, a soft glow filled the grotto. Dilae felt a little overwhelmed by the significance of the moment. Not only had they saved a people, but they had also found the key to their own quest. Now they were ready for the next and perhaps last step of their journey – whatever it might bring.

 

 

They had said goodbye to Torvik and then left the caves relatively quickly so as not to disturb the moment of awakening between the ice bear king and his people. When they were back at their sled, they took a closer look at the glacier rose that Tarik was holding gently in his hands. The petals of the flower shimmered in various delicate shades of blue and were as thin and fragile as the finest crystal. The stem and leaves were made of clear ice that sparkled in the light like a thousand tiny diamonds. Then suddenly the flower began to pulsate gently and a faint, bluish glow emanated from it. Before the astonished eyes of the group, fine ice crystals detached from the petals. They floated in the air, glittering and sparkling like stars in the night sky, forming a shimmering trail that stretched further and further into the distance.

“It seems to be showing us the way,” Yelmalis whispered. He gazed in wonder at the glacier rose, the butterflies that always surrounded him shimmering in the same shades of blue as the ice flower.

Dilae stepped up beside him. “It's beautiful,’”she said softly. ”Like a path made of stardust.”

Garush, pragmatic as always, was already checking the sled's equipment. “Maybe, but we should hurry. Who knows how long this trail will last.”

Sekhemkare nodded in agreement, shivering from the cold despite his thick clothing. ”Hopefully, the faster we follow the trail, the sooner we'll get to a warmer place.”

F-45, who was standing next to Yelmalis, turned its back and forth. “My arcanum sensors indicate that the crystals have a weak magical signature. It is likely that they will lead us to our goal.”

Tarik smiled. ”Then let's go.”

They boarded the sled and the glittering trail of crystals led the group across a wide, snow-covered plain that stretched to the horizon, interrupted only by occasional hills and drifts. The wind whistled around them, a constant, icy companion that drove along snowflakes and made them dance in swirling patterns. The sled's runners crunched rhythmically in the deep snow, a steady sound that mingled with the breathing of the ice wolves. Occasionally they passed those gigantic ice formations that towered out of the ground like surreal sculptures everywhere in this area. Some resembled frozen waves, others looked like motionless elementals, and still others resembled icy flames. The light refracted in these ice colossi and cast a kaleidoscope of blues and whites over the landscape. Dilae watched in fascination as the crystal trail danced before them, a band of glittering stars that led them through this surreal landscape. About two hours later, they reached the foot of a small mountain range. Snow-capped peaks jutted into the sky like the teeth of a sleeping dragon. The crystal trail wound up a narrow, snowy path that snaked along the steep slopes. The journey up there was arduous, the ice wolves panting as they fought their way up the mountain, while the group in the sledge clung on to avoid falling out. But Garush steered the sledge with stoic calm, and once more Dilae was grateful that the amazon was not easily frightened.

Finally, the path led them into a cave. The sledge just about fit through the entrance, and of course they were all afraid that they would have to leave the vehicle behind. To their relief, the gap in the rock opened up into a spacious cavern. Its walls were covered all over with glowing crystals that shimmered in all colors of the rainbow. It was as if they had entered a huge gemstone, and the air here was noticeably warmer than outside the mountain. Especially for Sekhemkare, it was a welcome relief from the biting cold. While they took a short rest, Yelmalis examined the crystals with interest while F-45 performed measurements of the surroundings. Garush, on the other hand, kept a watchful eye on the glittering trail of the glacier rose to make sure it did not dissolve. They discovered a small stream that splashed merrily through the cave, its water so clear that every pebble on the ground could be seen. They took the opportunity to drink a few sips and Dilae thought it was the purest and most refreshing water she had ever tasted. Elemental water could even outshine that of the Upper Planes. But they soon continued their journey, not wanting to risk losing the trail of the glacier rose. Fortunately, the cave remained large enough for the sled, and the exit was also wide enough for them to drive out again. Immediately behind the cave, they found themselves in a labyrinth of ice needles. The pointed formations rose up in all directions, some as thin as needles, others as thick as tree trunks. They reflected the light in a confusing play that deceived the eyes and made orientation more difficult. Shadows and light reflections danced across the ice surfaces, creating illusions of movement and depth where none existed.

“Without the crystal trail, we would surely have gotten lost here,” Dilae remarked as they followed the glittering path that led them safely through the tangle of ice.

But finally, the trail ended at a massive ice wall. It rose before them like an insurmountable barrier, smooth and seemingly impenetrable. The wall stretched in both directions as far as the eye could see, rising high into the sky, its top lost in the low-hanging clouds. The ice shimmered in different shades of blue, reflecting the light in mesmerizing patterns. The crystal trail led directly to it and disappeared into a hairline crevice, barely wider than a finger. The opening was so narrow that it was barely visible at first glance; only the soft glitter of the crystals revealed its course.

“We're supposed to go through there?” Garush asked skeptically. The amazon dismounted the sledge and laid her hand on the smooth surface of the ice.

Tarik shook his head. “We should trust the glacier rose,” he said, carefully turning the flower in his hands. He stepped closer to the wall and examined the crevice more closely.

To Dilae's surprise, the opening widened slightly when Tarik touched it. It seemed as if the ice was reacting to his touch, gently receding like a living being.

Yelmalis stepped up beside him and curiously scrutinized the wall. “It seems to be some kind of elemental magic that responds to the presence of the glacier rose.”

So the tiefling moved his hand with the glacier rose up and down in front of the crevice a few more times, and indeed it widened until a passage had formed that they could walk through. One by one, they entered the passageway. Garush, of course, went first, her hand always on the hilt of her weapon in case of danger. Tarik followed directly behind her, holding the glacier rose carefully in front of him, followed by Yelmalis with F-45. Dilae gave Sekhemkare a questioning glance, but the yuan-ti motioned for her to go ahead and then brought up the rear. It was narrow and cold, and for a moment they were surrounded by complete darkness. The walls of the crevice seemed to close in on them, the air was thin and icy, and for a brief, oppressive moment, it felt as if they were being swallowed up by the cold. Then, suddenly, the crevice widened. A shaft of light penetrated to them, growing brighter and stronger. A final step, then they stood in the light – and in a hidden valley of breathtaking beauty. The group remained rooted to the spot, overwhelmed by the view that presented itself to them. Rolling hills, covered with shimmering snow, surrounded a wide plain. In the middle of the valley lay a glassy lake, its frozen surface shining like polished silver, reflecting the sky and hills like a huge mirror. On the shore of the lake grew trees made of pure ice, their transparent trunks and branches reminding Dilae of the Crystal Forest. The branches were hung with wind chimes made of ice shards that sparkled in the sunlight and cast a fascinating play of light and colors on the snow. The crystal trail continued and led them around the lake to an elevated plateau. There, on a hill overlooking the entire valley, stood a pavilion made of shimmering crystal. Delicate arches of ice formed the walls, and the domed roof was supported by a semicircle of artfully shaped ice columns. 

 

As they approached the pergola, their footsteps crunching in the untouched snow, two figures emerged from the crystal building. One was a lupinal with light gray fur and sapphire-blue eyes. She wore a floor-length, turquoise-green dress interwoven with golden threads. Next to her stood a human man with chin-long blond hair. He was wearing armor decorated with the images of golden lions.

The lupinal waved at them in greeting. “Welcome, travelers. I am Elyria, the Keeper.”

“And I am Lorias, the Proclaimer,” the man explained in a friendly manner. ”We have been expecting you.”

 

 

Dilae shot a quick glance at the others. While Garush looked alert as always, Sekhemkare was deliberately keeping to the background. Yelmalis had placed a hand on the outer shell of F-45 and his butterflies fluttered around him a bit more vividly than usual. Tarik was still holding the glacier rose, and for some reason, Dilae had the feeling that this qualified him to speak to Elyria and Lorias first.

“Are these the two you dreamed of?” she asked quietly. When he nodded slowly, she gestured towards the man and the lupinal.

The tiefling cleared his throat, somewhat overwhelmed, but then stepped forward. “Um ... I am Tarik. These are Garush, Dilae, Sekhemkare and Yelmalis with his familiar F-45. You ... were expecting us?”

Lorias smiled as he approached. ”That is right. The glacier rose only leads the way for those who are meant to be here. You have a long journey behind you – and an even longer one ahead of you.”

Elyria also stepped closer, her movements flowing and graceful. She gestured toward the pavilion. “Come,” she said warmly. “We can't tell you everything yet, but we can give you a few answers.”

Once again, Dilae exchanged a quick glance with the others. They all looked either alert or confused. But since the man and the lupinal were apparently the two of whom Tarik had dreamed, they seemed to have actually reached their goal. And so they followed them to the sparkling pavilion to hear what they had to say.