I’m going to die, Velmira thought, body trembling in the water. Her lungs burned, bubbles emerging from her mouth as she unintentionally let out a cough. She shut it just as fast, the urge to suck in increasing, yet, she didn’t dare. No, she couldn’t, yet she couldn’t go without air either.

  I’m . . . going to die, she retained a whimper, trembling again, ears popping like drums.

  Then she slowed. The serpent had pulled her gods knew how far beneath the surface━too far to feasibly get back up in time. She glanced up, Sigurd hopelessly diving down towards her, swimming further from the light above. If only she could tell him to run, to do anything! It was useless!

  Please, save yourself, she thought, the whimper finally leaving her, and with it, the rest of her air. There was nothing left, nothing at all. This was it.

  Her vision darkened at the edges, lungs practically on fire. Velmira looked towards her killer, the serpent that had yet to eat her. It was spread throughout the water before her, coiled and . . . utterly majestic. It nearly glowed, much like her pendant did just in front of her chin. Or at least, she swore it did, her vision blackening further.

  I can’t . . . ! She desperately thought, trying to prevent her mouth as it opened in one last attempt to get air in. It defied her completely, and . . .

  [Threshold reached. Charm of The Deep activated]

  She breathed. Vel gasped, the air coming freely and strangely. She felt the water enter her mouth, and yet air filled her lungs instead. After several deep breaths, her vision returned, slower than a snail. When she breathed out, bubbles left her mouth, floating up to Sigurd, who looked pale as he desperately continued to swim to reach her.

  Vel looked at the glowing pendant in front of her, part of her wishing she could kiss Edard right now! Even her eyesight was clear as day now!

  Looking past the pendant, she peered at the serpent, green eyes staring at her. It didn’t move, just held her in place. A tendril at the end of its fin was wrapped around her ankle, unforgiving in its hold.

  Vel bent her leg, followed by the rest of her body as she reached down and grabbed at the tendril. When it didn’t budge, she sneered, scraping her metal nails across the shiny blue scales that reached even this part of the beast.

  [Skill gained: Iridescent Hide]

  [0.5 Constitution added]

  The serpent moved, jerking Vel with its tail.

  [Tough Hide 60]

  While it wasn’t as harsh as before, it was enough that she was forced to straighten out. Her hand grabbed at her pendant, if only to keep it secured to her person, and she grimaced as the serpent pulled her close to its face.

  While she didn’t have to, Vel held her breath, holding the pendant against her racing heart. Please don’t eat me, please don’t eat me, please don’t eat me, she thought, growing ever closer until it stopped pulling her right at its large nose. It stared at her with massive green eyes, pupils large. Thin tendril-like ears shifted on either side of its head, flattening as the entire head tilted.

  Was that . . . curiosity?

  Velmira blinked, mouth agape as she watched its eyes shift, examining all of her. Was it possible that it didn’t intend to kill her? Or was it because of her charm?

  She glanced at Sigurd, watching from near the surface. If it was because of her charm, wouldn’t it go after Sigurd then? The charm didn’t activate until after it dragged me under, she thought.

  Biting her lip and ignoring her racing heart, Vel extended a hand towards the serpent’s nose. She was slow, stretching out each moment as if to allow for her own hesitation and fear to seep into her shivering bones. This thing could eat her whole, or take her arm off. However, something told her that if that was its intention, it would have done it already.

  So why drag me down here? she wondered, furrowing her brow as her hand finally made contact with its large white nose. The beast held still for a long moment, and Vel peered into its eyes, like falling into the gentle soul that laid beyond. With every passing moment, sharing the connection, Velmira realized that it was only as curious as she was about it.

  Her lips twitched up into a smile, and she allowed a small sigh of relief to escape her in a flurry of bubbles. Did this beast . . . save me? she wondered, recalling its attack upon the pirates. Oh Edard, this world isn’t just full of monsters that want to eat me, but also the creatures you told me of, majestic and fair.

  Cherishing the moment, Vel looked from the creature’s long snout to its serpentine body, iridescent scales glimmering blues, greens, and purples in the refraction of sunlight. It was a stark contrast from the depths below them, seaweed reaching up and barely brushing the serpent’s body furthest from Vel.

  Looking back at its face, Velmira rubbed its nose, then finally withdrew her hand, and as she did, it released her ankle.

  Bye, you, she told it, then looked up towards the surface, a rowboat now waiting there for her. Kicking her feet, a sharp pain shot through her ankle, and Vel winced. Perhaps she wasn’t getting out of this unscathed after all.

  Pushing at water with her arms, she was surprised to find her ascension to be swift, and with the comfort of her charm, she no longer feared the water, perhaps save for the cold. Breaking through the surface, Vel sucked in air. While she didn’t have to, it was merely habitual, and . . . Damn! It felt weird to breathe air again.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  [Swim level 2]

  [Charm of The Deep Deactivated]

  “Vel!” Sigurd called, reaching his oar towards her. She grasped it, then paused, the slightest blue-purple sheen reflecting off her skin in the light. “What happened down there?” Sigurd said, pulling her into the boat.

  “We had a moment,” Vel said, struggling to push hair from her face and orient herself in her seat at the same time.

  “With a serpent?”

  “Yes.”

  Sigurd sighed, shaking his head. “You’re going to drive me insane,” he muttered, and began rowing back to the cog. Vel pushed the last of her hair aside, then looked at Sigurd. The hunter stared back at her, eyes glued to the pendant she wore. “Damnit, Velmira,” he cursed, eyes shifting to meet hers. “I thought you were going to drown.”

  “I almost did,” Vel shivered, wrapping her arms around her. “Sigurd, it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” she mused, smiling as she could still vividly picture that serpent’s curious eyes. “It didn’t want to hurt me, it was just curious. Holy . . .” she sighed out, eyes shifting to the sky. “I thought Edard’s tales were just fables, but by the gods! He’ll never believe me when I tell him this!” She laughed.

  “I think he will when he gets a look at your skin,” Sigurd said.

  Velmira cringed. “Please tell me I’m not sparkling?”

  “You’re not sparkling.”

  “Really?” Vel perked up, hopeful.

  “You’re just . . . shiny.”

  She groaned. “That’s basically the same thing!”

  “At least you’re alive,” Sigurd said, then shot Vel a straight-faced look that had her shrinking in her seat.

  “I’m sorry,” she said quietly, looking away as guilt gnawed on her insides. We needed a plan to fight against the serpent . . . she told herself, the excuse feeling hollow now that the serpent wasn’t even a threat. But it had been. At one point. They had nothing but harpoons and no idea if that would be enough. Well, and Amalia’s voice, and . . . and . . . Vel hardened her expression, straightening up.

  She looked at Sigurd, whose expression was still hard, and said more directly, “I’m sorry I worried everyone, and that I needed rescuing, but I need you to make up with Amalia. No more arguing.”

  “Velmira,” Sigurd stated, and for the first time, Vel realized that he wasn’t looking at her, but past her. She turned, stiffening as she saw three sails on the horizon, shadowed like a looming like a colossal monstrosity. It moved towards them, fast━faster than their little cog could ever go, yet with the distance, there was still time. Time to━

  “We need to send the ship up north and abandon it,” Sigurd said.

  “Yes,” Vel agreed, turning as they neared the cog. Sigurd latched some dangling ropes to the front side. Then he grasped a rope ladder that hung against the side of the ship.

  “Stay here,” he said. “I’ll get the others.”

  Vel frowned, grasping her hair and squeezing water from it. Here she thought she could have a serious conversation about what was going wrong in their little group, but no. No time to rest and figure things out. Just run. Always running.

  She turned, looking at the foreboding ship in the distance, barely more than a speck. One of these days, she told herself, she wasn’t going to run anymore. She would fight. Sooner than you think, a little voice said in the back of her head, reminding her of a mission beyond just saving Edard.

  Edard first, she argued with herself.

  Fortunately, her argument was cut short by Sigurd lowering himself back down to the rowboat, shortly followed by Amalia, and finally Aden, who stole the spare oars that were sitting behind Vel’s seat. He looked a little odd with the rucksack on his back packed bigger than he was, and Vel was certain she saw a jar sticking out from under its flap.

  “Aden,” Sigurd said, untying the rope at the head of the rowboat. “You have the map of Ymril, right?”

  “Right here,” Aden said, patting a pant pocket. “It won’t matter though. Nothin’ ta tell us where we’re at.”

  “We’ll deal with that after we’re in the jungle,” Sigurd said, taking the oars in his hands and rowing away from the cog. Aden followed suit.

  The cog groaned as it sped on out of reach, revealing the jungle that loomed just beyond. It took them a good long while to push towards it, and as they did, Vel found herself looking up towards the tips of canopied trees. Never had she seen such gargantuan structures, twisting in a mass of branches and vines teeming with winged life.

  “It’s so lush,” she said, mouth hanging open as the rowboat ran ashore, skidding to a gentle stop.

  “And dangerous,” Sigurd added, tossing his oars to the row boat’s floor. He jumped out, water splashing up. “We’ll hide the boat.” He offered Amalia━the closest to him━a hand.

  She turned her nose up at it with a hum, then climbed out on her own.

  Sigurd’s lips stretched into a thin line and his nostrils flared. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but to Vel’s relief, refrained. Turning to her, he offered the same hand. Vel grasped it, and the moment she stood, a pain spiked through her left ankle. She yelped and dropped back to her seat, gripping Sigurd’s hand tighter, but not for support. Rather, she just needed something to hold, gritting her teeth.

  [Constrict level 3]

  “That is so not helpful, Purple Fairy,” she huffed out.

  “Hand, Vel,” Sigurd grunted, using his other hand to pry his first one free from her grip. “Avenging damnation, woman, what’s your strength stat?”

  “Four.”

  “Really? Only?” Sigurd asked.

  “That’s four more than I had not long ago!” Vel groaned, leaning over to take her boot off.

  “Wait,” Sigurd said, stopping her. He reached over, slipping an arm under Vel’s legs and she felt his other hand against her back, firm as he hefted her from the boat. Well, less hefting and more daintily picking her up. He made it look effortless.

  Pursing her lips, she glared up at him. “And your strength stat?” she asked.

  “Eight,” Sigurd said, marching up the beach. Aden followed close behind, looking somewhat akin to an eager puppy. It was a bit unnerving, Vel found, how excited Sandy got from injuries. She’d think him sadistic if he actually injured people too.

  “What? How many skills do you have for strength?”

  “Just [unarmed punch],” Sigurd said, crouching as he set Vel down on the golden sand.

  Sand.

  Vel blinked, looking down at the granules, warm and grainy as she ran a hand through them. Before she could ask another question, Sigurd had already moved back to the boat, heaving it up onto dry land. Meanwhile, Aden crouched at her feet and hovered a hand over her ankle.

  He grinned. Maliciously.

  “Fractured. Cool,” he said. “Sprained too.”

  Vel cringed and jolted as something in her ankle shifted from within. Then it soothed over, the pain slowly vanishing as if it’d never been there to begin with. Along with it, her ankle shrunk, the swelling disappearing.

  Sighing, Vel leaned back on a hand, and looked up towards Sandy’s downcast eyes, hand hovering like he was looking for more to heal. “Why does healing get you this excited?” she asked.

  The teenager paused, then slowly pulled his hand away. “No reason,” he said, withdrawing and sitting back on his heals. “You’re healed, be happy.”

  “I am happy,” Vel lied, pushing herself up to her feet.

  “Ya’re a lousy liar,” Aden said.

  “So are you . . . except when you’re not being lousy at it?” She hummed, recalling how easily Aden concocted untruths to defend her, to . . .

  There. She saw it. The way he looked at her, almost like he actually cared. His eyes were soft, if only for a moment, then hardened with the rest of his expression as he looked away. “No one can be hurt again if I’m the best damn healer,” he said, and just as quick as he said it, he ran to help Sigurd pull the boat up into the trees. Even Amalia was helping the hunter.

  Turning back to the sea, Vel looked at that looming ship in the distance, bigger now. She briefly wondered if they’d been spotted, but pushed that thought from her mind. Dry land would give them more of a running advantage than they had before.

  Spinning around, she faced the jungle, its subtle lighting beckoning her to follow the others into the unknown.