Estella

"None of them are it." Estella said, eyeing them. She closed her mouth right after she said those five words.

Those words just came slipping out of her mouth without any thought.

They all started talking in quiet voices.

"Could she be talking... about... her?!"

"No, her guardian couldn't be that traitor!"

Estella was confused on what they meant and tried to open her mouth to clear the misunderstanding, but no words came out.

The Water Sypnaid Estella had met earlier frowned but continued talking.

"Very well then. Let her out."

There were murmurs traveling around, and Water Sypnaids glaring and pointing at her.

Estella was even more puzzled. Why were they acting like this, all of a sudden? Who was 'the traitor'?

"Follow us." one of the Water Sypnaids said, slowly.

As they traveled deeper into the realm, she realized the Water Sypnaids were leading her underwater.

Estella previously had experience breathing underwater in the strange air bubble created by Artica before, but this was completely different, yet quite similar.

Two of the Sypnaids went ahead of the group, carrying long and thick sticks seemingly made of… coral?

The Sypnaids led her into a dungeon deep under the realm. Estella found the atmosphere dark and mysterious and seemed to hear moans in her head.

Save us!

I did nothing wrong!

Ew, the bars are dirty.

This is unfair!

Let me out of here!

She covered her ears with her hand and tried to block the voices out.

She didn't succeed, but the shouting of the two Water Sypnaids did. They had arrived at the end of the dungeon.

The rusty door creaked open and a Water Sypnaid stepped out in chains. Her jumpsuit was ripped, with blood stains around, and her hair was tangled in knots. Her face, hands, and feet were covered with cuts. The two of them who had gone ahead were tightly grabbing her arms with their sharp fingers.

But Estella felt a warm glow around the Sypnaid.

It seemed to be telling her… that she was the right one.

That she was her guardian.

"It's her." Estella glanced towards the other Sypnaids. They were immediately silent, as if offended.

She stepped towards her but the Sypnaid hissed and tried to pounce towards Estella but was held back. The rest of the Sypnaids started shrieking what sounded like insults in a random language. The prisoner did not cower.

The first Water Sypnaid Estella had met embraced her and pulled her away.

"Careful. This girl is wild. A traitor to the prophecy."

"A traitor? Why?" Estella suddenly noticed a small fire burning in the Water Sypnaids' eyes. They all seemed to share hate and a grudge towards her guardian.

"She has doubted the prophecy."

"What prophecy?"

"You don't know? Hasn't Mother Nature told you yet?"

Estella shook her head.

The prisoned Water Sypnaid must have heard them talking and fought against the chains, shrieking, "I WILL NEVER GO WITH THE PROPHECY! NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO! BEAT ME, HIT ME, KILL ME, I WILL NEVER DO WHAT YOU ASK."

Each Water Sypnaid furrowed their eyebrows and glared at the prisoner.

The Sypnaid beside Estella raised her fist and shouted, "BEAT HER!"

Two Sypnaids raising the coral raised their sticks high in the air and brought them on the prisoner's back.