Page 93 of Eluvonia
Sweat drips down the back of my neck, tracing an itchy line down my spine. I pull another thorny arrow from the small bundle I’ve created and nock it to the string. Aiming, I breathe out slowly, letting the world narrow to the wooden target ahead. The moment stretches, my fingers relax, and the arrow flies. It strikes dead center.
“Good,” she says. “One more time.”
I groan but oblige, drawing the bowstring back. The sun isdipping below the horizon now, turning the trees into dark silhouettes. The glowing orbs she’s conjured light the winding paths around us, their yellow light soft but insufficient as shadows deepen. My arms ache, and I can feel the pull of exhaustion in every muscle, but I won’t stop until she says so.
The next arrow flies wide, grazing the edge of the target. I grimace and lower the bow.
“All right,” she says, stepping closer. Her green eyes seem brighter against the dimming world. “That’s enough for one day. You’re improving.”
I rest my hands on my knees, bending over to catch my breath. Sweat drips from my forehead, and my tunic clings uncomfortably to my back. “Thanks,” I manage, though it comes out more as a wheeze than a word.
“I think you’ve earned a swim,” she says, her mouth curving into a faint grimace.
I glance up at her, narrowing my eyes. “Is that your way of telling me I stink?”
The Ymiral’s laugh is soft but genuine. She waves a hand, branches shift and part, revealing a path I hadn’t noticed before. “Follow this. It leads to a private pool where you can bathe.”
I straighten, pushing back stray strands of damp hair. “I’ll take that as a yes,” I say, smirking. Slinging the bow over my shoulder, I head down the new path, the glowing orbs bobbing in the air ahead of me.
The trees close in, their shadows long and twisting, but the light guides me. The sounds of the forest surround me—crickets chirping, leaves rustling, and the occasional distant call of a bird. The air grows cooler as the path winds down, and then, suddenly, I emerge into a clearing.
“Wow,” I whisper, stopping short. Before me stretches a crystal-clear pond, its surface so pristine it looks like polished glass, reflecting the soft, flickering glow of the orbs that float lazily above. The pond itself is surrounded by a border of lush moss and delicate wildflowers, their petals catching the glow and adding bursts of color to the serene scene.
In the center of the pond rises an ancient tree, its gnarled trunk twisting upward like an intricate sculpture carved by time. The bark is a deep, rich brown, almost black, with veins of gold running through it, pulsing faintly like the heartbeat of the forest. Its massive roots spread wide, some dipping into the water, creating ripples that extend outward in perfect concentric circles. The branches stretch skyward, impossibly high, their glowing leaves bathing the clearing in a soft golden light, as though the tree itself is a living, breathing beacon of magic. Wisps of luminescent mist curl around its base, drifting lazily across the water’s surface, giving the entire scene an otherworldly, dreamlike quality.
The air is heavy with the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers, mingled with a faint, sweet aroma that seems to emanate from the tree itself. The quiet hum of nature surrounds me—a distant chirp of crickets, the soft rustle of leaves, and the gentle lapping of water against the mossy shore. It’s a place that feels untouched by time, as though it exists in its own sacred realm.
I step forward and dip a toe into the water. It’s perfect—cool but not cold, soothing against my skin. A laugh escapes me, light and unbidden. Stripping off my clothes, I wade into the pond, the water lapping at my legs and then my waist. When it reaches my chest, I push off the bottom and float, the tension in my body dissolving with every passing second.
I take a deep breath and slip beneath the water, the world around me transforming in an instant. The surface above becomes a shimmering barrier, rippling and bending the soft golden glow of the orbs into an ever-changing kaleidoscope of light. Colors swirl and refract in mesmerizing patterns, painting the underwater world in hues of gold, green, and faint blues. Each ripple creates a cascade of shimmering brilliance, like sunlight filtered through stained glass, dancing along the pond’s floor.
The water is cool, silken against my skin, and it muffles the outside world until only the soft, melodic hum of the pond remains. Tiny bubbles rise lazily, catching the fractured light and glowing faintly before disappearing. Wisps of ethereal mist drift along the water’s edge, trailing like ghostly ribbons through the depths.
Below me, the pond bed glimmers faintly, covered in smooth stones that gleam like polished gems and clusters of water plants that sway gently, as if carried by an invisible current. Schools of tiny, luminescent fish dart around, leaving faint trails of light in their wake, their movements quick and playful, like fleeting sparks in the darkness.
I let the quiet beauty of this hidden world envelop me, the tension in my body melting away. The water feels alive, humming faintly with an energy that seems to pulse in rhythm with my own heartbeat. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, I’m free of the weight pressing down on me. The endless worries, the relentless tension—all of it fades, dissolved into the serenity of the pond.
Time itself feels irrelevant here, the moments slipping through my fingers like water. I’m adrift in a realm untouched by urgency, where each ripple and shimmer tells its own story,and the world moves to a rhythm I can’t quite hear but can feel in my very bones. It’s peace—pure, unbroken, and entirely consuming.
But suddenly, something grabs me from behind, pulling me up with startling force. I gasp, thrashing as my head breaks the surface.
“Aeris, relax! It’s me!” Kaida’s voice slices through my panic like a blade.
I stop thrashing and twist to face him, water streaming down my face as I glare. “What is wrong with you?” My voice comes out sharp, but my chest heaves, betraying my lingering adrenaline.
Kaida stands there, his own breaths ragged, his jaw clenched tight. A faint flush creeps up his neck to his cheeks. “Y-you went under and didn’t come back up,” he says, his tone rough and almost accusing. His hands drop from me, but not before lingering a heartbeat too long. He fidgets awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, the blush deepening as he avoids meeting my eyes.
A laugh bubbles out of me, unbidden and light. “You big oaf,” I say, shaking my head as I rest a hand on his arm. “I was just enjoying the water. It’s not like I was drowning.”
Kaida’s lips press into a tight line, but he doesn’t argue. His eyes flick to mine for a brief moment before darting downward. His gaze catches on my bare shoulders, and I suddenly become acutely aware of the water tracing delicate, glistening paths down my skin. Heat blooms in my cheeks, but I refuse to shy away. If he’s going to stare, so be it.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, breaking the silence that feels too heavy to bear.
Kaida’s hand moves to his neck again, his wings twitchingslightly as he shuffles his weight. A realization hits me—he’s in the water. He willingly jumped in to save me.The thought lodges itself in my chest, warm and unexpected, making my heart swell. “My shadows told me you went in a different direction than usual… so I followed.” The blush creeps further up his cheeks. “Just to make sure you weren’t… harmed,” he adds quickly, the words tumbling out in a rush.
I tilt my head, studying him. His embarrassment is almost endearing. A small smile pulls at my lips. “Thank you, for making sure I was safe,” I say, my voice soft but sincere. And I mean it.
Kaida clears his throat, the tension in his posture easing, though his wings curl inward slightly, as if unsure of themselves. He glances around before focusing on me again, his sapphire eyes warm despite his flustered expression.
