The sea was uneasy that morning.
Lyre Stormweaver felt it before he saw it. Energy pulsed through him, an invisible current that connected his body to the blue expanse below. His bare feet touched the edge of the cliff, toes curling over the rough rock. The wind whipped his ebony-coloured hair.
Aqualon stretched out behind him, a floating island of white cliffs and lush forests. His home. His prison.
Lyre closed his eyes, letting his other senses take over. The roar of the waves against the rocks below. The smell of salt and seaweed. The vibration of the aquatic magic coursing through his veins, eager to be released.
He took a deep breath and jumped.
For a moment, there was only the wind and the fall. Then Lyre stretched out his hands and called.
The water responded to his call. A liquid column rose from the ocean, meeting his in mid-air. Lyre turned gracefully, his movements as fluid as the water itself. The column enveloped his, slowing his fall and turning it into a controlled dive.
He cut through the surface of the ocean like an arrow, the water closing over his head without a sound. Underwater, Lyre opened his eyes. Here, in his element, his vision was crystal clear. Shoals of colourful fish flew past him, their scales shimmering in the filtered sunlight.
With a gesture, Lyre created a bubble of air around him. Another movement of his fingers and the water propelled him forwards. He glided through the depths with the grace of a fish, exploring the coral reefs that surrounded Aqualon.
It was in these moments that Lyre felt truly free. Here, in the depths, he wasn't the son of the head of the council or the young prodigy of aquatic magic. He was just Lyre, part of the ocean, part of the current.
But even freedom had its limits.
A sound echoed through the water, low and resonant. Lyre stopped, floating in the midst of the blue expanse. The sound came again, louder this time. It was Aqualon's bell, calling everyone back to the island.
Lyre sighed, air bubbles escaping from his mouth. With a reluctant movement of his arms, he reversed course, swimming back to the surface. As he got closer, he could see the distorted silhouette of Aqualon above, a dark mass against the bright sky.
He broke the surface with a graceful arc, water trickling down his body as he rose into the air. With a fluid gesture, Lyre manipulated the water around her, creating a liquid platform beneath her feet. He rose up, surfing on the wave he himself had created, climbing towards the cliffs of Aqualon.
As he neared the edge, Lyre saw a familiar figure waiting for him. Master Aquarius, his mentor, was standing on the edge of the cliff, his long blue robes waving in the wind. His wrinkled face was frowning in an expression of disapproval that Lyre knew all too well.
'Lyre,' he said as soon as she stepped onto the solid rock, the water flowing back into the sea. 'You know you shouldn't dive in alone. It's dangerous.'
Lyre resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 'Master Aquarius, with all due respect, I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself in the ocean. I am a water mage, after all.'
'A young and impetuous water mage,' Aquarius retorted, his voice soft but firm. 'The sea holds secrets and dangers you don't yet know, Lyre. Especially now.'
This caught Lyre's attention. 'What do you mean 'especially now'?'
Aquarius hesitated, his eyes turning briefly to the horizon. 'Come,' he finally said. 'The Council is meeting. There are... matters to be discussed.'
Intrigued and a little apprehensive, Lyre followed his mentor along the winding path that led into the heart of Aqualon. The city rose up before them, a harmonious mix of coral and wooden structures, with crystal-clear water channels snaking between the buildings.
As they walked, Lyre noticed a different atmosphere in the air. The inhabitants of Aqualon, normally cheerful and carefree, seemed tense. Conversations were exchanged in hurried whispers, and more than once Lyre picked up fragments that made him uneasy.
'...another island has disappeared...'
'...they say it's bigger than a leviathan...'
'...the Devourer of Islands...'
The Council Hall stood in the centre of the city, an imposing blue and white coral building that towered above the others. Lyre and Aquarius climbed the marble steps, passing guards with tridents who watched them intently.
Inside, the circular hall was full. The twelve members of the Aqualon Council occupied their elevated seats, with Lyre's father, Caspian Stormweaver, in the centre. His normally serene expression was filled with concern.
'Ah, Master Aquarius,' Caspian said when he saw them enter. 'And Lyre. Welcome.'
Lyre bowed respectfully, but his mind was buzzing with questions. What was going on? Why all the secrecy and tension?
'Counsellors,' Aquarius said, his voice echoing through the hall. 'I think it's time we shared what we know with everyone. The rumours are already spreading, and fear grows with every whisper.'
There was a moment of tense silence, broken only by the gentle bubbling of the fountains that adorned the hall. Then Caspian stood up, his eyes travelling across the gathered crowd before settling on Lyre.
'Very well,' he said, his voice deep and heavy. 'There is something in the depths of Etherea. Something that has terrorised sailors and devoured entire islands.'
A murmur of shock ran through the crowd. Lyre felt a shiver run down his spine. Devouring islands? How was that possible?
'In the last few moons,' Caspian continued, 'three smaller islands have disappeared without a trace. Witnesses speak of a monstrous shadow in the depths, larger than any known creature. Some call it the Devourer of Islands.'
The hall erupted in alarmed voices. Lyre remained silent, his mind racing. Was that why Aquarius was so worried about her solitary dives?
'Silence!' Caspian's voice thundered, calming the tumult. 'I understand everyone's fear, but we need to stay calm. Aqualon is one of the largest and best protected islands in Etherea. We're safe here.'
But even as he said this, Lyre could see the doubt in his father's eyes.
'What can we do?' someone in the crowd shouted.
Caspian exchanged a glance with Aquarius before answering. 'We're in contact with the other islands. An expedition is being formed to investigate and, if possible, neutralise this threat.'
Lyre's heart raced. An expedition? To hunt down a monster that devoured islands? It was madness. It was dangerous.
It was exactly the kind of adventure he had always dreamed of.
As the debate continued around him, Lyre felt something change inside him. The ocean had always been his home, his refuge. Now, for the first time, he saw it as a challenge to be faced.
The Devourer of Islands, whatever it was, was out there. And Lyre Stormweaver swore to himself that he would uncover the truth behind this threat, no matter the cost.