“Come at me, you four-flippered freak!” I said.

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

The oversized turtle slammed its flippers against the ground furiously. It drew itself back and launched itself forward like a catapult. I jumped to the side to narrowly avoid the strike, then caught myself and popped to my feet. It wasn’t the most agile foe, but a solid blow would snap me in half like a twig. The turtle crashed down near the water on the left side of the room and wheeled itself back around to face me. It roared again and launched itself a second time. I spun to avoid the attack and forced my momentum into a heavy swing.

SCHWING

The claws on the turtle’s front left flipper flew off and plopped into the water on the right side of the room like rocks. It crashed down behind me and slammed its flippers against the ground angrily. I turned around and smiled. Some dumb turtle was no match for me and Bravesreign!

SHUNK WHRRRRRRR

The turtle retracted its flippers and head into its shell, then spun in place like a top. It teetered to the left, then to the right, then rushed at me with its crags tilted forward. I dove out of the way thinking it’d keep barreling past, but to my surprise it stopped on a kino and changed directions in an instant. I raised Bravesreign to defend and skidded along the ground as the turtle rampaged against its blade. It carried me all the way to the doors to the next chamber and pressed me against them. I may have looked like I was on the back foot, but every revolution sent pieces of the turtle’s shell flying across the room as it ground itself against Bravesreign’s invincible blade.

CLUNK

“Over here you ugly thing!” shouted Priss. There was a second clunking sound, then a third. The turtle stopped its spinning and poked its head out, then looked to the side. I looked as well and saw Priss with an armful of rocky shell fragments. She was throwing them at the turtle and hurling insults as she did it. The turtle backed off and set its sights on her with another roar. She dropped the fragments and readied her axe.

“Be careful, it packs a punch!” I said.

Priss twirled her axe over her head, then slammed its butt against the ground. “You needn’t worry, Darni Voker! No turtle could ever get the best of— WAH!” Turtle lunged at her with its full force and cut off her boasting. She lifted her axe and deflected a strike from the turtle’s flipper, then watched, mouth agape, as it crashed against the door to the previous chamber. “Do not interrupt me!” She drew her axe back and ran after the still-reeling turtle. I laughed and joined her in the chase.

The turtle turned around and slammed its flippers again. It lifted all four up as high as it could, then slapped down against the ground. As I ran, I saw it vault up into the air, barely missing the chamber’s high ceiling, and flip over. It spun like a whirling grinder as it fell, its stony crags primed to impale. I skidded to a halt and shielded my face as it came down like one of Opposto’s flaming stones.

KRAKOOM

A spray of stone and shell fragments exploded in every direction as the turtle collided with the floor. Shard after shard of jagged shrapnel dinged against my armor and runic aura both. Once I was sure it was over, dropped my guard and readied Bravesreign. Just as I’d expected, the turtle was rocking back and forth in its freshly made crater as it attempted to right itself. I looked around but didn’t see Priss anywhere. Had the turtle flattened her into a prideful pancake?

“Hey Priss? Are you alive?” I called as I inched closer to the turtle. Its rocking was increasing in vigor and it looked like it would flip over any second.

A pile of coarse white dust shifted just outside the crater. It fell in a tiny landslide, and from beneath emerged a single blonde drill. Priss pushed herself up and sat on her knees. Her face was coated in pebbly dust. “I live! Us Afinsheers don’t go down so easily, you know!” she said as she brushed herself off. She stood up, then grabbed her axe from the ground next to her.

The turtle flipped over and glared at us just as we reached the lip of the crater. It had the look of a warrior that had used up all their tricks and was scrambling to come up with something new. It withdrew itself into its shell and rotated slowly. I held Bravesreign low. A strong thrust into its head hole could end the battle in an instant. I’d just have to wait for the right moment to rush in and—

“Oh no you don’t!” shouted Priss. She leapt from the crater’s edge and landed on top of the turtle’s shell before I could react. The turtle increased its speed in response until a small whirlwind of dust formed around it. Priss spun round and around like a blur, but either her pride or willpower wouldn’t allow her to let go. “Lead— it— to— the— water!” she called in pieces as she whipped past repeatedly.

“Got it!” I said, a dumb grin on my face. I picked up a nearby chunk of stone and tossed it at the turtle. “Hey! Look over here, you big boulder! I’m right here! Come and get me!” The turtle leaned in my direction and came rushing out of the crater. I turned around and sprinted to the water on the left of the room.

The turtle was hot on my heels, the wind from its spinning licking my back as I ran. Was Priss expecting it to overshoot and go splashing into the water? Whatever she was going to do, she needed to get it right the first time! I reached the edge of the floor and turned around.

“Now— trip— it!” called Priss. Trip it? I held out Bravesreign and crouched cautiously. How was I supposed to trip something without any legs? The turtle came flying at me, and at the very last second, I jumped back while holding Bravesreign low to the ground in front of myself.

SKKKKKKKKKKKKRT

Bravesreign’s blade scraped against the ground and dug in as the turtle hit. The turtle went tumbling over it and flipped in the air like a tossed coin. Priss, steel-eyed and resolute, held onto its back like her life depended on it.

SPLOOSH

The turtle landed back first into the water. It sunk below the surface, then bobbed up stomach-first. It extended its flippers and flailed around, but the mass of stone on its back prevented it from righting itself. Suddenly a determined hand shot up out of the water and grabbed onto the turtle’s side.

Priss pulled herself up onto its stomach and raised her axe over her shoulder. “Perhaps this will teach you not to cross Priscillanna Afinsheer! Take this, Ringlet Revolution!” she shouted.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH CRUNCH

She spun around once, twice, three times, then brought her axe down on the turtle’s chest like a guillotine. The turtle screeched and shivered, then fell limp. Priss lugged her axe back over her shoulder and walked to the edge of the turtle’s shell. I extended my hand to her with a relieved smile. She took it with a slight smile of her own and let me pull her back up onto solid ground. From there we watched as the turtle sank below the water’s mirror-like surface.

“That was a pretty cool finisher, that Ringlet Revolution,” I said. I patted her on the back and smiled.

“Of course! Did you really expect anything less of me?” she said happily. “That being said, I’d have been unable to land the blow if you hadn’t performed so well yourself.” She covered her mouth and turned away. “Thank you, Darni Voker, for going along with my admittedly harebrained strategy . . .”

Just then, right as I was about to praise Priss back, Nestemed descended in front of us and stopped just above the water. Though she floated a few inches above it, it turned to ice beneath her. She held out her arms and looked down at us. “You have passed the final trial, intruders. Though I disapprove of your presence, you have followed The Law of Valtameri. I cannot object further.”

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DING— DONG— DING— DONG—

Deep ripples rolled across the water as the bell caused the ground to shudder. Nestemed closed her eyes as her hair snaked around, then opened them once the moment passed. She turned to the doors at the end of the room and held out her hands. “The Shaper has decided. You may have audience with the yet-preserved.” She floated over to the doors and stood next to them with her arms held out at her sides. “Come. I will lead you.”

The doors cracked open, and from within came a soft orange light. We looked at each other, then both nodded and followed her in. I can’t speak for Priss, but I was planning to whack this Nestemed over the head the moment the others were in sight.

Beyond the doors was a titanic circular room that extended up and down into darkness. In front of us was a long, narrow bridge that connected to a circular platform in the center of the room. Etched around the outer rim of the platform was a series of bright orange runes that pulsed in sequence. Nestemed led us onto the platform, then raised one arm above herself while holding the other towards her feet.

“Prepare yourselves, intruders. You shall soon enter the Hall of Preservation,” she said. The runes ringing the platform glowed intensely, and suddenly the platform descended into the darkness.

“So, is this where you took Sherri and the others?” I asked. I had my hand on Bravesreign’s hilt.

“I’d like to know as well. We’ve completed your trials, and as such I believe we deserve an explanation, Nestemed,” hissed Priss.

Nestemed didn’t move. “That is correct. They wait in the Hall of Preservation.”

I grabbed her by the shoulder. “And what is preservation exactly? You’ve been real tight lipped about that part.”

Nestemed brushed my hand away. I swore she sneered at me beneath that mask of hers. “I assumed that I had explained previously. To be preserved is to be made eternal, and to be made eternal is to be preserved.”

“But what does that mean!?” I snapped.

Nestemed turned to face me, her face lowered menacingly. “I will put it simply for you, intruder. To be preserved is to be frozen in crystal, severed from the flow of time until the day of Valtameri’s resurgence.”

“Frozen in— are you crazy!?” I drew Bravesreign and took a step back.

Nestemed turned to look at me, her eyes glowing with rage. “Preservation is the greatest honor! To be made eternal, to be made immortal! All of Valtameri seek preservation!”

“If you haven’t noticed, we aren’t of Valtameri! We’re of Zaftia!” snapped Priss. “I’m not about to let my men be turned into pieces of furniture!”

“You have no say in this matter,” said Nestemed. “We have arrived.”

The platform slowed to a crawl, then stopped just as it slotted into a hole in the floor. A titanic pair of doors, far bigger than those in the trial chambers, stood before us. On either side was an image of Nestemed with her arms held over her head, and up above, split between the doors, was an image of a large bell. Nestemed walked over to it and raised her hand.

“Open,” she said flatly. In response, the doors slid apart with the horrible grinding sound of stone on stone. She turned to look at us. “You will follow. Do not stray from my path.” And follow we did, though we didn’t like it.

She led us into an endlessly sprawling hall that was wreathed in thick fog. Endless rows of tall columns that seemed to extend off into forever supported the high ceiling, each one intricately carved with channels through which thin water streams flowed. The floor, which was composed of broad stone slabs, was just as decorated. Each slab was chiseled with line after in a script the same as the book I couldn’t read in the library. Some of them had pictures of various events. Battles, deaths, scenes of joy, and scenes of sorrow. It was like the entire history of the palace was beneath my feet. I tapped Priss on the shoulder and leaned in.

“I’m going to run Nestemed through the second we find the others,” I whispered.

Priss looked at me sidelong. “I’ll lop her head off then. We’d best be double sure.”

I nodded and continued walking. The thought of Sherri, Captain Kastel, Jedda, and even Tuet and Clance being frozen solid in crystal filled me with rage. Who did Nestemed think she was! I didn’t care what kind of backwards custom it was supposed to be, freezing people was insane! I shook my head and silently chastised myself. I’d made the mistake of acclimating to her presence during the trials, but she’d given me a major reminder that she was the villain here!

Nestemed held out her arm to stop us. “Disperse, oh haze of ages,” she said. The fog cleared away, and in its place was a stone altar above which a titanic metal bell hung. The other two Nestemeds, the ones wearing the stone and wood masks, were standing on either side of it holding long, narrow-necked mallets with rounded ends.

“Welcome, visitors,” said Wood Mask.

“Few pass the trials of Valtameri. Take pride in your accomplishment,” said Bone Mask.

“It is improper for me to praise intruders,” said Stone Mask sharply. Bone Mask lowered her head in response.

“Enough talk!” I said. “Show us our friends!”

Wood-mask nodded and waved her arm to the side. Five circles opened in the ground, and from them rose five chunks of aquamarine. Trapped within each were our companions. Sherri, Captain Kastel, Jedda, Tuet, and Clance. I grit my teeth and ran over to them. They looked fine, aside from being frozen and all. Jedda was mid-punch, Clance had a stupid look with his mouth open, Tuet was drawing his sword, Captain Kastel had his arms crossed, and Sherri was mid-shot with an arrow halfway fired from her bow. She must have been the first to sense the danger. I punched Sherri’s crystal. It was completely solid.

“Why did you do this? What do you gain from freezing our friends!?” I asked furiously. “You don’t even want us here, so what do you get out of preserving them!?”

“Such is the way of Valtameri,” replied all three in unison.

“Much has changed since the days of Valtameri’s prominence,” said Wood Mask. “I wished to preserve those that know of the mainland so that they may share the future-past.” She looked down at her feet. “However, I have realized my selfishness.”

“It is improper to do away with those interested in the nature of Valtameri,” said Bone Mask. “I wished to preserve rather than imprison, as it all I have the power to do.” She shrugged. “Yet it would be best if I did neither.”

They looked at each other for confirmation, then both turned to Stone Mask.

“I wish not for the preservation of intruders, nor do I wish for intruders to leave these halls, but I have outweighed my opinions,” she said reluctantly. “Such is the nature of The Shaper.”

Priss, who had gone to inspect Tuet and Clance, said, “And did you three preserve everyone in this Loros forsaken place? Is that why there’s only those uncanny golems marching about?”

The Nestemeds all looked at her, their eyes suddenly sharp. “That is correct,” they said. “All they with the blood of Valtameri have been preserved. Thus is my duty as Shaper.”

“Then your duty ends here!” I said. I drew Bravesreign again and stepped forward. “Let’s go! I’ll take all three of you on!”

“Not so fast, Darni Voker!” said Priss. She drew her axe and stepped forward as well. “They’ve dared slight me, and for that they’ll meet their end!” She pointed at Stone Mask. “Prepare yourselves, Nestemed!”

“You intrude. You defile the halls of Valtameri. You threaten The Shaper herself!” said Stone Mask, almost vibrating with fury. “Over and over have you been granted mercy! Over and over have you displayed impudence! No more!” She turned to the other Nestemeds. “Come, my selves! Act as one and remove these intruders forevermore!” She held her hands out to them.

The other two Nestemeds looked at each other for a long while, then turned to Stone Mask.

“I do not agree with my feelings,” said Wood Mask. “The visitors have a right to their emotions, just as I have a right to mine. I believe they and their companions should walk free.”

“I wish not to do battle,” said Bone Mask. “Such is not the duty of The Shaper. Furthermore, they have abided by The Law of Valtameri. As such, I agree with my own judgement.” She turned to Wood Mask with what I assumed was a smile.

Stone Mask froze in place. “I am a fool then,” she whispered. “I have grown weak minded and complacent! Worry not. I will make things right.”

WHOOSH

She disappeared in a burst of fog and reappeared behind Wood Mask. She grabbed hold of Wood Mask’s wrist, startling her so bad that she dropped her mallet, then disappeared again. Suddenly a burst of fog appeared behind Bone Mask as she too was grabbed by the wrist. Stone Mask carried the other two up into the air slowly.

“What am I doing!?” cried Wood Mask.

“It is improper for The Shaper to act in such a way! I must stop this!” said Bone Mask.

“Silence!” commanded Stone-Mask. “I have forgotten my purpose as Shaper of Valtameri! I will remind myself of The Shaper’s true purpose! No longer shall I be one mind of three bodies! Forevermore shall I be made whole!”

The trio spun, slowly at first, before rapidly gaining speed. The fog of the room converged onto them in a raging cyclone, and from within the cyclone shot beams of soft blue light. The beams exploded against the floor, the ceiling, and even the bell. I deflected one with Bravesreign and watched as Priss hid behind Tuet’s crystal chunk. The cyclone dispersed just as quickly as it had appeared, and in its place was a single, fog-wreathed Nestemed.

“Behold, intruders! No longer fractured, no longer contained splintered! Rejoice, for Nestemed, Shaper of Valtameri, has been made whole!” announced the new, unified Nestemed as she lowered to the ground.

She was taller, livelier, and generally more adult than before. Her attire was mostly the same, though it was now white and looked a little too small in certain places. Two extra pairs of arms, these ones phantasmal and transparent, resided above and below her actual arms. Her mask, still made of stone, had grown sharper and more angular. The triangular gem that formed its mouth had grown in size, now giving the illusion of a wide, euphoric grin.

“You just gave up your advantage, Nestemed! Its two-on-one now!” I said with a pointed finger.

“You dare speak in such a tone?” she said gravely. She held her open hand towards the ground, then pulled it up over her head. Chunks of jagged aquamarine burst from beneath the tiles and orbited around her slowly. “Come, ignorant intruders! See if you can defeat The Shaper herself!”