Torchlight reflected off damp stone walls which were covered in thick layers of mold and grime. Old rusted sconces littered the area, some still clinging to the walls on fragile nails while others had already fused to the floor. It was obvious the catacombs were disused.

Save for this instance, Nikolai thought, spying another footprint from the Eldons who had passed through before them.

He was being careful to keep his footsteps quiet, for fear of the Eldons hearing him. He wasn't worried about them hearing the Silent Knight at all. The man moved like a ghost. Not even a whisper of breath passed from his concealed lips.

They rounded another bend and the sound of dripping water reached his ears, along with a few male voices. Nikolai paused and the Silent Knight fell still behind him. Up ahead, torchlight flickered, revealing the two Eldon Knights they'd seen entering the catacombs before them. Nikolai moved back behind the wall, careful to keep the light of their torch hidden.

Water splashed and the faint glow of the Eldons' torch faded. Nikolai waited a few minutes longer before leading the Silent Knight over to the area. Nikolai set the torch in one of the few remaining sconces and knelt to examine the flooded space before them.

There was only a few feet of dry ground leading up to a wide hole in the floor. The surface of the dark water still rippled, causing several leafy plants to bob upon the waves. "That must be the plant," Nikolai said. "It matches Danitza's description."

He dipped his hand into the icy water and drew one of the plants over. "She said to take two leaves at a time, and more when the first two have worn off." The Silent Knight nodded and took the leaves that Nikolai plucked off the plant. The Knight turned away, leaving Nikolai to collect his own.

He studied the leaves curiously, then stuck them in his mouth. Nikolai grimaced as he chewed. The leaves gave off a very fishy flavor and left his tongue feeling like it had been coated in oil. He managed to swallow without gagging and pocketed the rest of the plant. The Silent Knight was shaking his head when he faced Nikolai once more.

"Disgusting, isn't it?" Nikolai remarked. The Knight nodded. "I suppose we'd better find out if it works." He waded into the water and shivers instantly wracked his limbs.

He didn't bother waiting for his body to adjust to the temperature. Nikolai plunged under the surface, still holding his breath. He released it in slow intervals, hesitant to immediately suck in a mouthful of water. At last, he exhaled one more bubble of air, and inhaled.

Nikolai waited for water to flood his lungs and leave him choking down even more, but to his surprise, all that entered his nostrils was air. Air that smelled of brine and fish, but air nonetheless.

Nikolai resurfaced and shook water from his sodden hair, while grinning at the Silent Knight. Strangely, his vision was slightly blurred. He guessed it to be another effect of the plant, perhaps allowing him to see better underwater as well as breathe.

"How noble of you to wait and see if I die before testing the plant for yourself," he chuckled. The Knight lowered his head and knotted his hands together, obviously embarrassed. "I'm just teasing. The plant does work. The air doesn't smell great, but it's breathable. Let's get going."

Nikolai waited for the Silent Knight to join him before plunging below the surface once more. He didn't bother taking a deep breath before diving, and instead, began inhaling the water as soon as he was underwater.

The Silent Knight didn't join him immediately. He seemed to be experiencing the same doubts Nikolai had. A few bubbles leaked from beneath his scarf, but he wasn't drawing breath.

An idea popped into mind, but Nikolai hesitated. Just because he could breathe underwater didn't mean he could speak, and perhaps speaking would wear out the effects of the plant faster than remaining silent. The Silent Knight's blue eyes, barely visible in the darkness, were wide. Still the man had not inhaled.

Nikolai opened his mouth, and his words, though muffled by the water, were audible. "Trust me. Just take a breath."

The Knight's gaze snapped to his, growing wider with surprise. Nikolai offered him an encouraging nod. The Silent Knight closed his eyes and the scarf he wore flattened against his face as he inhaled. Nikolai waited patiently. The Knight took a few more hesitant breaths, then opened his eyes and clumsily swam towards him.

Nikolai furrowed his brows. He must not be a good swimmer. He looked over the Knight once more. His gaze snagged on the double strapped belt the Knight wore. "Let me have your second belt," he said.

The Knight removed it and floated as still as possible while Nikolai looped the belt through his own, then back through the Knight's remaining belt. He fastened it and gave a few experimental tugs to ensure it would hold. "This way we won't get separated and can help one another swim," Nikolai explained.

The Knight nodded and they began to swim. Nikolai could barely make out the remains of stone walls surrounding them. They appeared to be swimming in a sunken part of the catacombs. Up ahead was a faint ray of light. There's the end of the tunnel, Nikolai realized. He swam a little faster, carrying the Silent Knight with him.

From the corner of his eye, another source of light flickered into existence. Nikolai looked back, but saw no indication of light anywhere. Not even from their entry point into the lake. Nikolai frowned, then brushed his confusion aside. There was no use dwelling on it when he had more important things to worry about now.

•༻᯽༺•

Nastasia breathed a sigh of relief as shadows flocked to her face and hands, the only parts of her glowing skin that were visible, and hid the light with their darkness. Sir Arlov glanced back, but didn't appear to have noticed the pale glow radiating from her.

She would have to be exceedingly careful not to let him notice any of her magic while they were down here. She didn't want to consider the choice she might have to make if he did.

Nastasia barely swallowed a grunt as Sir Arlov thrust ahead once more, dragging her with him. Now I wish I had taken up Nikolai and Alexei on those swimming lessons, she grumbled to herself.

Her complaints didn't last long. Dread replaced her annoyance as they swam out of the tunnel and into open water. The darkness hung heavy around them, penetrated only by a few weak rays of light. Below them was nothing but murky water. Once they descended into it, there would be no way of telling where they were going. Not even she could see into the dark depths.

Nastasia's hands began to shake. She kept staring into the abyss, hoping and dreading to see something. What would they find down there? Or what would find them? Shadows squeezed her wrists and Nastasia blinked the thoughts aside. It will be fine, she thought.

At least I'm not alone. Sir Arlov is here, and that gives me a chance to watch and learn about him. He's already proven to be kind and compassionate. Perhaps he will prove to be loyal and fearless as well. Not that she'd blame him if he was terrified out of his wits. Goddess knew she was struggling to remain calm.

Sir Arlov began to swim deeper, giving Nastasia no choice but to follow him. As the darkness thickened around them, her breath began to come in short gasps. I've got to calm down. This isn't the time to panic, Nastasia scolded herself, but it did little to quell her rising anxiety.

Darker and darker her surroundings grew, until she could see nothing but the outline of Sir Arlov and a few slivers of light peeping between the shadows that swathed her skin. Too dark. It was too dark. She couldn't do this. She had to get back to the surface. Nastasia reached for the belt connecting her to Sir Arlov.

The shadows contracted around her wrist almost painfully. Nastasia hesitated, and beside her, Sir Arlov went completely still. She looked at him, then beyond him, wondering what he'd seen to make him freeze, but there was nothing. Nastasia knit her brows. In fact, he wasn't the only thing not moving. Water no longer swished across her skin. Everything around her had gone completely still.

And that was why a hint of movement before her caught her attention immediately. Nastasia's mouth dropped open as the pale outline of a woman emerged from the darkness. She recognized the woman at once. It was impossible not to. Saint Faena floated before her, hands folded demurely at her hips while unseeing moonlit eyes stared right through her.

Nastasia glanced at Sir Arlov, but he didn't seem aware of what was happening. He was still frozen beside her. "Why are you here?" Nastasia asked, looking back at the Saint.

"Why are you?" Saint Faena's voice was exactly what she expected, gentle and quiet, matching her soft, round features.

"To get to know the men competing for my hand," Nastasia replied.

"Is that all?"

"I don't know what you mean."

Saint Faena cocked her head. "Is that the only reason you are risking your life in this tournament, Nastasia? To get to know these men?" Nastasia didn't reply. "I didn't think so. No one ever does anything with just one motive." The Saint came closer, reaching out to take her hand. Nastasia shivered as a bolt of energy sprang through her at the contact. "Why are you here, Child?"

"I was told that I'll soon learn my purpose as a Moon Blessed," Nastasia replied.

"And you came here hoping to do that?"

She shook her head. "I...I want to prove to myself that I'm ready for that. For whatever my purpose might be."

"Yet you doubt yourself. You doubt your ability to do this. If you cannot do this, you will not be able to do whatever is required of you by the Goddess."

"Of course I doubt myself. My entire life I've been told that I exist for one purpose, but no one can tell me what that purpose is, and I've been forbidden from figuring it out or preparing for it."

"Sometimes it is better not to know our destiny, so that we may unknowingly guide ourselves towards it," the Saint said, her voice growing fainter still. "If we knew our fates, I think we all would've done what we could to prevent them from happening."

Nastasia flinched at the sorrow in Saint Faena's voice. The Saint was right. She would know firsthand. For generations, her story had been called one of the most heartbreaking of any Saint. Nastasia knew it well. She had enjoyed reading about it growing up, the romance and sorrow tugging at her heartstrings.

Saint Faena had been blinded after falling ill from a deadly plague that ravaged Nyctoli, wiping out nearly half of its population. She was saved from death by the pleas of her husband, which reached the dark half of the Two-Faced Goddess. Faena became Moon Blessed, and vowed to use her second chance at life to find a cure for the plague that had nearly taken her.

Aided only by her husband, Faena traveled to the Anvil Mountains in search of the Dwarves, hoping they might know of a cure when other Nyctolians did not. She and her husband reached the Dwarf city of Timur after many weeks of hard travel. They were able to reach an agreement with the Dwarves and together, created a cure that destroyed the plague entirely.

For many years afterwards, Faena worked as a healer and scientist, but eventually, her interest in such things led the people to false speculations. Faena was accused of being corrupted by Mages, and the people took it upon themselves to cleanse her of her corruption.

Her husband was blamed for allowing it in the first place. Faena was tied to a stake and burned, cleansing her of her defilement and sending her soul to the Vale, while her husband was bound in chains and buried alive, preventing him from moving on after death to be with his wife.

Even now, the grave of Faena's husband remained sealed. Many times as a child, Nastasia had petitioned her father to have his body exhumed and burned, as everyone knew the accusations against him had been false, but never once had her request been heeded.

Saint Faena squeezed Nastasia's hand tightly. "You must draw courage and strength from those you serve, and from whatever purpose or goal you already have. The future will sort itself out."

"It would be easier if those people were here," Nastasia admitted.

Saint Faena's features grew sympathetic. "I know. Believe me, I do. But take heart, Dear One. They may not be here in body, but they are in spirit. Those we love are always closer than we think."

There was something almost knowing in the smile she offered her, but before Nastasia could question it, the Saint faded from view, and Sir Arlov was swimming again.