Ashfall's senses slowly stirred as he regained consciousness, his eyes fluttering open. His surroundings swam into focus, yet the sight that greeted him was an unfamiliar one. He was still encased in the shimmering prison of water, its surface distorting the view around him, warping the lush green landscape beyond. Tiny, delicate bubbles rose through the fluid, shimmering with refracted light as they danced upward. His first instinct was to try moving, but the thick density of the water held him in place, muffling every shift and sound. Frustration sparked in his chest.
"How am I still in this thing?" he thought, taking in the undulating barrier that confined him. He shifted his arms experimentally, feeling the resistance of the water pressing against him from all sides. Enough was enough. He took a deep breath, channeling his energy from deep within, summoning the intense flames that defined his power as the Warden of Flame. He closed his eyes, centering his focus, ready to ignite his surroundings in an inferno powerful enough to shatter the water prison.
Just as he was about to unleash his power, a voice rang out, muffled but unmistakably familiar.
"Hey, Ashfall! Yo, chill."
Ashfall froze, his eyes snapping open, scanning the distorted view beyond the water bubble. The voice was undoubtedly familiar, a sound that stirred up old memories like faint embers rekindled after a long dormancy. He squinted, trying to make out the silhouette of a figure standing just beyond the shimmering barrier, waving casually with one hand on his hip.
A flicker of realization passed over Ashfall's face. He opened his mouth to respond, but all that emerged was an incomprehensible garble of sounds as the water's density muted his voice into an unintelligible babble.
"Bwagh... bwaghba..." he attempted, the water around him distorting his words into nothing more than a jumble.
The figure outside cocked his head, eyebrows raised in amusement as he cupped a hand to his ear. "What? I can't hear you, Ashfall," he taunted, a playful grin spreading across his face.
Ashfall rolled his eyes in frustration, pointing to the water bubble that surrounded him in hopes that his friend would understand the obvious predicament he was in. The figure took a moment, glancing at the bubble with exaggerated realization.
"Ohh, that," the man said with a nonchalant shrug, before raising a single finger.
With a subtle flick, the water prison began to dissipate, the fluid barrier unraveling and falling away like a delicate veil. Ashfall stumbled forward as he was released, the sudden loss of resistance nearly throwing him off balance. He quickly regained his footing, shaking the lingering water droplets from his cloak before locking eyes with his old friend.
Standing before him was Tides, the Warden of Waves, his once familiar ally from a century ago. His appearance was as striking as ever, with a calm yet mischievous glint in his sea-green eyes and an air of effortless grace. His hair, a deep shade of blue that shimmered like the ocean under the sun, was bound loosely behind him, and he wore a smirk that hinted at their long and storied history together.
"Tides, is that you?" he asked, though his tone made it clear that he was already certain.
Ashfall, still processing the unexpected reunion, stepped forward, his gaze intense as he gripped Tides by the shoulders. "Tides... Is that really you?"
Tides raised an eyebrow, his smile quirking upward. "Who else would it be?"
Before Tides could react, Ashfall's hand swung out in a swift slap that landed squarely on his cheek. The sound of the impact echoed, and Tides stumbled back, his hand flying to his cheek as he winced, eyes wide with exaggerated hurt.
"Ouch!" he yelped, rubbing his cheek indignantly. "Why did you do that?"
Ashfall reached up, removing his mask and letting it dangle loosely in his hand. His expression was a blend of irritation and disbelief as he looked Tides square in the eye. "Why did you stop my attack mid-air, Tides? That dragon got away because of you."
Tides pushed himself upright, dusting off his tunic with a scoff. "Oh, please. It's not my fault that you're so oblivious to the current situation around here. You've been gone a hundred years, Ashfall. A lot has changed."
Ashfall's brows knitted together in confusion, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"
Tides rolled his eyes, a knowing smirk still playing on his lips as he gingerly rubbed his sore cheek. "Come on, then. I'll explain everything somewhere else. It's too crowded here."
Ashfall gave him a skeptical look, glancing around at the empty field. "Too crowded here? What are you talking about? There's no one around except us."
Tides merely waved a hand in a vague gesture toward the trees around them. "The trees can hear, you know." His voice took on a tone of mock solemnity, though his eyes were filled with humor.
Ashfall stared at him, unimpressed. "That makes no sense, Tides."
"Of course it doesn't. It shouldn't." Tides shrugged, offering nothing further by way of explanation. Instead, he turned his back on Ashfall, striding away from the city gates with a casual confidence that suggested he expected Ashfall to follow.
Ashfall watched him go for a moment, then sighed in resignation, slipping his mask back into his belt as he fell into step behind Tides. They walked together, away from the towering city walls and out into the vast, open expanse of the countryside. The two Wardens, side by side once more, ventured farther from the city, each step rekindling a familiar, if begrudging, camaraderie.