Elara stood in the woods, the crystal pendant around her neck gleaming in the sunlight. Aria had made her wear it before she left, saying it would protect her and help her tap into the crystal's power. Elara had been training with the crystal for hours, trying to master its energy. But as she delved deeper into the crystal's power, she began to feel a strange, unsettling sensation. The world around her grew dim, and she felt herself being pulled into a dark, shadowy realm. She tried to resist, but it was too late. She was sucked into a vortex of darkness, and everything went black. When Elara opened her eyes, she found herself standing in a desolate, barren landscape. The sky was a deep, foreboding red, and the air was thick with the stench of brimstone. She saw a figure in the distance, tall and imposing, with eyes that glowed like embers. As the figure drew closer, Elara realized with a jolt of fear that it was Khaos, the leader of the Shadows. He was surrounded by his demons, their eyes fixed on her with cold, calculating intent. "Welcome, Elara," Khaos said, his voice low and menacing. "I have been waiting for you. You have meddled in the affairs of the Shadows for the last time." Elara tried to speak, but her voice was frozen in her throat. She was paralyzed with fear, unable to move or escape. "You see, Elara," Khaos continued, "the crystal's power comes at a cost. A cost that you are not willing to pay. But it is too late now. You have unleashed the darkness, and it will consume you." As Khaos spoke, the demons closed in on Elara, their eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity. She felt herself being pulled towards them, felt the darkness seeping into her soul. And then, everything went black. When Elara came to reality, she was lying on the ground, the crystal pendant still around her neck. She was back in the woods, the sunlight filtering through the trees above her. But something was different. She felt changed, felt as though she had seen a glimpse of a dark and terrifying world. She stood up, her heart still racing with fear. She knew that she had to be careful, that the crystal's power was not to be trifled with. She made a vow to herself to use the crystal's power wisely, to never again let it consume her. But as she looked down at the crystal, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was playing with fire. That the crystal's power was a double-edged sword, one that could bring her great strength or destroy her completely. And she wondered, what was the true cost of the crystal's power? Was it worth the risk? Elara walked back to her village, her mind still reeling from the strange vision she had experienced. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that there was more to the crystal's power than she had initially thought. As she approached the village square, she saw Glimble juggling clubs for a group of laughing children. His antics brought a smile to her face, and she watched for a moment, enjoying the simple joy of the scene. When Glimble finished his trick, he came over to Elara, grinning mischievously. "Hey there, Elara! How was your day? Find any new ways to save the world?" Elara chuckled, despite her lingering concerns. "Not yet, Glimble. But I did want to ask you something." Glimble's expression turned serious, and he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "What's up?" Elara hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "My dad told you something, didn't he? Something about...Jax?" Glimble's eyes widened, and he nodded solemnly. "Ah, yeah. Your dad told me something, but I promised I wouldn't say anything." Elara's eyes narrowed. "Come on, Glimble. You can trust me. What did he say?" Glimble shook his head, his grin returning. "No secrets, Elara! Your dad told me to keep it under wraps, and I will. But don't worry, it's nothing bad. Just...interesting." Elara sighed, frustrated but not surprised. She knew her dad would want to keep certain things private. But she was determined to find out what was going on, especially if it involved Jax. Glimble's voice broke into Elara's thoughts, his words tumbling out in a comical flurry. "Hey, Elara! Hey, hey! Listen to this one! What has keys but can't open locks? Hmm? Hmm? You're thinking, 'Glimble, you're a genius!' But you're also thinking, 'Glimble, you're an idiot!' Am I right? Am I right?" Elara couldn't help but laugh at Glimble's antics, his silly grin and exaggerated gestures making her smile despite her lingering concerns about her dad and Jax. "Glimble, you're a bit of both, I think," she said, playing along. Glimble beamed with pride. "Ah, I knew it! I'm a genius-idiot! And the answer, of course, is a piano! It has keys, but it can't open locks! Unless...unless it's a magical piano that can open locks with its music! Hmm, that's an idea for a new trick!" Elara chuckled, shaking her head. "You're something else, Glimble." Glimble bowed, his juggling clubs clattering to the ground. "Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all week! But seriously, Elara, what's on your mind? You've been thinking about something pretty deeply, I can tell." Elara hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Glimble's comical interruption had lifted her mood, and she found herself wanting to share her thoughts with him. "I was just thinking about my dad and Jax," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Glimble's expression turned serious, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Ah, yeah. Your dad and Jax, huh? That's a story for the ages, I'm sure." Elara smiled and nodded, her mind still lingering on the mystery of her dad's connection to Jax. "I should probably get going, Glimble. My dad might be worried about me. I've been out here for a while." Glimble's expression turned understanding, and he nodded. "Yeah, yeah, family duties and all that. I get it. But hey, it was great chatting with you, Elara. Even if you didn't figure out my amazing riddle." Elara laughed and playfully rolled her eyes. "I'll have to think about it some more, Glimble. But I'm sure it's a real brain-twister." Glimble grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You have no idea. I'm a genius, I tell you!" Elara smiled and patted Glimble on the back. "I'm sure you are, Glimble. And I'm sure you'll keep my dad's secret safe." Glimble's expression turned serious, and he nodded solemnly. "Of course, Elara. Elara nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Glimble. She knew that she could trust him, and that he would keep her dad's secret safe. "Thanks, Glimble. I appreciate it." With a final wave, Elara turned and headed back towards her village, her mind still whirling with thoughts of her dad and Jax. She knew that she wouldn't get any more information out of Glimble, but she was determined to uncover the truth.