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As we walked, the ground beneath our feet was spongy, damp from the humidity. The jungle’s mix of sounds surrounded us, from the distant call of exotic birds to the buzzing of insects. The soft earth gave way to small pebbles that crunched under our boots as we moved forward.
My fingers grazed the lush vegetation that encroached upon the trail, touching the soft, velvety texture of large leaves. Kaga glanced at me, his sea-glass eyes unreadable. We’re almost there, he said.
He was right. The sound of rushing water became louder the more we walked. The Luminae gathered around us, pointing to the path ahead. “Be prepared, travelers,” said Caleb. “The river will show you illusions to test your hearts and minds.”
“Only the strong will make it through. We’ll see you when you’re back, Kaga,” said Elysia. Me, she taunted. “Have fun wasting away at the bottom of the river.”
I narrowed my eyes at her and reached for Kaga’s hand. She glared at me again before flitting off. Caleb pointed past the river. “Beyond the river is the moonflower. We will be in this exact spot in four days’ time. If you survive, we will lead you back to where we met you in the forest. We leave you now to succeed or perish.”
The Luminae flew off, leaving us facing the river. It wasn’t a particularly fast river; its waters were calm as it flowed down the jungle mountain.
Once you step into the water, the illusions will start. You must keep going forward. Don’t let go of me.
I nodded at Kaga. “Squiggles, whatever you do, don’t come out,” I said. He waved a tentacle at me as I handed him and my pack to Kaga. They would all be submerged if I turned into a mermaid.
Hand in hand, we stepped into the water. At first, there was nothing different. Only the water washing over me. Slowly, my legs disappeared, and I slid down. It was awkward holding Kaga’s hand in this position. But he said not to let go, and I was determined to keep a hold on him.
Suddenly, a vision struck me like a tidal wave.
I found myself in the heart of my underwater kingdom, seated upon the mermaid throne, my birthright. Around me, the merpeople gathered, each with their concerns. Their voices filled the chamber, a chorus of discontent. I listened intently, trying to be the compassionate ruler they needed. The weight of responsibility pressed down on me, crushing my soul.
The merfolk came forward, one after another, each presenting their grievances and seeking my judgment. My heart sank as I realized I had no choice but to sit there, and my yearning for adventure gnawed at my very core. I longed to swim free, to discover new realms beyond the walls of my kingdom.
I tried to attend to each subject’s concern, but the monotony of their complaints became unbearable. The weight of the crown upon my head felt like an anchor, binding me to a life I never wanted. My eyes darted around the throne room, longing for the vastness of the open ocean. For the unexplored territories of the realm.
I saw myself sitting there, day after day, defeated by the burdens of ruling. My vibrant spirit, once filled with dreams and wanderlust, seemed to fade with each passing moment.
Shuddering, the vision disappeared, leaving me floating in the water. Kaga still moved forward, and I propelled myself along with him. I kicked my tail once more, before another vision consumed me.
Before my eyes, I saw the evil sea witch cackling with delight as she clutched a radiant pearl within her wicked grasp. The pearl, the heart of the moonflower, glowed a brilliant light that blinded me with its intensity.
With the pearl’s power, the evil sea witch unleashed her dark magic upon the world. Oceans churned with violent storms, rivers ran dry, and lakes turned to desolate wastelands. I watched as she gleefully destroyed my home and all that lived in it. Sharks, whales, octopuses. The once thriving aquatic life withered under her dark influence, and the delicate balance of nature shattered under her wicked reign.
My breath caught in my throat as I witnessed the devastation. The pearl within the moonflower held the power to reshape the very fabric of our world, and in the hands of the sea witch, it became a harbinger of destruction.
Tears welled in my eyes as I turned away from the vision, overwhelmed with a sense of responsibility. Duty. The moonflower’s magic was too potent to fall into the wrong hands. I knew that it was now more crucial than ever to protect it from the evil sea witch.
Kaga tugged on my hand, and I glanced up at him. We were almost at the shore, thankfully. I let go of Kaga and grasped the bank. I pulled myself forward, my legs appearing as I left the river. “Kaga?” I asked, turning to look at him. He stared blankly at me, still in the river.
Chapter 27
Frantically, I tried to step back into the water. As soon as I touched it, though, I was swamped with another vision. This one of having to marry Nerus and watching as Nixie was my maid of honor. I gagged and tried to focus on Kaga, only Kaga.
Finally, I grasped his hand and pulled. He slipped on a rock and crashed to his knees onto the river floor. Desperate, I threw an arm around his waist and propelled myself to the bank, his weight hard for me to handle. Heaving with all the strength I had, I threw him onto land, flopping onto the bank next to him.
I dragged myself up to my knees and took a deep breath. Kaga was on his side, coughing out water. “Well? Are you having fun yet?” I asked Kaga cheekily.
He groaned. Are you?
I checked Squiggle’s jar, and he only nodded at me when I asked if he was fine. Relieved, I stood up and offered Kaga my hand. He grabbed it and stood up, then pulled me into his arms and squeezed. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back. “Are you okay?” I asked, my tone gentler this time. If his visions were as bad as mine, no wonder he needed comfort.
He shook his head. Not yet. But I will be.
Kaga let go and picked up our packs, walking straight, the way Caleb had pointed. The trees and vegetation around us gave way, and we walked into a large clearing. In the center of a grass field was a small, white flower that didn’t look magical or significant at all.
I left Kaga behind and walked to the flower, crouching down to study it. The petals were a dull white, and the green stem looked dead to me. I reached out to poke it when Kaga grabbed my hand. We can’t touch it. If we do before, it won’t bloom.
I nodded and left the flower in peace, heading over to Kaga to help him set up camp.
