CHAPTER 55: REFLECTION

"The sea eats those who dare trespass its boundaries"

Without replying Noctis just stared at Cora, waiting for further details.

"It might sound like an exaggeration for those who aren’t familiar with it, but the sea is unlike the freshwaters.

First, it is much much denser, restricting movement of mortals and awakened alike, as the heavy water binds you into its bosom, even access to qi becomes sparse.

For mortals it is instant death, the water poisoning their feeble life force, sucking away their soul in the pits of the abyss.

For the much more robust qi users, the freezing temperatures sip away at their nerves, leaving its mark in its firm grip and peculiar surface that inhibits anyone from entering or exiting without sufficient speed.

It is..."

The more and more Noctis listened, the louder his alarm bells rang. The sequence of events sounded way too familiar, bringing a memory he had buried in his brain.

"So once you enter the waters, with movement restricted and qi stagnated, the cold gets to even the toughest warriors. The only result to entering is certain death, as the only way to get out..-"

"Is breaking the barrier of surface of sea which gets harder and harder to acquire under the density of the sea. Just... Good lord."

Noctis completed the sentence of Cora, earning surprised expressions from the women.

"Turns out you are familiar."

"Familiar... yes, I’m familiar. You’re telling me the whole high seas and the ocean is like that?"

"That is correct."

"I’m assuming that isn’t the only reason however, even the sailors are afraid to move on it?"

"The high seas has many deep mysteries, one too many people have died venturing even a few lengths. Take it as, if the chances of stumbling into an echo or magical dungeons is 1 on land, then it is at least 100 on the high seas."

"No wonder then... who would want to venture there."

"Nobody sane for sure. This situation here however, I’m sure plenty of those madmen would be interested. Who knew this area had been covered this much by the sea."

Cora replied with a final shrug, trying to mellow the slowly mounting ominous atmosphere.

"Interested whom?"

Noctis asked after going over the details with his memories.

Most of the details from his experience matched, except for a few minor differences , one that all his ’qi’ had been stripped from him, which he called it up to the effect of the space for now.

He wasn’t eager to try and find out anyway.

"Well.. there have been cases of ’enlightenment’ and strange spiritual encounters by those stuck in the waters, some people look for opportunities to find such estuaries so they can try for themselves. Most end up dead however."

"Right.... So what is the plan? Are we really going in?"

Noctis almost face palmed at such incredulity but asked the topic of utmost importance with caution.

Cora side eyed him as she said sheepishly,

"There’s no ’we’ here. I’ll die the moment I enter it."

"Yeah well... nevermind. Miss Regina?"

"You don’t have to enter either sire. It’ll just be me."

Noctis nodded seriously but stayed silent, expecting her to continue.

"I only have one request. All you need to do is help in case something happens to the young lady while I’m in it."

"About exiting?"

"If I do not spend too much time in it, with frequent breaks in between every visit, I should be able to manage. You do not have to worry."

Regina explained while starting to remove her armour.

"Have you done this before?"

"I haven’t, but I’ve been trained for such a situation. As long as I exit before my body starts numbing, I should be able to do it."

"You’ve thought it out well."

"In the first place, I was only worried about the young lady’s safety, in case something goes wrong."

Noctis admired her courage as well as her sense of duty. Of course having the knowledge beforehand helped much, but it still required a lot of determination to put up with something just the knowledge of it, he knew he likely wouldn’t, even if the danger wasn’t too high.

***

"Please take my sword while I’m in there. It might be of help to you if something happens."

Regina said as she stretched, showing off her perfect abs and we’ll fit physique. Numerous scars on her body told the story of her struggles throughout her life in every mark and scar.

Noctis didn’t necessarily like the principle of devoting your life to a noble’s safety, but he respected her character.

He could tell she was more than just a body guard. She had a story to her.

When he looked towards Cora, he could see a bit of sadness on her face. He strangely felt some relief seeing as she was worried for her safety.

Even if the situation wasn’t dire, from her manners he could tell she felt a bit guilty

They started walking on the sea water towards the region where thick but relatively short trees that stood at some distance from the dry part, half submerged in the sea, only showing the pruned crown.

After reaching the area, Regina jumped up with force as she entered the waters with a perfect posture.

"Is it really just hunting that helped you awaken Knock?"

Just as Regina left, he heard Cora asking in a rare melancholic voice.

"Essentially. Although had been practicing and hunting much before then."

Noctis replied in a neutral face.

"Also the specific hunt almost took my life. Perhaps it had something to do with it."

He added later for some context.

"Life threatening... why would you do something like that?"

"I was just cocky."

She snickered a bit at his brutish reply.

"You must’ve been powerful then. You even survived the forest all alone."

"Not alone."

Cora looked at his face.

"I had help."

"Still... you probably weren’t standing around while they did all the work."

Noctis didn’t know what to do at this point. He didn’t know whether he could comfort her, him being basically a stranger.

Just as the conversation stopped momentarily, both a bit lost in their thoughts, Noctis suddenly felt his feet bound with a tight hold.

As the leash exerted immense force on him, he instinctively slashed the sword in his hands downwards.