In the steps of Eternity

Ocean's Acquiescence: Part 1

The sound of water echoes within my ears as I open my eyes. Expecting to be back in the other world I am surprised to find myself resting on the back of a Crystal Woad. Looking below the Woad I realize that it is standing water that rises almost to its head while it is hunched over.

Turning my eyes to the water below it is a beautiful translucent blue contrasting what my thoughts would say or think with all the things that it submerged. With this thought I gasp and remember I was literally in the middle of a city.

Looking around myself I no longer see anything that would remind me of the city that it once was. No ruins, no people, The only thing remaining of the city are the streets under the surface and the Library who's entrance resides just above water level.

Within looking at the door to the library the Crystal Woad began to move almost as if knowing my very thoughts. Within the wake of the Crystal Woad light shimmers, reflecting light into my eyes as I look back upon the trail. The light is mesmerizing leaving me in a trance like state, leaving me unaware that we have arrived at the stairway.

The Crystal Woad gently lifts me and sets me on door step as I snap back to reality. Looking at the Woad, I tilt my head and watch as it begins to walk backwards and back down the steps before allowing its self to fall backwards down into the water before it vanishes.

Looking at the water where the Crystal Woad had vanished in the water for a few moments I am lost in wonder. “Where did it go, and how did it just vanish?” I can't help but wonder to myself. Before turning to give the entrance to the library a look.

Stepping up to the door I look down at the door handle where I catch a reflection of my own eyes. A strong Hint of blue shimmers occasionally through the Iris. Leaning in I can't help but try to get a closer look at the new discovery. In my prismatic eyes there was definitely a hint of a new color, one that ripples with every blink of my eye lids.

Touching the handle of the door where my reflection lies the door slowly opens. To my Horror the door doesn't open to the library like I had thought it would. But instead to ruins that seem to stretch endlessly into every direction. Taking a moment to look behind myself back at the door there is no longer the beautiful world I had been in before but pure darkness.

Looking up I find that I am now in front of the once great library was no longer standing as it had once before. It too had fallen into great ruin and yet the feeling of the great enchantment still resided even after what seemed to have been centuries past.

Moments pass before I hear the sound of water rippling behind me. I turn and only then do I realize that there is a dark swamp like water flooding the area. Taking a closer look at the ruins around me I find there are vines and withered trees that shoot out from the water entwining some of the buildings that once stood.

Stepping down the stairs to the shore of the water, I bend down to examine the inky waters a bit closer. Sticking a finger out to touch the surface something strange occurs before my eyes. The dark inky water shifts revealing crystal clear water around my finger. Looking at the water in confusion I reach my whole hand down to stir the water. Everywhere my hand passes the water becomes clear, but returns to inky darkness shortly after.

Following the reaction the water had when it comes into contact with my skin I realize that there wouldn't be any harm in walking through it, but just to be safe I shroud myself in Mana as I start to prepare to take the first step. Before I take the step I realize that the shroud of Mana around myself has a very different feel than what I remember.

Looking at my hands once more I realize that there seems to be a faint sense of moisture drifting where ever my hands pass. Looking at my feet I take a step back, then forward, left then right, and with each step I learn that I leave behind a foot print that seems to be made of water. “How strange.” I think to myself as I take some time to get familiar with this feeling.

After spending some time getting used to the feeling of moisture permeated around my body an idea strikes. With a single thought I focus gathering all of the Mana I have shrouded around me straight into and above my hand. Watching as the moisture starts to congeal into a singular blob of water. With a singular breath I wonder if I could make it larger before tapping into more of my Mana, but as I do something outside of my scope of imagination occurs.

The water from the surrounding begins to bubble before clear strands of water begin to rise out of the Inky darkness and straight into and above my hand, causing the water levels to ripple and the water orb to expand to a size I definitely had never planned. In a panic I shook my hand, practically throwing the orb of water at a building near by. With a large explosive roar the building collapses even further and the inky water surges splashing towards me but stopping mid air and dropping.

Looking at the water once more as it sways from the explosive disruption caused by my magic I can see a very minor change in the purity of the water around me. Though still inky and murky, it has gained a very small degree of clarity. A greater feeling of affinity with the waters begins to fill my whole body.

Taking another breath I step back from the water and stand upright. Repeating my earlier actions I focus my Mana on my hand creating another orb of water. Taking a good look at the water in the palm of my hand I stretch my other hand out and begin to shroud it in its own layer of mana and begin to try to draw the water away. At first there is no sign of any change on the orb but as time went by I begin to see the water shift as if being drawn by something. The water begins to trail over to my free hand before resting in its palm.

Looking at the arcing water between my hands a strong sense of accomplishment begins to fill my body. “I can create and bend water to my own will with this.” I think to myself before the water just drops to the ground between my feet.

With a splash the water lands on the ground, soaking my feet in the process. “I guess I need to maintain some kind of focus to make it work properly...” I think to myself once more before I hear a small giggle resonate from within my own mind. Startled by the giggle I flinch and close my eyes before I find that I can see a world in my mind.

Sitting on a small island in front of me, is another me. One made of crystal clear water. Standing up and walking on the dark waters around the island the approach me before resting their hands on my cheeks before resting their forehead against mine.

Images. Memories. Information. Many things begin to flood my mind after our foreheads come in contact with each other. “Remember Me. Remember Us. Return to Balance.” I hear echo in my mind as I become lost to the flooding details inside every passing moment.