The journey to Tide's Respite was treacherous. The terrain shifted from cracked, arid plains to a landscape submerged in shallow, shifting waters.
Kael and Mareth trudged forward, the ground slick and uneven beneath their boots.
"This place feels alive," Mareth muttered, his eyes scanning the horizon. "And not in a good way."
Kael didn't respond. His attention was fixed on the rippling surface of the water, where faint movements stirred beneath the calm.
A sudden splash broke the stillness.
Mareth drew his blade, stepping back instinctively. "What was that?"
Before Kael could answer, a massive figure erupted from the water.
A serpentine creature, its body shimmering with scales that reflected the dim light, towered above them. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly blue, and its maw dripped with brackish water.
Kael unsheathed his sword. "Guardian of the anchor. We're in its territory now."
"Great," Mareth said, gripping his weapon tightly. "Another oversized pest."
The serpent struck first, its body whipping through the air with incredible speed.
Kael barely dodged, the force of the strike sending a spray of water in all directions.
Mareth lunged forward, aiming for its side, but the creature twisted, slamming its tail into him and sending him skidding across the wet ground.
"Mareth!" Kael shouted, slashing at the serpent's exposed flank.
The blade connected, but the scales were tougher than steel. The strike left only a shallow mark.
The serpent coiled, its body glowing faintly as the water around it began to rise.
"Uh, Kael," Mareth said, struggling to his feet. "It's doing something. And I don't think it's good."
Kael gritted his teeth. "It's drawing power from the water. We have to stop it."
The serpent let out a deafening roar, and the rising water surged forward in a massive wave.
Kael planted his feet, raising his sword. "Hold on!"
The wave crashed into them with immense force, knocking them off their feet and scattering their supplies.
Mareth sputtered, coughing up water. "This is insane! How do we fight something that controls the whole environment?"
Kael didn't answer. His mind raced, searching for a weakness.
The serpent circled them, its movements precise and deliberate.
Kael noticed a faint glow near its chest a cluster of scales darker and less reflective than the rest.
"There!" he shouted, pointing to the weak spot.
Mareth followed his gaze. "Of course it has a glowing weak spot. Why wouldn't it?"
Kael moved first, rushing the serpent head-on.
The creature lunged, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from his head.
Mareth flanked it, his blade striking the glowing patch.
The serpent let out a piercing scream, thrashing wildly.
The battle became chaotic.
Water surged in all directions, the serpent's attacks growing more desperate and erratic.
Kael and Mareth fought in tandem, dodging strikes and searching for openings.
Every blow against the weak spot caused the serpent to falter, but its strength showed no signs of waning.
As the battle dragged on, exhaustion set in.
Kael's arms felt heavy, and Mareth's movements grew sluggish.
The serpent, sensing their weariness, pressed its advantage.
A tail strike sent Kael sprawling into the water, his sword slipping from his grip.
"Kael!" Mareth shouted, charging the beast.
The serpent turned its attention to Mareth, its glowing eyes locked onto him.
Kael struggled to his feet, his vision blurred.
He spotted his sword lying a few feet away and crawled toward it.
The serpent reared back, preparing a final strike against Mareth.
Kael gripped his sword tightly, channeling every ounce of strength he had left.
"Mareth, move!" he yelled, rushing forward.
Kael's blade struck true, embedding itself deep into the glowing patch on the serpent's chest.
The creature let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing into the water.
Kael and Mareth stood in silence, their breaths ragged, as the water around them began to calm.
The serpent's body dissolved into mist, revealing a stone pedestal rising from the water.
At its center was the water anchor, a crystalline orb glowing with a soft blue light.
Mareth limped toward it, clutching his side. "Please tell me that's the end of it."
Kael approached cautiously, his hand hovering over the orb.
"No guarantees," he said, grasping the anchor.
A surge of energy coursed through him, and the water around the pedestal began to shift.
Kael felt the anchor's presence in his mind, a flood of memories and emotions tied to the element of water.
"It's not over," he said, his voice distant.
Mareth frowned. "What do you mean?"
The anchor began to glow brighter, and the water around them rose once more.
Kael tightened his grip, his eyes narrowing.
"There's one last trial. To prove we're worthy of stabilizing the anchor."
"Of course there is," Mareth muttered. "Why would it ever be easy?"
The water formed into a humanoid shape, towering over them.
Its features were fluid, ever-shifting, but its presence was undeniably menacing.
"This thing's the trial?" Mareth asked, raising his sword.
Kael nodded. "Stay sharp. This isn't like the serpent."
The water guardian moved with blinding speed, its strikes precise and relentless.
Kael parried an incoming blow, the force jarring his arms.
Mareth countered, his blade slicing through the creature's form, but the wound closed instantly.
"Great," Mareth said, dodging a strike. "It regenerates."
Kael circled the guardian, searching for a weakness.
"It's tied to the anchor," he said. "We have to sever its connection."
"And how do we do that?" Mareth asked, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow.
Kael gritted his teeth. "We keep hitting it until we figure it out."
The battle raged on, the water guardian's attacks growing more intense.
Kael and Mareth fought tirelessly, but the creature showed no signs of weakening.
Exhaustion crept in, their movements slowing with each passing moment.
"We can't keep this up," Mareth said, his voice strained.
Kael's eyes locked onto the anchor, an idea forming in his mind.
"We don't have to," he said, determination in his voice.
Mareth glanced at him. "What are you planning?"
Kael didn't answer. Instead, he charged the pedestal, his blade aimed at the anchor itself.
The guardian roared, moving to intercept him.
The chapter ends with Kael leaping toward the anchor, the guardian's watery form looming over him. The outcome remains uncertain.