Glorp stretched their arm upward, watching it wobble like jam before snapping it back into shape. They wanted to become a master shapeshifter, able to transform into anything they could imagine. Right now, they were practicing in an empty clearing, trying to shift their body into the form of a crimson bird. Their backpack sat nearby, stuffed with supplies for when they'd finally be good enough to go on real adventures. Glorp closed their eyes and pictured Sir Kellam from The Silverscale Saga, remembering how the hero started as nobody special too. The clearing wasn't working. Glorp couldn't see what they actually looked like when they shifted. They grabbed their backpack and headed toward the bioluminescent mirror pool they'd spotted yesterday. The pool sat quiet, its murky water glowing with soft light. Crystalline edges caught the glow and made everything shimmer. Glorp knelt at the edge and stared at their reflection. Their pink body rippled in the water's surface. They concentrated hard, trying to shift their color to deep crimson. Their reflection shifted from pink to orange to a muddy red-brown. Not quite right. Glorp tried again, thinking of heroes' capes and dragon-slayers. The reflection turned brighter, then darker. Getting closer. They'd practice here every day until they got it perfect. After an hour of color practice, Glorp's body ached from holding forms. They needed to work on something different. Near the pool stood a black chitinous pod, tall as Glorp's waist, with a glossy surface that reflected the bioluminescent glow. An opening at the top showed a hollow inside. Glorp had heard that sound vibrations could help with shifting, that different frequencies made the body respond in new ways. They stuck their head into the pod and hummed. The sound bounced back, deep and strange. Glorp hummed higher. The vibration traveled through their body, making their form ripple and shift without them trying. They hummed different notes, feeling their shape respond to each one. This was it. This was how they'd learn to transform into anything. Sound, reflection, practice. Glorp pulled their head out and grinned. Sir Kellam didn't become a dragon-slayer in one day either. Glorp adjusted their backpack and walked further, heart beating fast with excitement. They spotted a training course ahead, designed for shapeshifters. Obstacles dotted the path, each one testing different forms and skills. Glorp stopped at the entrance and stared. This was real. This was where masters trained. They could practice here for months, maybe years. Master every form through hard work, just like the hero in their favorite story. Glorp took a breath and stepped forward. The pool would teach them to see themselves clearly. The pod would teach them control through sound. This course would push them to become what they dreamed about. One day, Elara would see them shift into something perfect and beautiful, and she'd call them more than just vibrant.