As the sun set behind the mountains, more Torgols arrived from the lake. Soon, a large crowd was present on the shores. Miva arrived soon after, followed by Clari and Medi. “We’re back!” I patted the carpet. “Come, sit down. I’m going to give us a better view.” The trio did, and as they settled in, I willed the carpet into the air, giving an unobstructed view of the lake. “Woah, awesome.” I didn’t know which of Medi and Clari was speaking, as it was just a whisper.
I reached over and poked Winter a few times, so she’d wake up. And I also did the same for Midnight, who was dozing in my lap. I pointed towards the lake. “Please direct your attention towards the water, since it should begin any moment now.” On cue, a small stream of energy flitted across the surface. Its coloration started at a bright red, then changed through the color spectrum, through blue towards viridian. Then, it turned and back again, as it moved towards the center of the lake.
Then another, and another, and soon the small motes became long threads, then the threads became a carpet. Soon it was as if the northern lights were inside the lake. All the lights were converging at the center, which was now starting to ripple and shift, as if something massive was moving beneath.
And in truth, there was. Something pointy and massive pierced the surface. Around the pointy thing was an iridescent film, akin to a soap bubble. Then, elsewhere in the massive circle of light, another point arrived and another and another. Meleri blinked a few times, and gasped. “Are those… rooftops?” The lake, now alive with massive waves that caused the energy to twist and turn as it moved towards the center, answered for me. The angular and pointy stone things were indeed roofs, and they were followed by walls, all of which were covered in the same iridescent film.
There was a pleased hoot from winter as she hopped into my lap next to Midnight. “I never tire of seeing Mellowmere rise from the depths to replenish its mana stores.” She chirped a few times as she and Midnight cuddled. As more and more buildings rose from the lake, it dawned on Miva and Meleri hat was going on. “There’s a city down there.”
I nodded. “The largest city in the region, as a matter of fact. It has a population entirely of Torgols and aquatic Leaf Folk, and is one of over a dozen such cities scattered around the continent. Every morning, just after sunrise, and every evening, just after sunset, the city rises to the surface to replenish the mana needed to produce its water repelling film. It’s also where we’ll be staying the night.”
As the city finished surfacing, the waves of the lake calmed down and there was a loud popping sound as the film burst, revealing a beautiful city made from marble. The houses were conal and spiraled up like conches, allowing for easy transit in and out of the lake. A small bridge of a shimmering rainbow energy extended from the city and onto the banks of the lake, creating a bridge that the Torgols walked across. Several of the Leaf Folk joined them, while others moved into the trees for the night.
“Well then, let’s get to the place we’ll be staying the night then, shall we?” I willed the carpet into the air, causing the two Torgols to squeal in delight as we set off across the water towards the city itself. I set off towards a large house on the edge of the city, somewhat isolated from the others. The large conal building could easily pass for a mansion. But then, so could almost every other building in this place.
I landed the carpet on the ground in front of the building and turned my attention to the two Torgols. “Alright, you two, you should probably get back to your parents.” They pouted a wee bit, but didn’t object as they hopped off the carpet. Medi gave Miva a hug. “Let’s play again sometime!” Miva didn’t hesitate to hug Medi back, and pulled Clari into it as well. “Sure! Umm, that is fine, right, Morgana?”
I looked down at the trio. “We can come back here later.” Just then, we could hear loud voices calling out in the distance. Clari and Medi reluctantly extracted themselves from the hug. “That’s our parents. See you around, Miva!” the two waved to Miva as they rushed off, and she waved back too. “See ya both, take care!”
“Get back on, Miva, we’re going topside.” Miva waved for a bit more, before she hopped onto the carpet and I took us all to the highest floor of the large house. I landed on a large balcony near the top floor. As we hopped off, there was a hissing sound as the film from before returned. “We should get inside. Being outside during the descent would be quite unpleasant.” Meleri arched an eyebrow. I rolled up the carpet once the others got off before I responded to her unasked question.
“If we stay outside, we would experience a sudden increase in air pressure, a side effect of the magics involved. At best, you’d get a serious headache and a nosebleed. At worst, you rupture both eardrums, get a massive nosebleed, and get a migraine from the immense pressure on your sinuses. I am speaking from personal experience here. It’s not worth it.”
Midnight looked up at me from where she was rubbing herself against Miva’s legs. “Well, Cure said it wasn’t a good idea, so you have no one to blame but yourself for that one.” I gave a simple shrug in response to Midnight’s jape. It was true, after all. But my curiosity to experience it firsthand got the better of me.
As we headed inside, both Miva and Meleri looked around the large apartment. The walls, floor, and roof were all made from masterfully cut marble. The furniture was made from oak. Around the room, several ever-burning candles provided a cozy lighting. Set inside a small cavity in the wall was a large crystal that gave off a soft orange light.
The walls around the crystal were engraved with wards. They made it so the intense heat from the crystal was kept in check, and only made the room pleasantly warm. It was like my fireplace in that regard. A large oak table and chairs were placed in the middle of the room. And a couch was over in the corner, with a smaller table next to it. The left wall housed doors leading to the other parts of the apartment. The wall behind us contained the archway leading outside.
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“We should relax in here until the descent happens in about an hour. Once the descent finishes, we can look around town. Or do you want to stay here tonight?” As I asked, one door on the left wall opened and a Leaf Folk whose body was made from reeds and various aquatic plants entered carrying a broom and a bucket. “Oh, Lady Morgana. I didn’t know you were in town. If you told me you were coming, I would have prepared dinner.”
I gave her a polite smile. “It was a rather spontaneous idea, Irin. That aside, I appreciate the work you are doing keeping the place spotless, even in my absence. The place looks great.” Irin made a dismissive wave. “Oh stop it, it’s my job, and I get paid well for it, I might add. So it’s the least I can do to actually do the job you pay me for. That aside, Milady, should I prepare dinner?”
I shook my head. “Not immediately. We finished a rather large picnic only a few hours ago. So I think it’s better to wait another hour or two.” Irin gave a polite bow. “As you wish, Milady.” As Irin turned to leave, I suddenly remembered something. “Irin, would you mind doing me a favor and grabbing the memory crystal, showing some events that took place here nine years ago?” Irin hesitated for a moment, then followed my gaze. “Oh, I see. Of course, Milady, right away.”
Irin turned and left the room. “You guys can relax here for a bit. I need to make a quick call to Eira to tell her where we are. I forgot to do so before we left.” Miva perked up at the mention of her mother. “Mom? What for?” I walked towards the mirror, standing in one corner. “Well, I figured you’d want to play a bit with your new friends tomorrow, but if you did that, we wouldn’t be able to get back in time to meet Eira, so I figured she could meet us here.”
Miva looked like she was about to say something, but before she could, the door opened and Irin returned. “Here is the crystal. It’s for the young lady, I take it?” She looked at Miva as she spoke. “Indeed.” Irin nodded and gestured for Miva to come closer. She hesitated for a moment, then did as she was asked. Irin handed Miva the crystal, then gave her a loving pat on the head, before she left.
Miva looked into the memory crystal, curious about what memory it held. She viewed the memory in silence, but I could see several emotions play across her face as she watched. “I don’t recognize the people in this crystal. Who are they?” I took a deep breath. “The memory is taken from the perspective of your mother. While the small bundle in her arms is you, just after your birth. The Torgol next to her is Cure’s mother, who acted as the midwife. You can see a much younger Cure behind her, briefly.”
Miva seemed somewhat confused. “Mom lived here?” I shook my head. “Your mother was traveling back towards your coven when your she fainted. I don’t know if they ever found the cause. However, with your mother unconscious, the flight spell she put on the broom failed. But, as luck would have it, she was passing above the lake just as the sun was setting. So instead of drowning, she wound up on the balcony just as it broke the surface. It was still a hard impact, of course, as she was pretty high up. But miraculously, other than a few bruises, she was fine.”
Irin came back in carrying tea cups for myself, Meleri, and a cup of hot chocolate for Miva. “I found your mother collapsed there, looking half dead. I contacted Milady and asked for instructions. She asked me to get her inside and keep her there until she could arrive and find out her reason for being here. I will admit, she was lucky that she was unconscious, so I didn’t take her for a threat.” Because of my prior explanation, Miva didn’t need to ask why.
I walked over and put a hand on Miva’s shoulder. “It wasn’t the first time I met your mother, or got involved with your coven, which is why I told Irin to take good care of her. When I arrived, and realized she was expecting practically any moment, it was decided she better stay put until she delivered. Which is why Cure’s mother got involved, as she was the midwife working in this district of the city.”
Miva looked into the crystal again. “She seems nice, like a grandmother.” Irin made a sound akin to rustling leaves. “Oh, she has her moments where that might be the case. But, usually, she’s rather grumpy. She’s been that way since she was but a wee lass.” Miva handed Irin the crystal. “Speaking of mom, how did the two of you meet?” I turned back towards the mirror. “How about I explain that after I tell your mother about all of this, yes?” Miva nodded. “Sounds good.” she gave Irin a friendly smile. “Thanks for grabbing the crystal, Irin.” Irin waved a vine-like appendage. “Oh, think nothing of it, young miss. Anyway, I should get back to my duties.” Irin gave a polite bow, then hurried out of the room.
Miva blinked as she watched Irin leave. “Did I say something wrong?” I shook my head as I made my way back over towards the mirror. “Naah, Irin is just being bashful.” I turned my attention to the mirror and cast the spell to contact Eira. A few moments later, she materialized in place of the reflection inside the mirror itself. “Oh, Teacher, I wasn’t expecting you to. Oh, you’re in Mellowmere?”
I glanced over her shoulder at the chaos all around her. “We are. Are you alright over there?” Eira seemed confused for a moment. “Huh? Oh that, it’s fine. It’s just the aftermath of Aile’s celebrations.” As if on cue, I could hear a noise from behind Eira and a young blue-skinned woman popped into view. “Well, if it isn’t Morgana, what do you think?” Aile spun around. “You look like a completely healthy twenty-something, Aile. Congratulations on successfully brewing the potion.” Aile stepped back and grinned. She was actually rather cute like that. Not that I would inflate her ego further by telling her.
“That aside, I contacted you, Eira, to tell you we will be spending the night, and most of the day tomorrow here, so instead of going to my house to pick up the lil rascal…” Eira broke into a smile. “I should go to Mellowmere. Sounds good, haven’t been there since Miva was born, and it would be good to meet Irin, Akhala and Cure again.” She tilted her head to the side and looked at something behind me. “Whose that?” I glanced over my shoulder. “That would be my younger sister. I’ll introduce you to her tomorrow.”
A slight tremor passed through the house. “At any rate, Eira, the city’s begun submerging, so I will see you tomorrow. You take care as well, Aile.” I waved to the two before cutting the connection. Then I turned back towards the others. “Why don’t we get comfortable next to the archway leading onto the balcony? We can get a good view of our descent that way.” I took out the carpet again so we would have something comfortable to sit on. As we all sat down and got comfortable, we could hear rushing water.
The film outside shimmered and then seemed to fade. That did not mean it was gone, however, as we could see water slowly creep up over the edge of the balcony, but never touched the balcony itself. As the water crept over the archway, a blue, shimmering energy field popped into existence. “A spell that keeps the pressure inside the houses at regular levels. It will extend to the outside once we settle onto the bottom and the bubble has finished inflating. However, until then, you’ll experience the full force of the outside pressure if you venture outside.”
As we kept sinking, we could see Torgols and Leaf Folk swim past, unbothered by the pressure or the water. To them, this was normal. Meleri and Miva seemed quite captivated by what was going on outside. Once the city settled on the bottom, and we could head into the city proper, they would be even more amazed, no doubt.
