The darkness of the cave completely enveloped them. King could barely see his own hand in front of him. Ignis, however, seemed to navigate the murky waters with ease. Her vision, adapted to the location, allowed her to clearly see everything around her, guiding them through the depths of the cave.
The silence was absolute, broken only by the muffled sound of the water moving around them. King felt the water pressure in his ears, increasing with each meter they descended. The atmosphere was heavy, charged with an ancient and unknown energy.
Suddenly, Ignis stopped. Her eyes focused on a specific point in the darkness. King squinted, trying to discern what she had seen. Slowly, a form began to materialize in the darkness. It appeared humanoid, but with distinct characteristics that set it apart from any human being King had ever seen.
The figure emerged from the shadows, revealing itself to be a being of strange and ethereal beauty. His skin was a pale, almost translucent, blue-green, as if water itself coursed through his veins. From the waist down, his body ended in a long, elegant tail, similar to that of a fish, covered in iridescent scales that shimmered in the dim light.
He was a water half-elf, a being King only knew from legends and myths. He was the guardian of the Oracle of Water, the bridge between the terrestrial world and the aquatic realm.
The half-elf stared at them for a long moment, his silvery eyes analyzing every detail of their expressions. Then, in a soft, melodious voice that echoed through the cavern, he spoke: "Welcome, travelers. What brings you to the depths of my domain?" The voice echoed through the submerged cavern, soft as the whisper of currents, yet laden with ancient authority.
King tried to answer, but the overwhelming pressure of the water in the depths of the Plane of Water prevented him. Every movement was a battle against the immense force that pressed him from all sides. He felt as if he were trapped in a block of concrete, unable to move freely.
Ignis, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease. Her body glided gracefully through the water, her bioluminescence pulsing gently. She approached the half-elf, her voice sounding clear and strong despite the pressure. "We seek the Oracle."
The aquatic half-elf observed them for a moment, his silvery eyes fixed on King, who struggled to remain conscious. A slight smile curved his lips. "The Oracle is in Aquamarine. Since Lady Ignis was born here, she may pass. But her companion cannot go with her. To pass, one must prove their worth," he said, turning his penetrating gaze to the weakened barbarian, "in this world it's survive… or die."
With that, the half-elf raised his hand, and the water around King began to churn violently. Strong currents formed, swirling around him like a relentless vortex. The pressure increased even further, crushing his bones and compressing his lungs. King felt his consciousness slipping away, darkness threatening to consume him. He tried to fight, entering a rage mode, but the pressure was relentless.
Ignis watched, his expression impassive. This was King's test. He would need to find the strength within himself to overcome the crushing pressure and turbulence of the waters, or he would perish in the depths of the Water Plane, forever lost in the Oracle's realm. The aquatic half-elf observed everything, his silver eyes gleaming with a mixture of expectation and impatience. King's fate was in his own hands.
Magic enveloped King like a suffocating embrace. He could breathe, yes, but the crushing pressure of the deep water lurked in his lungs, robbing him of air with each attempt to inhale. His movements, once graceful and confident on land, were now clumsy and slow. The water, once an element to be admired, was now an oppressive force that threatened to crush him.
The darkness around him was absolute, penetrated only by the faint bluish light of the magic that kept him alive. With each stroke, the pressure increased, compressing his chest and making breathing difficult. The muffled sound of his own heartbeat echoed in his ears, a constant reminder of his body's desperate struggle against the ocean's relentless force.
King tried to resist the crushing pressure of the water at all costs; his muscles burned with the effort, exhaustion threatened to overwhelm his consciousness. He looked up, searching for the designated entrance, a glimmer of hope in the oppressive darkness.
The light seemed to diminish with each passing second, the distance becoming insurmountable. Despair gnawed at his resolve, whispering that the fight was futile. King clenched his teeth, refusing to give in. He remembered the purpose of his journey, the importance of the Oracle. The image of Ignis, with his firm and confident gaze, flashed in his mind. "Huh! Why did the image of Ignis suddenly appear in my head?" he thought, intrigued. In any case, he couldn't give up, not now. With one last desperate effort, King propelled himself forward, battling the overwhelming pressure, each stroke a small victory against the ocean's relentless force.
Darkness still enveloped him, but in his heart, a small flame of hope stubbornly remained lit. The fight was far from over, but King wouldn't give up. He would keep swimming, keep fighting, until the pressure crushed him or he found the Oracle.
The icy water penetrated King's clothes, clinging to him like spectral fingers. With each movement, the water's resistance pulled him back, robbing him of what little energy he had left. His lungs burned, begging for air. "Damn it!" he murmured, his voice muffled by the water. "The magic… the time for magic seems to be running out!"
The magic of Ignis, which had once protected him, was now fading. "Ignis," he called out mentally, his voice weak and desperate. "Help me... please..." Silence. Only the oppressive sound of the water. "You... abandoned me too?" he thought, bitterness tinging his thoughts.
A sharp, shrill sound echoed in his ears, piercing the oppressive water. King tried to focus. "What... what is this?" he wondered, his voice a hoarse whisper. The sound intensified, now accompanied by a vibration. A faint light, different from Ignis's magic, began to penetrate his body; he felt the air return to his lungs.
"A light..." he murmured, a spark of hope rekindling in his chest. "I need... I need to get there."
He swam towards the light, his movements slow and clumsy. The overwhelming pressure still held him captive, but the promise of something new propelled him forward. As he drew closer, the light intensified, revealing a colossal structure. A submerged city.
King approached cautiously, both amazed and terrified. "Unbelievable…," he whispered, his voice filled with wonder. Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, strange and ancient. "Welcome, traveler," the voice resounded, "to the depths of Aquamarine."
King startled. "Who… who is speaking?" he asked, looking around, searching for the source of the voice.
"Fear not," the voice replied. "I am the guardian of these ruins."
"I seek the Oracle. Do you know where I can find it?"
The voice let out a low, melodious laugh. "The Oracle is not found, young King. It is summoned."