Brian held onto the watercraft's handles with a firm grip, making sure he was firmly seated. He managed the speed by pressing down on the left foot pedal, while the right pedal allowed him to slow down or come to a complete stop. To navigate, he simply squeezed the handles to turn left or right and adjusted his position by pulling or pushing them up and down. Although the watercraft had a bit of a kick, it became easier to handle once he got used to it.
The mask fit snugly, allowing him to breathe easily without any fogging. At the center of the handles, a circular display indicated a red dot at the center, marking the docking point of the carriage, while various colored dots represented the locations of all the watercraft. He tracked the green dot that signified Paul's position.
He sped by countless tiny, twinkling lights that swiftly vanished from his view and dashed out of his path. Beneath him were corals of various shapes, in a vibrant array of colors, alongside sea plants in shades of purple, green, and blue.
"Looks like you both successfully trailed us down here, according to my readout," said Igna.
"What's this? You're chatting with me, my little pet?" Paul said
"Ugh, can we just chop off his balls already? Seriously, people like him have no business reproducing," Amy said.
"Flirting is fine and dandy, but seriously, don't call me pet," said Igna.
"Sure thing, sweet stuff," Paul said.
There was a heavy sigh from the other end. "Is there any way we can block him? Can we do that?" Olivia asked.
"Hey, how are we speaking to each other?" said Brian.
"We're chatting through these masks because you all haven't got your translation and communication jewelry just yet! So, what brings you down here? Please tell me you didn't just come to peep on us," said Inga.
"No, as delectable as you ladies are, we came down here to find mermaids. Mermaids! The great treasure of the sea," said Paul.
"We promised Pyr that we would find a yellow or orange wisp to keep him company," said Brian.
"Don't capture a wisp for him, we're going to find an ice wisp," said Amy.
"Is that right? What's in it for me to hold off on chasing a wisp? And you know, I bet Brian would drop the wisp hunt in a heartbeat if Inga would just say yes to a date with him," Paul said.
"Well, I suppose I could be persuaded," Inga said.
"For real? Absolutely, I would love to go on a date with you!" said Brian.
"So how about it, Olivia? Wanna follow suit and go on a date with me?" said Paul.
"I'm not even mildly interested," said Olivia.
"Come on, don't older women like dating younger guys? I bet you know all sorts of amazing techniques," said Paul.
"You will never find out," said Olivia.
"Looks like the deal's off, so it's time to go wisp hunting. My bro better step up, or this competition won't be worth a damn. Winning isn't sweet when it's three against one—unless you're up for taking this battle to the bedroom?"
"Okay, let's do this! A bit of competition doesn't scare me," said Inga.
"What about our date?" said Brian.
"Oh, we're definitely going! Once we hit Farnfoss for some shopping, I'll take you to my favorite spot," said Inga.
"Great!" said Brian.
"Pfft! Earthlings sure are different, I'm glad you're excited. It should be fun. That being said, try your best, I'm competitive," said Inga.
"Will do," said Brian, then he sped up to catch up to Paul.
He glided up next to Paul just as he gestured toward a patch of towering seaweed and a yellow streak that zipped into the vegetation. In unison, they pushed on the handles of their watercraft, dipping down to pursue the elusive creature.
"They've sped up, let's go intercept," said Inga.
"I've lost it, did you see where it went?" said Paul.
"In went around the corner of that coral, just past the seaweed," said Brian.
"Awesome! Let's move fast and snag it before the ladies arrive."
They darted around the edge of the coral and arrived at a massive rock dome, with a wide entrance that opened into a descending tunnel. They watched the yellow wisp zip through the gap and disappear into the tunnel.
"Do you think we should follow?" said Brian.
"Let's take a closer look and see what we can discover. If we spot the wisp and it looks good, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't press on. We can always backtrack if needed," said Paul.
"Yeah, that sounds good," said Brian.
As they entered the tunnel, a breathtaking sight unfolded before them. A vast cavern adorned with swirling layers of vibrant rock formations, each hue more striking than the last. Dazzling spots of light sparkled throughout, creating a mesmerizing display that captivated their senses.
Vibrant little fish darted through the tunnel, their brilliant hues creating a mesmerizing display, while shellfish clung to the rocky walls. The shimmering baby wisps illuminated the surroundings so brightly that the lights on their watercraft felt redundant. As they peered deeper into the tunnel, a fleeting glimpse of a yellow wisp caught their eye before it vanished into the depths once more.
Paul gestured towards the spot where the wisp had vanished, nodding in agreement. He felt the urge to keep quiet, hoping the girls wouldn't know what they were up to. Brian nodded in agreement, and together they plunged downward. A mix of apprehension and thrill coursed through him. Although he was still alive, this experience felt like a fresh start. It was as if he had been reborn into a vibrant fantasy realm, filled with amazing gadgets, cat girls, and the wonders of magic.
The cave continued to descend, gradually becoming narrower until they found themselves heading directly into a deep pit. As the pit became steeper, Brian's body leaned forward in his seat, inadvertently accelerating his craft, and a rush of panic filled him. Just as he wanted to bail, the tunnel appeared to straighten out, only to suddenly tilt sideways and uncontrollably spiral downwards due to the rush of an underwater current.
"Fucking hell!" screamed Brian.
"Throw your hands up!" yelled Paul.
"What's happening over there?!" said Inga.
"I swear, if I make it through this, I'm going to throw up," said Brian.
"Embrace it like a rollercoaster, my friend! Enjoy every twist and turn, and don't try to fight it. This is the best!"
Brian glanced over and spotted Paul right next to him, embracing the rush of the moment, riding the current with his arms flailing above him, totally abandoning his steering. A massive grin stretched across his face, his cheeks puffed out and vibrating with the rush of speed. His hair and clothes whipped around wildly behind him, and it was clear he was loving every second of it. And he thought to himself, maybe that's what living looks like. Or Paul could just be crazy.
"You're crazy! Has anyone ever told you that?" said Brian.
"All the time!" said Paul, then he started laughing.
Brian's eyes shot forward as he felt the current yanking them in a new direction. In an instant, they flipped upside down, a gut-wrenching twist that sent his heart pounding. They were riding the top of an underground cavern when the water vanished beneath them. Suddenly, they were flying high above a massive abyss, the water crashing down a staggering hundred feet below!
"We're going to die!" screamed Brian.
"This is the best!"
They dropped like a stone, a hundred feet of pure freefall! Brian's face stretched back, feeling like his skin was about to tear right off his skull. He white-knuckled the steering handles as if his very life hung in the balance because it likely did! From the edge of his vision, he caught a glimpse of Paul, arms wide open like a soaring eagle, a look of pure joy plastered across his stretched-out face.
One hundred feet, seventy-five, fifty, twenty-five! They were plummeting, spiraling down, down, down!
"Fuck!" Right before impact, he crouched down, heart racing as he anticipated the searing pain that was about to hit him.
Then he saw a bubble expanding from the center of the steering and encircling the whole of the watercraft and him. It wrapped around him like a clear cocoon and he smoothly slipped into the water like an Olympic diver. He plunged down, twisted around, and shot up into the air like a cannonball, soaring fifteen feet high before crashing down with a massive splash! Stunned, he blinked a few times, then started checking himself over, relieved to discover he had just a bit of soreness in his back and neck.
Paul crashed into the water next to him, roaring with laughter. He yanked his face mask up onto his head and scrubbed his face with his hands, grinning wildly. "Man, I can't believe how much I love this watercraft! I'm going to get so much air time with it!"
"What do you mean air time?! What are you doing with it?!" yelled Inga.
Brian grimaced as a sharp pain shot through his ears and he lifted his mask onto his head too. "Inga's screaming."
"Yeah, I can sort of hear her, a little bit. I'm not really into the bitching type, so she's all yours," said Paul.
"Bitch...you...so...reg...," said Inga.
"This cave is something else," Paul said, yanking off his screeching mask and tossing it into the watercraft's storage. As he popped it open, he spotted a stash of water bottles and a bag of sealed jerky. After checking the expiration date, he dove right in. "Badass!"
Coming Next Time: Somnus and Snake