The morning sky warmed with pink and orange when they docked at Sciula. Asardia's largest port and city was secured entirely over water. Everything was wooden, from the piers they walked on to the buildings; nets, red buoys, and boats decorated walls, hung over windows, and were propped near doorframes. Fishing huts and homes sat next to taverns and other small bait shops. On passing through the marketplace, Pica ran over to a stall selling colorful shells and dried starfish; Zelenia and Aeris visited a jeweler's stall specializing in pearls.

As they dawdled, Tegen watched the white seagulls flying around, remembering when he dreamed of being such a creature—going wherever he pleased, not being shunned for being who or what he was.

Now, that longing to get away had disappeared.

Being the Earthshaker meant he was essential and influential. He had proven his sturdiness by not killing Xomati, surviving peacefully in exile, defeating Chief Malum-Ki, and standing up to his tribe's Elders. As they left Estys, his actions had already begun to change his fellow Kemiji: children still trained with spears, but his kinsmen's eyes were not as wild and treacherous. Tegen showed savageness wasn't needed.

But most importantly, he had found belonging with these vastly different humans. Having power to move the earth or have influence over animals did not mean more to Tegen than them. His friends.

Pica surprised him—and it seemed the others too—by buying a necklace of yellow shells on a leather cord. He expected her to steal it. She said the seller claimed the shells granted protection from lightning to the wearer; Renuo looked them over and agreed.

She looped it over Aeris' head. Touched, the Priestess of Air hugged her.

At the edge of the city—where the floating port met the land—they stopped; multiple roads branched off the main path. All were heavily travelled dirt roads.

Helian turned to Tegen. "Which way?"

He knew the path to take—based on the details Zelenia had provided, a shimmering green light outlined their path to that lake ever since Earth's temple. Only Tegen could see it. Earth would ensure he could never lose his way.

Though he did not need reminding, he turned to the young Moon and asked. It was a test for Renuo to confirm Tegen's suspicion. He watched the fisherman.

As Zelenia's words painted the serene picture of the isolated lake, Renuo's eyes flickered to the northwest like he was drawn in that direction.

In the direction the outlined path went.

Tegen turned back and gestured at the road already highlighted for him. That had proved his inkling of this being a journey to Water's temple—Renuo looking said so.

***

Being the land of Water, Asardia's population consisted of fishermen who lived on the coast, on the bank of a river, or lake. Clusters of trees spotted the landscape and gentle hills and cliffs broke the flatness, but streams, winding rivers, and deep lakes were everywhere. Tegen stopped counting bridges when the company crossed their fifteenth one, and Sciula was not even thirty minutes behind them.

He much preferred Elemonsina, since firm earth was more prominent than liquid, but at least Tegen was not scowling at each water source like Geryon. Fire kept his discomfort to himself by not growling.

Now compared to their brief stay in Durus—where Tegen felt like he would combust—this trek was far superior. He understood Fire's unease.

Tegen was dreading visiting Durus again for Fire's temple, though.

When evening drew near, the Elementals had to leave the path to spend the night in a nearby village set on a riverbank. Traveling at night in any land was not advisable, but Renuo warned of Fangril demons that mostly roamed the land at night—none had ever survived a Terrave attack.

The village had no inn, so the group of eight had to sleep in whichever family had room in their huts. Tegen could not fit into any entryway, so a boatmaker cleared a spot in his workshop. As they all settled to sleep, it rained. Hard.

During the night, his awareness woke him. Something was outside; he could feel the creature's presence before he even heard the sniffing. Cold fear raced down his spine and Tegen figured it was a dreaded Terrave. Only wooden walls and an overhead door kept him safe from the demon; they were not thick, but it was enough for the walls to hide the Kemiji. He did not sleep well from then on, though.

The deluge had slackened in the morning; only a constant drizzle fell. After breaking their fast with fish, bread, and melon, the Elementals returned to their original path. Tegen relayed what had occurred to him during the night.

"That sounds like a Terrave because torchlight doesn't really bother them—only moonlight does, and it was a full moon," Renuo said.

"So, what Fangril demons reside in Asardia?" Helian began.

"Most of the ones I'm familiar with are aquatic. Then there are those that all of you know, too—those we've encountered on the road and in Teufen."

"Since this is the land of Water, we'll probably go into the water," Geryon bluntly stated. "List them all, regardless."

The fisherman's head dropped some. "Right. Well, the Spoakas are flesh-eating fish and the Uola are merpeople. The males carry tridents, and the females drown you, then you're fed to their Spoakas, kept as pets. Few of them are okay; they don't attack. Jellocts are jellyfish-like squids that sting and shoot acid.

"On land, there are the Terrave—they rarely come out during the day. The Gway are a disgusting combination of turtle and alligator, that's fast compared to their long bodies. We have to watch out for them near lakes, rivers, and ponds. And at the north in the ice are the Iquano—they're ice-like people, extremely tall and thin, and breathe subzero air to freeze you. They're only nocturnal."

Pica shuddered. "Geez. Those Iquano sound scary. I already don't like the cold."

"The heat is worse," Kalisa said.

The Provider of Light whipped around. "Nah-ah! It's usually bright and cheery; cold has a heavy, depressing-feel to it. It can also hurt like being stabbed." Pica stopped mid-thought. "Then again... extreme heat—like that in the desert was mean..."

Tegen pictured the gypsy's eyeroll. "That's what I'm talking about."

"Oh. Yeah, okay. I'm with you on that, Kalisa."

Like stepping into mud and it drying, Tegen halted, unable to move. Aeris bumped into his back, not paying attention.

"What is it?" Helian asked.

His eyes scoured the landscape: on both sides were rolling hills. The path snaked around the gentle slopes, like a brown river. Tall grasses and wildflowers spotted the fields.

Earth was warning him of some peril.

"I feel it in the land: danger," he answered.

"Could it be one of the demons Renuo mentioned?" Zelenia asked.

"I don't know."

Upbeat, Pica said, "Well, we aren't near the ocean, so it can't be Fangril."

"Don't be so sure," Geryon said. "It can come on land."

"What! How? I've always thought it stayed in the sea because it's so big. Why haven't I heard of it attacking on land?"

"It is recorded, but it rarely happens," Tegen said. "Like you implied, the sea offers better coverage for its size."

"I can see why Tegen knows—he's a walking library—but how do you know, Geryon?"

"I can read," Fire retorted.

At that moment, Tegen's hackles rose.

He was not able to warn the Elementals before six small hills on either side of the path before them exploded. Six bulky monsters shot out of the collapsing mounds.

On all-fours, the muscular, squat creatures came up to Tegen's knee––everyone else's waist––were covered in short, greenish-gray fur, had seven eyes, and fangs that hung past their jowls. Long claws dug deep into the dirt.

"They're Terrave!" Renuo screamed. His fear was palpable.

All six Terrave rushed them at once.

A line of fire streaked toward them. The demons broke out of their singular line as they continued to charge.

Helian's bow twanged and a golden arrow flew at one. Striking the Terrave on the shoulder made it howl in pain and only slowed it. Pica's guns popped, but the light bullets barely affected them.

Within seconds, Fangril's demons were upon them. They had already proven to be smart, were tough, and swift. Tegen resorted to swinging his club for pulling up earth was too slow.

The Terrave darted around them, dodging Geryon's fire and Kalisa's lightning, jumping out of the reach of weapons, and swiping at anyone who overextended themselves. These creatures were strategic and precise.

Aeris slashed down at one—pulling razor-sharp air behind her blade—and cut one in half. But she had stepped away from the group and a Terrave pounced on her. She pulled up her robotic arm quick enough to guard her, but the creature still bowled her over and slashed at her below it.

A swath of flame engulfed it, knocking the creature off. It screamed as it ran around, trying to douse the flames. Geryon pulled her back into their circle.

"They're trying to separate us. Stay together!" Geryon ordered.

The Elementals tightened their outward-facing circle, but the one on fire ran straight toward them, splitting them apart to avoid catching fire. The remaining Terrave seized the dying one's opening and jumped in between. Pica, Renuo, and Kalisa on one side; Tegen with the rest on the other.

Tegen stomped to pull up some ground and realized his mistake too late—many huge caverns lay below them, and the earth was soaked from the deluge.

Like in his dream a week ago, the ground shifted beneath his feet and gave way. Pica's scream sounded above the others and the Terraves'. Darkness rose as he fell underground. Light vanished.

He was not sure how long or far they dropped, but as gravity banged him on the ground, Tegen's sight and consciousness disappeared.