It might be coded

The wall of E'rathal

The ocean had always been a place of comfort for Acasia, a constant and predictable world beneath the waves. But today, it felt different. The currents seemed sharper, the water colder, as if the ocean itself was reacting to the change that had begun with her touch on the Ice Wall.

The compass in her hand vibrated, a subtle but persistent hum that seemed to grow louder with each passing moment. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew the compass was more than just a tool. It was a connection, a tether to something greater than herself. It was leading her somewhere, somewhere deep, far from the safety of Coralstead.

“Is this really happening?” Thalina asked, swimming beside her. The carefree air that usually surrounded her seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a quiet apprehension. “This whole ‘ancient evil’ thing? I thought we were just going to have a normal adventure for once.”

Acasia didn’t answer right away. Her focus was on the compass, which seemed to pulse in rhythm with her own heartbeat. Each pulse carried with it a strange resonance, a whisper just below the surface of her mind, something she couldn’t quite grasp but felt in every fiber of her being.

“Thalina,” she said after a moment, her voice low and focused, “the ocean is different now. The walls are changing, and it’s not just the Ice Wall. Everything feels... off.”

“Great,” Thalina muttered, her tone heavy with sarcasm. “So, now the ocean is haunted too.”

Acasia shot her a quick glance. “This isn’t a joke, Thalina. Something’s happening here. Something... important.”

Thalina rolled her eyes but swam a little closer, sensing the seriousness in Acasia’s tone. “Alright, alright, I get it. I’m just trying to lighten the mood.”

But Acasia’s mind was far from light. Her thoughts were consumed by the words the elders had spoken: “The ocean has chosen you.” What did that even mean? And if she was truly the one meant to restore balance, why didn’t she feel ready? Why did the weight of the task feel heavier with every stroke of her tail?

The compass led them toward an area of the ocean Acasia had never ventured into before—an abyssal trench that stretched far below, its depths dark and impenetrable. The water grew colder, and the familiar currents turned sluggish, as if resisting her progress. The hum from the compass grew stronger, more insistent, urging her forward.

“What do you think is down there?” Thalina asked, her voice tinged with unease.

“I don’t know,” Acasia admitted. “But I think we need to find out.”

They descended into the depths, the light from the surface gradually fading as they went deeper. The only illumination came from the faint glow of the compass, casting eerie shadows on the walls of the trench.

The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sound of their own breathing and the occasional distant rumble from far below. The deeper they went, the more Acasia felt the pull of the ocean, like a magnetic force drawing her into its very core. Her heart pounded in her chest, a beat that seemed to match the rhythm of the compass.

Suddenly, a sharp, high-pitched sound echoed through the water, a haunting melody that reverberated through Acasia’s bones. It was the song—E’rathal’s song. She froze, her tail caught in the current, as the music washed over her. It was both beautiful and terrifying, a sound so ancient that it felt as if it had been part of the ocean for as long as time itself.

“Did you hear that?” Thalina asked, her voice tight with fear.

Acasia nodded, her throat dry. “It’s... it’s the song.”

The compass in her hand flared with light, its pulse now in sync with the rhythm of the song. The song seemed to be calling to her, beckoning her toward something deep within the trench. She had to follow it. There was no other choice.

“Thalina, stay close,” Acasia said, her voice firm. “We’re getting close.”

Thalina’s eyes were wide, her usual bravado nowhere to be found. “I’m not going anywhere. But I don’t like this one bit.”

Together, they pressed on, the song growing louder, the sound vibrating through the very water around them. As they neared the bottom of the trench, Acasia saw it—a faint, shimmering light deep in the darkness, just beyond the reach of the compass’s glow.

Without thinking, she swam toward it, the current pulling her faster, her muscles burning from the strain. The light ahead grew brighter, more intense, until it filled the entire trench, casting long shadows on the rocky walls.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the song stopped.

Acasia stopped, her body trembling from the sudden silence. In front of her, the ocean floor was littered with ancient ruins—ruins that looked like they belonged to a civilization lost to time. Strange symbols were carved into the stone, matching the markings on the Ice Wall, and in the center of it all stood a massive statue, its form crumbling with age.

At its feet lay something else—a small, glowing crystal, pulsating with the same rhythm as the compass. Acasia’s heart raced as she reached for it, her fingers brushing against the cool surface.

The moment she touched the crystal, the water around her seemed to shudder. The trench walls groaned, as if waking from a long slumber. The ocean was reacting to her touch, to the crystal. Acasia could feel the power building inside her, an energy that surged through her body, connecting her to something vast, something ancient.

And then, just as quickly, the pressure faded, leaving her breathless and dizzy. The crystal in her hand glowed brightly, its pulse syncing with the beat of her own heart.

She turned to Thalina, her voice hoarse. “I think I’ve found what we’re looking for.”

Thalina’s eyes were wide, her mouth hanging open. “That... that was incredible. But what now?”

Acasia looked at the glowing crystal in her hand, the hum of E’rathal still echoing in her mind. "Now, we figure out what it all means."