» In The Deep

R I X E N I followed the odd group, a medley of horns and wings and fur and fangs, through the trees and we approached a place that was familiar to me. That wasn't something that I could often say about places in the Rift.  We arrived at the edge of a great big lake. In the distance I could see ashen smoke billowing from the mouth of a towering volcanic mountain. But I didn't have much time to marvel at my surroundings before the Matron addressed us again. We were offered a strange dark green plant that (in my opinion) did not look too appetizing. I knew better than to object, however, and that I must concentrate on the task at hand and do whatever was necessary to accomplish it. Trying not to make a face, I choked the Malspira down. It left a bitter taste on my tongue, which I tried my best to ignore. Though not harmful, I wasn't even entirely sure what the plant's effects were. After thinking about the context of the Matron's instructions and watching Otem plunge into the water I was able to deduce that it had something to do with being able to breath underwater. Without further hesitation, I waded into the water after the others. I didn't want to think much more on it, for fear that overthinking small worries would make them grow into paralyzing anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant would happen. The response was immediate as the liquid spread around my body, the sudden shock of cool making my muscles tense. It rose up higher and higher around my blue-gray barrel as I submerged myself, from head to tail, in the element that felt like soft velvet against my skin. Gliding through the depths, moving my legs in rhythm, I was swimming. Miraculously, oxygen flowed into and through my lungs, giving me the power to stroke and kick. From below the surface I could see the mystical light around me, the sunbeams playing amid the undulating currents in silvery whites, blues and rainbow colors.  The orb Otem had given to me remained at my side as I swam, its glow lighting my path as the water grew increasingly darker the further down I went. I followed the others toward the rocky bottom. Before us, the rocks seemed to give way to a path of sorts, as if it were prepared for our arrival and had cleared a direct path to the Sirens.    "Talk." they heard me singing and they told me to stop quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock

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