Raelyn followed Kogwin through the heart of Grythenwald, winding their way through the residential ring. Gremlins bustled through the walkways, some perched on suspended bridges, chatting in rapid exchanges while others moved between homes carved into the cavern walls, their doorways framed with intricate metalwork. Small groups gathered around makeshift hearths, where steam vents funneled warmth into communal spaces.

Children—smaller even than the adults—scurried across narrow ledges, their high-pitched chatter filling the air as they played with small mechanical contraptions, gears whirring as they twisted knobs and flicked switches. Others peered curiously at Raelyn and Kogwin from the safety of their homes, their large eyes reflecting the golden light. Some whispered to one another, their expressions a mix of wonder and unease.

Despite the industrious nature of the gremlins, there was a warmth here—not just from the heat funneled through the city, but in the way they moved together, relied on one another. Even if they had built their lives deep in the mountain, it was clear they had built something more than just a city. They had built a home.

Raelyn took it all in as they walked, letting the sights settle in her mind before turning to Kogwin.

"How's Zypher?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

Kogwin's pace didn't falter, but his expression softened slightly, his antennae twitching in thought. "He will need time," he admitted. "Captivity is not something one recovers from easily. He's free, yes—but Grythenwald may not feel like home to him just yet."

Raelyn nodded, understanding all too well what he meant. After so long in Khazrundar, after years of knowing nothing but servitude, returning here—where he was supposed to belong—might feel just as foreign as the chains he had left behind.

Kogwin glanced at her, then added, "But I have no doubt he will find his place again." He hesitated before inclining his head toward her. "And for that, we owe you thanks. You returned him to us."

Raelyn gave a small smile. "I'm glad I could help him. And you." She hesitated, glancing at the gremlins bustling around them before continuing, "I just wish I could have done more. I wish I could have freed the others."

Kogwin slowed slightly, his expression darkening.

"There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think about them," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "Our kin who still serve the dwarves, their skills used for someone else's gain." His jaw tightened, his sharp eyes fixed forward. "Part of me wishes we had fought harder against the terms of the peace treaty. That we had refused to sign it. But we were not in a position to bargain. A war against the dwarves would have led to our complete destruction."

Raelyn felt a heaviness settle in her chest. She knew, logically, that the gremlins had no choice. But hearing it from Kogwin, hearing the resignation laced with bitterness—it struck a deeper chord.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "For what your people have gone through. For what you've lost."

Kogwin didn't reply immediately, but his antennae drooped slightly. "We have endured," he said at last. "And we will continue to do so."

A moment of silence stretched between them as they continued walking, the sounds of Grythenwald slowly fading behind them. The path sloped downward now, the warmth increasing as they neared the depths of the city's geothermal wells.

"Will I see Zypher before we leave?" she asked after a moment.

Kogwin gave a small nod. "You will," he assured her. "He will be waiting for you."

Raelyn felt some relief at that. She wasn't sure what she would say to Zypher—whether their parting would be smooth or weighted by everything that had happened. But she wanted to see him, to know that he was all right.

They walked a little farther before the passageway widened, and the air became thick with mist.

Raelyn's breath hitched slightly as she took in the sight before her.

At the center of the cavern lay a series of deep geothermal pools, their surfaces gently bubbling with heat. The water was impossibly clear, reflecting the soft glow of the cavern's light, yet the depths seemed endless. Steam coiled in delicate tendrils toward the ceiling, where vents in the stone allowed it to disperse harmlessly. Around them, intricate systems of pipes branched out like veins, drawing warmth from the wells and funneling it into the rest of Grythenwald.

Kogwin gestured toward the water. "The thermal wells," he said simply. "They keep us warm through the coldest seasons. The pipes distribute the heat where needed." His gaze flicked to Raelyn. "How are you going to use them to send your message?"

Raelyn stepped forward, kneeling by the edge of the water. The heat radiated against her skin, a deep, steady warmth that pulsed like a heartbeat. She placed her palm against the surface.

It was hot—uncomfortably so—but not enough to burn. A deep well of warmth, contained but powerful. She breathed steadily, adjusting to the sensation, and closed her eyes.

Reaching inward, she tapped into her medial, pulling on the magic within. The word Lira had taught her surfaced in her mind, steady and clear.

Then, softly, she spoke.

"Nydelas."

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the water rippled.

A faint glow stirred in the depths, swirling like trapped starlight beneath the surface. The mist thickened, curling in shimmering waves. A hum resonated through the cavern—not loud, but deep, vibrating through the stone itself.

Then, it rose.

A luminous form broke through the surface, water cascading from its iridescent frame.

Raelyn inhaled sharply as the Nydelian emerged—a creature of fluid grace, its smooth, glistening scales shifting between hues of teal, silver, and deep oceanic blue. Its upper body was humanoid, slender and long-limbed, but its lower half drifted in the water like flowing silk—tentacle-like appendages pulsing with bioluminescent light.

Its large, reflective eyes locked onto her, unblinking, filled with quiet curiosity. Stripes of glowing patterns shimmered across its body, pulsing in rhythmic waves, communicating in a language beyond words.

Then, unexpectedly, the Nydelian shifted, its eyes narrowing slightly. Its bioluminescence dimmed.

"This water is hot." The voice rang through Raelyn's mind—a melodic, fluid sound, tinged with an edge of irritation. "Uncomfortably so."

"I'm sorry," Raelyn said, leaning forward. "I wouldn't have called for you if it wasn't important."

The Nydelian tilted its head slightly. The rippling glow along its tendrils flickered, then steadied. "It is tolerable," it admitted, its voice smoothing into something calmer, more measured. "Why did you summon me?"

Raelyn straightened, her fingers still skimming the surface of the water. "I need your help to relay a message." Even though she could have kept the communication with the Nydelian inside her mind, she purposefully spoke out loud so that Kogwin could hear that she keeping her word.

The Nydelian's glowing stripes pulsed, absorbing her request. Behind her, Kogwin shifted slightly, his keen gaze locked on the creature before them.

He had been silent until now, but Raelyn could feel his curiosity growing.

The Nydelian clicked softly in thought, the sounds of its bioluminescence shifting in a rhythmic wave.

"Speak, then. I will listen."

Raelyn took a steady breath. "Tell Sylvy and Lira of Eryndoriel that we believe we've found the location of the weapon of the gods," she said, her voice measured. "But to reach it, we must enter Bromaric—and we could use their help."

The Nydelian's glowing stripes pulsed in acknowledgment.

"Tell them to meet us at Duskwatch in Grorith," Raelyn instructed.

Duskwatch. The town had been chosen the night before, after much deliberation. They had pored over map, considering their options. Hovan had been the one to make the final call.

It was a safe meeting point, nestled just beyond Bromaric's cursed lands, close enough to act as an entry point but far enough to remain outside of Baragor's immediate grasp. If they were to cross into enemy territory, they needed a place to gather, to prepare. Somewhere Sylvy and Lira could reach without drawing too much suspicion.

She steadied her breath before continuing.

"The journey ahead is dangerous," she warned. "Bromaric is not like the rest of Unevia. Baragor's influence runs deep there. Demons roam those lands freely. We don't know what awaits us past the border... and we may not return from this."

The Nydelian's glowing stripes pulsed in acknowledgment. Its bioluminescence flickered, absorbing her words in rhythmic waves.

Raelyn clenched her hands, watching as the creature dipped slightly lower into the water.

"If they come," she added, voice quieter now, "tell them to be careful. And tell them... I'm grateful."

The Nydelian emitted a low, warbling hum—a sound that resonated through the cavern like a deep vibration through stone. Its glowing stripes pulsed in slow, rhythmic waves before its voice echoed within Raelyn's mind, smooth and fluid like the water it emerged from.

"Your message will be delivered. The elves shall know of your call."

Raelyn smiled with a sigh. "Thank you."

The Nydelian inclined its head, its bioluminescent markings shimmering in understanding. Then, with a slow, graceful movement, it slipped beneath the surface, vanishing into the thermal depths.

The glow lingered for a heartbeat longer, then faded, leaving only ripples in its wake.

Raelyn let out a slow breath, pulling her hand from the water. The cavern was silent once more, save for the faint bubbling of the thermal wells.

Kogwin exhaled beside her. "Fascinating," he murmured, rubbing his chin. "I had no idea creatures like this lived in the underground waterways." He flicked his gaze toward her. "And you can communicate with it? All I heard were clicks. How do you know what it is saying?"

Raelyn turned toward him, shaking the dampness from her fingers. "The elves taught me how to summon them and use them to carry messages. They use Nydelians to send messages across Unevia." she said. Their magic creates a magical link between them and the Nydelian, allowing them to telepathically communicate.

Kogwin nodded, his antennae twitching slightly as his mind seemed to race with ideas. "Do you think you could summon one again?" His eyes gleamed with interest. "I'd love the chance to study it."

Raelyn hesitated, then shook her head gently. "I appreciate your curiosity, but they aren't things to be studied like one of your machines," she said. "They answer when called, but I won't summon one without a reason."

Kogwin let out a soft huff, clearly disappointed. "A shame," he mused, though there was no real malice in his tone. He turned, motioning toward the tunnel behind them. "Come. I'll take you back to your companions."

Raelyn nodded, following as Kogwin led the way back up through the passage. The warmth of the thermal wells faded behind them, but the weight in her chest lifted slightly.

Kogwin led Raelyn through the winding tunnels of Grythenwald, retracing the path they had taken earlier. The further they climbed, the cooler the air became, the heat from the thermal wells fading as they ascended.

As they reached the center ring of Grythenwald, Raelyn spotted the others waiting near a large, open platform. Thomrik stood with his arms crossed, eyes scanning the city around them, while Hovan and Benji conversed in hushed tones. Danio, on the other hand, leaned against a railing, absently tossing and catching a coin between his fingers. Rakz lay coiled at Hovan's feet, flicking his tail lazily.

Hovan looked up as they approached, straightening. "Did it work?"

Raelyn nodded. "The message is on its way," she confirmed. "Sylvy and Lira will know where to meet us."

Hovan let out a short breath. "Good."

Raelyn turned to Kogwin. "Can you show us the way out of Grythenwald?"

Kogwin's antennae twitched. "There is a way to the base of the mountain, but it would be slow and far from safe." He paused, then added, "There's a faster way down the mountain. And a much safer one."

Raelyn exchanged glances with the others.

Hovan frowned. "You mean there's another way to travel?"

Danio groaned, already shaking his head. "Please tell me it's not like the Iron Runner," he muttered. "I've had my fill of speeding headfirst into death, thanks."

Benji, on the other hand, perked up. "The Iron Runner was incredible," he argued. "Up until we crashed into that boulder, anyway."

Kogwin blinked at them, his fur bristling slightly. "I am unfamiliar with the ways in which dwarves travel," he said, tilting his head. "But I can assure you, it will not be underground."

Thomrik crossed his arms, eyeing Kogwin suspiciously. "I don't have to get back on a horse, do I?" He grimaced. "Not looking forward to another one of those rides."

Kogwin hesitated. "Not quite."

Raelyn raised a brow, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "Then what is it?"

Kogwin's expression remained unreadable. "It would be easier if I showed you."

That piqued their interest.

With a flick of his hand, Kogwin gestured for them to follow.