Finally, Lotus was led through the murky waters following closer behind the snake as they traversed the empty and rural sea floors. The temperature slowly dropped around her as she noticed how the number of corals began to shrink slowly. The snake led her through a pile of ocean rocks as volcanic rocks began to appear. She raised a brow but continued swimming forward with the snake. The clean ocean rocks and sand began to dissipate into a green hue of toxicity followed by a warmth in the surrounding air. Despite the pleasant warmth, Lotus felt rather annoyed to see such toxicity in the waters and the lack of fishes swimming through these waters. Instead, she can see an occasional tail of a snake as they seemed to thrive well in these waters.
Sea snakes are still reptiles after all and require warm temperatures to move. Seeing the green toxicity means that there's underwater volcanoes nearby which could provide the warmth these reptiles need underwater. So, it was no surprise for Lotus to find a number of them here in these parts.
The swim seemed that it was capable of being forever so she said to the snake, "Is it far?"
"You want to double back now?" The snake sneered at her.
"Nope, but I snuck out of school to meet with him. The Dark Mirror won't let me out often."
Hearing this, the snake scowled as he relented, "Hold on to my neck and don't you dare strangle me unless you wanna taste my poison..."
Lotus grabbed a hold of his thin neck as his size began to change into a serpent twice the size of an anaconda!
So, it would seem that he was strong enough to even alter his size...
Sure enough, they easily slipped through the water currents as his tail whipped behind him as powerful as a sharks' during a hunt. They traversed through the waters quickly and with ease as the temperature water hitting her face began to chill. Finally, when the snake slowed, they had already left the volcanic area behind them and into the cold ocean. The sea floor was still visible to the eye as they entered this large rock formation the cave opening was narrow and small meaning, that it would be difficult for the snake to double back and take a bite out of her, but she can't let her guard down knowing that he could shapeshift.
It wasn't long before light began to appear again and she soon found herself in a large opening ocean teeming with coral life. The area was guarded by a large rock formation filled with corals and many unusual fishes she had never seen in these parts. She could even seen a large group of Blue Fin Tuna twice the size of what she's seen in the east swimming above the waters and the array of colorful corals thriving in bright colors on the ocean floor. Sea crabs and scallops move about with ease and colorful off the coast fishes thrive with ease as they take in the planktons and smaller organisms around them. Not too far off was a shiver of tiger sharks swim not far from the large tuna, but not an inch closer it seems. It was then that Lotus noticed it, "I'm surprised that we're this close to land..."
The snake said nothing as he pulled her through the warmer currents. Lotus watched on as the vibrant colors of the corals and the abundance of energy radiated around them. However, what surprised her the most was the magnetism of the area as she noticed how her phone, that was protected by magic was already going haywire turning itself off and on by the buzz in her pocket. It was then that Lotus saw it. There was a large dip with the Carribean sea monks play with each other. Below them was a large black plant-like coral that reflected brilliantly unlike the rest in these cold waters. It's limbs spread out far as if a black void before her. It stemmed far throughout the dip and crawling up the rocky surroundings.
Little bits of light was reflected outlining the sleek limbs that reach out in the waters catching the plankton and such for nourishment. To think that she would come across something so rare even during her previous life.
With a shudder, she could feel the energy around it was much more immense than the Niersi Lilies. She stared at it in awe under the pressure.
"Thou hast arrive..." A deep voice echoed in her head heavily.
Lotus carefully left the snake's side as she landed gently onto the sand. Almost at once, the sound of the fish swimming freely froze and the clicking of the crabs and scallops stopped. The seals have stopped their play and turned to them. Sharks that had been quiet hurriedly swam over. Before long, a crowd of near extinct sea creatures have surrounded them and those that can't leave their position remained closed awaiting for the next response. It would seem that she was right. This guardian would be the most powerful one she has met. Lotus bowed her head and cupped her fist respectfully, "This young one greets the elder."
"Mn." The coral responded telepathically, "Likewise. It is an honor to be under the presence of her majesty. We welcome the retbirth of her majesty into the new era."
Lotus smiled kindly, "Thank you. However, I am still a weak child right now. I'll require time to recover myself. My arrival today has to do with the events occurring in Night Raven College."
"Dost thou arrival hast connection to the recent overblot of the ocean's children?" The coral responded firmly, "We must advise you not to force his troubles away from him."
"This one has no intention for such a thing." Lotus reassured him with a smile, "For, I agree that letting him keep his troubles to brood over is for the best. He has shown fast growth in his mentality overnight."
"Then..." The coral said, "The intruders from these past few nights."
"That is correct." Lotus responded causing mutterings in the back of her head.
Lotus was almost stunned when she soon realized that these creatures has even a small bit of cultivation in them to be at the level of Sentient Beasts! Finally, Lotus understood. The coral here is so strong that it is capable of sharing its strength to these near extinct creatures making them capable of living longer and rebuilding their populations. It wasn't just the structure or the magnetic wave lengths that it protecting them, but also the cultivation in their body to fight off against the coming of old age.
"These intruders are here for thou..."
Lotus nodded, "Thus, I have taken action to protect the mirrors to these dorms and the children that dwell in them."
"Thou wishes for our cooperation." The coral responded bluntly, "We shall give as per our subordinate's negligence to have put you in harm's way."
"We appreciate for your sincerity. However, I am also responsible for bringing in danger to your students." Lotus responded.
"As shameful as it is, sir, I ask for your help to stop those intruders from laying another hand on the students. I would not ask for this without compensation as I am responsible for putting your students in danger." Lotus explained, "Never once have your students been harmed under your supervision and here I am with pursuers that have poisoned your students and put them in a near death situation. As such, the compensation must be high and worthy for your cooperation to return to the dorm waters."
"Thou speakest of a compensation..." The coral said with a sad tone, "However, we seek nothing more than to live peacefully away from society of humans."
Lotus nodded, "I can understand your wish. You don't want to interact with the humans or mortals that only sought to reap from the waters while still wanting to fulfil the vow you made with the previous founder of the school. However, what I brought is something I believe would benefit this asylum you have made during this long time you have lived here for I believe that this place should continue to exist for others who also wish to stray away from human interaction."
The coral was silent as Lotus continued, "I sense that you share your strength and spread your teachings to the living beings of these waters and land protected under your internal energy. What I give you now is a foundation pill that can help strengthen your internal energy and meridians."
"The foundation pill..." The coral noted in a low tone of disbelief.
"That's right. The foundation pill is created of a few rare herbs." Lotus nodded, "The ghast grass, crystal flower, and the Bodhi fruit."
She had prepared this shortly after retrieving the first five fruits that the bodhi tree bore weeks before thinking it would come in handy in the future and even help her build her alchemy skills from making the pills. She didn't think, rather than bait, it would become a compensation. However, she wasn't unwilling with the current situation.
"To accept it..." The coral hesitated.
Lotus wasn't surprised. Even if she can make it with ease, success wasn't as easy as luck also played part with alchemy at times. The foundation pill was one of them. To successfully make it is one out of twenty chances. The higher the ingredients are the easier it is but not if the ingredients are of high grades in the recipe requirements to begin with. The foundation pill is one of those recipes. Thus, this was her best chance to use it to help her gain an advantage in her persuasion as she also knew that, though not all pills are consumable by non-humans, the foundation is one of the few that could be consumed by them, making this more favorable.