The corridor walls were damp now, streaked with rivulets that caught the pale glow of their guiding orbs. Krans del Leon led, shoulders relaxed, eyes taking in every detail. Levara followed close behind, frowning as droplets patted her boots. Danek moved in silence, while Arrix peered around nervously, one hand near the hilt of a small ritual knife he carried more for comfort than necessity.
They emerged into a low-ceilinged chamber where the floor sloped gently toward a broad, dark pool. The air smelled faintly of moss and minerals. Four stone pillars rose from the water's edge, each carved with the same droplet rune they'd seen at the branching corridor. Wisps of mana drifted overhead like fireflies gone blue and dim.
Levara let out a hushed curse. "So this must be Water's domain," she said, voice echoing softly. "I hate getting soaked."
Arrix stepped beside Krans, lowering his voice. "We can summon swimmers, can't we? Something that navigates whatever's beneath those ripples?" He tried to steady his words, recalling how his drake had failed in the previous trial. His pride still stung.
Danek nudged a stone shard with his toe. "We should check if there's a path along the edges," he suggested, but the chamber's sides vanished into shadow, offering no easy route.
Krans walked to the water's brink, crouching down. He touched the surface lightly with a fingertip. The ripples spread, shimmering under the faint orb-light. Cool and silent. He turned his head, speaking quietly so all could hear. "We know the Sanctum's tests demand action. If we must cross this pool, I'd wager a lever or platform lies submerged. We must guide a summoned creature down there."
Levara made a face. "Underwater conjurations are tricky," she muttered. "But possible."
Arrix took a breath and closed his eyes. "I'll try first," he said, surprising them. "I need to prove I can hold my Summon steady."
Krans offered a mild, encouraging smile. "Go ahead," he said, stepping back to give Arrix space. His voice carried a warmth, a subtle confidence that eased Arrix's shoulders.
Arrix concentrated, drawing mana strands from the humid air. The blue orbs overhead flickered in response, as if curious. With careful gestures, he formed a shape: a long, sinuous eel-like spirit with translucent scales. It hovered above his cupped hands for a moment before slithering into the dark pool.
They watched its glowing silhouette dart beneath the surface. Arrix's eyes half-lidded as he focused, breathing slow. Danek and Levara flanked Krans, waiting tensely. The silence pressed in, broken only by gentle laps of water and a distant, steady drip.
The eel's glow faded as it dove deeper. Arrix's brow knit. "It's dark down there," he whispered. "I can sense… something like an archway or gate below."
Krans nodded, rubbing his chin. "We likely must trigger something. A latch, a sunken switch. Focus, Arrix. Let your Summon feel along the stones."
Levara couldn't keep still. She paced at the water's edge, boots clicking. "If Arrix fails, I'll send something too. Maybe a manta-form spirit with better eyesight." She paused, then asked in a lower tone, "Krans, what if we must all get wet? This could be a trick."
Krans shrugged, a small grin tugging at his lips. "If we must, we will. But let's trust Arrix a moment."
Below them, the water remained still. Arrix's knuckles whitened, summoning all his concentration. After a tense half-minute, his shoulders relaxed slightly. "Found it," he said, voice tight. "A hinged stone plate. My eel is nudging it."
A soft rumble traveled through the floor, making Danek shift his stance. The blue orbs overhead swirled faster. Then, with a low grinding sound, a pedestal rose at the far side of the pool, shedding water in sheets. On that pedestal, a small brass lever waited.
Levara exhaled. "A second step. We must get over there."
Arrix called back his eel, the creature dissolving into strands of mana that drifted into nothingness as it broke the surface. He tried to keep his pride hidden, but Krans saw the relief in his eyes.
Danek cleared his throat. "Now we swim?" he asked flatly.
Krans studied the distance. The pedestal stood about twenty paces away, across water too dark to trust. "Let's summon bridges, or creatures large enough to ferry us." His tone carried a confident calm. He stepped forward, raising a hand. "I'll conjure something stable."
Levara crossed her arms. "A stable Summon that can carry four people across deep water? Ambitious." There was a challenge in her voice, but also curiosity.
Krans smiled, unruffled. He channeled mana, drawing on the damp air and the hints of elemental resonance lingering in the chamber. His eyes half-closed, he envisioned a broad-backed, turtle-like spirit with armor of gleaming scales. He shaped it carefully, weaving thicker threads of energy to reinforce its spine, forming flippers large enough to hold them all. The mana coalesced, sparkling in brief arcs of blue light.
A massive turtle-spirit emerged, half-submerged at the water's edge. It blinked slow, wise eyes and let out a soundless sigh of welcome. Krans stepped onto its back, boots finding solid footing on that shimmering shell. He extended a hand to Levara, who raised her brow but accepted gracefully. Danek followed silently, and Arrix last, his posture more confident now.
The turtle glided smoothly into the pool, its passage whisper-quiet. The water's tension pressed in, but they moved steadily forward. As they crossed, faint shapes drifted below—perhaps harmless weeds, or restless spirits that never surfaced. None challenged them, as if the Sanctum acknowledged their skill.
Levara whispered, "Del Leon, if you can conjure mounts like this outside exams, you'll have half the Empire begging for your service." Her voice held genuine respect now.
Krans chuckled softly. "One challenge at a time," he said.
When they neared the pedestal, Danek hopped off first, boots splashing on the small platform. He reached for the lever. Arrix and Levara joined him. Krans stayed a moment on the turtle's back, patting the creature's shell before letting it dissolve into mana threads, which drifted upward like lazy sparks.
Danek pulled the lever. The chamber shuddered again, and a section of wall beside the pedestal slid open. Pale light leaked through, revealing a dry corridor ahead. Drips of water fell from their clothes as they moved inside, relieved to leave the dark pool behind.
Arrix's grin was small but honest. He looked at Krans. "Thanks," he said quietly, eyes bright. "For letting me try first."
Krans shrugged lightly. "We're a team here, Arrix. Summoners stand stronger together."
Levara tapped Arrix's shoulder playfully. "You did well, kid." Then she turned to Krans, nodding approval. "You too, turtle-master."
Danek offered no words, just a silent tilt of his head. But that, from him, was praise enough.
They walked on, water pooling at their heels, leaving the echo of dripping water and the quiet hush of conquered challenges behind. The Sanctum's tests would grow harder, but they now had proof of their synergy—wind and water bowed to their collective will. With Krans's steady confidence, they pressed further into the unknown.