At first, the mysterious ruins had seemed intriguing and curious, and Sionn had felt an odd responsibility to urge Elona inside. They were plainly for her somehow, or maybe her people, and he’d remembered her cracking voice as she sobbed on the riverbed. Her ignorance was hurting her, and this seemed like a promising place to fix that. She needed to do this, Sionn had thought. She needed it, and more than that, she needed to do it at her own pace, so Sionn hadn’t rushed her when they encountered the first door. He’d even deliberately tried to ensure she got to say the answer to the first riddle, even if he had solved it first.
Now, Sionn was petrified. Curiosity had died a quick death with the sounds of water gushing towards them. He’d heard the sound of water before. He’d grown up playing by the babbling brook, learning to hunt by the roar of the waterfall. This forest he called home had rivers criss-crossing all throughout it, and he’d never before been scared of water’s soft, churning rumble. Not even when he had been drowning in the river. That had been quiet, almost peaceful. Now, as the water cascaded against them, hitting his shins in repetitive waves that threatened to knock him off his feet, Sionn couldn’t move. All he could hear was the slap of water on stone, echoing around him. It reverberated in the room, in his ears, as he felt the water seep into his boots.
Taking a deep breath, Sionn focused on Elona. She had gone very still, and lifted the torch up high. Watching as she turned with careful, deliberate steps, Sionn attempted to wet his dry mouth. I have to say something to reassure her we’ll get out of this. Or should I try to help find the riddle? But it won’t react to me, only to her. What should I do? His mind racing in pointless circles, he was ready to reach up and pull his hair out. The already familiar husky tones of Elona’s voice broke through the noise of the water and his erratic thoughts alike.
“Sionn, hold the torch.”
There was a whoosh as she thrust it towards him, and Sionn’s eyes went wide as he tentatively reached out for it. Using both hands, Sionn held tightly onto it and looked back up at Elona. She had closed her eyes and lifted her chin, and her hands were fisted at her sides. She’s come to some sort of a conclusion, Sionn wondered, And she doesn’t look happy with it. Did she find the riddle? Sionn’s gaze never left her as she walked forward, towards the spouts of water. His eyes widening, Sionn nearly dropped the torch. Is she…?
Elona reached the wall where the water overflowed, and cupped her hands together. Raising them above her head, she angled them just so and thrust them quickly into the water, sending it streaming over her. It hit her and sent the clear liquid surging down her face, leaving the vivid blue-greens where it flowed. Sionn could see the glow of the scales as the water coursed over them. By the time Elona lowered her hands, she was completely transformed, her clothes soaked through, and she stood staring at the wall for a tense moment. She looks almost angry at it…
Sionn noticed that the light was faltering, and lifted the torch as he had seen Elona do earlier. The water was just past his knees, and Sionn shivered at the icy touch. It was pouring into his boots true and proper, the cold curling around his toes. Yet another difference between this experience and that of drowning in the river, the water now lapping at his legs felt as chilled as a corpse in winter. Shaking his head away from those thoughts, Sionn lifted his tail higher, hoping to avoid it getting wet as long as possible.
“Elona?” Sionn wasn’t sure what he was asking, but her name slipped out unbidden nonetheless.
“Sionn.” She moved away from the wall, turning towards him and smiling softly. Her eyes held fierce determination, rather than a humor to match her lips. “If the water gets high enough, I want you to get on my shoulders.”
“What? But you’ll—”
“Be able to support your weight under the water, don’t worry.”
“But how long can you hold your breath?”
Elona looked shocked, and then she laughed. The humor was genuine, and burst forth awkwardly, as if she hadn’t expected to be laughing. Sionn attempted to scowl, aware it was more of a pout, his feelings almost hurt.
“Sionn. I’m sorry. It’s just... I thought… It’s odd.” Elona shook her head, as if she was trying to deny what she was thinking. “With all we’ve already learned of each other, it seems so strange that you didn’t know. I can breath underwater.” She glanced down at the rapidly filling room, and Sionn realized it was already to his thighs. “We need to find that riddle.”
Her voice had lost any trace of mirth, and Sionn gave a nod. His arms began to shake from holding up the torch, and as the water rose to his waist, Sionn gave up on his tail and let it completely submerge itself in the water. Instantly, he felt infinitely worse. Believe in Elona. It was a reminder he didn’t need, but he told it to himself anyway. She wouldn’t let him come to harm. She was currently walking the perimeter, touching everything she could reach and mumbling under her breath. He couldn’t make out all the words, but it sounded vaguely like she was threatening the very stone the room was created with. Sionn closed his eyes a moment, choosing to listen and focus on her voice.
It was slightly deeper than many of the female humans voices he’d heard, and had a husky rumbling to it, like it was a tool that went often unused, but there was a lilt to the words. It was as if each word were a dear friend, and she was giving it a hug as she borrowed it. As she got more agitated with their circumstances, he could hear her voice get higher, uncomfortably strained, and the lilt was lost. The words were just words, now, and Sionn opened his eyes, sad that the calming music of her voice had been lost. She’s frightened too. Sionn wasn’t surprised, but it was still disheartening.
It was when Sionn glanced down at the water level— which had reached his chest— that he noticed something on the opposite wall. A glimmer, just beneath the water’s edge. Moving the torch closer, Sionn furrowed his eyebrows as it vanished. Maybe… Without taking the time to think himself out of it, Sionn thrust the torch into the water. It gave one quick gasp of a hiss, as shocked to be dying out as Sionn was that he’d done that.
Instantly, the room went dark. The only light that Sionn could make out was the faint bioluminescence of the scales on Elona’s hands beneath the water. Blinking as his eyes adjusted, Sionn heard sloshing as Elona fought through the water to his side. Under the water, Sionn squeezed the charred stick that had been the torch, and waited for the acrimonious tone she’d surely take. Instead, he felt her hands softly touch his face and flutter away, as if scared of hurting him.
“Sionn, I’m here. What is it? Are you alright?”
“I—” His throat seized. What have I done? How are we ever going to read it now? “I did that on purpose. I thought I saw something glowing in the water.” Sionn squeezed his eyes shut, braced for her to shun or to scold.
“Truly?” Sionn felt her move away, but her hand had rested softly on his shoulder. “You’re right!”
“What?”
When Sionn opened his eyes, Elona’s faint glow had moved to the wall he’d been staring at. It was the left wall, between the one they’d entered through and the one currently pouring masses of water onto them. Where he had seen a sliver of glowing there was now a full line of the swirly script that had been upon the two doors. In the torchlight their light had been faint, but now they glittered beneath the water. Elona’s glow, too, was getting more luminescent. I didn’t mess it all up? Sionn felt relief bloom in his chest, only for it to be crushed in a squeeze of panic as the water reached his neck. The scrapes from the riverbed stung sharply as the water pulsed on the battered flesh.
“E-Elona?”
“It says ‘Hard enough to crack rocks’, what could that mean?”
“Elona.” Sionn put a little more force into his quivering voice, standing on his tiptoes to gain a little more leverage against the waves. “The water…”
Sionn shifted towards her, his earlier misgivings about using her to stay above the water dismissed with his fright. Though it hadn’t yet gotten high enough, he could practically feel the water in his nose and ears, feel his lungs begin to labor as if they were already fighting the water. It was the river all over again, and yet worse. Now he could no longer force his mind away with inane distractions. Elona turned away from the riddle and he watched as she hesitated for a moment. Before Sionn’s brain could run away from him, though, she reached out and pulled him into a heartbreakingly gentle hug. Sionn could barely feel the pressure of her arms against his back, but his head tucked naturally into the crook of her neck. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Sionn felt himself calm down, her soothing scent smothering the smell of old water and moss covered stones. He’d lifted his arms, to return the hug, when she spoke.
“I will get you out of this, Sionn. I promise.” She took a deep breath, and Sionn felt it against him. “Now, get on my shoulders.”
“But the water isn’t high enough—”
“I’m stronger than I appear, Sionn.”
He opened his mouth to argue again, and instead of listening, Elona ducked into the water. Immediately, the scales lining her face began to glow as well, and he watched her swim behind him, feeling rather than seeing as she crouched underneath him. I’m stockier than her, Sionn fretted. I may be shorter, but there’s no way she can— woah! Elona had wrapped her arms around his legs, and with one push to her feet, he was seated on her shoulders. Her hands rested on his shins, over his boots, to hold him in place. The waters had reached her chin now, and Sionn felt them swirling around his thighs. The air clung desperately to his wet clothes, sucking away any remaining heat he’d had in his body. Trying his best not to shiver, Sionn glanced down at Elona. She was staring forward, at the line of— lines? The raising water level had revealed most of another line of swirls.
“Try splashing it?” Sionn suggested uncertainly.
Elona did as he proposed, letting go of one of his legs to sweep her arm forward and send a wave of water into the wall. It did nothing, though, and Sionn had a sinking realization. The riddle wouldn’t reveal itself until it was good and ready— and covered completely by the water in the room. With a renewed fear, Sionn reached above him, trying to figure out where the ceiling began. One hands-length above his head, the room ended. They had very little time, and it all depended on how much of the riddle was left to uncover.
“‘Light enough to caress the sky’.” Elona’s voice was muffled, and he felt her head press into his belly as she lifted her chin to speak above the water. “‘Light enough to caress the sky,’ and ‘Hard enough to crack rocks.’ Think that’s it? Or is there more?”
“Elona, how are you going to speak when the water gets higher?”
“... I won’t. I’ll have to solve this riddle on my own.”
“But… how will you say the answer?” Sionn already knew, and selfishly, allowed himself to dread what was certainly to come.
“I’ll… have to drop you and swim to the top. Which means I have to solve it before we run out of air to speak into, not just before you…” Her voice trailed off, and Sionn merely nodded, even if she couldn’t possibly see him in the dark. He didn’t want to hear it said out loud either, didn’t even want to think on it. So he said nothing, stayed quiet instead and let Elona think.
The next seconds stretched on, achingly, and for a tense moment, Sionn wondered if he should perhaps tell her now. He might never get another chance. But… I can’t distract her. Sighing, and shivering in truth now despite his attempts otherwise, Sionn felt the water slip up past his waist again. He knew Elona’s head was beneath the water now. Softly, so quietly that the roaring of the water around them would have covered it anyway, Sionn whispered into the dark.
Wordlessly, Sionn watched the third line of the riddle appear. Staring until his vision began to blur, Sionn willed himself to gain the ability to read. It failed, and Sionn simply reached into the water, his hand seeking some connection to Elona. The swirling water wrapped some strands of her hair around his hand, and Sionn gently caught them between his fingers. He had to believe in her, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have to be scared. The water rose higher, and another line appeared. Elona shifted beneath him, and Sionn readied for a drop into the water, but it didn’t come. Oh. That must be all of the riddle, but she hasn’t figured it out yet.
The tension of sitting, waiting as the water got higher and higher, unable to communicate with Elona and help her, began to get to Sionn. Having to be braced to be plunged into the water, having it all rush up at him at any second, wasn’t helping. He managed to stifle any panic, though, through sheer determination and blind belief in Elona. Until the water reached his chin. Then, childishly almost, he began to poke Elona’s head. She swatted his hand away, and Sionn gasped in indignation.
That was the exact moment that the water rushed up to greet him. For a split second, Sionn thought she had dropped him out of irritation, that she’d finally had enough of him. Sanity returned as the air left his lungs, though, and he felt her kick his leg as she swam to the surface. For a second, nothing changed, and Sionn didn’t know what to think, what to do. His feet found the floor, the rocks slippery beneath his boots. Attempting to stand, Sionn searched for Elona’s glow. As he stared up, seeking her with his eyes, a chunk of the ceiling fell out, landing into the water with such a harsh splash that Sionn felt the recoil ripple towards him. It landed with a thud beside him, the sound audible even underwater. A bright light filtered through the water from the opening. Pushing off the bottom, Sionn flailed his limbs in a sad imitation of the movements he had seen Elona do.
Just as he’d thought of her, she appeared behind him, her arms wrapping around his belly. She held onto him tightly, lugging him the short distance to the surface. Once they’d gotten his face in the inches of space left with air, he dragged a mouthful of breath into his lungs. He’d had no more than a second to absorb the air, to notice that the water had halted its mad rush through the wall, before Elona was shoving him towards the opening in the ceiling. Grasping at the edge, Sionn pulled himself up. The water made it tricky, and the stone almost slipped from his grasp several times, but Sionn hauled himself into the next room with his shaky limbs. Sitting on the floor, Sionn stopped dead and looked around him. At first it was confusion that stared back at him, then mild horror. Elona can’t come in here.
“Elona, wait—”
Sionn was too late. Elona had followed him closely, and was kneeling on the ground next to him. As she began to lift her head, Sionn felt himself pale. The walls and ceiling all around them were mirrored. No matter where Elona might look, she would be face to face with everything she had tried to avoid. Herself. Quickly, Sionn reached for her. 641Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQVCxtTc3F
641Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuskvD92ZQ
