- Merlin has never mentioned his first experience in the crystal cave, mostly because he's not sure if it was real.
- Anyway, one day in winter, Merlin decides to have a peek at the place in the cave where he'd hidden from Galapas five years ago. He climbs into the crystal globe again—but this time, there's no fire.
- Merlin doesn't know what the crystal cave is, but he suspects it's a supernatural place. When Galapas returns, Merlin asks him how he understood that Merlin was there on that first day.
- Galapas explains that he saw him the crystal cave. Like, before Merlin was ever actually there. Galapas now wants to demonstrate how this works.
- Merlin lies on his belly and puts his head into the crystal cave while Galapas uncovers the mirror and tells Merlin to empty his mind.
- Pretty soon, Merlin's seeing stuff that can't possibly be in the cave: slaves working at some underground project, water running from the walls.
- In the vision, a foreman and another man appear and check the underground rock face. It crumbles and water comes in. And that's it for the vision.
- Merlin tells Galapas what he's seen. Instead of telling Merlin what it's all about, Galapas tells him to head home—strange things are afoot.
- Oh, and also, Merlin has to make sure to follow his grandfather the king wherever he's about to go. That part's crucial.