Round 144

Merrin wades deeper into the water, her heavy mace held high as she scans the dark surface for any sign of movement. The icy liquid laps at her thighs, chilling her to the core and making her muscles cramp. She can feel the weight of the weapon dragging her down, but she grits her teeth and pushes forward.

"Varikka!" she calls out, her voice barely carrying over the roar of rushing water. "Hang in there— I'm coming!"

She takes another step forward, the water now waist-deep and rising fast. The cold seeps into her bones, making her movements sluggish and uncoordinated. But Merrin is nothing if not stubborn, and she refuses to abandon her friend to whatever lies beneath the surface.

"Stay back, Sera—I'll handle this," she mutters through clenched teeth, more to herself than anyone else. The last thing they need is for Seraphine to try heroics in her current state—exhausted and barely able to stand. No, Merrin will deal with whatever lurks in these depths.

The water reaches her chest now, and she feels a sudden chill run down her spine that has nothing to do with the temperature. Something's out there, watching her. She can feel it. But she doesn't have time to hesitate—Varikka needs help, and fast.

Merrin submerges herself fully, pushing off from the bottom of the lake with powerful kicks. The world goes dark and cold around her as she swims deeper, her eyes straining to pierce the inky blackness. She can feel the current pulling at her, trying to drag her down into the abyss.

And then, suddenly, her hands connect with something solid—Varikka's leg. The wizard is floating face-down in the water, her body limp and unresponsive. Panic seizes Merrin's chest as she grabs hold of her friend, struggling to turn her over.

"Come on, Varikka," she gasps, breaking the surface for air before diving back down. "Wake up—don't you dare leave me here alone!"

Her fingers find Varikka's nose and mouth, checking for breathing. There's a faint pulse, but it's weak and irregular. Merrin knows they don't have much time—the water pressure is increasing, and the current is growing stronger by the second.

With a grunt of effort, she manages to flip Varikka onto her back, positioning herself beneath her friend's body to keep them both afloat. The wizard's head lolls back, exposing her throat to the cold water.

"Please," Merrin whimpers, more to the gods than anyone else. "Don't take her from me—she's too good for this world."

The water around them begins to churn and froth as something massive stirs in the depths below. Merrin feels a sudden, overwhelming sense of dread wash over her, but she pushes it aside, focusing all her energy on keeping Varikka's head above water.

"Seraphine!" she cries out, her voice barely audible over the roar of rushing water. "Help! She's not breathing!"

The current grows stronger still, pulling at them both with inexorable force. Merrin knows they only have moments before whatever lies beneath claims them both as its prey.