The forest around went silent as the group walk through. Even the wind ceased to rustle the canopy above. Azrael began to take in her surroundings as they continued walking deeper and deeper into the forest. The trees she had noticed were nothing as she'd seen before. They reached hundreds of feet into the air as if they were reaching for the skies above. Their trunks were as wide as houses. Azrael peered upward to the canopy again seeing only small bits of light allowed in. Arm-like branches from the trees reached beyond themselves intertwining with each other as if creating a protective roof over the forest floor.

Azrael noted the movement of the sun and figured they had been walking for at least an hour. She looked to the two in front of her and her anxiety grew for Raden. "I don't mean to be rude but are we getting close?"

The figure made of leaves looked back and gave a small smile. Close.

Azrael swallowed hard and forced herself to nod. She didn't dare push for fear of angering them. She fell into step again behind them and kept her head down watching her feet. Her gaze followed each drop of blood that fell from Raden's wings. She knew he would heal but how quickly? From the site of the blood, her chest tightened and her anxiety increased. She began trying to control her breathing and lower her heart rate because if she didn't then worse things would happen. Her eyes darted to the figures in front of her but she couldn't speak to warn them. Azrael felt her heart race faster and faster and the power of her magic surged through her. The thoughts of Raden lying dead in her arms raced through her mind, the dripping blood from his wings followed suit, and she was seemingly helpless. Her knees wobbled and as she took the next step her knees gave out and she fell scraping her knees.

The commotion caught the two's attention and they turned. They saw Azrael laying on the ground as she crouched over, head to the dirt, and hands over her head. The figure made of leaves moved forward and placed a hand on Azrael's back. She flinched away slightly.

"I... I can't... control it," she gasped out. She could barely breathe as her chest tightened more and she knew it was too late to stop the explosion. "Leave me here."

The figure nodded to the other holding Raden. The cloaked figure moved a few feet away as the other layer over Azrael. Do not control it. Azrael screamed out and with it, a bright explosion followed. A roar of power groaned through the forest and Azrael shut her eyes tightly as she felt the weight of the being on top of her. Leaves rustled around her and the trees groaned as they soaked in the explosion of magic. The being moved and gently removed Azrael's arms from her head and lifted her from the ground. Azrael sat up and saw the face of the being made of leaves in front of her. She glanced around and saw that the forest floor had barely been touched except for where she had been grouched. The cloaked being holding Raden watched from a distance.

Azrael turned back to the being in front of her. Tears threatened to fall. "I didn't mean to do that."

The being placed a hand on Azrael's cheek and smiled. No apologies. The being looked over and nodded at the other. It helped Azrael to her feet and they were off again only this time Azrael would walk along with them.

For the first time after an episode, Azrael didn't feel drained.

~~~*~~~

The sun was beginning its descent into the west by the time the group had made it passed the giants for trees and were now into smaller groves. Azrael took note that the trees here seemingly swayed towards the group. She could've sworn at one point a branch reached out for her, but she figured it was a trick of the dying light and exhaustion kicking in.

She ducked under branches closing following the others. As they kept going the trees grew tightly together until squeezing through was becoming a problem. Azrael looked at the others in front of her and called out, "I'm not going to be able to fit through here. There's got to be another way around this grove."

As soon she spoke up, the trees around started to groan and creak. Azrael stepped back and watched a small pathway open in front of her. The being made of leaves smile widely and beckoned her through. She didn't stand around and wait for it to close as quickly as it appeared. Azrael sped up and met them again. Her mind was racing with questions now for this clearly wasn't a normal forest. As they continued the path walk soon become dense forest behind her and clear before her. Azrael was mesmerized. They walked only about ten more feet until the grove opened up and a lagoon lay in front of them. The trees closed behind Azrael and they were now encased with dense forest circling them.

Azrael turned to the being holding Raden. "This place will help Raden?" The being nodded its cloak hood. Azrael took a deep breath and took in the surroundings while the two beings moved off to focus on Raden.

The lagoon was about ten feet from where Azrael stood to the other edge. Crystal blue water that almost glowed lay perfectly still and untouched. The ground around the lagoon was black sand but the strange thing was that none of the leaves from the surrounding trees touched the ground here. The trees bend outward and away from the space here. Azrael took in her surroundings and watched the sunlight disappear. The water's vibrant blue color glowed brighter making the sand around sparkle like stars in the night sky.

Azrael pulled her gaze away from the pool and to Raden who was laying in the soft sand and the cloaked being walked towards the water. She sat and placed Raden's head in her lap and gently brushed a hand through his hair. The wounds had started to heal but she could see there was major damage to his wings. "You should see this place," Azrael gently said, "I've never seen waters so blue before."

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"That's because these waters are some of the oldest healing waters in this world," A voice answered. Azrael snapped her head to where the voice was coming from and saw a head poking up from the water.

"Oh, I didn't know that," Azrael sheepishly answered. She felt her face heat up and she turned away. Get a grip on yourself.

The head poked up higher so Azrael would get a better look once she turned around again. "Well of course not. This is one of the greatest kept secrets silly." They giggled.

Azrael smiled and turned back to see who it was she was now talking to. The being in front of her had lifted themselves out of the water and now sat on the edge. Their skin was iridescent like a pearl and reflected off the water in the pool. Hair of deep blue that fell down their back. Azrael peered down and saw a powerful tail where their legs should be. Their fin lazily floats on the surface of the water.

"I'm going to take it that you've never seen a mermaid before."

"Sorry, I don't mean to stare." Azrael lightly blushed. "I've heard stories from those who've traveled to the coastal cities but no."

The mermaid nodded. "Well, I don't mind the attention. I rarely get visitors." They side-eyed the cloaked being but kept it at that. They returned their attention to Azrael and ultimately Raden. "You've come for my help?"

A whisper echoed from the cloaked being's hidden face from the hood and the mermaid nodded. Azrael watched the interaction between the two but stayed silent. She then notices that the other being had vanished.

The mermaid gave a warm smile. "Let's get him in the water." The cloaked being lifted Raden effortlessly from the sand and into the water where the mermaid dove back in fully. They then looked back at Azrael. "Would you like to join?"

Azrael hesitated but something deep within her told her she would be safe. "Alright." She quickly took off her boots and pants. Leaving her in the tunic. The mermaid held out a webbed hand for Azrael to take and she gladly did as she sank into the pool. The water was pleasantly warm which was strange for the time of day. "What's your name?"

"Orabel," they answered gently. "And yours?"

"Azrael."

Orabel gave a simple nod and turned their attention to Raden. "You hold a lot of power in a name like that." Azrael didn't know what to say and tried to keep her focus on staying afloat. Orabel dove under carefully expanding Raden's wings so they would be fully submerged. They popped up by Azrael causing her to yelp in surprise and get a giggle from Orabel. "Gotcha!"

Azrael chuckled and swam to the side of the pool to sit on the small ledge she saw when entering in. "How did you end up here? Aren't you from the sea?"

Orabel paused unbuttoning Raden's shirt and looked at Azrael. "I was created by the Gods to be the guardian of the healing pools. These are the oldest in the world and the stories of them have led greedy men to try and steal from them."

"Pools?"

They nodded. "Throughout the forest are healing pools. I look over every single one." Orabel went back to ridding Raden of the torn and bloody shirt. Azrael watched silently. The pendant of Merikh lay on his chest and Azrael couldn't help but feel her chest tighten at the thought of him. Orabel also laid eyes on the pendant as they picked it up carefully investigating. "He's either clueless coming here or completely stupid."

Azrael cocked her head to the side. "Why do you say that?"

"You don't step foot in the territory of the true gods with trash like that around your neck." They narrowed their eyes at Azrael. "Death sentence."

The cloaked figure moved to the edge of the pool seemingly eyeing Raden closer. Orabel yanked the necklace off before it could be seen any closer. Azrael craned her neck to find the figure only inches away from her. She sunk back in the pool closer to Raden.

"He won't hurt you." Azrael turned to Orabel as they spoke. "He's a guardian of the mountain but still has quite the hatred of the Ancient Gods as you all so lovingly call them." They made a motion with their fingers for air quotations around "Ancient Gods".

Azrael had a confused expression wash across her face. "I thought they were the Nameless Gods. Raden said that they lived among their creation."

Orabel let out a chuckle and swam toward Azrael. "Guardians are a powerful branch of the Nameless Gods, but the Gods haven't been able to set foot on the surface for some time." They paused and glanced between Azrael and the guardian. A smile played on Orabel's lips as they turned to Azrael again. "Say, would you want to meet one?"

"Oh no no. I was told they would kill any mortal and I for one enjoy my life. Kind of," She whispered the last part. She looked over at Raden. "Plus, I can't leave him here alone."

"Come on, old hoodie over there will watch him. Isn't that, right?" The guardian nodded. "See! Besides. He would've killed you long before you made it here let alone over the mountain if the Gods wanted. Clearly, they somewhat like you enough." Orabel grabbed Azrael's hands silently pleading. Azrael looked over at Raden's unconscious body and then at the guardian.

She leaned in close to Orabel. "What if the guardian finds out Raden follows Merikh?"

"That's why I yanked off the necklace," Orabel whispered back and winked. "So what do you say?"

Azrael turned to the guardian who was standing as still as a statue but carefully watching her. "You promise to keep Raden safe."

Yes. It hissed as it bowed again.

Azrael turned to Orabel. "Okay." Orabel let out a small squeal which prompted a giggle from Azrael. She then turned to Raden as he floated peacefully in the water. Some of the minor scrapes already disappearing. "Don't get into any trouble while I'm gone." She kissed his forehead before slipping by to meet Orabel.

Orabel had their hands cupped below the surface. Azrael saw that they were holding a bubble and peered back up confused. "Since you can't breathe underwater, this is the next best thing. As long as this bubble stays over your nose and mouth, you'll be able to breathe normally."

Azrael nodded and both dipped below the water. She felt Orabel place the bubble on her face and she took her first breath in. It was a strange feeling to feel the air fill her lungs as she was surrounded by nothing but water. She looked over at Orabel and gave a thumbs up. Orabel smiled and grabbed her hand leading her down the deep pool. Azrael looked back and watched Raden's wings disappear as they went around a bend in the tunnel. A feeling of fear and curiosity fell over her as the realization set in that she was about to meet with one of the oldest Gods ever to set foot on Earth.