Chapter Six

Chapter Six: Visions from the Axolotl

The morning came early after their night of controlling their own restaurant and celebrating with the locals for whatever they may have been celebrating. They each gathered their gear in the early morning and made their way down stairs to meet up in the restaurant. Amane and Toshiro came down first almost one after another and just shook their heads as they looked at each other.

“Is Kitanni changing?” Amane asks him.

“Yeah. Kyra too?” Toshiro replies.

“Yeah.” He nods as he speaks. “Let’s get some water before we go.”

“Sure.” Toshiro replied.

Amane and Toshiro set their extra gear down by the door and sit at the bar next to each other. Both of them look exhausted and worn down with bags under their eyes. They were hoping the cold water would be enough to wake them up in the desert heat. Vic lays some glasses before them and fills them up with the coolest water he had.

“Enjoy.” He announces to them. “Breakfast should be ready soon.”

Toshiro taps the pitcher as he pours the water into the cups, instantly cooling them down to a lower temperature. “That’ll make it taste better.”

Amane takes a drink from his glass. “Definitely better.” He replies as the cold water quenches his dry mouth. “Appreciate it.”

“Yeah, no problem.” Toshiro replies with an exhausted voice.

As he says that Teo comes down the stairs with his satchels and heavy duty bag. One of the snake satchels being the one he made yesterday with the twenty house holding spell. He quickly places his other bags inside it so he’s only carrying the one.

“Where are the ladies?” Teo asked.

In unison, Toshiro and Amane both point upwards towards the rooms. Teo laughs to himself as this was the first time he had ever seen them in sync with something. He sets his bag down by theirs and takes a seat next to Toshiro. Amane grabs a glass and slides it down to Teo across the counter.

“You could have just handed it to me.” Teo says as he shrugs his shoulders.

“This was more fun.” Amane retorts as he reaches behind the counter and grabs the pitcher of water and slides it down as well. “Way more fun.” He puts his head on the cool streak of water left by the pitcher's condensation.

“You just wanted the cool spot didn’t you?” Teo asks.

“Sure did.” Amane replies as he flips his head onto the opposite side to make it cooler.

Teo laughs at the youthful response Amane gave him. So much power and dedication to a higher cause yet he still acts like a child when it comes to heat. He was starting to wonder if pyromancy was the skill he actually had naturally or if it was something else since he couldn’t seem to handle desert heat.

“A couple more minutes and food will be right up.” Vic explains to them as he can feel them getting antsy just sitting there.

“No rush.” Toshiro adds. “Not really wanting to rush into the desert right now.”

Teo’s eyes close briefly as his head begins to feel as if electricity is flowing through his mind. The symbol on his back lights up briefly under his clothes with a little light barely penetrating the coat. The pain fades for a moment before returning even stronger as he grips his head in pain. His eyes change colors as his mind races. The gold and crimson power shines within them.

“Teo, are you alright?!” Amane says as he gets up and stands by him.

“I...think..so.” He replies, straining through his pain. “Aaaahhh.” He shouts as he stumbles backwards gripping his head still. He shoves his arm out reaching for the chair and knocks it over and begins falling over.

Amane catches him and holds him up. “Do you need to lay down?”

“No.” Teo responds and goes beyond silent with his body motionless.

Within his mind he sees the bar with Amane and Toshiro next to him making sure he’s alright. A flash and he’s outside in the desert but the heat is not bothering him. Another flash and he’s at the back of the restaurant next to a burned line in the sand. Another, he’s down on the beach. The final one he’s near the water by where he set up the skull to burn. He looks around and sees an isthmus nearby. The water had receded back for time being and was more visible and accessible to them. Teo’s mind comes back to his body and the bar as his headache subsides. “What’s the small piece of land out there off the beach?”

“Small piece of land?” Vic says to himself, thinks for a moment before responding,”To my knowledge it’s just a small chunk of land. It has no significance and is usually overcome with water.”

“Something is out there.” Teo adds. He grips his head in pain again as he speaks through it,”I need to check it out.”

“Teo, how’s your head?” Amane asks.

“Throbbing. I need to check that area. Something is calling me.” He stands up tall and drinks his water down before heading towards the door. “I'll be back as soon as possible.”

“Do you want some help?” Toshiro asks.

“No, I think I need to do this alone.” Teo replies.

“Good luck, Teo. We’ll be here when you get back.” Amane adds.

“Hope to see you soon.” He replies.

“Teo, wait a second.” Vic interjects. “You only have about forty five minutes before it starts being covered again. Best of luck to you.”

“Thanks.” Teo says to them as he rushes out the door and begins running towards the beach.

“I hope he makes it in time.” Amane says as he watches him go. “Toshiro?”

“What’s up?” Toshiro replies.

“I say in about half an hour we head down there. He may need our help getting back.” He adds.

“We can do that. I might need more power to stop the ocean though, Amane.” Toshiro says worriedly.

“Then you’ll have it.” Amane nods.

Kyra came down the stairs after hearing the commotion of Teo leaving and was wondering what had happened. Fully back into her traveling attire: pants, boots, long sleeve shirt, and her elven armored vest over that. She didn't ask what was going on but she was worried after what she had heard. She came down and looked out the door standing beside Amane.

“Everything alright, Kyra?” Amane asks her.

“I hope so. I heard everything. Do we have a rope?” She asks.

“I’m not sure honestly if we do.” Amane replies as they watch Toshiro shake his head.

“I do.” Vic adds. “It’s out back.”

“Good, I’ll tie it to an arrow and give him a way back just in case you can’t freeze the water. This way we can pull him back.” She adds, hoping to give them a back up plan.

“Good plan.” Toshiro replies. “Back up plans are always a good idea.”

Amane, Kyra, Toshiro, and Vic look onward wondering how Teo is going to make it. They were concerned with if he could make it but were ready to go on a moment's notice to make sure he got back. Amane could power them up with more energy, Toshiro could freeze the ocean water, and Kyra could give him a line back if they can’t freeze the water. They were ready and prepared to give their all when the time came.

Teo darted down through the sand around to the back of the bar and jumped down the cliff casting “witz” (mountain) as he jumped and created stairs with a multiple use of it until he was on the beach. The reason witz worked was because there was land nearby to use if he was to use it on the isthmus it would have been covered in water. He continued running and made his way to the land that was uncovered and kept moving forward. When he arrived on the island he saw an opening below and took a deep breath before jumping inside of it.

Inside of the opening was a small pond of fresh water that he landed in. There was something magical about this location that even when the area was covered with ocean this entire pond wasn’t filled with salt water. Teo resurfaced in the water and climbed out on the shore of the pond. He took a breath and stood up on his feet.

He once again gripped his head in pain as it forced him down to his knees. Images flowing through his mind of the underwater grotto. Cliffs of rock and crystals which put off faint magical energy. Water that had spiritual properties to it. As a shaman he could feel the presence of these elements of life. The area flashes forward and a clear aura shaped like an egg was housing a spiritual creature. The creature was white with six red external gills, large black eyes, and a happy smile on its face.

Teo stands up the pain still in his head as he recalls the animal he was seeing within his mind. “An axolotl?” A creature that was native to his homeland of Drazteca. He wondered what this axolotl was doing here in Aren.

All of a sudden he heard a voice within his mind call his name: Teoctlamazqui. He looked around not immediately realizing it was within his mind. Teo continued walking through the area looking for where the axolotl was. He broke several different colored crystals and put them in his pockets.

As he walks the pain subsides fully and he begins full on running again searching his linear path before him. There was only one way forward: straight ahead. The axolotl was here but he wondered if he’d make it out in time at this pace.

Amane stood up from his chair and began walking outside being his impatient self. He took off out the door and rushed to the cliff behind the bar. He stood there watching the water since there wasn’t anything else he could do at the moment. He was worried but all he could was watch.

Kyra and Toshiro came out a few moments later behind him and watched as well. The water was slowly beginning to re-cover the walkway to the opening. They were waiting but they were ready still...they just hoped he got out soon.

“Think he’ll make it?” Kyra asks Amane.

“I think it’ll be a close call.” Amane stands with his eyes closed trying to feel for the energy that Teo put off.

“What’s going on?” Toshiro adds.

“I’m feeling his energy but it is extremely faint. Something about where he is must be overpowering his energy.” Amane replied back.

“Guess all we can do is wait still.” Kyra adds as she stares towards the ocean.

Teo had continued on his path until he came to a section with three separated prongs along the path. One was a solid path that was large and easy to walk. The next was more narrow, requiring slower movements to navigate it. The final was entirely broken apart and the hardest of the paths to navigate. He removed small metal pieces shaped like an L from the back of his headband and held them in his hands.

Concentrating on his spiritual faith, in Quetzalcoatl, he began to use his energy to start spirit dowsing using his two instruments. The metal shined lightly in red as he dowsed the paths before him. The first was a no go with no resonating. As he moved towards the second it started getting stronger as it trembled in his hand. Finally he came to the last where the rods began humming with spiritual energy.

“The path least traveled…” Teo sighs knowing it was going to be a difficult path from the start but wanted to make sure.

He placed the rods back into the back of his headband and started his path across the broken pieces. Going as quickly as he could he began jumping from broken ledge to broken ledge. The ledge almost immediately collapsed upon arriving on it. There was no time for him to stop and regroup, he was forced to keep moving.

Teo threw his hand out as he said witz, (mountain), trying to create an extra piece but his abilities that were tied to that were not working. He thought it was worth a shot but if it wasn’t going to work there was no reason to waste his energy. Instead he elected to keep jumping from piece to as at a rapid pace with the ground collapsing behind him and under him.

Three jumps away from the opening with sweat dripping down his face, he makes another jump, landing on the third platform away from the opening. He jumps again making it to the second one. His final jump before the opening…

Teo jumps quickly from the second platform and lands on the last platform..or so he thought. The illusory image of the platform caused him to fall down through the area and into the water below him. He opens his eyes underwater and sees an opening in the same location as the one he was going for and swims through it. Looking up he sees the top of the water and swims upward quickly.

Surfacing Teo takes a deep breath as he floats momentarily before heading towards the shore before him. He climbs up it in his soaking wet clothes and takes another moment to himself. As he does he is mentally attacked again by another painful headache that forces a vision into his mind.

Teo's mind flashes as he sees a woman lying down upon the ground. Her black hair is stuck to her face from being covered in sweat. Her brown eyes are dilated and her breathing is ragged. The paleness of her skin is bright pink and red in spots. Her body is arched up as she pushes her hand on the blanket covering the ground. She screams but it's inaudible in his mind. Moments later a brief cry is heard as crimson and gold feathers fall from the sky above. She mouths the name, Teoctlamazqui, as she leans back and smiles.

Deep tan hands grab the baby as the umbilical cord is cut. The child's eyes shine with a crimson and gold sheen as if he was blessed by Quetzalcoatl himself. A brief glimpse of a white axolotl with red external gills is seen in his mind and just as briefly the creature disappears. The crimson and gold feathers that fall onto the child are bound into a headband to be given to the child as a gift of his birth. The hands hold him into the air as if blessing him with the sun's glow.

He drops to his knees as he sees a darkened Drazteca before him and the god, Tezcatlipoca. The god of night and sorcery whose name means smoke and mirrors. This was a vision of the Infinite Night. He watched as the night winds tore apart livestock and cages as well as people. There was nothing he could do. This was going to be a hard fought battle when the time came. The vision faded and Teo was able to get back up.

Rising back to his feet, Teo continued on with his journey in this system of underwater caves. He made his way deeper inside following a much wider path now and from above could hear the ocean crashing against the top of the small opening. His time was running out now,.and he needed to hurry up. The visions weren’t helping his cause.

Teo made it to the next room where he saw an entirely empty floor, it was a gaping hole with no area to walk. He focused his mind and body then removed a crystal, called Labradorite, that shone in all the colors of the spectrum but could also be transparent and translucent when light wasn’t hitting it. The stone's purpose was to be protective and mystical, diverting unwanted energies from the person. It dispels illusions, gives clarity to understand transformation, truth, and wisdom. It stimulates intuition, psychic gifts,and guides to your spiritual purpose.

He holds it up to his eye and looks through it but sees nothing substantial through it. He pulls an extra obsidian mirror from his back pouch and holds the crystal to it and turns around. Holding the crystal to the mirror reflects the true intentions of the floor before him. A path of single step blocks placed around the room. He steps back once using the mirror and places his foot slowly down on the first step. It was sturdy but it was small and all he could do was trust in Quetzalcoatl and himself. A soft squeak can be heard echoing through the chamber. The small creature was making small noises trying to guide him there.

Teo continued his soft walking path across the stones. He was trying his best to get through there but things were going so slow due to this path. Someone was testing him and he needed to pass these tests but he had to hurry. The crashing waves above them were increasing and the tide was rising.

“I need to hurry..” Teo says to himself.

He began taking faster steps and faster steps trying to get through to the other side of the room. The places are only big enough for one foot at a time. The path took him from one end of the room to the other multiple times. He was only a row away from the entrance and took a bigger leap on one foot and it worked out for him. He landed right next to the entrance on the step before it. He exhaled deeply as sweat rolled down his face and took his final step onto the entrance way. He entered the cavern and wiped the sweat from his face with a cloth.

Teo was once again forced back by a mental strain as a vision again took his mind and he gripped the cloth in his hand. The vision was of a younger man probably slightly younger than most of the group he was traveling with now being somewhere around fourteen or fifteen. His complexion is similar to Teo's but slightly darker. A black feather on a necklace around his neck hung on a gold chain. A flash forward shows a courtyard with the same teenager and six warriors wielding blades similar in design to his mother's, which were katanas. The six of them were surrounded by auras of different colors that represented different elements: light was white, dark was black, water was blue, fire was red, wind was green, and earth was brown. They had surrounded another man who was showing up with a clear aura around him as their powers began radiating into him at the center. The auras flowing into his body lit up his face and the octagonal designs of armor around his ankles. The man in the center looked like a much older version of Amane.

He got up and took his time to process what happened. These were visions of the future that he wasn't going to be involved in but were going to happen. He stood there wondering if the young man was his future grandson based upon his look or if it was someone else. The awakening of the Six had his mind confused as well. Legendary spirits of warriors long passed who battled together to defeat a great evil said to have a parallel event in another world. The man in the center definitely looks like an older Amane who had come to terms with his powers and the world's need for them but not just Aren, but the land of Drazteca, at the least in his own home. It was also clear that with their powers feeding into him that he was in command of the force. They would reside within him and act as manifestations of his power when they were called upon, when he needed them during the Infinite Night.

There was a feeling in his mind that he was getting closer to his destination. Something was there and he could feel it. What it was he didn't know but he was definitely going to find out. As he continued he heard the squeak echoing louder through the cavern he had just entered. He could feel a presence deeper in the cavern. It felt familiar but not nearly as strong as it was. What he was feeling was a power that was related to Quetzalcoatl but he didn’t know why it was here or why it was so weak.

The water began entering through the cavern ceiling and landing on reflective platforms . The water landed on the blocks that were viable to walk on. This was the easier room he had seen so far. The water flowing onto the blocks made it simpler to see. He knew he had to hurry and began running through the area in a safe but cautious manner.

Amane opened his eyes as he felt an increase in energy from Teo after it was so faint before and now he was feeling another presence as well but it was faint . He watches closely and looks over to Kyra and Toshiro. “He’s getting closer to whatever is down there but so is the ocean.”

“He needs to hurry.” Toshiro states.

“Kyra, I have a question.” Amane adds.

“What’s up?” Kyra replies.

“If you use a multi arrow will the rope multiply too?” He asks her.

“Good question. I would like to think so based on my ability.” She replies back.

“Shoot a row of arrows around that island from up here. Toshiro, you’re with me. We’re going to block that section of water as best as we can.” Amane orders as he leaps down to the beach from the cliff side by the bar.

“On it.” Kyra replies as she pulls her bow out and begins tying the rope to a group of arrows.

Toshiro follows behind Amane as he leaps down and takes his jacket off and throws it to the side and now stands in a short sleeve shirt. He takes a knee and thrusts his hands into the water. He begins focusing as hard as he can and starts freezing the ocean as best as he can. The moving water wasn’t the normal he was used to doing with his powers. The ice crept up to the island and froze the area around it but then started cracking a part and drifting off.

“It’s no good, Amane. The movement is too much for my abilities at this point.” Toshiro’s body was putting off an intense cold and his eyes were whitish blue.

“Then you’ll have to take my power too.” Amane replied and placed his hands on Toshiro’s shoulders and began focusing his power into him. Unknowingly to him he was taking on some of Toshiro’s energy as well but he was replenishing it with his own so it wasn’t noticed.

Toshiro’s hands and arms were covered in clear ice as Amane’s power flowed through him. His spiritual energy powering his own cryomancy. The ice formed strong and as a wave of ice. Arrows rained down into the ice tied with rope and the ice immediately froze over into a wall. Kyra’s job was now done and now she was watching them focus as hard as they could. She knew she couldn’t help them but was there for moral support.

In the depths of the caverns Teo was losing sight of his destination with the water being stopped. He didn’t understand why it was changing all of a sudden but he was going to continue on. There was no reason to stop, he was almost there. The water was trickling and was being harder to spot but he was determined to get there. He could see the splashes pooling on the reflective surfaces. He could rush but not as much as he wanted. Teo pushed himself through the cavern as fast he could and slipped in the water. He lost his footing and landed on his back hard. He rolled over and began getting up when he struck with another headache that pushed him back down on the platform.

A third vision.

Teo sees himself sitting down in a blacksmith shop. There is a man showing him how to forge blades and infuse them with elemental and spiritual power. He doesn’t know who this man is but he seems to be skilled in his profession. A flash forward shows Teo sitting with six clean and polished blades around him. Time skips forward again; the blades are being stored in a sacred location in the land of Drazteca, more specifically a cave with a seal. Inside the cave were drawings of deities and dragons. Time flashes forward once more and there is a portal of crimson and gold. Two figures covered in black shadows stood before it, one holding a visible golden and jeweled hilt with no blade and the other shorter but carrying six blades upon his back in a six blade holster.

The people in the vision Teo didn’t recognize at all, outside of himself. He was slowly getting back up now and had to use the platform which was still wet to get back up on his feet. The visions were something he’d need to keep track of and see how everything played out. Were the visions of his future or were they possibilities? He stretched and began walking again just a little slower this time around as he got his bearings.

There were several squeaks in quick succession. Teo’s eyes lit up and he picked his pace back up. Whatever was squeaking sounded like it was in danger. The floor became visible to see after his last vision and he made his way to the entrance of the final cave. Inside he saw a spiritual barrier and felt his own energy return and within that barrier he saw a spiritual Axolotl. This cute little axolotl was white with red external gills that looked like feathers and specks of gold upon its skin. The same colors as his guardian deity, Quetzalcoatl.

He removes a small piece of black tourmaline from his pouch and tosses it into the barrier and watches as it dispels it. The black tourmaline is used to banish things and he had the idea that it would dispel this barrier of energy and that’s exactly what happened. He placed his hand out and reached towards the spirit Axolotl. With a soft squeak and a smiley face the little axolotl joined him.

Upon the axolotl joining him he is given a fourth and final vision.

The last flash overtakes his mind again as he grips his head tightly. A place covered in sand inside and out. Looking down he sees a marking on a hand glow pointing, straight ahead in the direction he was faced in. The axolotl appears from the mark as the gills on its head glow red and its eyes yellow. His view turns the corner and he sees a dark room but on the table two crimson and gold feathers are on a table. As he sees them he wonders why they are there to begin with and how they ended up in this world.

On the outside, Amane and Toshiro were both pouring their energy into the ice barrier and holding it back. Kyra had come down to their level and was standing next to Amane. Sweat pouring down their faces from the heat and energy usage. No one was talking but they were watching silently and focusing on their current goal.

Teo began making his way back through the cave and the rooms were entirely different now with everything being solid ground. The only thing that was different was that now the area was collapsing above him. The ground was shaking around him and the cave was collapsing in from the top with water rushing through it. It was too high to climb out of. He took out the entrance and began making his way back. The difference was now he had the ability to use his spells again. He continues running and chants WITZ CHAN (mountain snake) as a creature bursts forth from the ground in front of him and he places himself on his head.

The snake forcefully rushed them ahead and through the cave as it came down behind them. The collapsing pieces of earth pushing into the snake and combining with it to make it longer. He kept pushing and pushing trying to get further along in the cave system. He had been using his energy to get through the cave system and now he was using more to make this mountainous snake. He was tired and in pain from his fall earlier.

Toshiro was running low on energy as well and was losing his concentration on the ice barrier made from the waves. The ice began creaking and cracking loudly but was mostly still frozen. He pushed himself even more but he was running out of energy to give.

“I’m getting worn out.” Toshiro says while the sweat is pouring off his face.

“I've got more to give if you think you can handle it.” Amane states. He focuses even more as his eyes sheen with silver.

“Do it.” Toshiro replies.

“AAAHHH!” Amane yells out as he pours more of his energy into Toshiro. His eyes turned from gray with silver to rose gold as light and holy energy began feeding into Toshiro and healing his energy exhaustion.

Toshiro begins feeling stronger and less worn down as his eyes become more focused again. The ice began to hold itself together as it was before and was once again holding the waves back.

Hearing the yell from outside, Kitanni came down to the beach as quickly as she could with a look of worry on her face. She was also fully dressed and ready for travel as well in beige pants, a thin white shirt that flowed, and cover for the sand. “Who screamed?” She asked concernedly.

“That was me.” Amane replied as he slightly turned his head to look at her.

“Is everything okay?” She asked.

“Just giving Toshiro my energy. It’s a consuming process and it’s exhausting.” He replied.

“But you’re okay?” She asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Be on standby though we might need your abilities.” Amane states.

Meanwhile Teo had jumped off his mountain snake as the floor collapsed beneath him. The spirit axolotl poked his head out from behind Teo’s shoulder. It was like he wanted to see what was going on. He squeaks loudly as if pointing out the water falling in from above and causing the room to swell up with more and more water.

Teo pulled a parchment card from his pouch and raised it with his right hand. Upon the card was a drawing of a shield and a symbol for water with the words: Ja Way Pakal, the words for spirit shield of water. The shield could absorb or push away water to protect the user but it wasn’t that it could stop things like a normal shield as well being made of water. A sphere of water and spiritual energy circled around him. Water splashed onto it and was immediately taken into the sphere.

Finally he was in the first room but not from how he got there, he was above where he entered the first time. He could see the light from the outside slowly disappearing. He looked around and looked up to the ceiling. The water shield is disappearing now as well. He removes another parchment card from his pouch that says Way Mecatl, spirit rope. He creates a lasso and swings the rope  so that it  hooks onto a stalactite hanging from the ceiling.  This was the most straightforward room he had been in as he swung on the rope to the other side.

Toshiro had finally tapped out of energy or at least the ability to keep channeling the energy from Amane. He fell backwards into a seated position and crossed his legs. “I can’t do any more.” He said while breathing hard.

“You did what you could.” Kitanni added. “More than enough.”

Amane stood tall behind him and kept his eye on the area where Teo went. This time he felt Teo’s energy as well as something else but that he couldn’t tell what it was. The energy was getting closer so he was coming out but he still needed to hurry.

“Any news, Amane?” Kyra asks.

“Yeah, I can feel him coming.” Amane replies, he wasn’t going to tell them about the second energy because it may not have mattered.

The ice continued breaking off as the rope that was stuck into it using the arrow began to sink in the ocean as it fell apart.

Looking up Teo saw the opening he came from but didn't see a way up until he saw the ice with the arrow in it. Using his spirit rope once again he tried lassoing the arrow as it bobbed up and down. The rope shot out of the hole and fell onto the ground missing the chunk of ice. “Shit.” Teo said to himself. “They must be rubbing off on me.”

Amane spotted the rope from where they were using his energy. “Kyra, do you see a rope over there?”

“I see the arrow with the rope.” She paused and looked harder,”Wait, yeah. I see a clear rope of some kind with a knot in it.”

Amane unsheathed his blade and handed it to her,”Shoot this like an arrow as hard as you can into the ground where it is.”

“I’ll try.” Kyra pulled her bow out and placed the sword into like an arrow. She placed it in her bow with the blunt side against the string. She launched it as hard as she could from the spot she was in as it stuck into the ground unfortunately the spirit rope was gone.

“The rope is gone.” Amane stated.

“I know. It disappeared as I shot it.” Kyra replied.

“It’s okay, he’ll see it.” Amane adds.

Teo sees a familiar object laying above him a black hilt with red and white patterning. It was Amane’s sword. He swung the lasso above his head and launched it out the hole and around the blade. He pulled it tightly and grabbed it with the rope. Being a spiritual rope it didn’t break upon touching the blade. He pulled himself up slowly as the water climbed behind him. He watched the water as he climbed up but it was coming faster and faster than he could climb.

“Kyra, I need a tightrope. He’s not going to make it at this pace.” Amane says to her.

She quickly turns and shoots an arrow into the wall then turns back to him. “Sorry in advance.” She says as she shoots an arrow into his sword.

“Don’t worry about it.” Amane replies. “I’ll be back.”

Amane drops his extra gear including his shirt and sheathes. He places his foot on the rope and begins walking across it slowly at first and picking up speed. As he walks across it Teo continues climbing up the spirit rope which is now flickering out as he climbs it. Amane picks up his speed more seeing the rope flickering out. He wasn’t a professional tightrope walker but at the end of this he’d have some practice in it.

Kyra wanted to help so much but she didn’t know what to do. She pulled a seed out of a pouch on her hip and focused hard into her powers of botanokinesis. The vines upon her legs and arms while covered were glowing brightly underneath. She extended her seed into a branch and made it stretch out under the rope and beyond where Amane was. That gave him the time and ability to walk faster. She was tired as this side of her abilities drained her more than the archery did. She needed more practice, a lot more practice.

Amane saw the branch below him and ran faster and made it to the small piece of land remaining as the water came up around it. He grabbed the spirit rope on the blade and focused into it, extending its duration and began pulling it up.

Teo kept climbing and climbing realizing that someone was up there pulling on the rope so that he was ascending faster. He made it to the opening and saw someone silhouetted in the sun. They reached down and offered their hand to him. “Amane. How’d you know I was coming?” Teo asked.

“I can feel your energy also that little guy’s.” Amane says, looking at the axolotl. “He’s adorable with that little smile.” He pulls Teo up from the hole and to his feet.

“I appreciate the assistance. Can you see the axolotl?” Teo asks him.

“Yeah. He’s in spirit form but yeah I can see him. I can feel him too.” Amane replies. “We should get back across.” Amane pulls his sword out of the ground.

“Don’t tell them about him, if they can’t see him.” Teo adds.

“Of course. It’s his decision to share his presence with others.” Amane replies.

While they were talking Kyra had strengthened the branch and made it wider allowing them to walk across it but she was much more tired than before. They hopped on it and ran across the branch to the other side and by the time they returned back the isthmus was entirely covered with water and sealed. An implosion of water made the water shoot up like a geyser.

“I think that place is going to be sealed permanently.” Teo states.

“What was it?” Toshiro asks.

“Just a series of caverns that tested my skills and mind. Visions were given to me but I don’t know what’s real and what’s not.” Teo replied.

Amane stayed quiet and looked at the axolotl that only he and Teo seemed to be able to see or interact with. He turned to Kyra and looked at her with a smile. “I appreciate what you did. I am not a rope walker.”

“No problem, Amane.” Kyra stated. She placed the roots into the side of the cliff walk and left the branch growing.

“Come on. Let’s go back inside. I’m sure breakfast is ready.” Kitanni added. “And you guys could all use some food after that.”

“Hey Kitanni.” Teo says as he tries to get her attention.

Kitanni turns around and looks at Teo,”What’s up?”

“Can you do some quick healing on my back? I landed hard on a platform while I was in there after slipping on water.” He asks slightly embarrassed about what happened.

“Of course I can.” She replies with a smile. In her mind she was happy just to be useful.

The group minus Amane and Kyra began walking up to the bar. Toshiro was leaning on Kitanni after his energy was used up freezing the water and as a conduit. Amane grabs his shirt and sheathes putting the shirt back on and slipping the blades back into his sash. He wasn’t sure why she stayed behind but he didn’t mind at all. Afterwards, he grabbed Toshiro’s jacket from the beach. He left the shirt open and looked over to Kyra,”Are you okay?”

“I’m tired but I’m okay.” Her face slightly turned red with blush. “I just wanted to tell you how much I admire the way you jump into action. You knew he was in trouble from the start and leapt into it to make sure he was safe. That’s an honorable quality.”

Amane blushed as well in embarrassment because of what she said. He hadn’t been complimented before on that quality. “That’s just how I am.” He saw how tired she looked in comparison to him. The only difference was he was still running on adrenaline so he wasn’t sure how tired he actually was. “Do you need help Kyra?”

She blushed more and smiled,”That’s exactly what I meant. Always jumping into help.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Amane smirked.

“I could use some help.” She added. “Maybe you could lift me up and carry me back?” She smirked back at him pretending to stumble as she took a step forward.

Amane rushed over and caught her in his arms. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I am now.” Kyra adds with a smile. “I just wanted you to carry me.” She sticks her tongue out playfully.

“All you had to do was ask.” Amane said, staring into her eyes.

Amane carried Kyra up from the beach and to the bar slowly behind the rest of the group. He knew she had overly exerted herself using her plant skills but he was grateful to her for doing it since it made it so much easier to get over there. The least he could have done was carried her back.