The sound of rushing water echoes in the tunnel. The chilling scent of sea air hits Arena's nose as he steps past the archway. He stands on a stone bridge over a chasm. He looks up to see small crystals acting like stars scattered about in the dark night sky that is the stone ceiling. Spread about, embedded in the walls, are stone statues of shark heads with their jaws gaping. Water gushes out from their jaws and through their dagger teeth.

Arena sticks his finger in the mouth of a shark statue nearby. He tastes his finger; it is indeed seawater. He notices scratch marks spread all through the cavern walls. Stepping past the archway, Lahar and Pie gaze at the sight. At the end of the bridge is a large island floating in the air.

Illuminating most of the chasm are grand crystals branching off the rim of the island in a contorted fashion. Each crystal shines its own individual, gorgeous color. A sheet of white sand covers the island. In the center, someone sits. The person's back is turned to them. A torn navy-blue hooded cloak hides the person's physical features.

"Do you see him?" Lahar asks quietly so as not to alert the figure on the island.

"If you mean the only person here sitting in the middle of the island, then yes, I do," Arena replies just as quietly.

"There is no way that they think I don't notice them. I just can't believe that," they hear a voice say. The words don't echo in the cavern; instead, the voice runs through their minds like a thought.

Arena and Lahar stand there for a moment in silence. They contemplate whether what has just happened is real or just imagination. They turn to each other, and by the expressions on their faces, they know that what just happened was real.

"Now, don't be shy. You three are welcome to come down and talk," says the same voice in a welcoming tone.

Lahar and Arena look at each other once more to confirm what they've heard. Arena shrugs and says, "We won't learn anything standing here."

"Plus, it's rude to keep him waiting," Lahar says as she gestures for Arena to go first.

They all walk down the long stone bridge, with Pie behind both of them. Lahar looks below them into the deep chasm. "That's strange," she whispers.

"What is?"

"There is a lot of water pouring down, but I don't hear the water hitting the bottom." They both look down into the seemingly bottomless pit with worried expressions. From then on, they walk practically in the middle of the bridge and avoid the sides.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As they walk, Lahar feels something wet hit her nose. She looks up to see drops of water occasionally falling from the stalactites above. Once Lahar steps on the white sand, a chill runs up her spine. The cloaked figure stands without turning.

The cloak stops midway down his back and is tattered, with ripped ends. He has tight black pants on with stone thorns ripping through the fabric in random areas around each leg. His feet are buried in the sand. "It's strange to see that I have visitors. I normally don't get company down here," the voice says.

"You do keep yourself hidden. That might contribute to that," Arena replies out loud.

The person chuckles. "That is a solid point."

Arena steps forward. "Hello. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Arena. My friend here is Lahar, and behind me is Pie," he says in a respectful tone.

"Hi," Lahar says nervously. Her eyes focus on the stone thorns, while Arena examines the cave.

"I should introduce myself. Just please don't overreact when I turn. It will be slightly...shocking," he says. The man turns around to reveal that they have been speaking to a wooden mannequin. He is shirtless, revealing his slim wooden body riddled with small cracks and scratches. Each arm has the same stone thorns piercing out from under the wood. Small barnacles grow on his chest and sides, making his body resemble a sunken ship.

He pulls down his hood to reveal his face. His head is well kept, unlike the rest of his body. There are no strong facial features, only a smooth and round surface. He has two cleanly carved holes where his eyes should be. In each hole flickers a small white flame.

Lahar stares in shock at the sight in front of her. She tries her best to remain calm, but the fear and shock ooze from her face. Her eyes turn to Arena. His eyes shine as he stares in awe at what is in front of him. His heart beats like a hummingbird with excitement. "Phenomenal," he whispers.

"This is the part where you both freak out and yell," the voice says in a monotone.

Lahar chews on her gum more furiously, hoping it will remedy how she feels. In a shaking tone, she's able to say, "No, we won't do that. Will we, Arena?"

Arena snaps back into reality. "Of course not. We didn't come all this way to freak out in front of you. If anything, you're fantastic. Are you a wisp? How are you moving?"

"I am glad to see you all are reacting well," he says, flattered by Arena's words. Grains of sand rise in the air, clumping together to take shape as chairs, one for each of them. "Take a seat." He gestures to the chairs.

"Thank you." Arena pauses. "Actually, I did not catch your name," he says as he sits down on the chair. Pie sits next to his chair, keeping his eyes locked on the mannequin.

"That is because I never gave you one. Well, to be correct, I don't have one," the mannequin says. He ponders to himself for a moment. His finger taps his wooden head. The noise reminds Lahar of a wooden spoon hitting a table.

"I never really had a need for one. Wow, I can just name myself now!" he says with enthusiasm. With an abundance of joy and pride in his voice, he says, "In the spirit of your three odd names, I will go with Void."