"What are you doing?" 

"What is he saying?" Someone gurgled.

"Ignore him. They are both likely to need healing." Another gurgled.

"I'll warn you once." It was Ace's voice. "We are both fine."

There was a loud clatter, and a dull thump.

Luck felt he was in something comfortable and had the strange intuition he was cradled in vines. When he opened his eyes he saw Ace holding a red-finned fish man down by the arm, pressed against the floor with his knee on his back. No doubt the source of the commotion. 

"Ace." Luck swung his legs over the vines and stretched.

"Morning Lucky." Ace looked up from his hold, somewhat abashed. "I've no idea what they're trying to do to us." He was using English.

"Your mage friend does not speak Common." It was a statement by another fish man standing in the doorway. He was wearing the same loose white clothing that the warriors wore. Luck found it rather alluring, he had to get some of those clothes.

He had previously assessed his surroundings the second his eyes opened. He was indeed in a mess of vines that extended from the walls and formed a type of hammock. Nearby was another one, probably for Ace. The floor of the room was smooth rock, stone flooring like that of a cave. But more curiously was the thin layer of blue water covering the floor. The walls were wet stone to match, enough so that vines crawled up the surface in search of moisture. 

"We aren't from around here. I'm one of the few of my people that studied languages." Luck finally replied, his feet slapping down onto the wet floor. His shoes were missing.

"Ah, I see." The man stood there awkwardly, glancing at Ace. He had blue fins light enough to match the water on the floor. Luck also noticed his lack of shoes.

Luck checked his person, cards, seeds, manual, everything seemed to be in order. Except for the mystery of his missing shoes. 

"Would your mage friend mind... releasing my brother?" 

Maybe it was from the tone of the gurgling or the awkward glance but Ace relented and released his hostage. He let the man pick himself up from the floor. It was probably unnecessary but there was a subtle play of power in the way that Ace watched him get up. It was an unspoken flex of Ace's ability. At the same time Luck noticed the loose white robes drying almost immediately.

"Might I ask what they're trying to do?" Ace said.

"They say we need healing." Luck replied, turning to Ace. "Although, I know for a fact I don't."

Luck didn't mention the abundance of information he was receiving from Spirit. Right in his vision was a diagram of his body and subsequent medical diagnosis for each section. All sections were coming out green and functional. Luck did take note of a certain system check in the logs. It was redone on the condition that his body was "too perfect". But Luck attributed that to his rebirth and shrugged the info away. He guessed that his body was altered as he was rebirthed onto this world and thus had no current imperfections. 

There was an alert at the bottom of his vision, seperate from Spirit's diagnostics.

"These nice gentlemen took us here after they were positive the tree was cured." Ace gestured. "I'm certain that doing what you did had some sort of cultural significance."

"Why's that?" Luck said.

"Because there's a number of people outside waiting for their savior. Also might be a little bit from the stunned silence they carried you here in. You did get the quest did you not?"

"Yeah, I did. Curing the forest, right?" 

"Yes, well we finished the quest the second we arrived here." Ace rose an eyebrow at Luck. "Anything to do with that, Lucky?"

A corner of Luck's mouth twitched familiarly. "I might have let the tree know to spread the cure to all its friends. It shouldn't have taken long considering how easy it is to spray water to a neighbor." Luck lifted his hands as if he couldn't help it. "Seemed like the logical next step. You can be sure everyone in the tree community was quick to help. Or, at least, that's the impression I got before I fainted. It was correct, evidently."

"You never cease to amaze, do you?" 

"Can't stop who I am." Luck grinned, allowing the ever-present urge to take over.

Ace shook his head smiling.

But then Luck's grin fell. "Where's Saga?" 

"They've got him nearby. The people they have watching him are too scared to approach him. He'll be fine, after all, these people owe you big time Lucky."

Luck breathed a sigh of relief. He was too unfamiliar with his bond to note the well-being and assurance coming from the other side. And even feeling it faintly, Luck's mind won out and he had asked Ace in a panic anyways. But his attention was drawn away before he could really contemplate further.

The alert was blinking now, and somehow Luck knew it wasn't from Spirit, but from something else entirely. He wrote it off as more unexplainable magic and opened the alert. The mystery concerning these messages were something for another time, preferably when he had time to himself and access to his dimensional room.

Pay Heed!

Quest Completed!

The Blight of The Pools

The Forest of the Drowned has been infected with a virus that contaminates the water. The water that infected absta trees take in is filtered through corruption and released back into the sand. The Forest of the Drowned has been under this influence for centuries, its people the Subaqa have been suppressed by the virus for generations. The virus is magical in nature and adapts to better assault its victims. Clear the forest of the virus and purify the Pools.

Reward:

For completing The Blight of The Pools in less than half a day the reward will be adjusted accordingly. 

Seek out Uhet for your reward.

"Now we just need to find Uhet." Ace smiled noticing Luck's expression. He crossed his arms, eyes glinting, as if it was an accomplishment to know what Luck was thinking. 

He didn't know exactly when he stopped being guarded around Ace. It had only been two days but since then he hasn't had his family to unwind. Ace, Luck noticed, had filled that spot. He was glad that there was someone he could put his trust in. On another level he found it entirely strange and simultaneously refreshing.

"Don't be too surprised Lucky. It wasn't that hard to figure out his name through all that gurgling. It is peculiar how they sneak in their 'h' sounds through all that gurgle though." Ace shrugged.

Luck's brows drew together. "I think thats only with names actually. Huh." Luck had a thoughtful face. "Subh, Uhet, I think I heard Seht as well."

"Uhet?" The blue-finned brother in the doorway interjected latching onto the name. "If you are fine now Uhet is ready for you. It is a miracle you know. The whole forest has been cured. Our sentries posted at sites of corruption, our healers even, they all report a spray of water and the virus is gone!" He said rejoicing.

His brother, the red-finned man was more straightforward. "Follow me." Maybe he was simply annoyed at being manhandled.

"Oh, come brother. These are our saviors show some respect."

"Hmph. Respect is earned Suht and they have lost mine. It is taboo to attack a healer." With that he was out the door.

"Forgive my brother. He expects all to know the ways of the Subaqa, but it is a big world." 

"Does the way of the Subaqa have something to do with shoes?" Luck splashed some water with his toes to emphasize his point.

"Ah, it is only right to experience the Pools with bare feet." The Subaqa said. "I am Rubh, you will soon know what it is I am talking about."

"I'll take your word for it." Luck said, to which Rubh only smiled.

Luck only had a moment to admire the way the white clothing opened at the forearms and legs to allow the fins through. Then Rubh was out the door as well, feet slapping water all the way. Webbed feet, actually.

Luck turned to Ace who was half sitting on his vine hammock. "Sorry." Luck said. "No idea what we'd do without being able to talk to people."

Ace gave a content sigh. "It's actually refreshing." He said. "I feel like a tourist. Not able to understand the language, the people, my surroundings, but luckily I've got a translator." He grinned, gesturing to Luck and getting up.

"It does seem stress free." 

"You have no idea. It has been constant catharsis since the church. First, I get to kill a few Asaguy. Then we take down a drug lord. From there it's relaxing in a beautiful forest, and unleashing lightning onto hostile fish people." Ace stretched his arm. "If anything it's quite the vacation." Luck took a strange pride in the way he described the forest.

"Then you'll be dreading the day we call the place home." 

"Perhaps."

"By the way, you're gonna tell me all about your magic when we get the chance." 

"With this uproar you've stirred? You'll be lucky if we have the chance." Ace smirked walking out. "Come on then, you've got to see this for yourself, Lucky." Luck followed him out.

Blue.

Not the dark blue of an ocean. But the light blue of a coastal beach. The type of blue that comes from the sun shining down on the water. The one that comes with reflections of light playing across the sandy floor. Just a hint of green too. It reminded Luck of the small ecosystems he'd see at the beach. The one of sea critters and small fish stuck in divots of rock waiting for the next wave to wash them away. That's what these were. They were pools in every sense of the word that didn't have to do with recreational swimming. The Pools. The home of the Subaqa. 

They were clear, with kids and families swimming around in each, playing with each other. It was appealing to the eye, the way the loose white clothing trailed them as they swam, hugging their bodies and displaying their fins. To Luck's surprise there were kids under the water as well, a whole group of them playing what was probably tag. And why wouldn't they? Fish people should be able to breathe underwater. It shouldn't have been a surprise but Luck found it contrary to common sense, those kids didn't even look three years old. And they were diving like they were born to the water. Which they probably were Luck thought.

Up ahead he saw Ace, feet splashing lightly on the pathways between the pools following Rubh who was following his brother. He was taking in the sights as much as Luck was. He was even waving to a family that had surfaced. In return they splashed him, soaking him completely. Ace looked affronted but the family was smiling in good nature.

"It is a sign of thanks. To gift clean water. It is not something we have had excess of in centuries." Rubh explained when Luck got closer. The blue-finned man was in just as much wonder. "The moment the trees were cured the sands worked to purify the corrupted water."

Luck relayed the information.

"If I could only let them know you were the one who saved the whole forest." He replied. "Then they'd quite literally drown you in thanks." Ace, true to his word was glancing about like an actual tourist.

"The water from the absta trees sift through the sand, purifying and coming down to the pools." Rubh pointed. "What you see before you is something of a miracle. Few of the Subaqa are old enough to remember the pools being this clear." He waved, indicating the entirety of the cavern.

There were a few large streams of water falling from the ceiling, which Luck noted was almost completely sand.

"The blight would resist even the purifying elements in the pools' sand. Eventually the corruption would die in the pools but always it would affect us. Now however, not a drop of the black water has fallen into the pool since earlier today." Rubh was beaming. In their shoes Luck would've been suspicious of such good fortune, a consequence of his uprbringing. In this case however, Luck was confident in the cure so their happiness was assured.

There was a nearby, yellow-finned family that surfaced to splash water onto Luck. He waved and took a single look into their pool and wished he had taken Aquatic Respiration. There were underwater tunnels leading away but the ground was light brown sand, the walls had all manners of plant life growing off them. Both colorful and vivid. Some plants had roots in the ground but flowers that sprouted on the surface of the water. It was completely see through, and Luck wasn't hallucinating, the water was actually blue. Not some trick of the light, it was actually blue. 

They were walking along the edge of the majority of the pools. The room he awoke in was nestled off to the side where there was a stretch of stone big enough to warrant an actual structure. The rest of the huge underground cavern was dotted with blue pools inhabited by Subaqa. With thin pathways acting as walls between the pools as well as a means to walk across them. He could barely make it out but there was a twisting pillar of sand that spiraled upwards into the ceiling on the far side. On a hunch he turned right. There was one there too, and there was stuff being sent upwards stuck in the swirling sand. Dead leaves, fruit stems, peels. Compost? For the trees above? Luck amended his thoughts on the absta trees as he now knew they were called. They were omnivores not carnviores.

"Uhet's pool." Rubh stepped to the side and gestured with one arm. 

Ace had already walked into the thing. They were in front of a structure that was built on top of one of the pools. It was a dome. It had open windows, wooden shutters, but no door to bar entry. Like the building Luck woke up in it seemed water invaded the floor to Uhet's house as well.

The sound of running water drew Luck's focus for half a second. A glance right confirmed his thoughts. They were near one of the waterfalls that Rubh had talked about, the one that brought pure water into the pools. He noted that the water wasn't initially a light blue when it came from above. 

"Stupid stranger. To keep the Guiding Finn waiting." The red-finned brother gurgled.

"Suht." Rubh crossed his arms. The red brother harrumphed.

Luck walked in completely ignoring the brothers. He never knew when knowing the language might come in handy. It was harsh given that these people sheltered him but habits are hard to break. It was another advantage he decided to keep hidden.

Luck glanced about as he entered the threshold. It was a room of generous size, made small by the open pool taking up most of the floor. Luck walked around it to the seat that Uhet gestured to. He had just emerged from his pool. He had indicated a wooden chair that could somehow survive through all the water damage it must've been through. Uhet simply stared at them. The orange-finned elder took his own seat across from them, airy white robes draping across the wet floor. And Luck again watched in fascination as Uhet's clothes dried immediately. That would explain the wooden furniture.

It was an accusation spoken in Common that broke the silence. "You lied to me." Uhet's mouth was in a hard line.

"The tree is cured. As promised." Luck lounged in his chair, nonplussed by the hostility.

But Uhet's eyes were sharp. "It does not change the fact that I have been lied to."

"And how might that be exactly?" Luck was unconcerned.

"You are a druid." He said flatly.

"I am not." Luck replied cooly.

Uhet's eyes softened. A soft smile on his face. "A druid is one who protects the forest. Nothing more, nothing less." He said.

"I don't think that qualifies me as a druid."

"No, but in heart, you are a druid." He said. "If not one officially."

"Forest or not, I only wanted to help." Luck replied. 

"And you have. The blight is gone, every tree having suddenly purged themselves of the virus." Uhet said. "What can we do to thank you?"

"Oh? And what makes you think it was me?" Luck rose an eyebrow. "I only cured one, I believe."

"I am old but not yet senile. If not you then who?"

Luck looked at Uhet for a moment before conceding with a wave. "It's no problem. My friend and I are only trying to find my family." Luck explained. "If you could point us to a nearby major city then we will be on our way. We've been somewhat turned about in our travels."

"Truly? That is all you want? For ridding the Subaqa of centuries of blight? For righting centuries of wrong? For bringing happiness to The Pools?" Uhet waved and gestured profusely. His normally stoic visage widening in disbelief. "I owe you a great deal, it is my station's job to protect The Pools. The corruption was the obstacle that has been insurmountable to the Finns of the past. And now you come here, bleed, and all is well."

Luck noticed the barren pool of Uhet, no plant life at all, just sand. Did it have to do with the stream of water outside, the stream which would've been corrupted previously? Luck thought it likely but his attention was drawn away from his thoughts. Inside Uhet's pool Luck could just make out a pair of faces peeking from around one of the tunnels underwater. Kids. Two of them. They were probably around ten years old but Luck pretended not to notice them. Ace however was just as sharp, albeit easier to read since he didn't have Luck's training or the need for it. Uhet followed his gaze and sighed.

"Juhn, Sehn. Surface and greet my guests..." Uhet paused in askance. "I do not believe I ever got your names."

"Luck and Ace." Luck gestured. "Luck Lockyer and Ace Vent." 

One of the kids came out gurgling. "Father? Are these the ones who saved The Pools?" The girl had just slipped out of the pool, already drying. Her fins were a bright blue to match the water.

"The heroes!" The boy practically dived out of the pool, landing, impressively, on his two feet. His fins were a bright green. And he was also talking in gurgle-speak.

"Sehn and Juhn." Uhet gestured to each in turn, respectively. "This is why my debt is more than I have to offer. You have saved my kids when I could not." Uhet's stoic visage had returned to him.

"It was nothing. Would a man who could wave a finger and save billions ever not? It is everything to you and your people but for me it is another day." Luck was insouciant. "Your people swim in these pools and breathe underwater, your kids already are diving at the age of three. To another people this would be a miracle, but to you? It is nothing." 

Uhet frowned. "This is not-" He started, gesturing to his pool. No doubt about to explain why it was barren and why he owed him so much.

"My meaning is that I do not need compensation to do what is right. I wouldn't demand anything for helping a child who had tripped over his own feet nor would I for saving your people." Luck said unruffled. "They are one in the same to me."

There was another motive behind this. The quest he completed spoke of a reward, and truly, Luck didn't care either way for it. But he did want to see what would happen if he denied any reward completely. Did he have any sway in what they got? His reward was adjusted so if he asked for directions and denied everything else would he simply get very detailed directions? Or would he simply not get anything? Even then, he didn't even know if these messages tied into this world at all, the only credence he had toward the certainty of the messages was his first quest. The one that allowed him to be rebirthed here in the first place. He was fine with either coming true, because ultimately he would get more information regarding the strange messages that seemed to come from nowhere. In addition, he felt like asking straight up might seem too strange if it were indeed a normal occurence. In fact, the only other person he knew who also saw them was Ace. It might simply have to do with the world they were in but Luck still wanted more info before even thinking about asking the locals.

Uhet opened and closed his mouth a few times before settling for simple acknowledgment. "I see."

"Why not just send him to Diversi's temple? She could decide." Uhet's daughter interjected in surprisingly fluent Common. Luck didn't even realize Uhet had an accent until right then. Luck had been perfectly understanding Uhet but only now did he realize how bad his Common was. Unlike her father Sehn's Common was more casual, less formal.

"Diversi?" Luck said.

"Subaqa worship." The boy said grinning, up close it was clear he much younger than his sister. "Pray Diversi Subaqa to." His Common was terrible but endearing. The accent was better than Uhet's but the grammar was all over.

"Your god?" Luck asked to make sure.

"Or goddess. It has been centuries since a Subaqa has entered the temple and survived." Uhet said. "Her temple is in the center of The Pools. Unfortunately, the-"

"There's no more corruption father. Diversi's Waterfall is pure." Sehn said smiling.

"Ace, you up for a visit with another god?" Luck shifted into English. "Or her temple at least."

"Let them know I don't mind." Ace replied, he was content to watch the back and forth talk, trying to decipher the language himself. "More sightseeing for this tourist." 

"Why not?" Luck said, resuming the conversation.

"Then we will accompany you." Uhet was the same as he was before but Luck's instincts caught an undercurrent of excitement and maybe dread. "You can both swim, yes?"

It was another reminder of how little he knew of Ace. A quick question in Ace's direction and Luck gave him a nod for the two of them. 

They walked across the pools, this time through and towards the center rather than around. They were heading towards the largest stream of water crashing down from the ceiling, it was more akin to a river than a stream. All around them people watched, surfacing from their pools, diving underwater before appearing in another pool closer by. They were following them. A parade of bright colored fins and happy faces. Luck did note a child or two that had a distasteful look on their face. They seemed curious at first but their expressions fell, not that they were sad or unhappy, but that something of importance was happening.

"He walks with the Guiding Finn." It was eerie, when the splashing stopped and all there was only a constant drip of water from above.

"Daddy! It's the druids!" A cheerier voice gurgled.

"No, there's only one druid the other is the mage! They say he took down Seht and Johut!" A more enthusiastic gurgle came from the same direction.

"They seek Diversi." An older, deeper voice intoned. With it, it was almost as if a ripple of silence rang across the pools.

There was an intake of breath, the joy, the rejoicing stopped. Even the children paused, surfacing from their games as if they could hear from underwater. For minutes there was simply the sound of bobbing heads coming in and out of the water as the walls of the pools demanded. After a while Luck came to acknowledge the unobstrusive slapping of feet on water behind him. He took a curious glance backwards to find it came from the small group that followed behind them on foot, they were the older Subaqa. Much too old for any large amount of swimming. But they followed just as the rest did. 

Uhet walked ahead with his children. Sehn on his left and Juhn on his right. The pool which should really be called a lake was close enough that Luck could see the building that Diversi's Waterfall emptied onto. The temple was shining in colors as bright as the fins on the Subaqa. Not dulled in the slightest through the light blue sheen of water it was visible through. The rising mist concealed every detail but the colors.

"Temple Diversi." Juhn slowed down, trying to be helpful for Luck.

Again Luck's eyes were drawn to the clothes. And consequently, Luck noticed that Juhn didn't have fins on his forearms, only scars. Juhn's face fell as he tracked Luck's gaze. His hands went to rub at his arms. Then Luck remembered the faces some of the kids were making. They were nothing to Luck so he ignored them as anyone should. But the second he realized who they really were for, his anger flared. And in response, Luck's face cooled as was his reaction to these things. It was the bickering and bullying of children, there was nothing that Luck could do but hope their parents disciplined accordingly. 

It was only Juhn and Ace nearby. The people in the pools were keeping their distance even though they could have swam right up to Luck, seeing him more as an important figure than one of them. So Luck took the opportunity to talk to Juhn.

"Don't worry about those other kids Juhn. None of them could have handled the pressure you do just by walking up here with me." Luck gurgled.

"I know... Father even-" Juhn's eyes went wide and looked around. "You speak Subaqa?" He whispered.

"Why wouldn't I be able to?" Luck gave him a conspiratory wink, still gurgling his words.

Juhn had nothing to say to that, he only looked in awe. But he sighed as he caught sight of a snickering kid.

"Take it from me. Kids like that, they don't have what it takes to be a hero." Luck said. "But you?"

Juhn was still downcast but looked up.

"I don't know what your story is or where your fins went." Luck said bluntly. "But if kids of the Subaqa are as bad as the kids are from where I come from? Then you've got courage. It's impressive you can even walk in front of those bullies." He had said the whole thing in Subaqa for Juhn's benefit.

Juhn stopped in his steps and Luck had the sense that he was staring at his back. But Luck kept walking, he had said what he needed to. The steps forward were for the owner of the feet to take, not him. There was a snickering voice that rang out in the silence and another joined him. There was a long pause but Luck wouldn't turn around. It would be Juhn's choice. Luck didn't know how close he was to his breaking point, where a single insult would throw him over the edge. He only knew that he was glad he could say something before then. Finally, he grinned as he heard the light splashing of water than indicated movement behind him.

Nearby, Ace raised an eyebrow as Juhn ran ahead of them.

"Encouraging the child?" He asked.

"Just something I wished someone would've told me when I was his age." Luck's fingers brushed across the scar on his face. "It would've spared me a lot of trouble."

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Luck met Ace's eyes for a moment. With Luck accustomed to distingushing people through colors as much as he was recently, he noticed Ace's hazel eyes. Ace eyed Luck with them, apparently sensing a deeper story, and when he didn't elaborate Ace turned forward, walking evenly alongside his friend. It was not a story that Luck was comfortable telling.

Reaching the pool that the temple was in Uhet, Sehn and Juhn stopped at the edge.

"Cross swim." Juhn said, grinning at Luck. He was speaking in Common.

Luck nodded.

Uhet and Sehn dived into the pool, swimming like dolphins, slicing through the water. Their speed and progress clearly visible through the water. Juhn lagged behind and Luck heard that incessant snickering again. Ace gave an annoyed glance backwards and dived in as well.

That was enough, the sound alone brought unwanted memories to light. 

He turned his head visciously towards the group of people the kids were in. The whole group jerked in their place, displacing water while Luck's eyes roamed the crowd. Eyes as bright as any other color in the pools found the children and locked them in their gaze. They stared at them until the crowd around them parted, some ducking underwater and resurfacing at a further pool. The snickering choked out as the bodies thinned and bright eyes scowled at the two children one last time before diving to catch up with Juhn. Luck's last glimpse of them gave the impression of deer caught in headlights. He wouldn't have been surprised if the water around them changed from blue to green. The days following would be curiously devoid of snickering. Some of the kids would stop the bullying having witnessed the event from the other pools. Some would even confess to their parents, thinking themselves two steps ahead of the stranger, seeking to mitigate their inevitable punishment. It was all set it motion with a single glance. All on the account of a single pair of amber eyes.

Luck had left his shirt and jacket on the shore much the same as Ace did. He didn't want to ruin his playing cards, or have magical plants suddenly sprout from the water. Eventually, Luck caught up with Juhn and he found him struggling to swim the way his family was.

"You're swimming wrong." Luck found it fitting how easy it was to talk with his mouth half submerged. Gurgling, gargling, it was all the same in Subaqa, easier even.

"This is how everyone swims." Juhn wasn't struggling to swim, just struggling to catch up, he wasn't moving nearly as fast as Uhet or Sehn.

"Everyone with fins."

"And how would you-" Juhn paused, watching Luck glide forward. 

"It's called freestyle stroke. Or the front crawl." Luck grinned. "Everyone without fins does it."

Juhn tried to copy Luck and failed, he was actually moving slower. "It's not working. The other kids are probably having a blast watching me learn to swim from a land dweller." Juhn sighed.

"Can you flatten the fins on your legs?" 

"Yes, but why would I?" He asked, floating nearby.

"Just do it, for a people born in the water you know little about hydrodynamics." Luck remarked, switching to a languid backstroke.

"Okay... " And suddenly Juhn was moving much faster than Luck could keep up with.

Looking around Luck realized he was in last place. So he sped up until his feet met the stairs to the temple. Marble steps that started underwater and rose up onto the surface. 

Thick mist came from above, spraying the surroundings of the temple with moisture. The mist was multicolored, reflecting rainbows and diffusing bright lights from the crystals the structure was made of. Normally, it would've been lurid and glaring, but under the mist the colors were muted and captivating. 

"Beautiful." Luck exhaled, out of breath.

"Agreed." Ace was running his hand against one of the crystals. "This is amethyst." He said, noting the purple crystal.

"So this is the Temple of Diversi. To think, that I would be one of the first to walk in the temple. To be the first to manage the swim across and survive." Uhet said silently. "The first Finn since then..."

Luck glanced backwards. It was hard to imagine the pure blue lake as anything but. He could see that there was no plant life though. If it was as they said then Luck doubted anything could live through that corruption. 

"Quartz, aquamarine, citrine, emeralds." Ace paused. "Diamonds."

That drew Luck's attention. Built right into the wall, diamond formed a part of one of the four pillars that supported the whole temple. 

"Damn. I don't suppose they'd be as valuable as they are back home." Ace ventured.

"Doubt it." Luck amber eyes gleamed as he took in the room. "Though the whole thing has precious gems built right into it. I'm sure it's worth something." 

There was a moment that each let wash through them. An urge of greed, a forced habit of hoarding. The kind that comes with needing funds being necessary to find safety. After a moment it passed and both men shared a look.

"You study gemstones on one of your jobs then?" Luck asked absently, taking in the beauty of the place.

"Something similiar." Ace replied. "One of my clients was a collector, more for show and tell rather than any personal inclination. You can imagine my inital arrival."

"Often I forget how traveled you are." Luck said noticing Ace moving further into the temple.

"Well, that makes us even. Often I forget how dangerous you are." Ace said offhandedly.

"An effect of my charming personality no doubt." Luck grinned, following. "Or perhaps my charismatic demeanor?"

Ace rolled his eyes. "More likely from your sense of humor."

 Luck smirked but let Ace have the last laugh. He left his friend to his own perusal of the temple. Luck was curious as to how the blight could have affected the Subaqa for so long.

"How did the corruption start Uhet?" Luck asked. "Forgive me for being insensitive but it seems unlikely that I'd be the first in centuries to come across the Forest of the Drowned with the means to cure it."

Uhet was in quiet wonder at the temple when Luck's question knocked him out of his reverie. "Ah." He said.

The word was shaky and unsteady. Odd, Luck didn't think Uhet would have any emotional connection with the events of the past. Aside, from the general effect on his people as a consequence.

"It was three hundred years ago. I was only a boy then. " Luck blinked. Uhet was three hundred years old? "My father had angered a traveling mage. He had wanted to visit the temple, but we were more than aware of the value it holds to those not from The Pools."

Luck found a depression on one of the walls. One where a gem should've been. "Thieves." He realized.

"Thieves." Uhet nodded. "The temple was a treasure, already having been raided multiple times, my father denied the mage access. The raids would not stop until the temple was gone for the treasure was the temple itself."

"I take it the mage didn't appreciate that."

"No. But I do not think he fathomed the effects his spell would have on the entire ecosystem. It was a small spell, one of corruption, but still weak. It was intended as an inconvenience, done in spite."

Luck recalled the nearly black absta tree he first encountered. The black water, a nearly dead Ace, black blood, the searing pain up his forearm, the muscle spasms. A small inconvenience?

"But the spell grew, feeding off the innate magic of the forest and the pools, cycling through the whole system. Eventually, it had evolved specifically against Subaqa immune systems, absta trees and the wildlife above. The only thing that kept the spell from taking over completely was the purifying quality of the sands down here. The very sands the spell would eventually pass through. The sands properties would wear the spell down until eventually it was only the virus that lived on. Without the sands initial presence to block the spell from growing, the virus birthed from the spell would have grown out of control." Uhet said.

"The effects of the virus used to be less harsh." Sehn chimed in. "It used to be nausea, headaches, and stomach aches. It took almost two hundred years to get the point where someone could die from it."

"And decades before you were born before it started turning people insane." Uhet said. "And only years previously it had begun to spread through those it corrupted. Who knows how much more it could've been?"

"And now?"

"Now gone spell. Hero thanks." Junh said smiling.

"Now, not a single tree, animal, person or drop of water has had signs of corruption for the past six hours. Now, signs of plant life are visible in pools where there hasn't been in centuries. Now, the water runs the same shade of blue that it did all those years ago." Uhet smiled. "Now it is possible we might see our god... or goddess. It has been so long." Uhet seemed at peace, as if his sunset orange fins belonged in the kaleidoscopic temple. Did Diversi have something to do with colors perhaps?

Luck didn't have anything to say. So the everyone was content to lapse into silence and explore the temple.

It was the most apparent on Juhn, the childlike wonder. It was the gentle encounter with something magnificent. A quiet respect for something beautiful. Luck couldn't quite pin a perfect comparison to the ambience in the room. To the feelings of the people. But Ace had the face of hiker who had just reached the view, his only reaction being to stand tall and gaze around. The daughter, Sehn, was more reserved but there was a twinkle in her eyes that confirmed she was just as, if not more, in awe than her brother. The way she glided patiently to view the temple from all angles had an almost ecstatic energy. Their father however, walked slowly, hands behind his back, just taking in the sights. Luck guessed he was living through memories that were centuries old. Uhet would lay a hand on a particular pillar, or stop by a certain gemstone, all of it had a private meaning. Luck left him to himself.

It was sad that the temple was cordoned from all the pools simply because of the corruption. It was something both stunning and elegant. Colors flowed into one another, no contrasting colors were ever close to each other. Luck allowed his eyes to take in the temple as a whole. If one wasn't paying attention they would think the whole temple was built from one piece of multicolored crystal. Whoever had made the structure was a brilliant architect. There were emerald and sapphire, ruby and diamonds. The rest he couldn't identify, he knew there must've been innumberable variations of different crystals though. Some of the walls were formed of crystal that gleamed in light blues and greens with red deep in the core. Other parts were perfectly clear until you glanced at it from an angle. Even parts of the floor looked like you could fall right through.

"Enjoying my temple mortal?" The words came from directly behind him.

"I've never seen anything like it before." Luck didn't miss a beat. Opting for the quickest answer. Honesty.

"Hmph." Was the only response Luck got, apparently dissapointing the god.

Luck didn't feel particularly inclined to turn around to look at Diversi - for that was likely who this was. Luck had always been captivated by things that were aesthetic, things that captured the eye. So he kept admiring the temple. Alas, the eyes of his companions were drawn to the presence behind him so Luck inevitably turned around.

Diversi, a name fit for a woman, was a man. The god stood self assured, set in a powerful stance that complimented his strong features. Muscular, but not overly so. He had the crystalline eyes that had obvious similarities to his temple. The wrinkles on his face suggested hours of work that involved fine details. He had a tail, but it was like a lizard's. There were random strands of colors in his hair. His face was decidedly human, save for a random patch of skin that was blue. On his neck was a set of gills, but only on his left side. And a closer look at his crossed arms revealed that he had six fingers on one of his hands, but only the one. On his left arm was a tattoo of a leg and on his right leg was a tattoo of an arm. The arms and legs were different colors, with the tattoos on each being another mismatched set. Luck didn't even start on his clothes. In short, Diversi was strange.

Luck openly examined the god. Without even a twitch of reaction.

"A strange one you are, mortal." Diversi said, frowning.

"So i've been told." Luck replied. "Though I find myself rather normal."

"Diversi." Uhet said strongly. Immediately he was on the floor bowing. 

Nearby Sehn and Juhn were following their father. Ace was looking around at a loss at what to do before shrugging at Luck.

"I'm an aetheist." He said simply, opting to lean against the wall. 

 Diversi rolled his eyes before giving the Subaqa a kind smile. He sheperded them out of the temple, assuring them their time to speak with him will come. He told them that they had done as well as they could've with The Pools as infected as they were. With a serious nod Uhet and his children left the temple, giving Luck a meaningful look before departing. The god watched them go like a parent sending off his kids. Then Diversi walked around the temple, his tail trailing across the floor, touching parts of the structure, shining gems and placing new ones. Where he swept a hand or his tail touched, the place became brighter. He came to a crack in one the giant crystals embedded in the side of the place. He rubbed at it with his arm and when he pulled away the crystal was fixed. 

Luck and Ace watched him the whole time. Ace deciding to stand next to Luck, coming from his place on the wall.

"Now, I believe you are the mortals who have saved The Pools?" Diversi said turning around to face them. "Who have cured the blight?"

"It was basically all of Lucky's doing... wait. " Ace paused, surprised at being able to participate in conversation. "English?"

The god gave a proud smile. "I strive to be different." 

"We were told to come here to recieve our reward." Luck said. "Though i'm not sure what warrants one."

"Oh? Straight to the point are you?" The god rose a yellow eyebrow - his other one was blue. "You have saved one of my pet projects. Does that not warrant a reward, mortal?"

Luck pursed his lips, unsure. "We were given a quest." Luck was loathe to reveal his ignorance of the workings of this world.

The god Diversi paused. "Ah, yes. Such a task might warrant a quest. Now, what might I reward you?" Luck hid his thoughtful look. Diversi didn't seem very surprised at the mention of a quest.

"Just like that?" Luck asked, skeptical.

"Hmm?"

"What compels you to reward us? Why even bother?" 

"Are you..." Diversi rose his blue eyebrow this time. "Oh? Oh, ho ho. Rebirthees?"

Ace glanced at Luck, when it came to traversing the wilderness, assasinating a target or fighting large groups of fish people Luck looked to Ace Vent. But the moment the game changed to one of deception, blackmail, mischief, cunning or a simple trade of information, Ace Vent looked to Luck Lockyer.

"Of only a day." Luck confessed, it seemed like his only way to gather further information.

"Fitting that you stumble across a god such as I to explain the rules of Aerae." Diversi chuckled at a private joke.

"Rules?" Ace asked.

"I will put it simply for a mortal such as yourself." Diversi straightened his features.

"By all means." Luck gestured.

"The inhabitants of Aerae can be considered the most dangerous of all worlds. Near none can match the sheer potential an inhabitant from Aerae inherently has. There is an ancient... magic, as I hesitate to call it, for it is unfathomable to even the God of Understanding. It is a power that enshrouds all of Aerae, and which serves multiple purposes." Diversi paused to gauge their reaction, nodding in approval he continued.  "The first is the answer to your question. The power we know as... I believe you would be most comfortable calling it the System. The System or Ethodthem, as the gods know it is a neutral force in Aerae that grants power to those who are deserving. If even I were not to gift you, reward you for saving The Pools, Ethodthem will be sure that compensation finds its way to your hands. It is the reason that those from Aerae have near limitless potential."

"Ethodthem... " Luck repeated, opting to use the god-given name. "This is what compels you to reward me?"

Diversi chuckled. "No, I am not compelled. You are directed here by Ethodthem as the most likely and suitable method for you to rise in power. And what better way for the god who created The Pools to reward you for saving it?" Diversi explained. "Few times I have been chosen to grant a gift of power to someone. Simply know that whenever Ethodthem had thought it best that I grant one power, it had already been my prerogative."

Ace rubbed his chin. "Would I be wrong to assume it is what led us here then? To your temple?"

"You would not, mortal." Diversi smiled. "Those new to Aerae and thus new to Ethodthem, rebirthees such as yourselves among them, often find themselves in the presence of one who can explain it to them rather quickly."

"What purpose does it serve then? Why grant power aimlessly?" Luck recalled his conversation with Jerxos. "Surely, not simply for enteraintment among the gods." Luck didn't like being out of the loop, things that were commonly known in this world should be known to him as well.

"Ah, I see you've met Jerxos." Diversi smiled. "And while he is right, that the gods like their entertainment. It is not why Aerae is the way it is. Remember that Ethodthem was here even before the gods. It is impossible that its function would be to entertain a group of beings not even existing at the time."

"You have a theory I presume?" Luck probed.

"I believe Aerae was an arena." The god said. "That it was indeed entertainment, but for a race older, more powerful, more advanced than even the gods above. What happened to them is a mystery but there are signs scattered across Aerae that hint towards my theory. Even in the realm of the gods there are subtle things that suggest the same. But never in the thousands of years of my existance have I ever found concrete proof. Never have I had anything to hold in my hands and declare my theory true." His tail slammed into the floor in anger.

 Luck blinked in surprise, the power in his tail was immense.

Pay Heed!

New Quest!

The Mystery of Aerae.

Delve into the mystery of what Aerae once was. Gods have theorized that a race more powerful than them had used Aerae for entertainment. That Aerae was an arena. Scour the land for information regarding this theory. What is the purpose behind Ethodthem? Why is it ingrained into the world of Aerae itself?

Reward:

Unknown.

Luck's attention shifted onto the message for a split second. He glanced at Ace who confirmed his thoughts with a nod.

"Ah, I see you have received the quest." Diversi sighed dejectedly, unexpectedly sharp. "Strange no? For Ethodthem to create a quest with itself as the subject? It is the same quest I have had for an eternity."

"You receive quests as well then?" Ace asked curiously.

"And why would I not?" Diversi looked surprised. "I am under the effects of Ethodthem the same as you are. The power I possess is the reason I seek its meaning."

"So the gods are subject to the System as well?" Ace queried.

"As are all beings on Aerae." Diversi confirmed. "However, Ethodthem also works to contain those in Aerae. It is another function of the mysterious... magic. It is almost impossible to escape Aerae, and even when done all the strength one has gained through their time in Aerae is stripped of them, if they do not die in the process. Some gods have a measure of influence across other planes but it is fleeting and limited. More than likely, it is how you were brought here. That tendency to contain those within is the reason I believe it likely that the whole world of Aerae was a battlefield. A world-wide battle royale."

Diversi walked out to the open section of the temple, where the entirety of The Pools was visible from the marble steps rising from the pool-lake that Temple Diversi was in. He stood proud at his apparent creation. 

"Now the gods don't bother with history. They are content to enjoy the dealings of mortals, occupying themselves with matters far below beings of their strength. It is meaningless."

Luck took up the gods right side, Ace the left. Curiously, the mist opened up enough that the whole cavern was perfectly framed. The three marveled at The Pools, it was just such a view. Sparkling blue water, tranquil in appearance. The whole cavern gave the impression of rejuvenation and peace. Even the white robed Subaqa and their colors brought peace of mind. Their flowing robes and languid motions through the water brought the whole scene together.

"You created The Pools?" Luck asked, aware of the mood. It was a question offered more as kindle for a conversation, than for any actual curiosity. Diversi had already claimed to have done so beforehand.

"Among other things, yes." Diversi stood tall, arms crossed, not peeved in the slightest as many Subaqa gawked at him.

"It is utterly breathtaking." The cadence of Ace's voice was enough to turn Diversi's attention to him.

With a raised colored eyebrow Diversi said. "You two are among the calmer spectrum of those I have told this to. Many simply bombard me with questions, eager to know more. Others panic, afraid of the power of a thing such as the System. A few refuse Ethodthem altogether, ignoring it. Those are the few that stagnate and die young."

"We're not as nearly as old as you. But I like to think we've lived our lives many times over. Call me vain but I believe that brings a wisdom to our eyes that not many our age ever possess." Luck looked up to the one of the swirling pillars of sand.

Ace didn't say anything, an agreement in itself.

"So the System doesn't affect us at all? Other than the powers of course."

"Free will is abundant on Aerae, if you possess the power to obtain it. No, Ethodthem does not control sentients. It does not even control non-sentients. It only acts upon transpiring events as a method for individuals to gain power. And when that power passes into your hands, it is yours." Diversi answered.

"Oh?"

Diversi seemed amused. "Whatever the original function the System had ages ago, know that it serves first and foremost as a neutral force. Much happens on Aerae, and Ethodthem acts upon those events, quests are formed, titles are granted, powers are gifted. Know however, that the tools given to you by Jerxos are of a quality you might never recieve as a reward. Such permanent effects or instantaneous benefits to your person are rewards fit for a monumentous task."

Luck's mind flashed briefly to his dimensional room and supposed time magic. He was eager to test them both out once he figured out how each worked. He recalled his dimensional room having some type of evolving trait and pondered that as well. Maybe there could be some way to plant the enchanted seeds in his dimensional room? Come to think of it, why wasn't he hungry? He hadn't eaten since he got transported from the church. 

Satiety... 47%

Hunger partially maintained through regenerative effects...

Thirst partially maintained through regenerative effects...

Ramifications of sustained condition unknown...

With that thought Spirit came alive. Pop-ups came from himself, Diversi, and Ace. The data was much the same, even presented in the same light green boxes. Curiously, the visual input had some inconsistencies when it came to Diversi as some of the data was marked as uncertain and subject to change. For example, his only set of gills on the left side of his neck were visibly moving, yet visual input suggested they were completely fake. His blue patch of skin on his face was coming up as pure blue dye of some strange plant, not dyed skin, just the dye. Again, one of the limitations on the data he was receiving was due to insufficent perceptive input. How could he increase the input, connect to his other senses that type of advantage might help immensely. He would ponder it later, something Diversi mentioned seemed mildly interesting in its inconsistency.

"What do titles have to do with anything?" Luck wondered. It seemed out there in comparison to quests and powers.

"I have told you the basics. Titles are simply something else Ethodthem manifests through." Diversi said, cutting of the line of questioning. "The rest will come to you in time, should it ever become relevant." He waved.

"You think we might ever find ourselves doing something monumentous?" Ace said, glancing over to Luck.

Luck smirked. "Who knows? I believe a god once told me that plans were never set in stone."

"Jerxos was smarter than he looked." Ace replied. Luck surmised that Jerxos probably quizzed Ace on his intentions, or that it came up in some capacity during his impartation.

"I believe I owe you two an award." Diversi interrupted. "Come." He turned around with a flourish and walked back into his temple.

Except the interior had changed. Where a crystal once was lay a plush looking checkered mushroom. Where the floor had been clear was now a rug fashioned from a hulking beast. In one corner was a mess of purple abstract shapes, which upon first glance served absolutely no purpose. In another was a twisting embodiment of fire that shifted into the shape of randomized household furnishings. 

 "Allow me to introduce myself formally." He bowed deeply, to Luck it was an actor slipping into character, or an actor slipping out, Luck couldn't know. "I am Diversi, God of Variance. To be divergent and inconsistent. I strive to be different." He stood proud and tall, arms crossed as he had always had them. But this time his stance seemed more... powerful. 

He waved a hand and more of the room became more... different. Luck noticed a giant seven-fingered hand before reverting his attention back to the god.

"I am creator of the Subaqa, the Subfira, the Subaer, and the Subdir. The people of the elements." His voice was powerful, his tail raised as his arms did in a show of power.

"Then what is our reward Diversi?" Luck decided to just be direct and outright. His voice projected as much as Diversi's.

"Something... different." Diversi said smiling. "What would you like?" He asked simply, letting the facade of power fall. His voice returning to normal levels.

"Huh?"

"I tire of the games my kin love so dearly. So I ask you, what would you have of me?" Diversi plopped onto the checkered mushroom, somehow finding himself comfortable despite his tail. "If it is acceptable and within my power I will grant it to you."

Luck's answer was instant. "Can you point me to my family?"

Diversi's face was one of mild surprise. "Only that?"

"Only that." Luck was certain.

"And you?" Diversi said turning to Ace.

"Perhaps a map. The most detailed possible." Ace rubbed the back of his head. He was more pragmatic.

"Truly?" Diversi laughed. "The power of a god at your service and you ask for a map and directions?"

Luck smirked. "You know, the leader here's reaction was in the same vein. I guess they take after you" 

"Perhaps they do." Diversi smiled. "I admit, not often can a mortal surprise me." 

"We are not most." Luck shrugged.

"Then it will be so." Diversi snapped. 

Suddenly the temple was back to what it was. Diversi was watching them stare around until gesturing to them. "There."

"Lucky, come here." Ace was holding a thick parchment, browning at the edges. "One second nothing, the next i'm holding a map." Ace shook his head. "Still feeling like a tourist." He smiled.

Luck grinned, the world was indeed a trip so far. The second he came close he was both dissapointed and satisifed. The map wasn't magical as he had hoped. However, the detail was penned into the parchment so finely that there could be no doubt to its accuracy. It was colored sporadically, so Luck assumed the colors were significant to some extent. 

"It's colored." He remarked.

"And showing elevation too." Ace ran his hand gently across small bumps on the map. "Mountains. And there, that dot, your family I presume?"

"Your neck, mortal." Diversi suggested. He had intially been annoyed at Diversi's flippant use of 'mortal' but it didn't seem the god was intentionally trying to peeve them. Maybe it was simply the way gods addressed mortals?

Luck cut off that line of thought and felt at his neck, there was indeed a pendant there, hanging low. He brought it up in his hand and the neckace hummed in his palm. Eventually, lights flowed from within the depths of the necklace gathering on one side of the gem. When he moved the necklace around the lights would gather in the same direction.

"That is a necklace that seeks family. It will lead you to them, of that there is no doubt. The bonds that tie a family are detected by the necklace and are sought by the lights." Diversi explained. "I very well could have given you such a necklace that sought those of your blood. But Jerxos has been known to bestow the blood of many things among rebirthees. It seemed unwise." 

"Prudent." Luck said, conscious of his own blood.

"What is the scale of this map?" Ace interejected, unfurling it slightly and finding their location labled as one of Diversi's temples and The Pools.

"An inch for every league." Diversi said. "That map was gifted to me by a talented explored and master cartographer. He had come across many of my temples and found beauty in them. His last trip, he left his map behind."

"A league is give or take three miles." Ace said, measuring with his fingers. He could barely unfurl the whole thing. "Is the dot his family?" 

"No, that is the purpose of te neckace. I believe that mark is something the creator of the map left for later use." Diversi said. "Do not mistake it for anything other than part of the map."

"Hmm. Well the dot is about a month away. If we can get our bearings we can see which way the necklace points. That dot is the only marker on the whole map. I wonder what it is. If the direction of your family is near to the place marked by the dot I think we might as well stop by." Ace suggested.

Luck grasped the necklace in his hand. Now he had it. The means to find his family. Unbidden, images of his father came to him. Cold and hard as the business demanded and warm and loving as his family required. Memories of his mother smiling with him and his sister, and a sadder smile as Luck beat his record time in the shooting range. His sister, falling in front him, dead before she even hit the floor. His father and mother, corpses in their own home, bleeding blood not needed. 

Rage filled Luck, nearly blinding him. But then he remembered he had already exacted revenge. The feelings faded, dispersing into nothing, defused. He grasped at the neckace with purpose. He could not let that happen again.

"I've got to find them Ace." Luck said in reply. His face was a mask.

Ace pursed his lips. "Alright Lucky, your call." 

He couldn't have understood. Family wasn't something the mercenary ever had. Luck looked to Ace sadly. The story of Acen Vent was one of sadness and sorrow. Even at his best, at the height of his optimism, Luck didn't think he could've went through what his friend did.

"Ah, I forgot to mention. The System recognizes items of sufficient power or use. If focused upon and with adequate intent basic information will be provided if the item in question is significant enough to warrant Ethodthem's attention. The map and necklace are two such items." 

Diversi's Map

An accurate, finely penned map created by the legendary explorer Jenji. The map contains the locations of cities, points of interest, dungeons, havens and much more. A map of this caliber rivals even the master maps of the Cartographer's Guild. While the map does not cover the breadth in which many commercial maps do the accuracy and recency of the map is unmatched. Jenji penned the map with an enchanted pen, the more colorful an area on the parchment is, the more recently it has been visited. And thus the more accurate it is. On the map lies a single mark that Jenji left, its purpose is unknown.

Suddenly a pop-up took a portion of Luck's view. And evidently Ace's as well, by the look on his face.

Crystal Pendant

A necklace with an affixed jewel enchanted to seek out the wearer's family.

"The description on the necklace is rather anticlimactic." Ace was leaning slightly toward Luck, the neckace under his light scrutiny.

"A simple description for a simple item." Diversi said, walking to the terrace of the temple, his tail trailing him.

Ace shrugged rolling up the map.

"Now leave me. The Pools have suffered long enough." And then Diversi sat down in all his variance and ignored them.

Luck looked to the beautiful sights, gazing out from the temple. It didn't look like it was suffering. Not at all. But then Ace coughed lightly.

"How are we supposed to get to shore without damaging the map?" The water was up to his knees before he realized the problem. The depth surround the temple was nearly ten meters down.

"There." Luck pointed, nearby there was sandbank, leading to the edge of the lake. From there they could walk along the rock pathways that encircled each pool. 

Ace started wading towards the shallow area. His feet switching from marble to soft sand, kicking up clouds as he touched down. The clouds of light brown sand sparkled gently before settling.

They were almost halfway when Ace turned around and glanced at the temple, map held over his shoulder. Luck waded past him, the water up to his stomach. 

"Something wrong?" Luck dug at the sand with his toes patiently.

"Do you feel that?" Along the nearby pools and handful of fish people were standing up on the pathways.

"What?" More people were coming to stare. "I don't feel anything. Well, aside from the sand and the water."

They were the older ones that came to see. At first, Luck thought he was doing something strange but quickly realized they were looking to the temple past him. 

"It's magic." Ace fully turned, intent to watch, the map still preciously held above water. "I think it's Diversi."

A noiseless boom that Luck neither felt nor heard but was aware of all the same passed through the lake. A wave of distortion shot out through the lake, too fast to follow. Another came and Luck felt something tickling his feet. Green tufts were rising from the sandy bottom of the pools. Growing right underneath his toes. Next were the fish, a pair of silver fish came near to Luck, nipping at his legs. The seaweed had reached his knees, much of the pool growing similiar plant life. Another wave and more fish came to Luck. A whole school had surrounded Luck in less that ten seconds. They appeared from nowhere, impossiblly materializing nearby. The mass of scales looked like a writhing ball of shimmering flesh. Luck smiled, they were harmless but were nudging and pushing him into each other before aligning him upright again. Their sheer number gave them the strength to move Luck from his place. He kept his hands above water so they wouldn't nip at his fingers.

Ace held back a laugh. "Having fun there, Lucky?" He said surpressing a chuckle. He was only a few meters away but the water around him was completely free of fish.

"Can I see the map Ace?" Luck put on a face of sudden clarity. "I'm thinking it might be possible to... " He trailed off, lost in thought.

Ace reset himself, ending the teasing. "Think of something?" He sloshed to the end of the school of fish, which was surrounding Luck in a three meter radius, and reached the map to Luck.

"Just a question." Right as Luck grasped the map he grinned. "Care for a swim Ace?" Ace had the face of a man betrayed, his eyes going wide before settling into a stink eye in a single instant.

And just as he said it the fished moved and tripped Ace into the water, causing a large splash and some laughter from the Subaqa lining the pool closest to him. The silent resignation on Ace's face as he was dunked had Luck cracking up. Ace glared at Luck as he came up for air, still being pushed around by the fish and still being laughed at. Luck could feel the happiness coming from everything in the pool, his trait letting him communicate. The fish were just happy to be alive. It was almost comical how the many voices of the fish sounded through the connection.

"Come on. It's not that bad Ace." Luck said. 

"You- "

The fish, more than happy to comply, tripped Ace again but caught him like a chair. Ace looked to Luck skeptically, who responded with an apologetic smile. The fish surrounding Luck caught him the same way and suddenly the two were gliding across the pool watching the magic of a god reinvigorate the pools. Luck was having too much fun to just leave, he stopped by his belongings on the shore and dropped off the map before exploring once again. Ace cooled off after a while, his glare of mistrust receding at the sight of the whales. They were the same shade of blue that the water was. They swam right beside Luck, Ace even reaching out to one and riding that instead of the fish. Luck mentally asked the whale, and it was more than happy to bring Ace along. With a warning Luck himself switched to a whale and him and Ace were brought underwater, the sights not at all blurred with the stark clarity that everything was. Everything was tinted blue and their mounts were almost invisible, save for when they dived into the forests of underwater greenery. Ace was only a few meters to his right, his right hand grasping on something not there, but slicing through the water as if it was nothing. He looked like a superhero, or alternatively, a boy pretending to be one. The small smile on his face, even underwater was what really sold the image. The seaweed was the same everywhere, but there were different fish and species of fish so bizzare they didn't seem real. The whole affair was amazing.

Luck dried himself off, some towels were given to him by the people nearby. He didn't even think they used the things. Soon enough, Uhet came to find him.

"Diversi revives." Uhet was standing in the wake, his hands behind his back.

Luck was still smiling, amber eyes sparkling more than the water. "I thought it was beautiful before."

"Then you have not seen anything." Uhet had a satisfied smile on his face. "It is a fraction of what it was."

"It's truly a wonder, this place." Luck said, still dripping wet. "And truly a shame that we must leave so soon." He sighed.

"Why so-" Uhet interrupted himself. "Ah, it was a matter of family was it not?"

"And of grave importance, as i''m sure you understand." He said, glancing at Juhn and Sehn who were trying and failing to communicate with Ace.

"Please, allow us to house you for a single night. It will be nightfall in only a few hours. It would be wise to set out in the morning."

"What is he saying? I can't even understand the kids at all." Ace threw up his hands. "It's as if their language is gargling mouthwash." 

"He wants us to stay the night." Luck said amused. "And I think it's meant to sound like that, it's easier to talk when your mouth is half submerged. Fish people and water and all that." Luck explained.

"Huh. Well the decision's on you Lucky." Ace slicked his hair back, just as soaked as Luck. "I'm fine with whatever." But even as he said it, his eyes lit up as a whale approached him, the same one, Luck noticed, that gave him the ride earlier.

Luck sat back, towel on his head. He thought of his family as he had done many times since they were seperated. He wondered what they would do if the positions were reversed. And he put himself in their shoes if that hypothetical situation were true. When he did he shook his head smiling at his own idiocy, they would all undoubtedly come to the same conclusion. 

They would trust him.

A Lockyer was a dangerous thing after all.