Fioren led the group—Temoshí, Chiaki, Stitch, and Phoebe—through a lush, misty clearing until they arrived at a breathtaking sight. A towering wall of cascading water stretched endlessly across the cliffside, as tall as a small mountain, with its roar echoing through the air. Below it lay a vast, serene pond, with a river trailing out to the distant ocean. A series of flat-topped, circular stones formed a natural stepping path straight toward the heart of the waterfall.
"This is the entrance to the Coral Bastion," Fioren announced with a sly grin, her voice as playful as ever. "Phalris knows of it, of course—but most folks on the surface? Not a clue."
Phoebe slung her rope across her shoulder, eyeing the shimmering sheet of water with suspicion. "If the entrance is just behind a waterfall, I'm sorry, but that's the least subtle thing I've ever seen. Looks like something out of a puzzle game. Then again… doesn't really explain how you'd reach an underwater city."
Behind them, Chiaki stood quietly, holding her wrist as if nursing a lingering thought more than an injury. Her gaze was distant, her mind clearly still stuck on something that had happened earlier.
Fioren then clapped her hands once, drawing everyone's attention. She held up a strange, coral-like key, the surface etched with flowing, spiral designs that glowed faintly with turquoise light.
"You're half right, Phoebe. You can't just walk through the waterfall like a dummy. You need this." She twirled the key between her fingers with flair. "The original gate key. Only two exist—mine, and a replica someone forged. Works the same, but we've no idea who has it."
Stitch and Phoebe exchanged a knowing glance, each clearly forming their own theory.
Without wasting another second, Fioren stepped across the stones toward the center of the roaring waterfall. She stopped just short of where the water pounded hardest and held up the key.
Suddenly, the key hummed and released a pulse of blue light. The waterfall responded.
The thunderous cascade slowed, then parted from the center outward as if sliced by an invisible force. Water split to either side, defying gravity as it curved into arched walls of flowing liquid. Behind it, nestled into the cliff, stood a colossal gate—coral pink with veins of glowing aquamarine. The surface resembled carved sea glass, smooth and glimmering, with an ornate keyhole at its heart in the shape of a spiral shell.
With a flick of her wrist, Fioren inserted the key.
The gate shimmered, and the spiral lit up in a soft wave, spreading like ripples across the door. Mechanical clicks echoed behind the coral surface, and with a deep, melodic hum, the gate creaked open—revealing a tunnel of water held back by magic, spiraling downward like a funnel into the ocean depths.
Fioren turned around, smirking. "Welcome to the path to Coral Bastion. Hope none of you are afraid of a little pressure."
After taking just a few steps through a short, winding cavern, they emerged into breathtaking splendor.
A magnificent city unfolded across a vast mountainside, rising like something out of legend. Towering marble structures soared toward the heavens—temples with sweeping columns and intricate carvings bathed in golden light. Each building layered atop the next in harmonious tiers, climbing steadily into a sky glittering with stars and filled with massive, rolling clouds that looked like mountains of mist.
The architecture breathed the soul of ancient Greece and Rome—elegant round sanctuaries, grand staircases spiraling upward, and broad courtyards that opened into terraced gardens. Crystal-clear pools and narrow aqueducts wove gracefully through the city, shimmering with reflections of the glowing blue above. Slender cypress trees reached skyward, while vines and foliage tumbled over the stonework, blending the majesty of civilization with the tranquility of nature.
"Selora Bay. It's just as stunning as I remember," Fioren said, her voice softening with admiration as she gazed out over the magnificent city.
She paused for a moment, the breeze ruffling her hair as she turned to the group. "This place holds more than just beauty. It's where the first Voreans were born."
Fioren's tone grew more serious, her eyes narrowing with a hint of reverence. "Long ago, when the world was still young, the gods saw the vast, untamed oceans and the land above. They decided to create a new kind of people, ones who could bridge the gap between the surface and the depths. The Voreans were born here, at the heart of Selora Bay. We were crafted from the sea's spirit, shaped by its currents and tides, given both the ability to live above the surface and below it."
She gestured to the towering temples and aqueducts that snaked through the city. "The first Voreans lived in harmony with both the ocean and the land. We built our homes here, beneath the waterfalls, with structures that mirrored the flowing water and the graceful balance between both worlds. Our people were not simply inhabitants of Selora Bay; we were its guardians, its children, and its protectors. As time passed, we adapted, but our connection to this place, this sacred city, has never wavered."
Fioren looked out toward the city once more, her voice filled with a mix of pride and sorrow. "But over time, the surface people forgot about us. They thought us mere myths, legends told to frighten children. And so, we faded from their memories. But not here. Not in Selora Bay. This city will always be home to the Voreans. Always."
"That reminds me," Phoebe said, still taking in the breathtaking design of Selora Bay. "You look human, but don't you consider yourself a Vorean? What's the difference between you and the others?"
Fioren gave a small, knowing smile. "I suppose I'm a bit different, but that's not really what we're here to discuss. At the top, there's the altar—it's our way deeper into the city." She motioned toward the path ahead. "That's where we need to go."
The group followed Fioren as she led them up a series of winding stone stairs that ascended toward the Aqua Altar. As they neared the top, the water shimmered in the center of a stone pedestal, glowing faintly with an ethereal light.
Fioren turned to them with a grin. "Alright, here we are. This is where things get interesting."
Phoebe raised an eyebrow, a little skeptical. "Interesting how?"
Fioren stepped up to the water, tapping it with her hand. "Simple. You just press your face into the water. Once you do, the altar will activate, and you'll be transported into the depths. But... you have to trust me."
Temoshí, who had been quietly watching the glowing water, immediately tensed. "Wait, wait, wait. You want us to do what?" His voice cracked slightly, already sounding unnerved. "You expect us to push our faces into that glowing water? And then... what? We just disappear?"
Fioren nodded, completely unfazed by his reaction. "Exactly. It's the only way to get down into the Coral Bastion."
Chiaki, ever the curious one, stepped forward first. "Sounds like something out of a fairy tale... but whatever, let's do this." With a determined look, she pressed her face gently against the water.
At first, nothing happened. Then, with a soft ripple, the water shimmered brightly. Before anyone could react, Chiaki disappeared with a sudden whoosh of water.
"Okay, that's it. I'm out," Temoshí said, throwing his hands up in the air, looking both confused and terrified. "No way I'm going underwater. Not happening."
But Fioren, with a mischievous glint in her eye, stepped forward and shoved Temoshí slightly toward the altar. "No backing out now. It's perfectly safe, you'll see."
Temoshí struggled, trying to pull back, but his foot slipped on the wet stone. He was suddenly leaning over the altar's edge. "No, no, no!" He shouted, bracing himself. "I can't go underwater. I'll drown!" He hesitated for a moment but then, much to his dismay, felt the push of Fioren's hand. In an attempt to escape, he pressed his face into the water.
The moment he did, there was a strange feeling—like floating in space, weightless. Temoshí's body jerked back in a panic, but he was met with no water, no suffocating pressure. Instead, he was moving effortlessly through a vast, expansive ocean, surrounded by nothing but peaceful silence.
"What... what the hell?" Temoshí gasped, his eyes wide, his body floating along without any effort. He could still breathe. He could feel the cool water around him, but he wasn't drowning or panicking. It was like he was part of the ocean itself. He looked around in shock. "What kind of witchcraft is this?!"
Fioren's voice, oddly calm, came from behind him. "You're not underwater, Temoshí. The altar allows you to move freely between realms, between the ocean and the city. It's a different kind of magic, one that makes you feel like you're underwater, but you're completely safe."
Temoshí, still slightly shaken but relieved, floated for a moment in stunned silence. Then, looking at the others as they also stepped into the water and followed suit, he muttered, "This is insane."
Stitch, who had followed behind him, let out a low whistle as she looked around at the deep blue waters surrounding them. "Huh, this isn't so bad... it's like being in a dream."
Phoebe, with her ever-curious nature, turned to Fioren. "So, we're just floating here... where exactly are we going?"
Fioren smiled knowingly. "We're headed straight into Coral Bastion now. Hold tight—things are about to get even more interesting." She extended her hand, and a path of light appeared in front of them, guiding them deeper into the ocean's embrace.
To be continued...