Page 71 of Stolen Magic of the Deep

As a marine biologist, I’ve seen my fair share of extraordinary moments, but the closest I’ve come to this kind of wonder was deep in the caves—when the walls pressed in tight, currents shifting unpredictably with each curve, and the ocean feeling alive in ways we couldn’t measure.

Orion leads me deeper into the heart of their territory. The wall we approach is dark grey-black slated sea stone, slick and ridged like natural scales, stretching up toward the same two endless crashing waterfalls we just descended. The roar of them vibrates faintly in the background, sending subtle pulses against my body. Except this wall is perpendicular to those two parallel waterfalls, and all the Snapdragonis we encountered a moment ago have fallen into a grid-like pattern, the lightest colors at the top and darker colors sinking to the bottom, almost as if it’s a roll call. The neutral-colored ones blend in at the edges, their muted tones acting like sentinels following the same pattern as the colored ones.

I keep my distance, overwhelmed by the raw beauty and order of it, my pulse quickening as the combination of color, sound, and movement presses on my senses.

It takes a moment, but I notice the same Snapdragonis that follows Orion around seems to be orchestrating the formation. A flick of its tail nudges one into place, a dip of its snout directs another. Its control is subtle yet evident, and the others respond instantly, moving with excited discipline, creating currents that ripple through the surrounding water. I can’t quite understand why, but the energy is palpable, and it sends a thrill through me.

“Now comes the time to test your magic,” he challenges, his voice steady and almost reverent. “Choose.”

I blink, my eyes sweeping across the grid of creatures and my heart skips a beat.

“Choose?” I echo.

“One who ventures bravely down here on their own, and not forced, gains the trust of their own loyal Snapdragon,” he says, “but the bond must be reciprocated on both ends. You will know which one mirrors your beliefs when you gravitate toward them—unguided.”

He says it as if it’s that simple, though the tension pressing in around me tells a different story. His words ring in my ear, and my tail shifts slightly as if it too feels the overwhelming pressure rising from within.

I approach the endless grid of Snapdragons—each holding a vibrant hue of color. At first glance, you can see each holds its own. But a further glance also reveals their personality breaking through. Some hold their posture well, while others are timid and seem to hold some fear.

I make my way far left of the grid and work my way right, but nothing stands out—minus the known fact of how many exuberant colors these creatures can hold. Endlessly back and forth in front of hundreds of the creatures. I descend to the lower rows and repeat the same process.

I’m on the verge of ceasing my rounds after several long minutes when something tugs me. Not a physical tug, but one that tugs on my heart. Similar to the magical tug I get when Orion is near, but this one feels different. The tug comes from behind, where I currently float in place.

My balance shifts, and I follow it. Not sure how my heart understands where to go, but trusting it anyway. A thread forms from within and guides me up, and to a section I had been mere moments ago.

My focus shifts for a moment as I notice the ridges that have formed on the wall behind these creatures. The ridges are sharp and construct themselves in weird angles. Could the ridges be from the two cascading waterfalls that lie in front, always battling over who can scar this wall further until it is broken into nothing?

I'm nearing the end of the wall, noticing the ridges have slowly disappeared the higher you go. The damage from each waterfall leaves this space untouched.

Only a few more rows are left, and a flick from a Snapdragons tail catches my eye. This dragon is bright yellow and has a sun-kissed orange fin that separates halfway down its body.

Gliding toward it slowly, I smile. Not sure what to do next. It stares at me blankly.

You will know which one mirrors your beliefs when you gravitate toward them—unguided. That’s what Orion said. You’d think he would have said what to do after. I might be educated, but this is uncharted territory . . . for any human. I guess unguided means unguided by him.

Do I talk to it out loud? Am I supposed to know its beliefs automatically?

Ugh, why does everything down here have to be in riddles!

Nothing down here is in riddles, you're just too slow to understand instructions as they are.

A voice rings in my head. This isn't the same voice from when I was dreaming, no, this is a feminine voice.

And honestly, a little bit rude . . .

Rude! I am not rude.

“You can hear my thoughts?” I say, looking at the yellow creature in front of me.

I know I didn’t say that last thought out loud. Can they hear my thoughts and just talk out loud or am I genuinely crazy and it is talking to me in my head?

You practically scream them, but the crazy part I'll be able to determine over time. Over here.

The Snapdragonis toward the top all hold white colored bodies, but each has a different colored fin.

A Snapdragon's tail, much longer than the previous, whips out from the rows toward the top of the grid. This Snapdragonis has a turquoise fin and fades into its body that turns light ivory. The scales glisten slightly against the small amount of light that shines through at the top of the sea stone wall, only a few inches closer to the water’s surface. The creature has gray-green eyes, and it makes me wonder what her story is.

Shock has stolen my voice. With her mouth unmoving and her eyes narrowed, glaring at me, I try to decipher what is happening.