Trust

The tunnel down was more of a pit than a tunnel. There were translucent "barriers" every meter. Every time the two plunged through one, their vision would light up with strange designs for a split second each.

Lila soon saw the sparkle of water underneath them. They splashed into a shallow sheet of dark water (and Lila hit her head on rocks).

She sat up. She was drenched from head to toe.

Nevnera was already standing on a nearby rock. "Oh, you're awake!"

"Yes, I am," Lila answered, rubbing her sore neck.

"Do you know how to swim?"

"Uh... why?"

Nevnera sighed. "The only way out is to swim out from the lagoon. The tunnel above us has shut."

Has shut.

We cannot exit this underground lake.

Do you not have a way?

It is the doing of the sorceress. I cannot unlock it. Whatever is her reason, we do not know. The tunnel is closed. The way has shut.

"Has shut." Lila repeated. "The sorceress shut it."

"What?"

Now only with a step of faith can we escape through the waters.

A step of faith? Master, what is a step of faith.

"A step of faith. Accomplish the impossible. Swim the deep waters of doom?"

Lila stared at the water for a moment. Her gaze drifted to the faint glowing outline of a footprint on the still surface of the middle of the lagoon. A footprint. Odd.

"Look," said Lila, pointing at the footprint. "A footprint on the surface of the water."

Nevnera walked towards the shore. "That's impossible."

"See for yourself then."

Nevnera squinted. "What did you say just then? Accomplish the impossible?"

Lila paused for a moment. Should she risk it?

But her words seemed sincere. Iraliyn trusted her. And she had helped Lila much on the journey to the present.

She thought, what if Iraliyn lied to her?

Lila then remembered the vow that Iraliyn had made. She had promised, 'Lykeida, I will never view the glimmer of the ocean, or observe the sky at dusk, as long as I am loyal to you.' Then she had taken away her own vision.

At that time, Lila was young and unaware. She didn't understand what Iraliyn had meant.

Now she did.

Lila still didn't quite believe Nevnera. There could be a chance that she was tricking Iraliyn, too. She sighed. "Yes, I said that."

"I know how we can get to the other side.

Step by step, the two crossed the water, as if there was an invisible barrier separating their feet and the lake.

They had taken a step of faith. They had accomplished the impossible.

At the far side of the water, there was an arch, with strange symbols carved into the cold stone. It may have been identical to the arch in the ruined fortress.

And after it, a winding staircase. Not down, but up.

This staircase was perfectly in shape, but damp and slippery.

Lila had expected there to be a railing. No human could possibly not fall off a slippery, spinning, staircase without a railing.

There was only a thick, rough, pole, surprisingly, entirely dry, which the staircase twisted around.

The pole, however, was strangely shaped, as if it was the railing.

Lila, unlike Nevnera, who could fly up in an instant, had to slowly make her way, holding the indents in the pole.

They arrived at a hole in the wall. Even Nevnera couldn't spot the end behind it.

What was the use, if Nevnera could spot the end? Lila began doubting again.

It was too soon to judge.

A grey line of light erupted from Nevnera's palm and circled around her hand.

How unexpected. Why was she leading the way?

They noticed at once, that there were symbols carved on the walls around them.

Once again, they could only make out one.

As they walked further, they could soon spot a lit doorway.

They entered a wide, perfectly circular cave with a high ceiling.

In the middle, over a stone hemisphere, was a glowing orb.

"How did you know," said Nevnera slowly. "That we could cross the lake by merely standing on the water and stepping forward regularly?"

"I..."

"You seem a little hesitant. Alright, I won't ask you anymore."

Lila couldn't tell anything to Nevnera. Though she seemed kind, her actions were still suspicious.

Lila thought back to the time in the abyss. Iraliyn didn't quite trust her either.

After all, she was the daughter of the enemy.