Heart of the Seas

The several changes on Artie's expressions and the sudden light in her dimming eyes through the helm were enough signs to let Larkin know that Artie must have figured something out. He whistled to call forth the Black Kodiak which seemed to have vanished in the battlefield. He then turned to Albas who was still looking over his shoulder to watch them: "Emperor, we will seek medication for the girl. Let us speak of my crimes tomorrow."

"Leave it. I have things to attend to. I will to judge you when I had the time to spare." Albas only shrugged them off before turning to the remains again. Even if it was strange, he hoped that Larkin wouldn't read too much into his actions. In the end, he was left alone when Artie rode on Black Kodiak behind Larkin and directed the group in a certain direction.

Albas got to his feet and watched the group vanish into the darkness of the desert. "They're headed to that place. Could it be that the Great Illum had come under Her orders? Impossible… no, the Great Illum would never leave the Spring without any reason. Perhaps She had detected the angel's power.

"Such a terrifying creature descended in the plains without a sound? Was she also the source of Larkin's premonition about the glass spirits?" Albas actually sensed the awakening of Artie's powers when the System activated… and that was why he had stepped away. "If that was true, then… all the devildoms must brace for war."

He then spread his thick and huge demon wings, his fingers clutching at an insignia he held. "I must let the Supreme King know of the angel and her advances in the plains. Moreover, it seemed that someone…"—he took a look at the insignia and recognized it very well—"is hoping to be punished by the Supreme King. Machiav, Machiav, why must you collude with them for a land you will never grace as your own…?"

…

The marker for the Spring of Life was just two hundred meters away from them, and so Artie just pushed Larkin to ride with her to the place. If she could find the spring, then Jillian would be cured. That way, none of the two would die tonight. With the sky starting to meld darkness and light together, the family of three rode across the desert in search for an oasis.

It's just that, when Artie reached the marker, there was nothing but sand. The sand dunes also extended far and wide, leaving nothing to be hidden in the eyes of the travelers. There were no crevices or anything that could ignite Artie's curiosity. There was nothing but sand all over them…

Artie dismounted from the Black Kodiak, looking around in wonder and frustration. If this was a mountain, she would think there was a cave underneath. However, there was nothing.

"Lady Shen… are we there yet?" Miel could see the panicked expression on Artie's actions. He was holding onto Jillian and could smell the decay the poison had given her. The only guarantee he had was Jillian's warmth which had not dissipated yet. Moreover, Larkin kept on checking up on the woman.

"...it should be here. I don't understand..." Artie spun around and took a deep breath. "...why is it not here?"

"Lady Shen..." Miel looked around and found nothing but sand. However, he caught Larkin staring off at a distance. Following the gaze of the archduke, Miel realized something strange. The dunes had been shifting quietly in the distance, and yet the sand in the area around them stayed still. Even when he turned to the other direction, it was the same.

Larkin then got off of the horse and collected the woman from Miel so the son could get off of his horse. He returned the woman to Miel after just before he turned to Artie who looked like she was going crazy. "Artie, what is this place? The sand is still. We are indeed in a mysterious spot, but what must we do next?"

A gasp came from Artie, but she could only stare at Larkin. She had no idea how to summon the spring if they were indeed in the right spot. The angel only continued to look so lost, causing Larkin to retract his gaze to relieve the pressure on her.

"...could this place be… the Spring of Life?" Miel mumbled. He had heard of a mystical oasis in the middle of Illum Desert, the same one that was guarded by the 'ancient demon'. However, many had said that the Spring never existed and was only crafted by bandits so people would come out to the center of the desert.

"Within the heart of the seas is a shrine of a maiden. Her tears flowed through blood and flesh, breathing life into the fallen." Artie repeated the clue given by the System. Now that Larkin confirmed that the place was mysterious, she was so sure that the System was not lying. Then, it hit her… "Heart of the seas..."

She looked down. "Sea of sand… Miel, put her down on the sand!"

Miel quickly did what was told. Artie was about to say something enthusiastic, but the strange look on Larkin's face made her heart ache. He then gazed at the angel as if letting her know. Moreover, Miel did not rise immediately after he put her down; it was because the body had seemed to have relaxed strangely.

"No, it can't be..." Artie dropped her shoulders. 'Did I fail?'

["Life cannot be brought to a vessel that still has life. Must you really fret, little watcher?"]

A strange voice came to Artie's mind, and she looked around furiously. It was also the same moment when Miel glared at the sand. The already dark color was growing darker… until water seeped from underneath. He quickly got to his feet and watched the entire area moved down to be filled with water. He tried to reach out to Jillian's body, but it seemed to have sunk down.

Larkin went to drag Miel to the edge of the spring, watching the cool water sparkle and shine as it met their legs. He could also feel his magic recharging, and so he dared to stay inside. Miel was too bewildered to realize that his exhaustion and cuts were slowly healing because of the water.

Artie remained standing nearby in the center of the spring. She raised her head as she saw a faint image of a woman rise from the vapor of the water. The woman had long hair flaying in the wind as well as a dress that hide most of her shape. The woman had no clear face, but Artie could feel the woman's eyes on her.

["Little watcher, you have come to seek my spring for the life of another. What made you think that I will still return her to you?"]