Page 73 of Of Blood & Stone

Cursing herself, she tried to pull herself together. But then he whispered her name. Heat rose in her body. She shouldn’t—couldn’t?—

But then his forehead gently met hers. Air escaping her lungs, she found herself melting into him, needing his warmth just as much as she needed the healing waters.

“It’s beautiful in here,” he whispered, “Peaceful.”

Sylzenya hummed in agreement, a bright warmth consuming her chest. “These waters have been a sanctuar–”.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Aretta’s hearbeat. It was faint, barely audible just like at the great willow tree, and yet somehow there.

“Sylzenya?” Elnok asked, leaning back, putting her down. “Are you alright?”

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Realization consumed her, eyes widening at the pool’s glow.

“I know where the compass is.”

Elnok blinked, “What?”

She turned, pointing to the pool’s tiles. The tiles shaped like a willow. She grabbed him, swimming to the center of the pool, the glow brightening.

“Sylzenya—”

“Elnok, why are you seeking Aretta’s tree?”

“What?”

“Answer the question.”

“You already know why.”

“Elnok.”

He scoffed. “Gods, alright, to heal Orym…”

He paused.

She nodded, because she could see it in his eyes—he understood too.

“You think the compass is crafted into the pool somehow, andthat’swhy it has healing properties. But, you said the vision talked of it being within a willow?”

Sylzenya smiled. “It is, just not the kind we thought.”

Warmth wrapped around the cold of her face as she dunked her head underneath the water. Ears popping multiple times, they dove to the deepest part of the pool, Sylzenya's back no longer in pain. The tiles were a blurry glow in the water, but she could still see the general shape.

A willow tree.

The glow originated at the tree’s trunk.

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