Glass-eyed Firenewt

Though most of the firenewts retreated from the encroaching glassification of the Glassed Expanse, there are some small communities who attempted to survive in this new world. These have been termed the glass-eyed firenewts, as their adaptation to the environment included a shiny film covering their eyes, to protect from the concentrated light reflecting off of the glass formations in the desert. These individuals have also developed an interesting diversion from standard magical teaching, called verremancy. Using this technique, glass-eyed firenewts are able to mold and shape the glass landscape to their whim.
Verremancy allows the firenewts to create glass formations which are rougher and duller, which are less likely to reflect or focus light in a dangerous way. It also creates surfaces that are less slick, making it unlikely to slip on this worked ground. Further, it makes the formations less likely to shatter when impacted, as from lightning or wind-blown debris in a storm. Much of the areas surrounding the firenewts' chosen territory has been worked in this way, making it easier and safer to traverse.
This magic also allows these firenewts to create nearly anything non-organic from the surrounding landscape, be it a weapon, a crafting tool, or shelter. Manipulating the glass even allows these items to be stronger and sharper than their metal counterparts might be. They can also be dulled in color, making them easier to see on the ground, and can block out the sun if needed.
The greatest of these verremancers have even discovered the ability to return patches of the Glassed Expanse to its previous state of sand, using the organic matter trapped within to plant and sustain a small desert farm. The imbued enchantment still creeps in, melding some of the sand back to glass, but it is a slow process and can be mitigated by these magic users. Though a constant drain on their resources, it is necessary to survive.
The scholars of the Delphic Enclave have turned much of their research towards this phenomenon. The ability to manipulate glass into whatever shape and clarity necessary would be a massive boon to those attempting to produce special lenses for puroses of astronomy or light manipulation and research.