Determined, she paddled forward—or at least tried to—finding it surprisingly difficult to stay on course. The faint light in the distance was already sapping her morale as the small boat zigzagged over the water. Einar sat across from her, his ever-present grin plastered on his face as he watched her.

"What?!" she hissed, noticing his gaze lingering on her uncomfortably long.

"Nothing," he chuckled. "I'm just admiring your muscles. You're doing great." He winked and gave her a thumbs-up.

Severa's face flushed red, and in frustration, she yanked the oar from the water and swung it at him. Cold droplets splashed everywhere, and a slimy chunk of something unidentifiable smacked against Einar's ear, sliding down his shoulder.

Einar grimaced, brushing the goo off his chest with disgust. He stared at his still-glimmering hand in horror, then seemed to realize just how hard the blow had been. Rubbing his head indignantly, he muttered, "I thought you said you'd wait until we got to land?" Even then, he couldn't suppress his grin.

"Pick up the oars and use those muscles, or I'll knock you out now," she growled, shoving both paddles into his hands.

Obediently, he took them. "Which way, Captain Veneficii?" he asked, feigning enthusiasm.

Severa pointed toward the faint green light ahead. Einar glanced back. "That green glow?" he said, his eyes widening. "Fomorians produce green light," he muttered, pulling the oars out of the water.

Severa swallowed hard. "You don't believe in those legends, do you? Some trees glow green at night, and houses too. Where there's light, there's land." She hesitated, recalling the woman from the temple. The memory of her hollow eyes and the green light emanating from them sent a chill down her spine. Perhaps it was a foolish decision, but there was nothing else in the endless sea to guide them.

Her mother had once told her a fairytale of a city built from green stones. How beautiful it would be to arrive at such a wondrous place.

"Okay, Captain Veneficii. I guess we don't have much choice. The current's strong and pulling us that way anyway. No point fighting it. Let's just hope Fomorians aren't real." Einar dipped the oars back into the water and began rowing.

Severa nodded, her mind elsewhere. Were they heading toward the woman—or others like her? She wasn't sure what she feared more: facing the woman again, or admitting that she had been the one to unleash her. Before she could decide, she'd need to know whose side she was truly on.

If she was going to meet doom, she'd do it on her own terms. Good or evil—it didn't matter. As long as she held the power. Sighing, she stared into the distance.

"You should get some rest. You look exhausted," Einar suggested gently, rowing steadily.

Severa doubted she could sleep with her thoughts tearing at her and her life hanging by a thread. She was trapped—adrift at sea in a tiny boat, surrounded by an abyss that promised death, with no brighter prospects ahead. Yet, oddly, she felt a strange sense of comfort as the small vessel rocked her gently. Against her better judgment, her eyelids grew heavy, and she fell asleep.

"Come on, Severa... You must endure. Don't let them sway you. We're almost there," a soft voice whispered in her ear.

Severa's eyes snapped open, and she sat up slowly. Einar was asleep, slumped over with the oars still in his hands. His hair fell over his face, and his mouth hung half-open.

It wasn't his voice—it was a woman's. High and ghostly.

"Severa, keep rowing. My fate rests in your hands. You've brought me this far. You can't turn back now. You mustn't give up."

A shiver ran down her spine as the voice seemed to dance over the ocean. She couldn't pinpoint its source.

"Don't be afraid, Severa. It's only me."

Behind Einar, she saw something move. Slowly, two slime-covered hands reached over the edge of the boat. Silver hair reflected the starlight, and glowing green eyes filled with fiery malice rose above the rim. As the figure pulled itself up, Severa's trembling hands reached for Einar's sword. He didn't stir, utterly unresponsive, as if he were dead.

Severa backed away. "Leave us alone! I want nothing to do with you!" she hissed, holding the sword out in front of her.

The woman only smiled sweetly. "You cannot fight me, Severa. You must not. You freed me, trusted me. Together, we are strong. You can let me rule—let me rule through you."

"Get away from me!" Severa snapped, her voice shaking as the blade wavered in her hands.

"I am so much more, Severa," the woman sang, her voice hauntingly melodic. "Don't let my appearance fool you. This is just the vessel for my essence. I have grand plans to share with you. But I can do nothing if you won't let me in."

The woman raised her hands, hovering above the water. Green flames ignited in her palms. Severa recoiled as the light surged from the woman's chest, drawing her breath away as it pulled at her.

"No! I won't let you in!" Severa screamed. "I'm not on your side!" She clawed at her chest, desperate to remove the green glow she felt trying to claim her. The strange sensation consumed her, but she fought back.

"Disappear!" she shouted. "Disappear, you monstrous thing!" she screamed, using every ounce of strength she had left. She gasped for air as the feeling faded, and everything went black.