The mist from the Azure Sea thickened, swirling around Lena and Aria like a dream made of fog and water. Lena could feel the magic in the air, heavier than before, like the very fabric of Elandra was holding its breath. The Stone of Fire had already tested her, but the Stone of Water was different. It was hidden deep beneath the ocean's surface, within the ruins of an ancient city—an underwater labyrinth guarded by creatures of the sea, both mystical and deadly.
As they stood on the shore, Lena glanced at the horizon, where the sea stretched endlessly, the line between water and sky nearly impossible to distinguish. Aria seemed unfazed by the sight, as though she had crossed these waters a thousand times before.
"The Stone of Water lies within the sunken city of Lontis," Aria explained, her gaze fixed on the distant waves. "But its magic is unlike the Stone of Fire. Water flows, it bends, it cannot be controlled the same way. The challenges you will face are not about strength, Lena, but about adaptability. The Veil of Water requires you to understand the ebb and flow, the balance between control and surrender."
Lena nodded, though a knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. What did Aria mean by "balance"? Could she really master such a thing? She was still learning how to use the magic from the first Stone, and now, she had to confront a power that seemed so much more fluid and unpredictable.
"How do we get there?" Lena asked, turning to Aria.
Aria smiled faintly and raised her hand toward the sea. A soft glow began to form around her fingers, and within moments, a small boat appeared, crafted from smooth, weathered wood. It floated silently in the water, rocking gently with the ebb of the tide.
"Come," Aria said, "We travel by water. The journey will not be short, but we must reach the heart of the city before the tides turn. The ruins of Lontis are only accessible once every few days, when the sea's magic allows it."
Lena stepped into the boat, feeling a sense of unease as she looked out over the vast ocean. As they set sail, the mist parted, revealing a shimmering expanse of deep blue water, stretching endlessly in all directions. The boat glided smoothly over the surface, as though propelled by an unseen current, and Lena marveled at the beauty of it all.
For hours, they sailed in silence, the only sounds the soft lapping of waves against the boat and the occasional call of distant birds. The sea seemed alive with its own rhythm, the water moving in sync with Lena's heartbeat, calming and unsettling her at the same time. The deeper they went, the more she could sense the pull of something ancient and powerful beneath the surface, waiting for them.