The corrosive wind blew from the monstrous skeleton, killing anything ignorant enough to approach the tower. Even with the creature’s death, the soul-eroding aura remained ever-potent. To Rio, the wind was wind, and the skeleton was home.

Skyvern Ridge towered as the landmark of the infinite plains outstretched under it. Its serpentine body was a white river, and its ribs formed a cage around the desecrated tower. Only the foundation and an archway remained of the citadel, and the rest of the building was ground to dust.

The skeleton stood propped up by its withered arms, and the human-like torso faced the raging sea to the west. The titan’s corpse rested at the junction of the great clans’ territories and between two domains. If Valor ever wanted to invade Song, they must die at Skyvern Ridge first.

Rio loved imagining what could have killed the titan whose corpse brought Saints to their knees. The thought of such an existence put him at ease. Everybody is a fish in the ocean.

The titan’s skull had long rotted out, and Rio had furnished the place over the years. The skull was as wide and tall as some castles in the waking world, with carpets, tapestries, wooden tables, leather couches, and many other appliances Rio installed.

Standing in the center of the skull was a three-meter coral fountain spewing deep blue and emerald green water.

Rio finished his meal, leisurely cleaned up, and tidied his home. The sun fired rays of light through the two hollow circles at the front, giving an orange hue to everything.

Rio snapped a red piece of coral from the fountain and threaded a string through it to hang around his neck. At his behest, a silken Greek tunic manifested over his body, displaying the ever-changing colors of the ocean.

Rio was solemn as he stepped out and walked across the beak. He knew he was getting close, yet the idea haunted him. What then?

‘Kill her.’

The thoughts petered out, and Rio breathed deeply. Then, he jumped. The ground rose at a frightening speed, and Rio’s armor whipped in the wind.

As he fell, Rio gained distance from the skeleton, and once the oppressive feeling was gone, Rio summoned his echo.

An elk white as the titan’s bones manifested in a blizzard of sparks. Its sky-blue horns caught the sunlight and refracted it in every direction in every color.

Winter made a loud blare, and the wind gathered at his feet. Their fall turned into an ascent, and Winter carried Rio over the raging sea. Rio concentrated and activated his abilities. The ocean’s roar was cut off, replaced with more eerie cries.

‘No rest for me.’

Usually, the cries would start to drive someone mad. For Rio, they were simply annoying. Rio listened to the voices, trying to discern each one and the words they said.

“They couldn’t move… And she just killed them.” Rio latched onto the voice and willed it to become louder.

“Ss-she was someone I knew.. She was awakened but the power she wielded was on par with Masters.”

“And where did she go?” Rio asked.

“Clock Tide Stone.” The voice replied, the anguish turning to fury. “Kill her. Kill HER! MAKE HER-!!” Rio silenced the voice and opened his eyes. After a moment of peace, the voices returned.

“Where is Clock Tide Stone?” Rio asked. The voices didn’t change, and Rio continued to ask. Eventually, one voice told him they had a lover who traveled to the place.

‘It’s a citadel.’ Rio was getting ominous premonitions all around. ‘Why would she go to a citadel? Returning to the waking world is not an option.’

Rio stopped the voices and directed Winter based on the information he had gathered. A wooden tablet hung from Rio’s neck.

Tablet of the Lost was a tool memory that hid the wearer and those they touch from the senses. The enchantment was passive, but the wearer could not have hostile intentions or do anything violent.

Soon, the skies darkened, and storms populated the ocean. Winter traveled through, a shell of wind protecting them.

It was easy to get lost, and Rio relied on the voices to keep himself on track. The number of voices referencing the citadel told him when he was getting close.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Days passed, and Rio spent the time listening to the increasingly frenzied voices. Voices from denser populations were more likely to hold resentment or regrets in death, which meant Rio was getting closer to people.

‘Holy sh--” Winter dodged the sudden attack and dropped below the clouds. Rio scanned the ocean to find the source and dismissed the Tablet of the Lost, summoning Ocean’s Wrath. An ornate silver spear appeared in his hands.

A boat resting just above the waves was being tossed by the wind and water. Somehow, the vessel wasn’t capsizing, and dozens of people ran around, taking positions on the deck.

“Should I just ignore them?” Rio wondered to his echo. The elk huffed with pride and started to trot away.

“No. That other attack from before…” Rio dismissed Winter. A second after the echo vanished, a large tentacle crushed the air where he was. One thought shot through Rio’s mind.

‘Saint!’

Rio oriented himself and held out Ocean’s Wrath. The weapon morphed and elongated. The spear turned into a knife and wire.

Rio hurled the knife into one of the masts and pulled himself up. He traveled in a spiral before landing on the rounded wood.

The awakened below him held their positions, their weapons aimed at him. ‘Any chance they just want to say hello?’

Rolling his eyes to himself, Rio watched the tentacle recede into the water. A figure jumped out seconds later and landed on the deck with a splash. The tall woman brushed her wet hair aside and gazed at Rio.

“Hello,” The woman shouted to him. “Who might you be?”

“A traveler,” Rio called back. “Is this the House of Night’s hospitality? You shot me out of the sky.”

“I did nothing. You avoided everything without a scratch.” The woman shot back.

“How shameless.”

“I’m getting tired looking up at you. Can you come down here?” Her tone left no room for argument, and Rio hopped down.

He landed in a crouch, and several sharp weapons greeted him. Rio ignored the gestures and focused on the Saint. They were about the same height and had a similar build. Their eyes met.

“You look shorter upclose.” She finally said.

“You’re flatter.” The boat was silent; the woman laughed awkwardly, and her pearl-green eyes hardened.

“Okay then.”

“Never take an insult; always return in kind.” The Awakened around them bristled, and Rio started to feel uncomfortable.

He was confident he could leave whenever he liked, if it was just them. However, escaping out from under a Saint’s nose was a more daunting task.

“You speak like you have a brain, yet you tried to sneak into my territory.” The Saint raised her hand, and the Awakened withdrew their weapons, keeping them ready but not in Rio’s face.

“I wasn’t sneaking anywhere. I was avoiding nightmare creatures.”

“Which brings us full circle, who are you?”

“Nobody.” Rio smiled politely.

“Why are you here… Odysseus?” Rio was surprised that the Saint knew about the myth. He mulled over how he should answer.

‘The true or the partial truth?’

“I’m hunting someone.” His reply caused some stir in the crew. “A woman with raven hair and intricate tattoos over her chest and arms.”

“Who are they to you?” The Saint pressed.

“A fugitive of Song. That’s all I can say.”

“In case you can’t read maps, this is the Storm Sea.”

“So?”

“Brat.” The Saint turned around and shouted orders to the crew. Several groups broke off and started pulling ropes. The boat rocked and turned, sailing forward.

“I’ve been getting reports of a mysterious Awakened traveling my waters. Perhaps you can shed some light on the situation.

“She is not a human, but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Or should I say a Corrupted Devil in human skin.”

“What is she to Song?”

“I plead silence.”

“This isn’t a courtroom.” The Saint smiled. “You have no rights. The only law in the ocean is power, which is currently mine.”

Rio shrugged and mimed, zipping his lips.

“Haha, you are bold. Bold and stupid.” The Saint raised her finger and tapped his chest. “What is she to you?”

Rio froze. Many masters possess a presence after ascending. Many could describe them as domineering or bright.

The feeling emanating from Rio was scented like rotting corpses, and the Saint took a step back. The Awakened nearby felt like cold, bony hands were strangling them.

“Calm down brat, it was just a question.” The Saint dispelled Rio’s power, and he felt like the ocean had landed on top of him. The weight pushed him to his knees.

The Saint was young, but she was not remiss to call him a brat. Almost everyone was a brat to her.

“Sorry, I was a little carefree there.” Rio returned to smiling. “I’m Rio by the way.”

The Saint let out a hearty laugh and took his hand. “Wavera.”