“Whoa…” Ares said as they approached the small underground lake.

The group had travelled for almost two days. They had weaved through various places, going from ruin to ruin. They slipped under a ruin and then travelled underground for some time, and then through an underground forest, passed a small village filled with small creatures Ares could barely make out in the distance. Then eventually they had to wade through the water. Ares had to carry Yipyip due to the fact that the water threatened to drown the poor thing. Ares was unable to dodge it’s thankful licking across the side of his head.

Then they finally appeared at a large area that was lit by something glowing on the ceiling and around the walls. The small underground lake glowed as well, though it’s colour shimmered closer to silver.

Ares approached it with the hundred or so Bitan, the fish people that had hesitantly allowed Ares and his company to accompany them. He dropped down to a knee and then narrowed his eyes.

The water felt so… comforting. There was a gentle warmth that flowed through his body. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply to allow it to enter him.

“Can you feel it?” Stah’O asked.

“I feel something.” Ares nodded and stared down at the lake. “What is that?”

“Rokh.”

“Rokh?”

“The essence of life.”

Ares nodded. “Yeah, it is something like that.” Ares could definitely tell there was a ton of truth within the statement. He turned to look at Stah’O. “What is this water?”

“The First Gift, given to our progenitor. It protects us and gives us strength.”

Ares reached out with a hand. He tried to move the water, and it instantly parted for him. There was no resistance, and he didn’t feel as though it had stressed him any.

The Bitan around him gripped their weapons tighter. Stah’O raised a hand and they settled down.

Ares thought about scooping some of the water into his ring but… there was a feeling of great loss, mourning, at the thought of it. He stood up and then stared at the water for a long while. There was a tiny black dot that appeared in the middle, which grew larger and larger.

Ares stepped back as a giant watery serpent appeared, splashing water all over the place. It was a leviathan, though more like a leviathan-lite. It was much smaller than Levi, by quite a large amount.

Ares looked up at it and it stared down at him.

“You, kin of kin,” it said.

“Hi. It’s nice to see you.”

“You are Master of Waters,” it said. “You have spoken with my master, oh being.”

“Your master, huh? Yeah, I did.”

“I can smell it upon you.”

“Thank you?” Ares furrowed his brows in confusion.

“The stench of death.”

“Every King has killed a man. I would be hesitant to follow a King with unstained hands.”

“It is not that stench of death I speak of.”

Ares narrowed his eyes. The creature did not continue. The pair remained silent for some time.

“I am Otz,” it said.

“Greetings Otz,” Ares said. “I am King Ares, Master of Waters, Kin of all Riveans.”

“I know of you, kin Ares. I have seen you.”

“You’ve seen me?”

“In the land unknown, I have seen you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I know of you and your kin.”

Ares threw a look back to Stah’O and then back to his company before looking back to Otz.

“You know of my world?”

“The world which has abandoned you, yes.”

“How?”

“I have seen through the mirror, the mirror which had brought you and your kin here.”

“A mirror?”

“The mirror.”

Ares was left with more questions than before. Otz bowed their head and then looked up. “You have been given right to travel within the Kingdom by the master, by Rivee. I have acknowledged you, kin Ares.”

“Thanks, Otz,” Ares said. “I appreciate that.”

“There is no more to be said, kin of kin.”

Then the creature shattered into water droplets, as though a hammer struck glass, and covered everyone around with water.

A scream and then shouting hit the air as the various Bitan wailed. Ares turned to look at Stah’O who stared at the water.

“Stah’O? What’s going on?”

“Otz’O has gone.”

“When you mean gone…”

“Beyond. They have gone beyond.”

“Which means?”

“We have lost our master, our protector…”

Ares raised his brows. “What? Why?”

“They have chosen to pass on.”

Ares looked out to the others that were panicking. “That’s bad, right?”

“We are able to protect ourselves, but… it is no concern of yours, honoured guest. It is a matter for our people.” Stah’O let out a low hum and then Ares could hear water bubbling, though it had come from the Bitan chief.

The other Bitan stopped wailing and they made the same noises for some time. Ares waited, looking out to the water.

Did he really just meet a pseudo-deity and then watch it die within moments of meeting them? Was he the reason it died? He was filled with intense guilt at the thought of it as he looked out to his companions.

Then the silver water lost it’s shimmer. Rather… they were no longer in the same place they had been in moments ago. Ares threw a look on either side of him as Stah’O then motioned a hand to the small lake, which looked almost identical to the lake he had seen before but without the silver hint to it.

“It is time to go,” Stah’O said. He inhaled deeply and then he stepped into the water and disappeared into it. However, moments later, Ares watched as the lake swirled into a whirlpool. Six Bitan then stepped forward. They planted their bidents into the water and then they pulled the weapons out. A moment later they thrust into the water in unison and spun their bidents.

The whirlpool opened up to reveal a tunnel of air as Stah’O placed a hand on either side of the water which swirled, forming the walls of the tunnel. Then he plunged the water forward, and Ares watched the water crash forwards.

“Whoa…” The Bitan were controlling the water to move to their whims. “Do you need any help?” He asked.

“There is no need, Ares’O. Please continue.” The Bitan said.

“Alright, cool.” Ares turned to look at his companions who had been watching in awe.