I shrug. “They will celebrate our return. If we are successful, it won’t be long before we march on Rholker. Removing him from the throne is still our number one concern, after returningwhat my father stole. I told them it was better to stay underground, either training or preparing supplies.”
He lets out a long breath but says nothing more.
“Remember, you can only open the bell to eat and drink for a handful of moments. The magic isn’t strong enough without a seal from the crystals, and you could lose air,” Flova says gruffly.
Vann and I pick up another pack. The only person who will carry nothing is my mate—as is only right. She should be able to focus solely on following her visions to the artifact’s location.
We walk through the Cave of Sorrows, and it brings back memories of every member of my court who has passed on to the next life. I walk, head high, full of purpose.
It isn’t until we reach the crashing waterfall that will lead us down that I pause.
Liana nods to us, raising her hand high and speaking the oldest tongue. The Fuegorras on our chest light up, turning the clear crystal red, save Thorne. He curses again and says, “I’ll go first.”
Then he reaches the spot and lets himself go. His form disappears in a few seconds, and Vann follows. Holding the hand of my mate, I guide her forward and let her go next. As I step into the water, it eagerly embraces me, pulling me under with a powerful surge that propels me into a collision with the rocky edge. Swirls of bubbles, shimmering lights, and intricate cracks whiz by in a mesmerizing dance too swift for my eyes to capture fully. The underwater world reveals itself not as a realm of darkness but as one filled with a profound sense of weightlessness and an unseen presence that nudges my consciousness.
The intense pressure suddenly dissipates as I am forcefully expelled into the vast expanse of open water. A soft radiance emanates from the crystal suit adorning my body, casting a gentle glow around me. In this luminous space, I realize that I am not alone in emitting light. A symphony of bioluminescentcreatures flickers and dances around me in a breathtaking display of underwater magic.
“Estela,” I call to the smallest glowing suit, one that I swear is a little brighter than all the rest. The sound shoots through the water, and she swims over to me, close enough that I can watch her take in the beauty around us.
Beneath us, the ocean floor is strewn with fragments of ancient stone abodes, scattered like forgotten dreams on the seabed. I had anticipated that the relentless currents would have shifted Iravida’s resting place, a deduction that now unfolds before my eyes in silent confirmation. The underwater world is a mesmerizing display of vibrant life—iridescent fish darting through swaying seaweed forests, delicate algae painting the rocks in hues unseen by daylight, and ethereal anemones dancing to an unseen melody. The sheer brilliance of this hidden realm overwhelms my senses, each detail more enchanting than I could have ever imagined.
Estela's gaze mirrors my own astonishment as she hungrily absorbs every facet of this submerged landscape. I can't help but ponder what this underwater paradise might have looked like in its prime, devoid of the haunting remnants of the Enduares’ shattered dwellings that once echoed with laughter and love.
It’s one thing to calculate, and another to see it with my own eyes.
“It is… beautiful,” she breathes, her voice distorted with the ocean. The quartz not only inhances the volume, but it seemingly absorbs each word. They buzz along with the uncomfortable high-pitched noise of the suit. “Just as I saw in my vision.”
I bite my tongue as a long ago memory haunting me for the last month flickers.
The skin of my hands tears on the stone, and I pant as I look at Iravida. It’s a sea of red and orange, and the mountain we had existedpeacefully next to has rivulets of lava flowing down at an eerily fast pace. The ash-filled air whips around me while sparks of lightning glimmer over the mouth of the mount.
I feel fear, pain, and grief. So much loss. So much heat.
Hands extended, I rush forward, ready to push.
I blink away the memories again, sweating inside the crystal. It’s been so long since I thought of that moment… it feels like it’s been locked away.
This underwater city is a mass grave.
But ghosts need not haunt Estela, too. I take her hand and pull her forward.
“What are we looking for?” Thorne says.
“The royal palace.” My father must’ve kept the stone somewhere near his chambers. I never went into one of his vaults; he was the only one allowed in.
“And is that ungodly large building with glowing red fire the palace?” Thorne continues, breath lightly fogging his helmet.
I follow his direction, and see the pulsing red. I blink.
That’s not a palace.
“I saw that, too. Isn’t that an Ardorflame?” Estela asks.
“It looks like it, my lady,” Vann says, his arms slicing the water with precision as he powered through each stroke. The red magic emits contorted streaks that don’t match the water.
The cold seeps into my suit, and I shiver. I can only imagine what my little wife must feel. Tugging her hand, we push on, slicing through the water as fast as it will allow us. As soon as we draw close, something darts in front of us, causing thick bubbles to form and push us out of the way. The force of the movement takes Estela away from me.
“Estela!” I call. Immediately, I dive toward her as she propels away. Her scream breaks through the water as she grasps at her neck, kicking out her legs. Before I have a chance to reach her,she kicks backward, and whatever is holding her captive quickly releases her.
