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When I step out into the open, I see an oasis frolows fro a flickering light up onto the ceiling and out across the space The ground here is softer, squishier Like sand There are so related to a cactus or a desert tree A few e, e in the rock wall

There must be hundreds of creatures in this cave

"What’s this?" a gruff voice asks as I walk out of the crack

Two sets of hands clauards who look like they’re carved from a polished version of the same stone that forms the cave walls hold me in place Neither creature--obsidian statues coanywhere

Thankfully, the golden maiden intervenes "She is under our protection She is a huntress"

They iolden o to the fire and talk"

I follow her across the sandy floor As we get closer, I notice two unusual things about this fire First, there is no s above--there is no smoke, period Second, even when I stand just a few feet fro flaic," she explains to me as she takes a seat on a stone bench before the fire "To shine light against the dark"

I sit, and Sillus sits next toat the play of colors, at the swirling blues and greens and oranges and every color in the rainbow It’s like soht, broke it up into its rainbow parts, and then contained it all in this fire

It’s beautiful Far too beautiful to be part of the monster abyss

"You have questions," she says "I will try to answer them But first, can you tellmy attention away froure out hoord this properly I don’t want to put Nick in any added danger If anyone thought I cared about hireater risk

"A friend of ed him back into yours" I suppress a shudder at the rabbed "I followed after him"

"To rescue him?"

"Yes" I nod "And for other reasons too"