Chapter 21

Nimbus and Grum, Lucent Deep

Return

            The Aethereion High Council was pleased to have the staff returned. They began immediate imports of Brineweld and Tidesworn‑crafted Slimeshell artifacts. The Red Lumispar pulsed in unison with the Skymirror, sealing cracks and breathing life back into the city’s automatons.

            “Is there anything we can do in return before you leave?” the council asked the trio.

            Thalarae replied, “Yeah—there’s a pesky captain afloat somewhere you could help with. Needs a curse lifted. Maybe Orinthal knows a trick.” The council members exchanged looks. Arch-councilor Selloris sighed, “We will do what we can.”

            Back in Rhinestone Reach harbor, the Huntbounds were satisfied with their hoard of bright Lumispar—some pieces now colorful, since they’d learned how to reverse the hue. A new rule posted across the city required that grown Lumispar be released for hatching within a year. The Lumispar Cave, now a heavily guarded marine sanctuary, would remain untouched for generations.

            Noticing a bit of kelp stuck to Slobber Maw’s back, the Tidesworn had an idea. Harvesting mats of kelp from smaller floating islands, they constructed barge‑fields to trail behind Slobber Maw. Once again, they could resume the farming they yearned for, though some still hunted. They followed currents sometimes and Slobber Maw other times. Wherever the barge drifted, life flourished—nearby plants and animals fed and grew from the organisms hitchhiking on the island: a mobile kelp forest.

            Rhinestone Reach’s shimmer grew even brighter. On every corner, Lumispar lamps were refreshed yearly, releasing hatchlings back to the wild. Rainbow necklaces glittered in the dark and signs shone like new. The people loved the colors—and accepted that the precious gems
must be set free.