15



As you approach the crystalline caves, you notice a faint glow, a dulled reflection from the merfolk within. The city is constructed from giant interlocking blocks of shaped crystals, stacked in a seemingly haphazard pattern to form passageways, gathering caverns, and smaller shelters as needed. The city itself rests on a platform suspended over a geological rift, anchored on either side with dark crystal chains and balanced with gas ballasts arranged in the top portion of vaulted domes. Maintaining the balance is your job, although adjustments are rarely called for.

The lights from within bounce around more chaotically than usual, and as you get closer, you start to hear cheering and shouting. Tephra's successful recovery of the Eternity Orb must have already inspired an impromptu celebration. You wonder briefly what sort of reaction Cinza's return must have inspired.

You squeeze through celebrating crowds, approaching Tephra's carved-out dwelling. As you get closer, Estre squeezes your hand. "You'll be fine by yourself," he says. "We really need to respond to the whales' summons."

Arraia gives you a smile. "Make sure that human's OK," she says. "It deserves that much, right? Maybe we'll catch you later."

You nod in agreement, and they jet off. It's a little intimidating, facing a strange human alone, but you steel yourself. It will be fine.

You enter cautiously, your glow slowly brightening the room. A human male is grasping onto an anchoring pole in a back corner.

He raises his arms against the sudden surge of light. "Oh, what—what's…Tephra? Oh, no, you're a different…" He interrupts himself, coughing in spasms as he tries to expel the water in his lungs. His body is still getting used to the idea that it doesn't need air anymore.

The human is still wearing all his surface clothing: a form-fitting brown suit, white shirt, and dark shoes, all waterlogged. Each item is either sticking to him or floating around him at odd angles. His somewhat shorter hair is still long enough to float over his face. You notice that while he has some small objects tucked into the pockets of his clothing, he has no bags or anything to keep him occupied. You don't even think he had a light source before you came in. He's positioned himself vertically, so you do as well.

And where is Tephra? Did she really leave this guy by himself? You move out of the doorway to help disperse the light, and he smiles at your approach. You take the opportunity to give him your own name.

He plays with it out loud: "Kavitha…Kavitha. It's…beautiful." He points to himself. "I'm, uh, Flynn."