The three successive thunks of the slips partially embedding themselves in the wooden hull of the Ashtari ship rang in Henry’s ears. His wide eyes watched as they seemed to dissolve upon impact before he looked up, towards the minister and professor on the other ship.

He narrowed his eyes, but forced himself not to frown. No one on the other ship seemed to notice. His gaze flickered to his brother, restraining his questioning look.

Ash was still tense. His teeth were grit and his hands were clenched, as if it hadn't thrown out those slips. If Henry hadn’t seen it himself, he wouldn’t believe his brother had dared to do so.

“Can you at least give us some time in the central portion?” Ash asked. “In the evening or even night, when your people aren’t in the area. Wouldn’t that take into consideration security concerns?”

For a moment, Henry was taken aback. Ash’s voice was still angry and defensive, but there was some relenting. He was willing to compromise, which was a surprise.

“No.” The Minister’s voice was firm. “The entire central area of the Shallows will be secured for His Royal Highness.”

“We’ve given you enough leeway. If you do not accept it, we will be forced to send you away!” The Professor's burning glare did not cease.

“But the Maritime Accords-”

“Don’t be foolish! There are half a dozen of our ships around the Shallows, with more coming, and you only have one.” The Professor’s haughty voice all but asked them ‘so what’.

“You’re outnumbered and the Professor is already being generous,” the Minister told them. He scowled. “If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be allowed here at all.”

Ash could only take a deep, conceding breath. He looked at Henry and gave him a nod.

Henry turned back to the men on the other ship. “Very well. We’ll anchor on the outer edges, but I trust that there will be no additional harassment to send us away later?”

The Professor opened his mouth to reply, but the Minister was faster.

“You have two days!”

“Two days?!” Ash balked once more and Henry grabbed his arm, afraid he’d send another few slips at the ship. “The entire area around the edges of the Shallows can’t be surveyed in two days!”

“How long are your people staying?” Henry asked. “We can come back after you leave. This will ensure that such security precautions won’t be necessary.”

The Minister’s face reddened. “Do you not yet understand? This entire area-”

“His Royal Highness and the Imperial University will stay as long as needed to survey the site. The duration is none of your concern.” The Professor lifted his chin. “I suggest you make use of these two days.”

Henry looked at Ash, silently asking if there was anything else he wanted to say. Ash closed his eyes, took another deep breath to calm himself, and exhaled before nodding. Henry looked back at the men on the other boat.

“Two days. No more harassment.”

“We will send someone to check on you in two days.”

“It will take another half day to circle around to our preferred location, so two and a half,” Henry said. The Minister opened his mouth to protest, but Henry cut him off. “Or are you so impatient to send us away for a reason?”

The Minister’s mouth snapped shut and the Professor beside him narrowed his eyes, his face darkening.

“We are merely trying to protect the site from disruption before His Royal Highness can have a proper survey done.”

Both brothers sneered. “I’m sure,” Henry said. Without taking his eyes off the other ship, he shouted. “Captain, set course for the western edge of the Shallows!” He released Ash and patted his shoulder. “Let’s make haste.”

Ash sent a disgusted look at the other ship before whirling around and stomping towards the main deck. Henry kept his eyes on the Ashtari ship as Sea Serpent Five began to move forward. The opposing ship didn’t stop them, but the armed soldiers on board remained glowering as Henry sailed away.

Once they were out of cannon range, Henry walked down the stairs to get to where his brother was seated on a grate with his eyes bitterly fixed on the sails above them.

“We’ll get there in less than half a day,” Ash said, almost promising him.

Henry nodded his head and stood beside him, contemplating what he’d say next. Finally, he just decided to come out with it. “So, what are you planning?”

Ash gave him a dismissive grumble. “They’ve only given us two days. What can I plan?”

“You wouldn’t have agreed, albeit reluctantly, if you didn’t have a plan,” Henry replied knowingly. “So, what are you planning?”

Ash kept his eyes on the balls of wind blowing into the sails and answered in a bored voice. “Anchor at the western edge of the Shallows and then swim towards the center by nightfall.”

“Do you know how long that will take?”

“You said the western edge of the Shallows, which is the closest to the center, so you bought us some time,” Ash replied. He glanced at his brother. “The question should be do you have the energy to last that long in your old age.”

Henry raised a brow. “I’m seven years older than you.”

“That’s practically geriatric.”

“Get us swords!” Henry shouted over his shoulders and Ash winced.

“All right, all right! I’m not doubting you, it’s just that it’ll take us at least a few hours of swimming to get to the Shallows.”

“It’ll take me a few hours,” Henry said. “You’re not going anywhere until we’re certain you’re unaffected by the minerals on the island.”

“We’re close enough and I don’t feel anything strange,” Ash replied. He looked up at the ball of wind. “I can still control it well. I don’t feel any fatigue or weakness or decreased senses.”

“We’ll decide when we’re closer.”

Ash gave him an exasperated look. “Brother, you’re too worried. Swimming isn’t a gift that I have to worry about losing the closer we get. And once a slip is activated, the energy becomes external, so it won’t be affected either,” he told him, his voice filled with confidence. “I’ll be fine swimming.”

“What if you need to use magic or a slip when we’re in the water?” Henry asked.

Ash scrunched his face. “Do you think there is something down there that’s dangerous?”

“Yes, they’re called the people of the Ashtari Prince,” Henry replied.

“I doubt they’re going to go diving at night. It’s risky and not for inexperienced swimmers,” Ash said.

Henry rolled his eyes. “Did you forget that he was hiring in Solyek?”

Ash crinkled his eyes. “Oh.” He shook his head and seemed to shrug it off. “Well, human divers can only do so much. They can only dive so deep, swim so far...hold their breaths so long.”

Henry squinted. “I don’t know if I like where this is going.”

“Brother, don’t worry.”

“You saying that makes me worry even more.”

“Even if they dive at night, it’s not as if we can’t avoid them. Light at night, under water, only goes so far, but we’ll be able to know where they are thanks to that light,” Ash said, sounding as if wasn’t taking the Ashtari Prince seriously.

Henry furrowed his brows. “If we’re swimming at night, won’t we have light with us, too?”

Ash looked back at him with incredulous disbelief. “What part of I am a magic genius did you forget? You of all people should know that the first real slip I made was to let there be light - and I was five!”

Henry’s chest tightened. Ash learned to write magic symbols and characters before he learned to write the language he actually spoke, and the first slip Ash had made had been made for him.

“They’ll see the glow if we use slips,” he said in an even voice. “And your slips are made of mulberry paper. They’re durable with regular use, but they’ll still succumb to water.”

Ash rolled his eyes. “I can do more than use paper slips.” He touched the strap of the bag that he wore across his body at all times. “I have all I need here to make what we need.”

He thought he’d be used to his brother’s products, but every now and then, Henry shuddered. After all, not all of them would be perfect. His thoughts must’ve been written on his face, and Ash scoffed.

“You don’t believe me.”

“You can do anything,” Henry replied, in an almost emotionless voice. “But will it be safe?”

“You make it sound as if I’m planning on sacrificing you,” Ash said. “It’s just eye drops. They will allow you to see in minimal light. There will be light from the moon the next few nights, which will be enough.”

Henry remained suspicious. “Have you tested them?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“A few times. I was trying to perfect the mixture and get an idea of both strength and duration,” Ash replied. “Do you want to read my experiment notes?”

“No.”

“Then don’t question me. Just take the eye drops when I tell you,” Ash told him.

“And there are no side effects?”

“None, but there is a drawback.” Ash looked serious for a moment. “The eye drops increase your eye’s sensitivity to light, allowing you to see in minimal conditions, but until the eye drops wear off, your eyes will remain sensitive, so sudden bright flashes of light or daylight before they wear off will temporarily blind you.”

Henry stared at his brother. “So, too much light and it will blind me?”

“Temporarily,” Ash stressed.

Henry narrowed his eyes. “How long is ‘temporarily’?”

“Until the light is gone or the eye drops wear off,” Ash replied. “Whichever comes first.”

“Ash-”

“No, think about it! It’s perfect at night. We won’t use them until it starts to get dark,” Ash told him. “Then, we’ll be able to dive without having to use an external light source.”

“What if they attack us with something bright?” Henry asked.

“My glasses will mitigate the sudden light. I have a spare,” Ash said, touching his bag once more. “You can use it and it’ll adhere it to your head like mine so it won’t fly off.”

“I don’t need glasses to turn my eyes blue. They’re already blue.”

“They’re not going to do anything to your already blue eyes.” Ash was growing annoyed from the way he bristled. “Just wear what I tell you and trust me!”

Henry studied his brother a bit longer. “You’re much more determined now than you were when we first got on the ship.”

“Well, the circumstances have changed, haven’t they?” Ash scowled. “I didn’t expect to be pushed into such a situation by the last surviving member of the Lunapsar royal family.” He spoke the last bit drenched with sarcasm.

Henry furrowed his brows. “Are you all right?”

Ash didn’t answer immediately, but behind his glasses, his gaze seemed to harden. “Obviously not. How many others were sent away with threats and warnings? What right do they have to keep the Shallows all to themselves? And is Dareisol really condoning this ridiculousness?”

“I’m not talking about Ashtar’s threats and attempted control of the region,” Henry said in a low voice.

He watched his brother swallow hard. “Everyone knew he was Lunapsar, but a member of the royal family? Is their blood so cheap?”

Henry tapped his food. “I don’t remember him claiming that either, but there hasn’t been anyone to claim Mahsa blood since the Fall.”

Ash sneered once more. “I doubt he even knows they call themselves Mahsa.” He looked up at the sails. “Since he enjoys pretending to be something he’s not, let him pretend he’s found something.”

“What if he does?”

Ash snorted and looked back at him with defiance. “You think I’ll let him?”

“Ash, if we find something down there, we can’t possibly take everything.” He saw Ash reach for his bag once more and shook his head. “Entire buildings aren’t going to fit in your preservation bag, Ash. Items need to be able to pass through the opening.”

Ash’s shoulders drooped. He was silent for a moment as he seemed to consider what he could and could not do. “ Perhaps I can’t bring back buildings whole....”

He could only imagine his brother chipping away at parts of buildings one by one to carry them away. Henry inhaled deeply. “We can figure that out we come to it. Tell me, what did you throw at their ship?”

Ash perked up. He blinked and shrugged before turning away from Henry.

“Slips.”

“What kind of slips? And why didn’t they react?” Henry asked, his lips tightening into a line. “I know I heard them hit the ship.”

The corner of Ash’s lip tugged up into a wary smirk. “Do you really think I’d warn them? They can't see those slips and won’t notice them.”

“How are you sure?”

“One side glows, but the side facing them isn’t noticeable. I kept them shielded in my hands until I launched them. Unless they had strong enough sensitivity to magic, they wouldn’t have noticed them, either. And now that they’ve been absorbed into the ship, they’ll never know.”

Henry looked at him with suspicion. “Until?”

He watched Ash’s eyes avert his. “Until the hull rots away enough to weaken the wood, break, and cause water to flood in.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Cyrilla Traceras of Algora, Concepts of Time and Space, volume one,” Ash replied in an innocent voice. “Volume two is more about space and was rather inconclusive.”

Henry stared at him, dumbfounded. “You can manipulate time now?”

“No, of course not. I don’t have that kind of magic energy reserve, and actual time manipulation has never been proven possible. At best, it’s theoretical.” Ash dismissed it at once. He pursed his lips. His voice grew quiet as he spoke under his breath. “But understanding time in relation to decay helped.”

Henry drew his head back. “Never admit that in front of any kind of authority.”

“I’m not stupid.”

Henry shook his head. “I’m going to have Raiju stay with the ship and bring Naali with us. What do we need when we dive?”

“Just wear clothes that won’t get entangled with anything or cause too much drag in the water,” Ash told him. “Leave everything else to me.”

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

“The Second Young Master is certainly...creative.” The First Mate watched as Ash tied pieces of palm husks on his feet.

“Pearl divers in Samelu used this method to increase their speed and distance,” Ash replied as he secured them some thin rope. “I know it looks primitive, but the husks are both stiff and flexible enough to act similar to tails on a dolphin. At least, that’s how Momma described them.”

Henry was on his feet, unable to look away from the dark brown dried husks that Ash had pulled out of his bag. He’d found that Ash had trimmed and shaped them, adding straps that could be tied to one’s feet and ankles to keep them on.

They wore pants cut off at the knees and secured on by their belts. Both of them wore their preservation bags around their bodies and had daggers hanging in sheaths connected to their belts.

“Tie up your hair,” Henry told him. His own thick, dark red hair had been braided to keep out of his face when they were in the water. Ash’s hair was shorter, but he still used multiple ties to keep it back.

Ash looked towards the horizon. They arrived at the western edge of the Shallows before noon. The edges were defined by the sudden drop in depth surrounding the sunken island. There was a visible difference in the color of the water, with the deeper areas being a darker blue than the rest of the Shallows, so their target area was easy to spot.

They anchored in the waters just before they turned a deep, dark blue.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

From what Ash estimated, the sea beneath was still quite deep. He secured his preservation bag and checked his belt and dagger after tying up his hair.

“All right,” Ash said. He reached into his bag and took out a small glass jar. “This will allow you to breathe underwater for one full day.”

“Can we come up if needed?” Henry asked as he took the glass jar and pulled off the cork. Ash nodded.

“Yes. We just have to remember to take another this time tomorrow.”

“Young Masters.” The Captain frowned and stepped forward. “Are you not returning?”

Henry shook his head. “Not for the full two days or we complete a sweep of the Shallows,” he told them. “Remain anchored here. Ash and I are well prepared.”

“Are you sure you don’t want one of us to come with you, Young Master?” one of the sailors asked with clear worry in his voice.

Henry smiled a bit and shook his head once more. “I’m certain. Have faith in us.” He put a small, round pill into his mouth and swallowed it. He looked at Ash, who also swallowed his pill. “It doesn’t taste like anything.”

“That’s my goal when I’m making pills,” Ash replied. “We’ll put the eye drops on when the sun starts to set.” He began to make awkward shuffling steps to the side of the boat.

“Second Young Master, do you need assistance going down to the water?” another crew member asked, already turning towards a rope.

Ash waved him off and continued on his way to the edge of the open gate. He looked down from the deck and tilted his head to the side.

“No. I’m good.” A moment later a splash was heard and half the crew rushed to the side of the ship. Ash moved his legs and broke the surface just beside the ship. He raised an arm and waved with a smile across his face. “Brother, get in! The water is great!”

Above him, Henry’s dull eyes blinked before letting out a tired sigh. He looked back at the crew and gave them a nod of his head. “Remain here until we return. If we don’t return by nightfall on the second day, proceed with your shipment.”

The Captain gasped as his face paled. “Young Master-”

Another splash was heard as Henry jumped off the side of the ship. He floated to the top and gave the crew on the ship one last wave before looking at his brother.

Ash met his gaze with excited eyes. “Shall we race?”

“Conserve your energy, idiot.” Henry rolled his eyes before stretching out his body and beginning to swim northeast.

Ash chuckled and quickly set off, catching up with Henry with ease.

For a while, they swam above the water. They dove beneath the surface a few times, Ash more than Henry, to get a look at the sea floor.

After half a century or so, remnants of a civilization had been covered with sand from the sea and ash from the eruption that had been the final nail in Samelu’s proverbial coffin. There were stone foundations and piles of stone bricks lying around the seafloor, but the outlines of the villages and towns were easy to see.

Ash could still make out where streets had been.

Once, he dove deep enough to swim between the sunken ruins of houses, through the streets where he and his mother’s ancestors had once walked through. He remembered walking through the streets of the West Wind Valley, surrounded by a massive Lunapsar diaspora while he and his brother held his mother’s hands during the water festival.

Did that street he swam through once host a water festival? Did children once race through, throwing buckets of water at each other while their parents, also soaked, watched from afar like his mother did while Henry chased him down to prevent him from going too crazy with fun?

Every so often, Henry would stop and ask how he was feeling to ensure that he wasn’t affected by the mineral that weakened Lunapsar gifts. Ash didn’t feel any changes and even manipulated some water in his hand each time to check his abilities.

Henry looked visibly relieved each time.

“You’re too overprotective,” Ash sighed before kicking off to continue towards the central area of the Shallows.

Henry stretched out his arms and kicked out his legs. “And you are the only brother I have left.”

It was both a sad, but affectionate sentence. Ash didn’t complain the next time Henry asked to check.

Eventually, the water beneath them grew lighter, meaning it was becoming shallower. It had taken them half a day to get that close. Their route had been a bit roundabout, and they’d lingered over a few underwater ruins. Henry didn’t rush him, for which Ash was thankful.

He’d never been that close to his ancestral homeland. It had fallen before his mother was born and there was warmth that spread through him the closer he got to the center. The closer he got, the stronger he felt a pull.

His mother said that their people all knew the direction of Samelu, no matter where they were in the world. He’d tested this out during his travels.

In the West Wind Valley, instinctively Lunapsar would turn southwest, towards the Smiya Sea. When Ash was gallivanting in West Iveria, when he’d cross another silver-haired Lunapsar, he’d ask them to look towards Samelu and the direction they’d automatically turn their head was always correct.

He didn’t know if it was the mineral that was supposed to weaken gifts or if it was some sort of mystic connection that was so deeply ingrained in them that they would always know where their homeland was. Whatever it was, it was pulling Ash closer.

Perhaps Henry realized this, as for what felt like the last hour, he was swimming behind Ash without question.

“Ash.” He stopped them and Ash held his arms out to slow himself to a stop and floated upright. He looked over his shoulder and gave Henry a questioning look. “We should remain underwater from here on out.”

He looked at Ash and then towards the horizon of the direction where they were swimming. Ash followed his gaze and squinted. He wasn’t sure, but there was likely a guard ship nearby.

He looked up at the sky. The sun was still up, not yet hovering over the horizon, but Ash decided now was a good time.

“Then, let’s put on the eye drops. Take out your glasses.”

Henry reached into the bag, which was strapped tight across his chest, and took out Ash’s spare glasses. As he held them, Ash came over with an eye dropper.

“By the way, did you see the sea urchins? I think there will be more coming up in the shallow water,” Ash said after putting some drops in his own eyes. “Let’s get some up and bring them up to the ship.”

“Are these the good ones?” Henry asked, blinking before putting the glasses on. Ash’s spare glasses seemed to adhere to his head. He tried to tug it off, and found that it was difficult to do so. He’d have to use a good amount of force, but this meant the glasses were secure no matter how much they flopped around in the water.

“Yes, the ones with the long red spines are the best. They’re difficult to find and can’t be farmed.” Ash suddenly disappeared under water. A moment later, he returned holding two urchins. He handed one to Henry and used his dagger to crack open the other. The thick, golden glob was inside and he slurped it up. His eyes went wide. “Good gods, I forgot how good these were.”

“I always found them too salty,” Henry said. He split the urchin in half with his bare hands and then took a slurp. He furrowed his brows. “Huh...not too salty. You can really taste that rich, creamy buttery flavor.”

“It’s the freshness.”

“It still tastes like the ocean.”

“We are floating in the ocean.”

“Just get a few more. Some of the crew may want some.” Both dove into the water, going down towards the sea floor to pluck the fist-sized urchins and put them in their bags. Above them, the sky grew darker, but their vision underwater improved.

There was a slight bulge in Ash’s bag and he gave it a satisfied pat before swimming towards his brother and pointing forward. Henry nodded and followed behind him.

As they swam, they remained close to the seafloor, wanting to avoid surfacing by accident in case they were spotted. In addition, it was easier to see what was below them. They ignored the numerous fish and other creatures swimming around them. A few black tipped sharks swam by and Ash gave them gentle strokes as they passed.

Since they were following Ash’s sense of direction, they ignored the various wide roads they saw that would lead to the city and then up the ‘peak’, to where the Temple of the Moon was.

As the water grew darker, they caught sight of lights in the distance.

They were small, glowing dots that were moving.

Ash didn’t know how skilled the divers were in Solyek, though he remembered hearing of the old men saying they were the best. That was an impressive claim and, while Ash didn’t believe they were the best, he didn’t doubt that they were good.

Regardless, diving in the dark wasn’t easy, especially if one couldn’t see and breathe underwater.

At this point, he and Henry hadn’t surfaced since they first dived for urchins. This was because below them were the ruins of the city. Structures were larger and better built. Though partially toppled over and missing roofs and columns, the ruins were still that of a formerly thriving city.

It had been well kept up until the Fall.

Ash led Henry away. Divers from the Ashtari ships would focus on the city, as at the edge, once nestled against the mountain, was the royal residence. It was a walled compound with dozens of buildings, each serving specific purposes. Though they kept a low profile and swam around the old walls, Ash could still see the silver-gilt spires and gable ends, and the crystal tile mosaics.

He stopped swimming.

Behind him, Henry stopped as well. He turned his head, following Ash’s gaze. His own expression became complicated.

During the Fall, a young queen was on the throne after the death of grandmother. Her own parents had died suppressing a rebellion. The seeds of the rebellion hadn’t died, and when she was most vulnerable, while her older brother was on the mainland as an ambassador, there was a coup.

The last Queen was imprisoned and her brother came back for her and their people.

In the end, both siblings died, as did the older brother’s wife who was aiding with an evacuation. Like many victims of the Fall, their bodies were never found. The ocean had taken them.

Ash felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and saw his brother shaking his head. Ash pursed his lips, but nodded his head instead. He pointed to the palace complex and saw Henry’s brows furrow.

While they could breathe underwater, sound still could not carry well. Ash made a mental note to figure out how to speak underwater, but at this time, there was no ability to do so. He instead pointed to the palace once more and then brought his hands together in a pleading motion.

Henry almost threw his arms up, a clear sign he was asking ‘how’?

Ash patted the sea urchin filled bag on his chest. Henry’s incredulous look included an eye roll. Ash made the pleading hands towards his brother again before Henry moved back and motioned to the palace.

‘Fine, go ahead and try.’ He didn’t need to verbalize it to get his point across.

Ash beamed and reached to hug his brother, only for Henry to bat his hands away with disgust, and then cross his own arms over his chest, appearing stubborn.

Ash continued to smile as he twisted his body and became parallel with the seat floor once more. He stayed low to the ground, but instead of swimming to the wall of the palace he turned back.

He swam to the city wall. Ash reached the base of one of the watchtowers, which was now half as tall as it once was with a pile of rubble around the base. He reached into his bag, one arm nearly disappearing inside as he moved around and fished out a slender stone stick.

About half the length of his forearm and as thick as two fingers with a pointed end. It was shaped like a spike and as soon as he shoved it into the ground, several characters began to glow around the flattened side.

Ash pushed the spike all the way, until it’s top was flush with the ground, indistinguishable from a rock. He then swam away, holding a few more spikes in his hand.

The palace complex was large, but the city walls were even larger.

That was likely why after the third spike was placed, Henry was in front of him and held out his hand.

Ash’s face lit up. He knew he could count on his brother. Henry didn’t even know what the spikes were for, much less how they worked, but he figured out what needed to be done and didn’t ask questions. Filled with glee, he reached into his pouch and took out fist after fistfuls of spikes. The look of impatience on Henry’s face melted into confusion and then disbelief. He looked at Ash, who gave him an encouraging nod. He slowly gave Ash a small shake of his head.

Ash wasn’t telepathic, but he could almost hear Henry’s irritated ‘unbelievable’ before swimming away in the opposite direction to plant more spikes along the base.

Ash chuckled and continued the spiking. He worked as fast as he could and it was only when he saw Henry coming towards him from the opposite side, still holding spikes in his hand did he know the perimeter was encircled. He then pointed into the city.

From Henry’s slumping, defeated shoulders, Ash could tell he was already done with whatever Ash had planned. Still, Ash needed a center point marker and a marker at the highest point within the perimeter.

The center of the city was the plaza just outside the main gates of the palace. He shoved his last spike in and then motioned for Henry to follow them. Getting to the highest point, the central spire of the throne room, was difficult.

There were lights close by, indicating that there were divers approaching. They remained low, weaving around rubble before swimming up the backside of the throne room. The spire made of silver-gilt metal stood out, and for a moment, Ash stared at it and then at the spike he’d taken from Henry.

There was no dirt to shove the spike into.

As he was contemplating how to tie it on to the spire, Henry took his dagger and stabbed it into the torso-sized, hollow sphere at the top. Ash’s eyes widened as Henry shoved his spike into the hole he’d created. He looked at Ash and pointed to his accomplishment.

Did he just brute force it in there? Ash crinkled his eyes. He mentally shook his head. What does it matter? It’s in. He nodded at his brother and touched the top of the spike that was flush with the entrance of the hole, as if it were a stopper. He closed his eyes and released his energy into the spike.

Those who were sensitive to magic would’ve felt a pulse course outwards, from the center spire. It was like an underwater wave of energy. He glanced at Henry, who was looking around, as if watching an invisible wave.

Ash then grabbed his brother’s arm and pulled him away.

They made their way towards the remains of the mountain. He glanced over his shoulder once they swam over the perimeter of the city. He squinted and paused for a moment. Beside him, Henry jerked back. Ash glanced over and saw his brother’s stunned expression. Henry looked down at the wide expanse of sand and silt before looking at Ash.

Ash’s eyes crinkled up as he smiled.

Anything between the spikes engraved with symbols would be concealed by an illusion. It wasn’t just visual, either.

When his family was in hiding and his mother and brother needed to leave to get food, he would remain behind and hide. Afraid that one day, there wouldn’t be a convenient rock or hollowed out tree to hide in, Ash had searched his magic texts, dozens, if not hundreds of them, to find something to help him hide.

An illusion barrier was simple, but could be made more complex by combining spells on to a barrier marker, like the spikes. He started off by scratching characters onto leaves with a stick, as it was the fastest method, but now, he carried around plenty of prepared metal spikes he’d had Hana at the smithy help him make. He used them on occasion when he took ‘part time’ jobs.

Aside from an illusion spell, it altered the senses of smell and touch, completely hiding what was inside its perimeter.

He puffed out his chest and looked at his brother with a smug expression. So long as the spikes were buried, the illusion would continue. All the divers the Ashtari Prince would send wouldn’t be able to find them, even if those divers were mages. To cover his tracks, Ash included a magic-negating barrier.

High level mages could track magic signatures, and the last thing Ash wanted to deal with were Magic Tower drones swarming him to tell them how he did it. He’d been generous once, being a naive child of eleven, and they tried to steal his magic device and sell it as their own.

From then on, Ash refused to work with the Magic Towers.

He looked forward and continued to swim up the hill. The ground beneath was still charred black from when the volcano erupted and sent lava down the mountain sides, burning the forest and any flammable structures in its way.

They were still rather deep and the lights in the water indicated the other divers were further away. Ash kept his eyes on the hazy outline of a broken temple spire in the distance. His mother’s stories told him that the last Queen hadn’t died in the palace, but in the temple, when the eruption happened.

Ash dove down, heading to the inner sanctum of the small prayer building. The Temple of the Moon was smaller, but identical in layout to the Temple of the Sun at the West Wind Abbey. Ash had played hide-and-seek with the nuns there so many times, he knew it like the back of his hand.

Even with the Temple of the Moon nothing but ruins mostly buried in sand, silt, and hardened lava, he knew where to go.

Henry grabbed his wrist and gave him a questioning look. Ash pointed to the ruins below before lifting his hands and making a motion of putting a hat on his head. Henry looked confused, but Ash waved for him to follow.

When the Minister and Professor confirmed that the Ashtari Prince was securing the site for his own surveying, it was obvious to everyone that the Ashtari Prince was looking for something.

Ash would bet that he was looking for something that would solidify his legitimacy. If the Ashtari Prince did his research, he’d know that since the last Queen and her brother died during the Fall, the leadership of the surviving Lunapsar people would go to the Elder Council. Not only were they to lead should the royal family fall, but it was up to them to identify and confirm a possible royal heir.

It was well known in the Lunapsar diaspora.

First, they needed to have some royal item passed down from their parent. Royal items were recorded and gifted to children at birth. Second, the Scythe of Lunaya.

Only summoned during religious and royal celebrations, the Scythe needed to be summoned by the reigning monarch as a show of divine-backed power, but it hadn’t been seen since the coronation of the last Queen.

Ash couldn’t do anything about the Scythe, but if the Ashtari Prince hadn’t summoned it by now, it was unlikely that he could. The problem was with the royal item. Jewelry that the last Queen was wearing when she died would be compelling, if one could find them.

The last Queen had long been taken by the ocean, but items like metal jewelry would survive.

Ash couldn’t let them get anything.

His pace quickened and Henry followed behind him. They were in the dead center of the Shallows. Who knew how many ships were above them. Even if the lights of the divers were further away, they could come close at any time.

Ash squeezed between two stone pillars that were partially buried. With the moonlight blocked out, there was even less light for them to adjust to.

Henry pulled him back. He motioned to his eyes and then out ahead of them. Ash held up his two fingers that usually pinched slips. Henry shook his head and pointed up to the surface.

Ash understood that if he used a light slip, though it would only last for a while before it dissolved in seawater, it could be seen and draw attention to them. Ash pointed deeper into the dark ruinous corridor.

However, if he didn’t use the light slip, it would be too dark to see anything at all.

Henry looked back at the small entrance they’d entered in. He narrowed his eyes and then turned his attention to the chest on his bag. He began to pull out a blanket and then swam towards the entrance and used the soaking blanket to plug the entrance.

Ash would’ve yelled in excitement if he could. As soon as the last rays of moonlight were blocked, Ash activated a slip. Controlling his energy, it was quite dim, but with the eye drops, it was enough to illuminate the corridor.

The intricate carvings of Lunapsar stories graced the walls as above them, the same famous cloisonne work on Lunapsar vases was used to create scenic images of religious and ceremonial life on the ceiling. Just being in the corridor would make any historian feel that their life was worth living.

As much as Ash admired the art all around him, he kept focused.

There wasn’t much space in the corridor, as once, it was an open portico with no walls, but after the eruption, debris had blocked the sides. There was only room to swim beneath the high, arched ceilings.

The closer they got to the prayer room; the less debris cluttered the area. It spilled out into an open chamber. Ash floated around in one place, surveying the room. Henry circled around. The water of the Shallows was warm and there was plenty of marine life. They knew not to find any bodies, not even bones.

Clothing was thin to begin with and footwear tended to be made of animal hide; all of those would disintegrate after several years in the ocean.

Thus, the only things that let them know that a person had died there were the bits of metal from weapons, clothing clasps, and adornments that protruded from the silt.

Ash’s chest was tight. There were swords and spear tips surrounding the prayer room, guarding someone.

He wasn’t sure if it was to protect them or imprison them.

He made his way towards the altar.

At the West Wind Abbey’s Temple of the Sun, he’d seen his mother do prayers at the steps of the identical altar.

He’d been so excited earlier, but now, as he hovered over the spot where one would pray and gently used his hand to sweep away the silt and debris, he was shaking all over. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears.

His other hand held the glowing light slip over a suspicious pile of debris.

Part of him hoped to find something, but another part of him hoped not to.

He wasn’t sure how to feel when the light made a piece of gold glitter. Ash froze in place, holding his free hand used to sweep away the dirt above the gold, unable to bring himself to touch it.

As the silt settled around it, he could make out its shape. It was at its peak as tall as his palm was wide, and relatively thin compared to a modern crown. Patterns were embossed and there was mother-of-pearl on the back side. The patterns were symbols of the celestial bodies and a scythe’s blade. In the area just above the blade, there was a hanging white, tear-dropped pearl as large as an eye.

He’d seen it in drawings: the Mahsa Diadem; the crown of the Lunapsar monarch.

A sourness filled him as his eyes crinkled up. Another wave of his hand revealed smaller lumps that were the accompanying earrings. Then a few more and he found the matching plastron necklace with smaller tear-drop pearls. The armbands...the wristbands...the rings.

The smaller items were worn every day.

He sank to the bottom, his knees hitting the ground as for a moment, he sat in place.

He closed his eyes and lowered his head. He put his palms together in front of him and bowed low, until his head touched the tip of the diadem.

An arm went around him. It gave him a squeeze before releasing him.

Beside him, Henry mirrored his actions.

Ash didn’t recall how long he’d sat there, staring at the priceless royal jewelry not because of their monetary or historical value, but because the woman who had worn them had died there, just before where he sat.

Her last remaining family didn’t reach her in time. She died surrounded by guards and didn’t know her only sibling had been rushing to his death to save her.

What a desolate way to die.

Ash closed his eyes and swallowed hard once more before he tugged open his bag. He carefully picked the smaller pieces from the silt, shaking off what he could before putting them in his bag one-by-one.

The last piece he picked was the diadem. Using both hands, he lifted it from the ground and held it up to eye-level.

I will take you home. He bowed to the diadem once more and then placed it into his back. He sealed it closed and ran a hand down the front of it. Aside from the protrusion from the sea urchins, it didn’t look like anything else had been placed inside of it.

Ash looked towards his brother, who was collecting random things here and there. The altar was bare and many decorations had been looted by his brother. Henry appeared to be in on a mission to retrieve everything he could, while he could, and Ash was grateful.

They did a sweep of the prayer room and then moved on to the next.

Anything that was either of value or any significance was put into their bags, so long as they could fit through the opening. Ash was glad he’d increased the space inside the bags the year before.

The temple’s many rooms were connected by halls and porticos. Almost all of them had been filled in by sediment, so the two could only swim in the space beneath the vaulted ceilings.

Several light slips had been used and dissolved in the water. When Ash reached for another one, Henry stopped him. He pointed towards spaces in the corridor where faint light could be seen peeking through.

Dawn was coming. The two looked at each other with the same idea: it was time to go, as the area would be far more active with divers soon. It was best to lay low, perhaps go back to the ship to eat real food and rest before returning that night.

They began to swim towards a corner of the temple complex furthest away from where they’d last seen the lights. Henry was cautious, holding back his arm out to hold him back as he peered through a crack between the pediments of a building. It was just large enough for them to squeeze between.

Henry moved from side to side, trying to get as wide a viewpoint as possible of the area outside. He looked back at Ash and nodded before carefully grabbing the sides of the fallen building and pulling himself out.

Ash followed behind him.

Before even getting his legs through the gap, his brother’s arm slammed into his chest to hold him back. Ash looked up and saw Henry’s shoulders with his arms spread to shield him. For a moment, he didn’t know what was going on. He adjusted to the greater amount of light and looked around, his stomach shooting to his throat.

A half dozen divers with knives drawn and spears in their hands surrounded them.