The figure descended the dune with effortless grace, her bare feet leaving no trace in the sand. Her cloak of shimmering blue rippled as though it were woven from the sea itself, and her eyes—glinting with both curiosity and suspicion—fixed on Solon.
"Nerys," Solon began, inclining his head slightly. "You haven't changed."
The Sea Goddess narrowed her eyes. "And you've withered, Sun God. How the mighty have fallen." Her voice carried the cadence of waves, soothing yet sharp enough to cut. "Why do you tread my domain after all this time?"
Solon straightened, though the effort seemed to sap what little strength he had left. "I come not as a god, but as a humble seeker. The shadows rise, and I cannot stand against them alone. I need your help."
Nerys laughed, a sound like crashing waves. "Help? From me? You, who once burned my sacred waters with your insatiable pride? You dare ask for my aid now?"
Amara, sensing the tension between them, stepped forward cautiously. "Nerys, please. I know there's history between you two, but we don't have time for grudges. The world is in danger."
Nerys turned her gaze to Amara, studying her intently. "A mortal," she said, her tone softer but no less wary. "And what role do you play in this, little one?"
"I freed him," Amara admitted. "I didn't know what I was doing at the time, but now I'm trying to fix it. We're trying to stop Nyxaris before it's too late."
At the mention of the primordial shadow, Nerys's expression darkened. Her hands clenched at her sides, and the air around her seemed to grow heavier.
"Nyxaris," she said, the name dripping with disdain. "So, the Shadow stirs once more. You've brought calamity upon us all, mortal."
Amara held her ground. "Maybe I have, but I'm trying to make it right. And we need your help to do that."
Nerys's gaze flickered between Amara and Solon. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, with a wave of her hand, a wall of water erupted from the sand, encircling them.
"You say you seek my aid," Nerys said, her voice rising like a storm. "Then prove yourself worthy. Survive my trial, and I will consider your request."
The wall of water closed in, pulling Amara and Solon into its depths. Amara struggled to breathe as the currents dragged her downward, tossing her like a rag doll. Panic clawed at her chest until, suddenly, she found herself standing on solid ground.
She was no longer in the desert. Around her stretched an endless expanse of water, the horizon blending seamlessly into the sky. Solon stood beside her, his golden aura flickering weakly.
"What is this place?" Amara asked, her voice trembling.
"The Tidekeeper's Realm," Solon said grimly. "A fragment of Nerys's power. This is her domain, and here, she is in control."
Before Amara could respond, the waters parted, revealing a massive serpent with scales that shimmered like mother-of-pearl. Its eyes glowed with an eerie blue light as it coiled around them, its presence both majestic and menacing.
"This is Aegirion, my guardian," Nerys's voice echoed from all directions. "Face it, and prove you have the strength to stand against the coming darkness."
Amara's heart raced as the serpent lunged. Solon stepped forward, summoning a faint barrier of light that deflected the creature's strike—but barely.
"I can't hold it off for long," Solon admitted, his voice strained. "I need time to recover."
Amara looked around desperately, searching for anything she could use. Her eyes fell on the serpent's glowing eyes, and an idea formed.
"Keep it distracted!" she shouted, darting to the side.
"What are you doing?" Solon called after her, his voice tinged with alarm.
"Trust me!"
Amara sprinted toward the serpent, dodging its lashing tail and snapping jaws. She reached into her satchel and pulled out a shard of mirrored glass—a fragment of an artifact she had uncovered in the temple.
As the serpent lunged again, Amara held up the glass, angling it to catch the faint light of Solon's aura. The beam reflected into the creature's eyes, causing it to recoil with a deafening hiss.
"Now!" Amara shouted.
Solon seized the opportunity, summoning the last of his strength to unleash a burst of light. The serpent writhed and dissolved into the water, leaving the realm eerily quiet.
The watery expanse faded, and Amara and Solon found themselves back in the desert. Nerys stood before them, her expression unreadable.
"You are resourceful, mortal," she said at last, her tone grudgingly respectful. "And you, Solon, still possess remnants of the strength I once admired."
"Does this mean you'll help us?" Amara asked, hope creeping into her voice.
Nerys inclined her head. "I will join you—for now. The shadows threaten us all, and even I cannot stand against them alone. But know this: my loyalty is not given freely. Betray me, and you will find the sea far less forgiving."
Solon nodded. "Understood."
Amara let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. They had gained an ally, but the journey was far from over. As the three of them prepared to set out, the sun dipped below the horizon, and a chill settled over the desert.
In the distance, the faint tendrils of shadow began to stir once more.