Chapter 11

ENID stood with his hands on his hips as his companions stood beside him. Together they stared across the span of Kaia Lake, the largest in all the regions. The water was so clear that you could almost see the lake’s floor. The lake shimmered and sparkled in the sunlight. Nyla wanted to scoop up a handful of water and drink it, imagining the crisp fresh water sliding down her throat.

Rowan disrupted her revitalising fantasies. “The piece is in the lake?” he scoffed, “Of course. Dump it in the largest lake in all of Melgaesia.”

Enid sighed looking out at the lake, a distinct look of despair visible on his face at the realisation of Rowan’s words.

“The lake is huge! How are we gonna find it?” Ezra asked next.

“Section by section.” Enid looked over at her.

Nyla’s eyes followed the lake to where the mouth of the river began, where it flowed through Kesmet. Kai, beside her, followed her eyes. She crossed her arms, “It could have travelled upstream.”

“Well, for our sake, I hope not.” Enid walked out onto the dock and toward the rowboats lined along its edge. The reluctant Sybils followed behind him, each getting into their rowboat before rowing their way deeper into the lake.

With a wave of their hands, the Sybils released their magic, like fingers combing the water, in search of any traces of the Althea Sphere’s magic.

Time went by and there was still no indication that anyone had found even the smallest trace of foreign magic. After hours of just hovering over the lake, the Sybils began to get agitated and anxious.

“This is pointless!” Nyla yelled into the open air as she lowered her hands, extinguishing her magic.

“The piece is somewhere, we just gotta keep looking,” Enid said in the distance, his voice echoing over the water.

“Yeah, I agree with Nyla. I’m getting bored here.” Rowan lowered his hands as well.

Nyla’s boat suddenly rocked violently, making her lose her balance and fall over. “Seriously Rowan!” She clutched the side of the boat to steady herself.

“I didn’t do anything.” Rowan raised his hands with a smirk.

Nyla rolled her eyes and tried to get back up when bubbles started to rise from the water beneath her boat. “Ok Rowan, joke's over.”

“It’s not me.” His face got serious as he looked into the water. The Sybils stopped what they were doing and watched the water as well.

When the bubbles subsided, Nyla let out a breath of relief, but it was short-lived as the water around her erupted. A small squeak escaped her throat as she was caught off guard. The Sybils watched the water as it began to take form. They gawked above them as the water transformed into something that looked like a spiked snake.

“Shit,” Enid exclaimed. “It’s the Water Hydra of Kaia Lake.”

Nyla’s boat was suddenly tossed into the air and the Hydra brought up its snout to devour her boat.

“Why’s it after me!” Nyla yelled as she used her magic to toss her boat at the Hydra’s face before she fell further and landed in Enid’s boat. Enid helped her up.

“Maybe you made it angry with all your complaining,” Rowan suggested.

“Well, you live here Enid, can’t you tame the Hydra or something?” Nyla asked.

“No, the Hydra is an independent creature of magic, created centuries ago to guard the Althea piece in Kaia Lake.”

“And you only mention this now?” Rowan demanded.

“I thought it was a myth!” Enid yelled back.

“Well obviously not!”

The Hydra dove underwater, barely making a splash as it went. The Sybils waited for it to reappear, but the water remained still. As though the Hydra and the water became one. No ripple or wave gave any indication of movement beneath its surface.

“Oh, I have a bad feeling,” Nyla mumbled.

Suddenly the water began to tremble as though an earthquake shook the lake’s floor. The innocent trembling waters turned into raging waves rocking the boats violently.

“How do we get rid of this thing?” Rowan asked.

“Uhh, according to the myth the Hydra should have a heart made of crystal. I think if we destroy the heart, we’ll kill it.” Enid replied.

“Ok, crystal heart, crystal heart.” Nyla repeated to herself as she gazed upon the Hydra’s long neck, “There, I see it, near its head.” she yelled over the crashing waves.

"We need to destroy it!" Enid yelled.

"How?" Rowan asked, "We can barely get close enough."

"Follow my lead," Nyla said as she blasted the Hydra several times with her magic to catch its attention.

The Hydra’s head turned toward her. It suddenly dived toward Nyla and Enid with such speed that they didn't have enough time to react. They ducked and covered their heads with their arms waiting for the impact of the Hydra to drag them to the bottom of the Lake, but nothing happened. Looking up, they saw that the Hydra was held back by a thin golden chain. Ezra visible from behind the Hydra, the gold chain wrapped around her hands as she pulled back, her long brown hair now completely loose, flowing behind her.

She had removed the chain from her hair and extended it, like a long rope, to wrap itself around the Hydra's neck, surprisingly not breaking its surface.

The Sybils looked at Ezra with newfound respect, completely forgetting for the moment that they were fighting a giant water monster.

"Hurry, I can't hold it for long." Ezra's strained voice yelled, breaking their gazes.

With his boots imbued with magic, Rowan unsheathed his swords as he ran across the air toward the Hydra. With one giant leap, he soared through the air. His swords ready to stab the Hydra through its heart, but before he could make it, he was swiftly swatted aside by the Hydra's tail and crashed into the water below.

"Kai!" Nyla called. He looked over at her and nodded.

Kai cast a net-like barrier around the Hydra's fluid body and tightened it to hold the Hydra in place, assisting Ezra in restraining the beast. Nyla looked over at Enid and together they ran across the air, as Rowan did, toward the thrashing Hydra.

Whilst one armed strained to hold the beast in place, Kai unsheathed his sword with his free arm. He imbued his sword with magic and watched as it disappeared from his grip and into Nyla's hand. Ahead of Enid, Nyla leapt and plunged the sword into the Hydra's heart, before letting go and falling toward the water beneath her.

The Hydra's agonising shrilling scream filled the air. Enid then leaped for the sword in the Hydra's heart to plunge it deeper. The crystal heart began to crack and radiated a sharp white light before it exploded. The Hydra's body of water collapsed back into the lake, which calmed once more.

“So how about next time we go over all the myths and tales of each region before we attempt any sort of finding,” Rowan said before he swam to a boat.

Enid rolled his eyes. “Let’s continue looking,” he made his way to a boat.

After skimming the lake for several more hours, the group of Sybils made their way back to shore. Exhaustion pulled at their shoulders and fatigue covered their faces. The extensive use of their magic left the Sybils drained and on edge.

“So, you were right.” Enid rubbed his aching neck.

“I often am,” Nyla replied as she wiped her sweaty brow.

“So, I guess we follow the stream. Try and find out if any of the villages know anything.”

“Amazing.” Rowan mocked, “The clan of Kesmet Valley doesn’t even know where their piece of the sphere is. For all we know, someone stumbled upon it and sold it.”

“Shut up, Rowan.” Enid turned to him, “The piece from Juno City was stolen first. What does that say about your clan’s responsibility?”

“What was that?” Rowan stepped forward.

“Okay guys.” Nyla stood between them, “Let’s all calm down. Pointing fingers helps no one.” Nyla looked between the two boys.

Enid sighed. “I’m sorry.”

She smiled softly. “It’s the lake. Having harboured the piece for so long tainted the water. It’s full of dark energy, that’s why you’re losing your tempers so quickly.” She looked over at Rowan.

He looked to the ground in shame. “I’m sorry. I was rude first.” he met Enid’s eyes who nodded with an understanding smile.

“How many villages stand between here and downstream?” Kai asked.

Rowan rolled his eyes and muttered, “Glad to know we can count on Kai for sentimentality.”

“At least ten,” Enid replied. “Between here and there, the piece could be anywhere.”

“There must be a faster way to find it,” Ezra said.

“Well, I suppose we could start by asking the villagers if they’ve experienced anything strange or out of the ordinary,” Nyla said.

“Like what?”

“We’ll know it when we hear it.” she smiled.

“Yes, well, we can do that after I’ve had a good night’s rest.” Rowan stretched and yawned. The Sybils mumbled in agreement and followed Enid who would lead them to the nearest inn.

The sun had begun to recede behind the hills as dusk broke. Dark puffs of clouds passed the heavens which were illuminated by the pure light of the full moon.

This was an adventure Nyla had not seen coming. She knew that finding the remaining sphere pieces would come with its challenges, but never did she imagine she’d have to fight an ancient creature. And all for nothing too.