CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: THE PRISM SANDS

The transport to the Prism Sands was unlike anything Evon had experienced before. Instead of a traditional aircraft or magical portal, the Nexus had provided what could only be described as a bubble of crystallized air that drifted through the atmosphere like a soap bubble, but one that could carry passengers and maintain a comfortable environment inside.

"This is actually quite relaxing," Yulia said, settling gracefully into a seat that had formed itself from the bubble’s interior surface. Her silver hair caught the light filtering through the translucent walls, creating small rainbows that danced around her pointed ears.

Quendor flew alongside them, his rainbow-scaled wings beating lazily as he kept pace with the bubble’s leisurely descent. His massive form cast shifting shadows on the crystal sands below as they approached their destination.

Titania had claimed a perch near the bubble’s peak, her fairy wings folded as she peered down at the approaching landscape. "Oh my," she said, her musical voice filled with wonder. "It’s even more beautiful from up here."

Evon had to agree. The Prism Sands stretched out below them like a sea of diamonds, each grain of crystal sand catching and refracting the sunlight into spectacular displays of color. Massive formations rose from the desert floor—some looking like naturally occurring crystal caves, others clearly crafted with artistic intent.

"Those are their galleries," Yulia explained, pointing to a cluster of particularly elaborate structures. "Each one represents decades of work by master artists."

As they descended, Evon could see movement among the crystal formations. The glass elementals were beautiful in their own way—humanoid figures that seemed to be carved from living crystal, their forms shifting and changing as they moved through their domain.

"Remember," Yulia said as their bubble touched down on a relatively flat area of crystal sand, "they communicate through light patterns. I’ll handle the initial contact."

The bubble dissolved around them, and immediately Evon felt the unique atmosphere of the Prism Sands. The air itself seemed to shimmer with residual magical energy, and every step they took created small chimes as their feet disturbed the crystalline surface.

A delegation of glass elementals approached—three figures whose bodies caught and refracted light in mesmerizing patterns. The leader, whose form seemed to be carved from pure diamond, stepped forward and began to pulse with complex patterns of light.

Yulia responded immediately, her elven magic allowing her to create similar light displays. The conversation, if it could be called that, went on for several minutes, with increasingly elaborate patterns flowing between the elf and the elementals.

"What are they saying?" Evon asked quietly.

"Basic introductions first," Yulia replied without breaking her light-pattern response. "Now they’re asking about our purpose here. I’m explaining about the seal fragment."

The lead elemental’s light patterns suddenly became more agitated, shifting from cool blues and greens to warmer oranges and reds.

"They know about it," Yulia said, her own patterns becoming more soothing in response. "They say it appeared three days ago in the heart of their most sacred gallery. It’s been... causing problems."

"What kind of problems?" Evon asked.

The elemental responded with a burst of chaotic light patterns that seemed to hurt to look at directly.

"It’s interfering with their art," Yulia translated. "The holy light from the seal fragment is too pure, too bright. It’s overwhelming the subtle color work they’ve spent centuries perfecting."

Quendor landed nearby with a soft thump that sent small avalanches of crystal sand sliding down the nearest dunes. "So they want us to take it away?"

More light patterns passed between Yulia and the elementals, this time with what seemed like relief on both sides.

"More than want," Yulia said with a slight smile. "They’re practically begging us to take it. But they insist on escorting us personally to make sure we don’t accidentally damage any of their other works on the way."

The journey through the Prism Sands was like walking through a living museum. Every formation they passed was a work of art, created by glass elementals who had spent decades or even centuries perfecting their craft. Some were abstract sculptures that created new patterns of light and color as the sun moved across the sky. Others were representational, showing scenes from elemental history or mythology in crystal form.

"This one is beautiful," Titania said, hovering near a delicate structure that looked like a waterfall made of frozen light. "It tells the story of the first meeting between the glass elementals and the crystal dragons of Praxis Major."

"How can you tell?" Evon asked, seeing only beautiful but abstract patterns.

"Fairy sight is different from human sight," she explained. "We see the intentions behind the art as much as the art itself."

The sacred gallery, when they finally reached it, was breathtaking. It was a natural crystal cave that had been enhanced and expanded by generations of elemental artists. The walls, floor, and ceiling were covered in intricate patterns that created a symphony of light and color as the sun’s rays filtered through carefully placed crystal formations.

And at the very center, disrupting all of it with its pure golden radiance, was Yena’s seal fragment.

It hovered about two meters off the ground, a sphere of holy light that pulsed with a steady, calming rhythm. But its presence was clearly overwhelming the subtle artistry around it, washing out the delicate color patterns with its brilliant glow.

"I can see why they want it gone," Evon said, shielding his eyes slightly. "It’s beautiful, but it doesn’t belong here."

Through his connection to the four goddesses in his soul realm, he could feel their excitement as they sensed their sister’s presence.

"She’s so close," Naia whispered. "I can almost touch her thoughts."

"The fragment has retained more of her personality than the others," Veyra observed. "Look at how it pulses—that’s Yena’s heartbeat."

Evon approached the floating fragment carefully. The glass elementals had arranged themselves around the chamber’s perimeter, their light patterns dim and respectful as they watched the proceedings.

"Yena," Evon said softly, reaching out with both his physical hand and his spiritual senses. "It’s time to come home."

The fragment pulsed once, brightly, and then gently settled into his palm. The moment it made contact with his skin, Evon felt a rush of warmth and healing energy. This wasn’t just a piece of divine power—it was a piece of someone he loved, someone who had been waiting for him across time and space.

The chamber around them immediately returned to its former glory. Without the overwhelming holy light, the subtle artworks became visible again, creating a panorama of color and beauty that made even Evon gasp in amazement.

The glass elementals pulsed with patterns of joy and relief, their light-language clearly expressing gratitude.

"They’re offering to create a piece commemorating this moment," Yulia translated. "It’s quite an honor—they only make historical pieces for truly significant events."

"That’s very kind of them," Evon replied, carefully placing the seal fragment into the special container the Arbiter had provided. "But we should probably—"

His words were cut off as his Eyes of Fate suddenly activated without his conscious command. The silver glow flooded his vision, and he found himself staring at a plain crystal formation near where the seal fragment had been hovering.

But it wasn’t plain anymore. Through his enhanced sight, he could see something inside it—a small object that pulsed with its own faint light. The moment he focused on it, an urgent desire to possess it filled his heart, so strong it was almost painful.

"There’s something else here," he said, his voice strangely hoarse. "In that crystal."

Yulia followed his gaze to what looked like a perfectly ordinary piece of crystal rock. "I don’t see anything."

"Neither do I," Titania added, her fairy sight apparently unable to penetrate whatever was concealing the object.

But Evon could see it clearly—a fragment of something ancient, something that seemed to resonate with the very core of his being. He didn’t know what it was, but every instinct he possessed was screaming at him to claim it.

"I need that," he said, pointing to the crystal. "Whatever’s inside it."

The glass elementals exchanged rapid patterns of light, clearly discussing this unexpected development. Finally, the leader approached the crystal and began to emit a focused beam of light that gradually heated the formation.

The crystal began to soften and melt, revealing its hidden contents. What emerged was a small, irregularly shaped object that looked like it might have been part of something larger once. It was made of a material Evon couldn’t identify—not metal, not stone, not crystal, but something that seemed to shift between all three states.

The moment the fragment was free, Evon felt an even stronger compulsion to take it. His hand moved almost without his conscious control, reaching out to grasp the mysterious object.

The instant his fingers made contact, images flashed through his mind—visions of a vast weapon, broken apart and scattered across multiple realities. This was just one piece of something much larger, something incredibly ancient and powerful.

"What is it?" Yulia asked, studying Evon’s expression with concern.

"I don’t know," Evon admitted, staring at the fragment in his palm. "But I think... I think it’s part of something I’m going to need."

The glass elementals pulsed with patterns of curiosity, but when Yulia explained what had happened, they responded with understanding. Light-language indicated that they had sensed the fragment’s presence but had been unable to access it themselves.

"They say it was always meant for you," Yulia translated. "They’re honored that their sacred gallery was chosen as its resting place."

As they prepared to leave the Prism Sands, Evon couldn’t shake the feeling that finding this mysterious fragment was just as important as recovering Yena’s seal. Somewhere out there, more pieces were waiting, and he had the distinct impression that he was going to need all of them before his quest was complete.

_____________