The silence that hung over Aria’s team was heavy, each of them grappling with the aftermath of the battle. There was no cheering, no sense of triumph. The Myssirith’s fall had not brought relief, only a bitter taste of the price they had paid. The creature had been a symbol of strength, now reduced to a corrupted shadow of itself, and its death weighed heavily on them all.


    Skarath walked with his gaze fixed on the ground, his hands tightening around his halberd. The others stayed close, but no one dared break the silence for a long time. They trudged forward, their boots sinking slightly into the damp earth as the magic that had poisoned the forest still clung to the air, making it thick and suffocating. Every breath felt like an intrusion, as if the very land resented them for what they had done.


    Aria led the way, her mind racing through the events of the battle. She had sensed the foreign magic lingering in the ground, twisting the natural forces of Aether. It hadn’t dissipated with the serpent’s death. Instead, it seemed to hum beneath the surface, a dark undercurrent that unsettled her deeply. Her thoughts were interrupted by Morrigan, his voice softer than usual.


    "Do you think... whatever that was, it’s gone for good?" he asked, casting a glance over his shoulder as if expecting the forest to come alive again. "Or are we just buying time?"


    Aria’s eyes narrowed, her tone calm but edged with tension. "It’s not over. That corruption; it wasn’t just in the serpent. It’s everywhere. In the roots, the air… it’s embedded deep in the land itself." She clenched her fists. "We stopped it for now, but we haven’t ended it."


    Leira, usually quick to find optimism, looked shaken. “It felt wrong, didn’t it? Not just dangerous, but like something ancient and twisted. Something that doesn’t belong here.” Her hands still trembled slightly, the remnants of flame magic fading from her fingertips.


    Skarath, quiet until now, finally spoke, his voice low and filled with conflict. “The Myssirith was sacred. And we killed it. What does that say about us? About Aether?” His words hung in the air, the gravity of his thoughts sinking into each of them.


    Aria stopped, turning to face her team. Her gaze softened as she looked at Skarath, understanding the weight of his burden. “It was no longer the creature you knew, Skarath. It was lost, twisted by the very magic that threatens all of us. What we did… it wasn’t victory. It was survival. And we need to remember that.”


    The mood remained somber as they continued their journey. The presence of the foreign magic still lingered, as if watching them, waiting for its moment to return. The earth beneath their feet seemed to pulse with a faint, unnatural energy, and each step felt heavier than the last. The battle had taken more than just their energy—it had left an invisible scar on them, and on the world they fought to protect.


    After what felt like an eternity, the oppressive thickness of the forest began to lighten. The trees, though still dense, began to thin out, allowing more light to filter through. The air grew less stifling, though that lingering, unnatural tension still remained. It wasn’t until they crossed a small rise that the sound of rushing water became more prominent, and the team knew they were finally leaving the cursed woods behind.


    As they stepped out of the forest’s shadow, the landscape transformed before them. The dense trees gave way to a wide expanse of shallow pools, their crystal-clear waters reflecting the sky in perfect, shimmering detail. Beyond the pools, the roar of a mighty waterfall echoed through the valley, its powerful surge cutting through the air. The contrast between the oppressive forest and the open beauty of the land ahead was staggering, as if they had stepped from one world into another.


    Ahead, perched above the flowing rivers and waterfalls, was Valenthis. The magical city was a sight to behold, even from a distance. Spires of shimmering stone reached toward the heavens, glowing faintly with the energy of the Aether that flowed through the land. The city seemed to hover between the mountains and the rivers, suspended in a perfect balance of nature and magic. Bridges of white marble arched elegantly across the waters, connecting the city’s many levels, and the air around it shimmered with enchantments that could be felt even from here.


    But the sight, though still majestic, was not entirely as it should have been. The rivers around Valenthis moved oddly. Currents shifting in unnatural ways, the water rising and falling with no clear rhythm. The usual calm of the waterways had been replaced by a subtle, unsettling disturbance.


    Leira let out a soft, almost breathless whisper. “Valenthis… it’s still beautiful, but something’s not right.”


    Aria’s eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. “It’s already starting.” Her voice, though steady, held an edge of concern. "This is why we were sent."


    The weight of what they had just been through was still palpable, but the sight of Valenthis brought a sharp reminder of their mission. They hadn’t just been sent to fight the corruption in the forest—the city itself was at risk. A place once so stable, now teetering on the edge of chaos, and the magic they had faced in the woods was only the beginning.


    “We’ll need to speak to the Council,” Aria said, her voice taking on the authority of leadership once again. “They need to know how far this corruption has spread, and that the waters here are already being affected.”


    Elyndra, who had been quiet during much of the journey, finally spoke up, her voice tinged with unease. “The waterways are unstable. If they lose control of the tides… Valenthis could flood.”


    Aria nodded, her expression darkening. “It’s already happening. The Aquorians have tried to manage this, but it’s beyond them. This isn’t natural—it’s connected to the same forces we fought in the forest. The disruption is spreading.”


    Skarath, his voice softer now, looked at the distant city, his thoughts clouded by the memories of the battle they had just fought. “If Valenthis is falling to this corruption… I don’t know if any of us are truly safe anymore.”The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Morrigan, who had been scanning the horizon with narrowed eyes, spoke up, his usual light tone gone. “We’ve seen what this corruption does—how it twists everything it touches. If it gets into the heart of Valenthis... it won’t stop there.”


    Aria set her jaw, her determination solidifying. "Then we stop it before it gets that far."


    She led the way, her expression unreadable but her thoughts racing. The team was here for a reason, and the unease that had settled in them since leaving the forest had yet to lift.


    They crossed over a series of white stone bridges, their steps echoing faintly against the marble. Beneath them, the waters swirled in strange, inconsistent patterns—currents rising and falling unpredictably. It was a subtle reminder that Valenthis was far from safe. The air grew cooler, tinged with moisture, as they neared the gates of the city.


    Two tall figures stood at the entrance, their presence immediately commanding. Aquorian warriors, with their elegant, shimmering armor that glowed faintly in the light of the setting sun. Their skin had the iridescent sheen of the sea, shifting in colors that seemed to reflect their surroundings. Each warrior held a long, slender spear tipped with what appeared to be crystalized water, their eyes sharp and discerning.


    Aria slowed her pace as they neared. One of the warriors raised his hand in a silent command to halt. The gesture was fluid, but the authority behind it was unmistakable.


    "State your purpose in Valenthis," the warrior''s voice was calm but carried the weight of someone accustomed to being obeyed.


    Aria stepped forward, her tone even but respectful. "We’ve come because the corruption is spreading, and we can’t afford to ignore the signs.”


    The second warrior, a woman with eyes the color of deep ocean blue, gave her a long, assessing look. "Aid from outsiders is not something we seek lightly," she said, her tone neither harsh nor welcoming. "Especially from those not of the waters."


    Leira, standing just behind Aria, muttered under her breath, "Told you they wouldn’t be friendly."


    Morrigan, always ready with a quip, smirked but remained silent. Skarath, however, kept his gaze steady on the warriors, understanding the tension in the air.


    Aria met the warrior’s gaze, unfazed. “We’re not here to meddle. We know the gravity of the situation, and we come at the Council of Aether’s request. If the High Tider feels it’s unnecessary, we’ll leave.”


    For a moment, neither of the Aquorians responded. There was a stillness in the air, a testing silence. Finally, the first warrior inclined his head slightly, stepping aside. “You will be escorted to the Council of Tides. Do not stray.”


    Two more Aquorians appeared, seemingly out of the waters themselves, their presence nearly silent. They motioned for Aria and her team to follow.


    The team exchanged glances but complied. As they walked, the disciplined elegance of the Aquorian warriors became even more apparent. Their movements were synchronized, and even the way they walked seemed to echo the fluidity of the waters they controlled. The streets of Valenthis were lined with crystalline structures, their surfaces reflecting the light in soft hues of blue and silver. The air itself felt charged with magic, an undercurrent that hummed beneath everything.


    Elyndra, her eyes wide with admiration, whispered to Leira, “This place… It’s incredible. I can feel the magic in every stone, every ripple in the water.”


    Leira nodded, though her expression remained tense. “Yeah, but it’s not stable. Something’s off, even here.”


    They crossed another bridge, this one leading directly into the heart of Valenthis, where the Council of Tides resided. The central building was a towering structure of shimmering stone, its surface rippling like water. As they approached, Aria noticed that the waters around the city were behaving even more erratically—tides shifting at random, as though the very ocean was struggling against something unseen.


    The warriors led them to a large, open chamber where the Council awaited. Inside, the air was cooler, and the soft sound of water flowing through channels built into the walls created a soothing ambiance. At the center of the chamber stood five figures—the Council of Tides. Their presence was both regal and formidable, each dressed in flowing robes that glinted like the waters they controlled.


    The High Tider, a tall Aquorian with deep green skin and eyes that seemed to hold the weight of centuries, stood at the center. His gaze was sharp as it fell upon Aria and her team.


    "Aria of Aetherum," his voice was deep, carrying both power and wisdom. "We’ve received word of your efforts in the forest. You’ve proven capable, but Valenthis is not a place easily swayed by outsiders. Why should we trust you with our waters?”


    “Honored High Tider, we deeply respect your bond with these waters and the strength of your people. But the corruption we faced in the forest is unlike anything we’ve encountered before. It’s spreading, and it threatens not just your waters, but all of Aether. We’ve come to offer our aid, not to interfere, but because we believe that together we can prevent this from growing further. If we do not act now, this may be only the beginning.”


    The High Tider’s gaze remained steady. “And what aid do you offer, child? We have lived in harmony with the waters for centuries. Your powers, though formidable, do not come from the same depths. How do you intend to help where our own arcanists have struggled?”


    Aria turned briefly to her team before answering. “We aren’t here to take control. Your people understand the water better than anyone. But the corruption you face is foreign, and it doesn’t only affect the water—it warps the balance of all elements. I can stabilize the winds and skies, Leira can contain the damage with her fire, and my team can support your arcanists where needed.”


    Leira stepped forward, speaking up. “Water and fire may seem opposed, but I can burn out the dark magic that infects your waterways without harming what’s pure. If we work together, we can stop it before it spreads further.”


    The Council members exchanged glances, murmuring quietly among themselves. The tension in the room was palpable, and for a moment, it seemed as though they might be dismissed. But then, the High Tider raised a hand, silencing the murmurs.


    "You speak with conviction," he said slowly, "and your reputation precedes you, Aria of Aetherum. We have battled this corruption in isolation from the very beginning. Perhaps it is time we accept that we cannot face this alone."


    His gaze softened, though his authority remained clear. "You and your team will be granted access to the waterways. But know this: if you fail, the tides will claim more than just the land—they will claim all those who seek to manipulate them."


    Aria nodded, her voice calm but firm. “We won’t fail.”


    The High Tider inclined his head. “Then let the waters test your resolve.”


    With that, the team was dismissed, though the weight of the task ahead hung heavy over them. As they left the chamber, the whispers of the Council still lingered in their ears, and the erratic pull of the tides echoed through the city.


    Leira sighed as they exited the building, her shoulders tense. "No pressure, right?"


    Morrigan chuckled, though there was an edge of anxiety in his voice. "Just the fate of a city, no big deal."


    Skarath’s expression remained stoic. “We’ve faced worse. But this… this is different. It feels alive.”


    Aria glanced back at the swirling waters of Valenthis. “That’s because it is. And we need to stop it before it wakes fully.”


    As they moved toward the waterways, their resolve solidified.


    The battle for Valenthis had just begun.