[20 years Ago]
I must have been no older than five years at the time. That night, it seemed the storm was so furious that the thunder bellowed like some wild animal and the lightning tore the sky asunder. I cowered under my covers, my eyes wide with terror at every crack of thunder that shook the walls, every bolt of lightning which lit up in ghostly white.
Ethan was there. He was different from all the rest. For merely being an android, the ease he held over me was innumerable. His presence was an ease among the chaos. Kneeling beside my bed, his eyes soft glowing dots in the dim light of my room, his voice a steady hum, soothing, cutting through the din of the storm.
[Zane] he said calmly and reassuringly, [it's just a storm. It can't hurt you.]
I hugged my stuffed bear tightly and tried to ignore the increasing thunder. Ethan's hand, although cold and metallic, on my head was somehow reassuring.
[Look], he said, pointing to the window where the lightning flickered, [each time you see a flash, it is just the sky taking a picture. Nothing to be afraid of.]
I tried to pay attention to what he was talking about-the storm still rattling the windows-but his presence made it so much easier. The longer night wore on, the more I found myself relaxing into Ethan's calm voice and the reassuring feeling of him right next to me as the storm raged on outside.
I looked up at Ethan, my small face barely visible under the blanket. The storm was still howling outside, and somehow, curiosity crept into my fear. "Ethan, why does the storm exist? Why does it make all that noise?"
Ethan was contemplative for a moment as he tried to find the right words.
[Well, Zane, it storms because the sky and clouds are having a huge argument. Sometimes the clouds get very full and heavy with rain and bump into each other. When that happens, they make all those loud noises you hear, and the lightning is like the way the sky is showing it's trying to clear up.]
I frowned, trying to imagine the clouds arguing. "So, they are not angry with us?"
Ethan shook his head softly. [No, not at all, just nature balancing itself. The storm will pass and everything will be calm again.]
I looked up at Ethan, still shaking a little. "But what if the storm is really angry? What if it wants to hurt us?"
Ethan gave me an assuring smile, but I could tell he chose his words carefully.
[Zane, every time there's a storm, you don't need to be afraid. The storm is just nature doing its thing. It won't hurt you unless you did something to make it angry. But trust me, that's not something you have to concern yourself with. The storm is just having its moment, and it will go away soon.]
I had thought about that, picturing the storm as an entity that had feelings, similar to myself. "Well, since I didn't make it angry, it's not going to hurt me?"
Ethan nodded. [Exactly. You haven't done anything to upset the storm. It's just a part of the world. So you can be brave. I'm here with you and the storm will pass.]
His words made me feel a little braver. I snuggled deeper into my blankets, knowing somehow the storm was merely a natural thing and not something I needed to be afraid of.
---
[Present Day]
As I clutched the wheel of the ship, the storm outside was uninhibited. Waves crashed against the hull, each one a threat to toss us off course. The lightning illuminated the night with blinding flashes and each thunderclap shook the very bones of the ship.
Just as I was trying to focus on steering through the storm, there was this weird sound from below the vessel. It was a low, guttural rumble, almost a growl. My heart was racing in my chest as the lightning flashed again, momentarily illuminating the churning sea about us.
In that flickering, ghostly light, I saw it-the great grey shape gliding with ease through the water beneath. The outline was enormous, much larger than the ship. With the surrounding darkness and turmoil, it was hard to make any detail out, but certainly no large fish or some floating wreckage from the water.
My mind started racing, and the first thing that came into my mind was, "Is it a sea monster?"
A shiver ran down my spine at the thought. All these years of facing danger with which the earth fills itself, and I'd never heard of anything like this. The storm was bad enough but seemed to be much more from the bottom-most part of the earth-delirious.
But the storm increased in fury, the waves leaped higher, like savage beasts, as though, indeed, they struggled to devour the ship, and loud was the crash that every wave made against her side, as though with a sudden, wild bellow; then suddenly there came one mad shriek of that wild wind, that, clinging back in my bed, I waited each new monster-wave, and saw it-a huge, dark bulk rising out of the blackness, gleaming eyes shone with a wicked light.
It burst through the surface, and with an ear splintering roar, it launched itself toward the ship. Its scales flashed in intermittent lightning to reveal an awesomely jagged array of fins and immense tentacles.
The top of the head, a mouth lined by razor-sharp and serrated teeth, seemed to stretch on forever as the creature prepared to strike.
The ship bucked and heaved beneath the monster's tentacles, which struck the hull and sent wood splintering with a deafening crunch. I wrestled the wheel, its surface slick with rain, trying to keep the vessel upright.
The force of the blow flung me off balance, tumbling me backward across the deck, fingers scrambling for purchase.
The large, bulbous head of the monster reared up out of the waves and fixed on me with the gleam of a predator's eyes. I heard the roar of the storm and guttural growls of the creature-a cacophony of chaos.
I grabbed the flares on the ship in desperation and lit them; perhaps the flashes of fire would send it flying. The flares sprang upward into the storm-possessed sky, and in those instants, their radiance had cast an unholy glow over the sea monster in its full horror. Hissing, it recoiled a bit but, still unrelenting, the storm appeared to enrage the beast even further.
I had to think fast. If I did not find a way to fend this creature off, the ship was doomed, and so were all my efforts with it. I scanned the deck while my mind was racing along with the roar of the storm and the monstrous sea beast.
---
In the Azure Tides control room, row after row of consoles supported a huge screen filled with a magic circle displaying the turbulent sea. It was sharp, as if drawn from some chaotic, dramatized story about Zane fighting that legendary sea monster.
Lynsithea's eyes widened as the giant creature rose from the depths. Such a powerful beast, she thought, its violent assault against the ship enough to give her chills. Turning concerned, she faced Alektos, who was overseeing the live feed.
"What sea monster is that?" she asked, laced with trepidation.
Alektos replied, not taking his eyes off the screen, in a slightly urgent tone, "That's a Leviathan. It is one of the most powerful sea creatures known to man, considering the size and the strength it possesses. Leviathans are ancient deep ones that frequently have been portrayed in various legends as enormous and almost unstoppable. They don't just grow big; they're extremely dangerous and have a reputation for attacking anything stupid enough to enter their territory."
Anxiety had thus far built up inside Lynsithea as the screen continued to flash with Zane's fight against the Leviathan. She could see how hard he fought, his ship jostled every which way by the beast's huge tentacles and furious assault. The storm and the beast combined were not exactly promising.
With every passing second, she felt a surge in her concern for Zane. "We have to do something. He's facing something even seasoned sailors are afraid of."
Alektos nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation. "We are monitoring the situation closely, and wherever there is a means to assist or intervene, we will find it. For now, we need to keep our wits and pray that somehow Zane surmounts this challenge."
While her eyes were glued to the display, Lynsithea noticed something out of the corner of her eye. The Nova Watch strapped to her wrist-an advanced device she had previously seen being used by Zane-started an errant light show, wherein its steady even glow grew into a frantic dance of colors, each flash seeming to occur in time with the intensity of the storm and chaos unfolding before her on the screen.
Sasha stood next to Lynsithea, who had also observed the strange reaction of the watch. "Lynsithea, look at Nova Watch. It's reacting to something."
Lynsithea looked down at the watch. Her heartbeat quickened at the flashing lights that almost rhythmically pulsed with urgent energy. She flipped the watch over in her hand and tried to work out what may be causing this reaction.
"It wasn't doing this before," Lynsithea exclaimed, strained. "It's as if it's reacting to the situation with Zane."
Sasha looked closely at the watch. "It can be trying to connect or give a signal. The Nova Watch is of strong engineering and can be related to Zane's problem now."
While the two were looking, the lights that came from the watch began to steady and form a pattern that seemed almost like a signal. The flickers formed a sequence that hinted at some communication or alert. Lynsithea's concern for Zane amped up since the Nova Watch seemed to actually try to say something or be helpful.
Parveen had been watching closely, and his eyes lay on the flickering Nova Watch which was latched to Lynsithea's wrist. His eyes expanded in such a way that a connection was made there and then.
"Wait a minute," he exclaimed, his voice full of urgency. "I think I know what's happening. The Nova Watch appears to react when Zane is in danger."
Lynsithea and Sasha looked at him with interest, their concern for Zane mounting. "What do you mean?" Lynsithea asked.
Parveen nodded, her face clouding with the memory of an earlier event.
"During training in Solaris, Zane was confronted with a similar reaction. He was struggling to hold a burning Claymore and the watch started reacting in just this manner. Like it reacted to his physical and emotional strain. I recall how Zane's fatigue was rapidly increasing as he is human, and how the watch seemed to react when he was beyond the limits of his endurance."
He peered at the watch's quivering light, while his mind whirled with a variety of scenarios.
"The fact that this watch is now responding might be indicative, perhaps, that Zane's problem may be far bigger than what we are looking at right now on the screen. This watch may be perceiving an alarm of sorts from him."
Lynsithea's eyes narrowed in determination. "If the watch is tied to Zane's condition and reactions, it means he's in immediate danger. We need to act as fast as possible and find a way to use this information to help him."
Sasha nodded in agreement. "We have to try to decipher what the watch is trying to relate or intervene with directly. If it reacts to Zane's peril, that may give us a clue to support him."
With no further time to waste, Lynsithea, Sasha, and Parveen attached their minds to understanding the signals given from the Nova Watch, hoping that by deciphering the message, it would bring Zane much-needed relief from the powerful Leviathan.
Alektos heeded that Lynsithea, Sasha, and Parveen were talking seriously and approached them with an inquiring look. "What's going on? What are you guys talking about?"
Lynsithea took a deep breath, continuing to explain as her face was still troubled by the unfolding crisis, "We have found out that Zane's Nova Watch seems to be acting really strongly in response to his situation. Parveen remembers it happening previously when Zane was under extreme stress, and it appears to be linked with something called the Ether Link."
Alektos's eyes had widened at the mention of the Ether Link. "The Ether Link? You mean to say that Zane's linked to the Ether?"
Lynsithea nodded. "That's right, during his training, his watch reacted when he was in extreme distress, and it appears that it is happening again. We believe the Ether Link might be amplifying his connection to the watch and, subsequently affecting its behavior in response to his peril."
Alektos had looked shocked. "The Ether Link is a very seldom and strong bond that is said to connect the divide between the physical reality and ethereal realms, amplifying one's powers and binding them with powerful artifacts or energies. For Zane, this would explain such a strong reaction by his watch during this ordeal."
Lynsithea frowned a bit more. "Correct. So if the watch reaction is linked with the Ether Link, we need more information so we may understand it better. Using this linkage might be used for helping Zane or showing support."
Alektos nodded, composing himself. "We need to harness any knowledge we have about the Ether Link and apply it to this situation. If Zane is linked with such a powerful force, it might be our key to intervening effectively."
Alektos's face turned contemplative as he thought of the consequences of such a reaction from the Nova Watch.
"You know, this reaction of the watch might not be new. I just remembered something. During that banquet, the watch started blinking lights right before Iris showed up. It was as if the watch was trying to signal something important or warn us against some danger."
Lynsithea and the others exchanged a look as memories flooded their minds of the night of the banquet. Iris's sudden appearance, with Zane showing overt fear, was still as crystal clear as it had ever been.
Alektos continued with, "Zane actually appeared to be very fearful when he saw Iris. It was as if the watch was engaging with an imminent danger or extreme emotional response. I cannot explain it fully, but it makes me wonder whether there's more of a deeper connection between the watch's reactions and Zane's emotional and physical states."
Lynsithea nodded, her mind whirling. "That would explain it. Through the Ether Link, the watch is reactive to physical and emotional dangers. If it is acting in response to Zane's fear and anguish.then that makes more sense. At the banquet, that could have just been some sort of warning because Iris was there."
Sasha added, "The effect of Iris's presence was so strong that she may actually be more involved in what's going on than we've assumed. We should also remember that Zane's fears and the signals from the watches relate to deeper threats-maybe even hidden threats."
Alektos nodded in agreement. "We can check what exactly caused Zane's paranoia of Iris and then relate it to the Ether Link. Maybe in that way, we will not only be able to fix the imminent danger he is in but also see if there is an underlying problem affecting his reactions or, better said, the reactions of the watch."
With renewed urgency, the team got to work, studying the watch's reaction patterns and comparing them for insight into the nature of Zane's fears and the Ether Link. Their goal was clear: to unravel the mysteries of the distressing calls sent by Zane and thereby help him in his struggle against Leviathan.
Parveen laid a soft, reassuring hand on Lynsithea's shoulder. "I can understand your concern, but we don't necessarily have to interfere just yet."
Lynsithea's eyes widened in alarm. "But now is the time when Zane's in danger! And standing here, doing nothing, we do nothing."
Parveen nodded. "This all sounds very urgent, but consider what we do know. Zane has faced some tough times in the past. He survived Sasha's and my training, which were meant to push him to his limits. Most importantly, he conquered Pyrolysis, one of the most ancient and advanced techniques in the Fire Essence that requires decades of practice to control, and he has used it even without an active Magic Essence in his body."
Alektos added, explaining Parveen's point: "Mastering such a complicated technique really speaks volumes about how much grit and skill Zane has. Pyrolysis isn't an art of brute force, but one of accuracy, control, and stamina. The fact that he had succeeded in doing it sans Magic Essence means he does have the capacity to endure the most extreme of situations."
Sasha added, "Plus, Zane's survival skills are incomparable, and he is very adaptive. We have seen him struggle through difficult conditions and rise above. If there is anyone that can see a Leviathan and survive this storm, it is him. We need to believe in him."
Lynsithea looked between the two, her thoughts racing for composure. "So, you're saying we should wait and see if he can handle it on his own?"
Parveen nodded. "Exactly. Zane has already demonstrated how strong and resourceful he is. At this point, intervening might interfere with whatever strategy he has in mind or misconstrue the situation. For the moment, we need to keep a close eye on this and prepare to interfere in case things begin to go awry. But let us just have a little faith in him."
The accord of Alektos and Sasha was the final straw that bound everything together in reassurance. "We're here to support him," Alektos said, "but sometimes the best way to help is to let him fight this battle with the skills and knowledge he's developed."
Lynsithea took a deep breath, weighing her worry against the confidence that Parveen showed, Alektos, and Sasha, in Zane. She nodded, her mind slowly understanding the reasoning behind their waiting and watching.
---
I clung to the wheel of the ship with all my might against the relentless waves and howling wind. Just beneath the surface was the huge form-the Leviathan-and every time its shadow passed by, my heart went pounding more forcefully: great, savage attacks, and making the ship keep her course through a storm now raging was hard work for me.
"Is this some sadistic training?!" I yelled into the storm, my voice hardly audible over the roar of it. "And what in the hell is that sea monster?!"
Just as I yelled that, a small magic circle flared to life beside me, hovering in the air. Through the swirling energy, Alektos's image materialized, his expression serious and focused.
"It's a Leviathan," Alektos's voice was clear, yet sounded far off and distorted by the storm.
"One of the most powerful sea creatures known. They are of an ancient breed and very dangerous, possessing enormous strength and with a very fearful reputation. In the situation you find yourself in now, it indeed is very dangerous, but you have conquered challenges before. Use everything you've learned and adapt to this one."
The glowing circle of magic stuttered and flared as Alektos finished saying, "The Leviathan is a monster that terrorizes and destroys everything in its path. Keep your cool head on your shoulders and think your way out. Your schooling and experience will be important to get you through this situation."
I nodded, though he could not see me. "Great. Just exactly what I needed. A huge sea monster with a bad attitude. Thanks for letting me know!"
I looked back at the wheel as the words of Alektos washed over me, refocusing my attention. I had previously faced impossible odds and survived. Now was no time to let my will falter. The Leviathan was huge and fearsome, but I had a few tricks of my own up my sleeve. I just needed to outsmart it, and there was a way through this nightmare.
It seemed with every one of its monstrous attacks against the ship, would be its last; an unrelenting storm that continued to wrestle the vessel; the whiplash of tentacles through the air with such incredible force. Yet amidst the chaos, there was a swimming in my mind, a memory of Ethan's voice-soft, comforting, the echo of a long-ago night of storms.
[Every time there is a storm, do not be afraid; it will not hurt you unless you made them angry.]
Ethan had said this to me when I was still a child, comforting me during those thunderous nights. His words had always sounded so simple, almost naive. But in the middle of this raging storm and facing the Leviathan relentless assault, those words took new dimensions.
I dug my fingers deeper into the wheel, even more determined now. If the storm was a force I couldn't fight but could endure, perhaps so was the Leviathan.
My focus shifted from fighting the beast to just hanging in there. The storm and the creature might be fierce, but they weren't going to break me unless I let them.
I screamed into the storm, "You want me to back down? Not in my life! I'm sticking to my path!"
I put every ounce into the wheel, steering the ship against the Leviathan's attacks, weaving and dodging with a renewed sense of determination. I wasn't about to give this storm or that beast the satisfaction of watching me fold.
If there was any truth in Ethan's words, then so long as I kept my course and didn't allow fear or anger to get the better of me, I would survive this night.
The Leviathan roared in frustration as I kept maneuvering through the storm, ignoring the beast's attempts at forcing me off course. That plan was pretty simple: move forward, stay on course, and count on the storm or Leviathan to eventually grow bored or be forced to retreat.
With every bone-jarring wave, the crashing tentacle-a living form of the storm-I remembered Ethan's lesson. The storm might be wild and the Leviathan a formidable foe, yet I had what neither waves nor sea monsters could take away-my will to survive, my will to get through this alive.
Every flash of a storm now raged, lighting up the surrounding bedlam. Above crashing waves and roaring wind, a flash of lightning outlined an island in my distance. I was so close, yet the Leviathan pursued me relentlessly.
Desperation made me quick. I needed to protect the ship, defend myself.
I quickly found a strong rope, then lashed it around the wheel of the steering, holding firmly so the ship would continue on its course. Then I took a sword that was on deck-metal shone dimly in the light from the storm. With my sword at the ready, I was prepared to fend off the attacks of the Leviathan.
I searched all over the ship and happened to find some gunpowder and cannonballs. The thought ran through my mind as I got the cannon ready with cannonballs, each move swift and meaningful. Using the sparks from the sword, I lit the gunpowder, and with a great 'Whoosh', it lit.
I scanned storm-tossed sea, peering against the darkness and rain. A surge of heavy air-a sure sign the Leviathan was drawing near-caught my attention. I wheeled the cannon right, and there it was: the Leviathan's enormous, dark shape churning toward the ship.
My heart was pounding as I took a deep breath, then let fly with the cannon. The shot exploded into the Leviathan, the cannonball striking its hide with a resounding impact, and the beast let out a deafening roar. For a moment, it seemed to falter, rearing back almost in surprise at the violence of the blow.
Not heavy but enough that it would force the Leviathan to retreat for a moment. The beast was seemingly recoiling in pain, its attack short-circuited for a moment.
As the Leviathan was stilled for a moment, my attentions fell to guiding the ship toward the island. My hands were sure on the wheel, and though the storm beat upon me-as unyielding as the beast-I pressed onward.
The island was so near now, and with each wave I conquered, I was filled with a fresh spurt of hope that I might just survive this nightmare.
The storm continuing, I never kept my eyes off the island, but watched all round about to defend my admirable prize; and though indeed I was much weakened, both by what I had gone through, and the hard work of shifting the cattle, yet I was able now to do this with some ease.
I prepared to reload the cannons as a massive crack resounded throughout the ship. In that instant, the Leviathan had torn a gaping hole in the side of the vessel, and water began to rush inside.
My veins pulsed with panic as I saw that our ship was slowly sinking. The time for thinking fast was getting thin, and my options were running out.
Having no magic essence to draw upon, and no advanced technology to aid me, I was bound to utilize whatever was at hand.
The view fell upon a small, metallic box containing some old flares and bits and pieces of flammable material. It wasn't much, but it might just be enough to carry out a desperate plan.
It was then that, across the stormy sky, a flash of lightning was seen to play across, and brought instantly into my mind a very risky idea. If I can somehow use this to my advantage, it may turn the tide against Leviathan. I knew it was dangerous-almost a suicidal idea-but it was all that remained for me.
I took the metal box, and opening it, I pulled out the flares with some material covering it. I was shaking, but somehow rigging some kind of contraption, laying out the flares and lashing the material to a rope, this was supposed to be a conduit that would attract the lightning toward the ship and preferably toward the Leviathan.
I knew that this was a long shot, to say the least. The storm was strong, and there was little hope of it striking exactly where I needed it to. Still, the alternative was that my ship and I were doomed unless I tried.
I attached the jury-rigged contraption to the highest point of our vessel, making sure that it was as open to the storm as possible.
I ready myself to light the flammable material and turned a glance backward to the Leviathan. The beast was circling, apparently waiting for its next opportunity to strike.
I shot the flares off with a gulp, watching as they blazed with incredible brightness. The metal box started to crackle and sizzle, spewing smoke up into the stormy air. I hoped that the flashing lights and smoke would attract the lightning onto the ship.
I steadied myself against the ship's wheel and watched with bated breath. The tempest raged about me, and I sent silent prayers that the lightning might strike the device and with any luck channel its power into Leviathan. A desperate gamble; it was all I had left.
The next lightning flash lightened up the sky, and I could see it arc towards the ship. I braced for impact, praying with my fingers crossed that my gamble would pay off.
As I braced for the strike of the lightning, the Leviathan's monstrosity plunged toward the ship at a terrifying velocity. The beast's jaws were wide open, ready to crush the vessel with its incredible force. In that split second, with all my might, I threw the sword right into the eye of the Leviathan. The blade sailed across the storm and struck the eye with a deafening clang.
The Leviathan let out an earsplitting roar of pain and anger. Its huge body squirmed in agony. The distraction from the impact of the sword threw the creature's attack off, giving the lightning bolt its chance to strike. Arcing down, the electric charge of the storm hit the metal device I had prepared.
Then in a blinding flash, the lightning exploded into the Leviathan, searing with energy that made the beast twist and spasm. Its screams of pain were drowned out by the crackling of the lightning and the sizzle of burning flesh as the Leviathan thrashed wildly, its huge tail slamming against the ship.
It was more than the structure of the ship could stand. The impact against the Leviathan, along with the endless storm, caused the vessel to splinter and break apart.
Pieces of wood and other debris whirled in every direction as the ship was torn asunder. The bulk of the Leviathan crashed down, its final act of defiance sending what was left of the ship flying off in every direction.
The force of the Leviathan's collapse and the breaking ship sent me flying through the air, and I was thrown from the wreckage, the powerful impact of the water knocking me unconscious as I plunged into the turbulent sea.
I sank beneath the waves, the cold water closing around me as all went black. The last sensation that I had was just how unrelenting the pressure of the ocean was against my body, and then there was just darkness.
---
The crowd of Azure Tide watched in stunned silence as the events unfolded on the large magic circle screen. The storm raged on, and the desperate battle of the ship against the Leviathan reached its climax. As soon as the final attack of the Leviathan was broadcast, its destroying of the ship, shockwaves spread throughout the onlookers.
Lynsithea's eyes had widened in horror as she watched Zane hurled from the wreckage and swallowed by the churning sea. The image of the ship coming apart, Zane flung into the water, created a primal, all-encompassing dread deep inside her. Her heart was racing in her chest while she felt the tears well down her face.
"Zane!" she cried out, her voice breaking with anguish.
There was desperation in the call, and her grief at that moment was about as clear as the sun in the sky to anyone who laid eyes on her.
Without even the briefest hesitation, Lynsithea beckoned Glacielle. This small wyvern, in her side of the room, sleeping, did not hesitate for a second but responded immediately. The next instant, Glacielle's powerful wings were beating against the air as she took to the storm-swept sky. Lynsithea mounted Glacielle with urgent determination, her eyes scanning the chaotic sea below.
Lynsithea's heart was racing as Glacielle flew over the place of the battle that had just taken place. The fury of the storm had died somewhat, but the waves were still high and the sea choppy. She steered Glacielle toward the wreckage and remains, hoping desperately to catch a glimpse of Zane.
With the wyvern's eyes sharp and the magical senses of Lynsithea in concert, the wreckage was combed for Zane. It felt like a lifetime of swimming through turbulent waters in every second as she prayed she'd find him in time.
As the storm finally began to subside, the turbulent sea quieted gradually, and all that was left to be seen across the water was pieces of the ship's remains, haunting reminders of what had just transpired. Red-eyed from tears, her heart pounding with worry, Lynsithea scanned the chaotic scene below.
Among the general debris and everything that floated, she saw but one figure drifting amongst what was left of the ship. Instantly, she felt her heart race with the glimpse of Zane. He floated upon the water, clinging to a barrel, his body hardly visible among the debris.
"Zane!" Lynsithea's voice cut through the quieting storm, her tone a mix of relief and still desperation. She guided Glacielle down toward the floating figure; as they closed in, her breath clutched in her throat.
As Glacielle sank, Lynsithea saw Zane was out cold, his face turned away from her. His grip on the barrel was precarious, and he floated aimlessly among the debris. The sight of him so still and vulnerable brought a new wave of tears to Lynsithea's eyes.
Carefully, Lynsithea guided Glacielle to hover above Zane. In a soft voice, she instructed Glacielle to extend her talons, drawing them down in an arc to scoop Zane up out of the water. Lynsithea's hands were shaking as she positioned herself to catch him.
However, the wyvern's talons gently scooped Zane out of the water and pulled him aboard. Lynsithea reached to prop him up immediately, wrapping a blanket around him, and began to quickly check his condition. His body was cold and soaked, but there was the faintest sign of life there.
"Zane," she whispered softly in his ear, trying to keep the relief and worry out of her voice. "You're safe now. We'll get you to safety."
With Glacielle winging her way back to Azure Tide, the precious cargo of Zane safe with her, Lynsithea remained fixedly watching him-her heart still knotted in concern but lighter now, grateful she had found him among all the debris. The storm was over, but the journey to recovery was most definitely still well on its way.