Chapter 20: Lies

The shimmering coral city of Orinthal pulsed faintly in the soft light of the undersea currents. Towering spires of coral, adorned with living sea anemones and bioluminescent algae, loomed above Xena as she idly watched a group of baby manatees swirling through the water. The city was alive with its usual vibrance—schools of parrotfish darted between coral branches, their colorful scales refracting light like gemstones, while crabs scuttled along the seafloor, clicking their claws in a ceaseless rhythm. Yet, even with this lively backdrop, Xena felt restless.Her golden hair floated around her like a halo, catching the ambient light of the coral towers. Nana, her companion, a plump baby manatee, swam playfully around her, nuzzling against her side as if sensing her unease. "You really like it here, don't you, Nana?" Xena murmured, stroking the manatee's velvety gray skin.Adair had been gone for hours, patrolling the outskirts of the city. He always wore that calm, gentle smile, a face that gave away nothing of the turmoil hidden beneath. Xena didn't trust it—there was something about him that felt too rehearsed, too perfectly placed. Her gut twisted every time he looked at her with those deep, searching eyes.Her mana absorption skill had been working overtime these past few days. With Adair constantly hovering around her, she couldn't risk using her Devour skill, the one ability that could siphon life force from creatures to strengthen her. Adair's curiosity about her abilities was dangerous; if he saw the eerie mist that Devour produced, there was no telling how he might react. Instead, she relied on her Tidal Vitality to replenish her strength slowly over time. But it wasn't enough. She felt stuck, unable to grow stronger, her leveling limited in the presence of the ever-watchful Adair.Adair returned that evening, his silhouette emerging through the coral archway that marked the city's entrance. The pale green light of the algae made his figure appear shadowy and spectral, his expression unreadable. Yet when he drew closer, his face softened, his usual calm smile returning."Xena," he called, his voice warm but tinged with urgency.She turned, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "Back early? That's not like you. Did something happen?"Adair hesitated. For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes—conflict, perhaps, or hesitation—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He swam closer, his dark tail cutting through the water with precise, controlled movements."I found something," he said, lowering his voice. He reached into a pouch strapped to his side and withdrew an object. It gleamed faintly, catching the faint light like an uncut gem.It was a scale, large and unnatural in its hue. Its surface rippled with violet and silver tones, shifting in color with every angle. A faint, eerie glow emanated from its edges, as if it carried an energy that wasn't entirely of this world.Xena leaned closer, her curiosity piqued. "What is that?""I don't know," Adair replied, his voice steady. "I found it near the trench. It might be tied to the Blight.""The Blight?" Xena's brows furrowed. The trench was a place of whispered horrors, an abyss said to house creatures older than the tides themselves. Few dared venture close, even fewer returned to speak of it.Adair nodded. "It's dangerous, Xena. But I thought you should see it." He glanced around, as if checking for eavesdroppers. "Come with me. There's more in the cave where I found it."A small voice in Xena's mind told her to refuse. Her instincts screamed that something wasn't right, but her curiosity overpowered her caution. She glanced at Nana, who seemed preoccupied with chasing a cluster of drifting seaweed."Fine," she said, her tone clipped. "But this better not be a waste of time."The swim to the trench was eerily quiet. The usual hum of sea life—clicking shrimp, chirping dolphins, the soft rustle of anemones—faded as they approached the abyssal region. The water grew colder, the currents heavier, and Xena could taste the metallic tang of minerals in the water. Her skin prickled as faint vibrations pulsed through the ocean, as if the trench itself was alive.Adair led her to a jagged cave carved into the rock face. Strange, glowing symbols adorned its entrance, their faint green light casting eerie shadows on the surrounding rocks. The water inside the cave felt dense, thick, as though it resisted their movements."What is this place?" Xena asked, her voice echoing faintly.Adair didn't answer immediately. "It's safe. Just follow me."The interior was even stranger. Stalagmites and stalactites lined the walls, pulsating faintly with bioluminescent light. The temperature dropped further, and Xena shivered, the cold biting into her skin. She brushed her fingers against one of the walls—it was slick and strangely warm, as if alive."Here," Adair said, stopping abruptly. He turned to face her, his expression unreadable."What now?" Xena asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.Before she could react, Adair lunged. His movements were swift and practiced, and before she could summon a spell, she felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her side. She gasped, the cry torn from her lips as her body recoiled.The crystalline device Adair had plunged into her side crackled to life, its jagged edges pulsing with dark energy. A cold, unnatural current surged through her veins, draining her mana at an alarming rate. Xena's golden eyes widened in shock and fury as she tried to summon her magic, but the glow at her fingertips flickered and died.Her system window blinked in her mind's eye:

Mana: 0/34

"Adair!" she choked, her voice trembling. "What are you doing?!" her grip on the glowing communication clam weakening."I'm sorry," he said, though his voice lacked sincerity. He reached into his pouch again and withdrew enchanted chains, their runes glowing faintly. "This is the only way."Xena struggled weakly, but her limbs felt like lead. The mana drain had sapped her strength entirely, leaving her unable to resist as Adair bound her wrists and tail. The chains were heavy, their runes emitting a low hum that pressed against her senses like a suffocating fog."Adair, please..." she whispered, her voice breaking."You're special, Xena," he said, avoiding her gaze. "You're the key to saving us all. But you wouldn't stay. You'd run. I can't let that happen."Around her, Adair placed dark orbs and crystalline shards, their oppressive energy pressing down on her like a physical weight. She couldn't think, couldn't move, her mind racing as the realization of her captivity sank in."I'll get out of here," she murmured, her voice faint but resolute. "And when I do, Adair... you'll regret this."Adair's face hardened, his lips pressed into a thin line. Without another word, he turned and swam toward the entrance, leaving Xena alone in the suffocating darkness of the cave. The hum of the anti-magic objects grew louder, drowning out everything else.For the first time in her life, Xena felt truly powerless.