It wasn't long until the weather got wet again. From the carriage Joan could see the dark clouds gathering above their heads rapidly. It wouldn't be long until the rain would come down upon them, it was alright, they were nearing the end of the day anyway. They could just stop and wait for the rain to pass. Yet, the sky was indecisive. Around the time when the sun plunged behind the horizon the clouds were scattering so instead of sleeping inside the carriage, where it was already terribly cramped, they decided to establish their camp as usual, deciding that if the weather were to change they could always go back inside. After dinner, Joan took his familiar role as the first watch. The sky was very clear that night, they found themselves near a beautiful little lake. They were now clear from the mountain range, they were following a small river , flowing next to the road, since yesterdays night stop, that small stream was probably the reason why there was a small lake there. Its surface was troubled by the quiet breeze rolling on the fields around them. A more familiar landscape for sure, but one he had never laid eyes before that day. The wheat was still green yet some of the strands were starting to loose that youthful color. He watched the soft sea of cereal sway, not deaf to it's romantic song. He thought of Margen and its surrounding fields, he thought of his small appartement and of his two delicate neighbours and he was suddenly gripped with unshakable doubt. Was he ever going to see them all again?

The professor stood up, silently leaving the inner ring of the camp, leaving fire camp, bedrolls and sleeping companions behind him, he walked to the edge of the lake. He had come here out of curiosity, to test himself to see if he had finally found some strength to battle against his most primal fear. Him who had all his life been terrified of water, having never learned how to swim, could not go against the unnatural desire rising in his chest to submerge himself into the quiet and freezing water. There was stillness in the air. The world held it's many breath in expectation. Joan took one step into the lake. The pebbles roll under his feet, so far the spring water has not breached the thick leather or sapped through the sturdy seams. He does not feel its freezing weight on him yet, but he keeps on going. He cannot stop, he has no desire to.

There is something else in the air, not a smell but a song. It's delicate and terribly sad. Joan heart ache, he wants to find whoever is singing and comfort them. If only he could reach them! The song goes on and he continues to follow it, it's ahead his heart cries, right ahead, in the middle of the lake! Please walk faster! Water rises above his ankles, its cold, oh so cold and for a short instant, a fleeting moment, Joan realise what he is doing. Why is he walking toward the center of that lake, why is he so sad, why is he crying? But soon it leaves him again. He cannot stop what is happening, he doesn't want to. The water rise to his knees.

Slightly earlier, back at the camp, Alessia opens her eyes from a strange dream. She cannot recall the details, everything is foggy. She turns around to face the fire, seeking comfort in its light but finds it almost dead. Mostly ashes and ember remains, and a weak flame. She thinks for a moment that Joan must have fallen asleep again, so she gets up ready to wake him but finds him gone. Surprised and shocked she, at first believes that she is still sleeping, the dream turning into a strange nightmare where both her companions have vanished or perhaps, abandoned her. But Alexis is still here, she soon find out. Puzzled she feeds the fire a bit before looking around. The land is covered in mist, she cannot see far. In these conditions Joan would not have gone far, cautious as he is, she thinks, he would have made sure that he could still see the camp fire. Yet, had it been the case, it wouldn't be dying right now. She began to panic before the little voice of reason in her mind calmed her down. There was no need to wake Alexis just yet, Joan might have gotten lost, then she could still find him if she called out for him. She decided to walk away a bit, she too, leaving the inner circle of the camp. The air was humid and cold, she felt it through her woolen cardigan.

It didn't matter how concentrated she was on her surroundings she couldn't see him anywhere, finally she decided to call his name. Only for it to echo distantly and eerily around her. She thought of ghosts and began to feel watched. A bone chilling feeling she didn't manage to shake off, she was becoming really afraid now. And there was nothing she could do about it.

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As she was about to return to the camp to wake Alexis to join her in her search, the fog cleared a little on her left and she caught the glimmer of something. On the troubled surface of the small lake, the bright reflection of the moon lit the surroundings in a surreal glow, almost as if coming from under the water, and, standing in that water was the silhouette of a tall person.

"Joan?" She called out, but she received no answer from them. She began to walk toward it, her stomach tightening from the anxiety she felt. The closer she was the more details she could make out. "Joan?" she tried again, still no answer. She walked faster. The silhouette, undoubtedly male, was walking in the water, further and further away from the shore, ever so deeper, water rising above his waist. Alessia finally saw him for who he was and ran, shouting his name again and again. It seemed that she could not get to him. As if his mind was already far away. She ran in the water splashing around without a care for her own safety. "Joan!" She finally caught his arm, she realised she had never called him by his first name before. "Professor! Do you hear me?" The water was cold, she was submersed in it up to her stomach. But she was soaked and shaking.

"Alessia...? Why are you…Where…What is going on?"

"I don't know professor, you…You were walking into the water, please, let's go back to the shore!" She was pulling on his arm, he didn't care about the specific just yet he followed her.

She felt something grab her foot and suddenly Joan was alone in the water again. He immediately pulled his gun from his armpit holster. Pointing it at the water around him unsure of what to do. The first time she resurfaced he wasn't quick enough to grab her hand and she vanished below again. Panic and urgency rose in his chest. He had to act fast or she would drown. He couldn't let it happen. Not again!

"Alexis!" He called as loud as he could, still ready to shoot anything that was not Alexis or Alessia. Pointing like a mad man at the water around him counting the seconds in his mind. After thirty he felt his heart pound in his chest, he didn't stop calling for the man.

Alessia came back out of the water, coughing and spitting, he rushed toward her, has she was now far from him and shot the arm that rose next to her, terrified and exhausted she still managed to understand that now was a good time to move and she paddled toward him. Finally he managed to grab her by the wrist, and he pulled her toward him, while also trying to get away from treacherous waters. Alexis arrived running, disheveled but armed.

"Get her to dry land !" Joan said to him, stronger than the professor, he could get her out faster. "I'll keep whatever is in there occupied while you do so, quick!"

Alexis immediately followed the order, as they were difficulty getting away Joan had to stay just where he was, water at his waist, heart pounding. He had to keep his head cool, he couldn't let that beautiful song get to him again. He could still here it, he could still feel its power but right now he had a new-found resistance to it. The proximity of his companions, or dare he say, his friends, made his mind clearer than it had ever been in the last weeks. He shot one of the creature again and took one step back.

"We're on dry land Joan, you can come! Fast !" Alexis had laid Alessia on the ground, he watch her, helpless as she coughed more and more water, had he really saved her from drowning ?

"Alright!" He had to fight his instinct telling him to run. He slowly walked away always keeping an eye at the dark waters around him.

"Joan, faster. Alessia is not well, I don't know what to do !"

"Alright let's switch up places!" Joan ran to the shore as fast as he could, the water was around his knees when he began. He had to stay balanced, falling would be akin to signing his own death sentence. He felt something brush against his leg, not risquing it he immediately stopped and shot the water. Alexis appeared at his side.

"You go help her, I take care of that." They were now pretty close to the shore. Joan left him with a tap on his shoulder.

"Hang on there, and when you can you come out!" Joan rushed to the woman side. He faintly recalled having once learned first aid when he joined the academy. She was now unconscious. Joan took a deep breath before shaking her, no sign of her coming back to herself. Very well. "Alessia please forgive me for what I'm about to do."

He tilted her head back, she was still not breathing. He had to do it now or it would be too late.

Alexis was about to take his last step out of the water when something surged forward at him. He had just enough time to block the creature. Having learned from his previous encounter with the strange and unnatural he immediately attacked back. Fully intending on beheading the thing here and then. Two other thing came out of the water joining the first one. The Moon lit their pale faces. Alexis was facing three more undying foes.