I strolled across a flagstone path, trying to appear casual as I approached a vast structure. Spiraling, pearlescent shells formed its pillars, while the facade gleamed with chunks of mother-of-pearl.

  My breath felt hot inside the mask, but surprisingly, it didn't smell like nine days without brushing. Instead, there was a hint of seaweed—which might have been as bad as morning breath back on Earth, except the seaweed here had an oddly sweet scent.

  I tugged at the mask, ensuring it was secure, then patted the bun I'd tied my hair into. The borrowed tunic's long sleeves concealed my scales, its neck laces drawn tight. I glanced at that imposing structure, then surveyed the surrounding grounds.

  Gardens stretched out in rectangular segments, most submerged like rice paddies. Tidewalkers worked the distant fields. This was technically a community garden, but my last attempt to gather fruit had ended in immediate reprimand. The man who'd caught me insisted I needed a permit, all while dozens of Tidewalkers harvested freely around us, not sparing me a glance. I huffed, shaking my head. Another injustice I couldn't stand.

  Thankfully, I'd be gone by midnight.

  I stepped into the nearest garden, water reaching my knees. It was farthest from that gleaming structure—one that was beautiful on the outside, but corrupt within, like every institution. Gripjaw hummed beside me, floating in the water and cocking his head, as if curious about my thoughts.

  "Now, don't get me wrong," I said, crouching to examine the aquatic plants. "I'm sure every institution begins with some hint of purity. But as they grow and the money comes in, they lose sight of what matters."

  And what matters? I asked myself silently.

  "People," I whispered in response.

  I plucked a plant that reminded me of a carrot, though it had too many roots, and swirled with tie-dye red coloring.

  [Aquatic Tuber]

  [Enhances stamina regeneration]

  [Common ingredient in restoration potions]

  Opening my interface, I navigated to crafting:

  [Food]

  [Drinks]

  [Potions]

  [Select (Potions?)]

  “Yes.”

  Under the stamina potion recipe, I found what I needed:

  [Stamina Potion]

  [Restores 50% maximum stamina]

  [Ingredients: Aquatic tuber, stamina shroom, recovery berries]

  [Crafting time: 30 minutes each]

  I had a lot of random ingredients from days of grinding, but needed things specifically from this garden. Rising to full height, I scanned the field. Where would they be?

  The next thirty minutes took me from patch to patch. I found wild specimens—prickly melons, star-shaped fruits, heart-shaped radishes—all useful for different potions I hadn't learned yet. I stored them away, grateful that my interface eliminated the need for a backpack. Everything vanished into that holographic screen with a thought, safe from prying eyes.

  I knew others couldn't see it. During my first week, when the interface kept appearing with endless scrolls of information, no one else reacted. Either I was the only one who could see it, or it was so common no one cared. I'd learned the hard way by asking a stranger about "glowing windows with stats." His weird look and hasty retreat probably just reinforced his prejudice against Beachstriders.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  After another thirty minutes, frustration set in. Yes, collecting random plants was good, but when would I use them? I needed to focus on my purpose: finding the last two stamina potion ingredients:

  [Stamina Shroom]

  [Recovery Berries]

  I looked toward the Tidewalkers working the distant fields and hesitantly approached. A Beachstrider woman worked alone, her white hair in a tail, scales brushing her cheeks—more human than Tidewalker in appearance.

  "Hey," I called, heart skipping. At least she wouldn't be snobby. "Do you know where—"

  "I don't know where most things are," she interrupted, standing to wipe her forehead. "If you're looking for something specific, talk to the managers." She pointed to a group of Tidewalker women talking in a circle.

  I took a deep breath and approached, adjusting my mask. "Excuse me," I said to the closest one. She turned, revealing piercing yellow eyes that stood out on a blue scaled face that left me momentarily speechless.

  Recovering, I cleared my throat. "Do you know where the stamina shrooms and recovery berries are?"

  She raised an eyebrow. "Who's asking?"

  "A Gaian," I said, standing tall. "Preparing for the festival!"

  She exchanged glances with her companions, but another manager stepped forward. "I'll take you," she said in a familiar voice that made me jump. Sunlight glinted off her rose-red scales and practical clothing—her.

  Before anyone could object, she grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the mother-of-pearl structure. The hair on my neck rose—I didn't even want to touch its shadow. Then, worry struck: was she turning me in? I frowned. No, that was ludicracy. This was just a community garden, not a bank. Plus, she probably recognized my voice. And besides, this was the girl who'd stopped those Tidewalkers back at town square from beating me.

  "Why are you really here?" she asked, glancing back but still pulling me along.

  "What are you talking about?" I tried disguising my voice.

  She snorted. "Zale, I'm not an idiot. I know it's you."

  I chuckled. "Just trying to get some food.”

  She looked back with a stern but somehow understanding frown. "Have you…been home lately?"

  I blinked at the odd question. "Honestly? No. Last time was probably early this week."

  She nodded quickly. "Well, if you'd gone home six days ago, you wouldn't be here now." She left it at that, making me wonder. Had she left food, knowing Zale's mom was struggling?

  She pulled me into the building's shadow. "Zale," she said, turning to face me, still gripping my arm, "I'm going to tell you something, but I don't want you to freak out. Okay?”

  I frowned, then nodded, remembering she couldn't see my expression.

  "I think," she said, "it might be best if you and your mom left…soon. Before sundown.”

  My frown deepened. "What? But the festival—"

  "Yes, I know it happens only every one hundred years, but listen… You have to go.” She bit her lip. "Just…trust me on this. When have I ever led you wrong?"

  I considered this. The only memory I had was of her intervention, so I couldn't argue. Before I could ask more, she pointed to a rectangular garden near the mother-of-pear wall. “The plants you are looking for are there.” She then patted my arm and hurried off, finned tail swaying behind her.

  I shook my head. “Wait!”

  “Leave!” she shouted over her shoulder, weaving past garden plots and hurrying toward the distant Tidewalkers.

  I stood stunned. I couldn't leave. My only way home centered on tonight's festival. And whatever was coming wouldn't matter. I was bent on leaving this world behind…though, what she’d said made me shudder.

  Stepping deeper into the council chamber's shadow, I ignored the crawling sensation on my skin and crouched to gather some fungi—stamina shrooms, my interface confirmed. “Good,” I whispered, moving along the plot. But the closer I got to the glistening wall, the more I sensed the corruption festering inside. It reminded me of NeuroSync. I spat, the name alone making me want to punch something. And I couldn't wait to see their faces—the ones who'd turned on me, who'd murdered me—when I reappeared to seek my vengeance.

  Voices approached. I crouched among the plants, still as a snake ready to strike, tension coiling in my muscles. A group of flamboyantly dressed fish-folk passed, strolling along a path leading toward the vast structure—one wearing a platinum-threaded vest, another in a colorful dress, the third a squat bearded man, and at their head…

  My heart hammered. A man with golden scales and catfish whiskers. I blinked, tried to rub my eyes but hit mask instead. Gripjaw scuttled up my back, clacking quickly, questioningly.

  That was him. The councilman who'd fallen past my cave, broken his bones, bled on the sand, been stabbed to death. But…but it couldn't be. He was fricken dead. I leaned forward as they languidly strolled by, studying his red silk clothes and familiar features.

  My jaw dropped.Yes. It was him. Impossible. …Unless he, what, had a twin?

  "Trust me," the councilman was saying, "the staff will have the roof ready tonight. It'll be a party up there—the best view in Wavehaven." His voice faded as they climbed the stairs.

  I stared after them, expecting his face to change, waiting for this hallucination to end. Then I looked toward the roof, where I glimpsed people setting up tables and chair. I think looked to my left, past white stucco homes and toward the towering conch shrine. Sunlight reflected off its pink pearlescence. Were they planning to watch the competition, from way up there? Or…something else? Fireworks? If wizards in The Lord of the Rings could manage those, surely someone here could, too.

  Shivering, I tried to shake off and unsettling sensation, but a chill remained as I gathered the last of the ingredients. I hurried toward the spire, not daring to look back at the towering monster behind me, and the councilman…back from the dead? My skin prickled as I remembered something. That masked murderer had taken his bones. What if he was a necromancer? The thought only stoked the flame in my heart and deepened my drive to get the hell off this world.

  Racing across sandy streets, past masked revelers, laughing children, and festival booth preparations, I found an empty spot to drop to my knees. I pulled up my crafting recipes and started on the stamina potion.

  I needed to make it now. I was running out of time.